How much wine to buy.
Guests, hours, how much of the drinking is wine, and your red/white split.
Bottles of wine
0
Red bottles
0
White bottles
0
Glasses poured
0
How it works
The math, in the open.
The same drink count as our alcohol calculator: two drinks per drinking guest in the first hour, one per hour after. A 750 ml bottle holds 25.4 ounces, five 5-ounce glasses. Choose the red share from the menu and the season: lighter food and warm weather pull toward white and rosé.
| Step | Formula |
|---|---|
| Drinks | guests × % who drink × (hours + 1) |
| Wine glasses | drinks × wine share |
| Bottles | glasses ÷ 5, rounded up |
| Red / white | bottles × red share, rounded; the rest is white |
Example: 100 guests, 4 hours, 75% drinking, half the drinks wine, 40% red: 375 drinks, 188 glasses, 38 bottles (15 red, 23 white).
FAQ
Questions people ask.
How many bottles of wine for 100 guests?
About 38 for a 4-hour reception if three in four guests drink and half the drinks are wine.
Should I buy more red or white?
There is no rule. Look at the menu, the season and who is coming, then set the red share above.
Related
Keep planning.
Estimates for planning, not quotes or legal advice. Formulas tested Oct 8, 2026.