BBQ Calculator
Plan the perfect barbecue. Select your meats, set guest count, and get exact quantities to buy, charcoal needed, and estimated grill times.
Guest Count
Meat Selection
Shopping List & Grill Plan
| Meat | Cooked/person | Raw to buy | Grill time | Int. temp |
|---|
Frequently Asked Questions
A general rule: 200–250 g (7–9 oz) of boneless cooked meat per adult. For a meat-only menu or hungry crowd, increase to 300 g. For a buffet with sides, 150–175 g is enough. Children eat roughly half an adult portion. Always buy extra raw — most meats shrink 20–30% during cooking.
A reliable estimate is 1–1.2 kg of briquettes per hour for a standard 50–57 cm kettle grill. Lump charcoal burns hotter and faster — add 25% extra by weight. A 3-hour cook session typically needs 3–4 kg. Always buy slightly more than you think you need, and keep a bag in reserve.
Safe internal temperatures (measured with a meat thermometer): Chicken/turkey 74°C (165°F); Pork 71°C (160°F); Beef burgers (ground) 71°C (160°F); Beef steaks medium-rare 57°C (135°F), medium 63°C (145°F); Sausages (pork) 71°C (160°F). Always rest meat for 3–5 minutes after removing from heat.
Meat loses moisture and fat during cooking. A 200 g raw burger patty typically yields 150–160 g cooked — about a 20–25% reduction. Ribs shrink more (35–40%) because they contain a lot of connective tissue and fat. This calculator automatically adds a shrinkage factor so the raw weight you buy produces the cooked weight your guests need.
How This BBQ Calculator Works
Each meat has a recommended cooked serving size (grams per adult), a shrinkage factor to convert from cooked to raw weight, and grill time and temperature data:
- Served weight: How much cooked meat per adult at the chosen appetite level
- Raw weight to buy: Served weight ÷ (1 − shrinkage factor) × total portions
- Charcoal: 1 kg per hour × grill duration × 1.1 buffer