How Many Bags of Ice for a Christmas Party in London?
Most office Christmas parties in London need somewhere between 5 and 42 bags of ice, depending on headcount and whether you are chilling bottles in tubs as well as filling glasses. This guide gives you a bags table by guest numbers, shows where our bulk prices start, and explains how to time your order so the ice arrives on the right day.
How much ice per guest?
Our rule of thumb, the same one we use across our party guides, is simple:
- Drinks only: allow about 1kg of ice per guest.
- Drinks plus bottles chilling in tubs or bins: allow about 2kg per guest.
Our bags are 12kg each, so divide the total by 12 and round up. These are rules of thumb, not guarantees. Glass size, how long the party runs and whether spare bags are kept in a cool box all make a difference. If in doubt, round up: running out halfway through the evening is the problem people remember.
Bags of ice by number of guests
Here is what that rule gives you, rounded up to whole 12kg bags. The last column shows the cost for drinks plus chilling, with the bulk price already applied where it kicks in.
| Guests | Drinks only | Drinks plus bottle tubs | Cost, drinks plus tubs |
|---|---|---|---|
| 30 | 3 bags (order 5) | 5 bags | 5 bags = £50 |
| 50 | 5 bags | 9 bags | 9 bags = £90 |
| 80 | 7 bags | 14 bags | 14 bags = £140 |
| 100 | 9 bags | 17 bags | 17 bags = £170, but 20 bags = £160 |
| 150 | 13 bags | 25 bags | 25 bags = £200 (£8 a bag) |
| 200 | 17 bags | 34 bags | 34 bags = £238 (£7 a bag) |
| 250 | 21 bags | 42 bags | 42 bags = £294 (£7 a bag) |
Two things stand out. First, a small party of 30 with drinks only comes to 3 bags, and our minimum for delivery is 5 bags (free across London), so round up to 5. Second, the 100-guest row: 17 bags at £10 is £170, while 20 bags at £8 is £160. Ordering three more bags saves you £10. The same applies to 200 guests with drinks only, which also comes to 17 bags.
When the 20 and 30 bag prices kick in
Our bulk price applies to every customer, automatically at checkout. You don't need a code or a trade account.
| Bags in one order | Price per 12kg bag | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| 5 to 19 | £10 | 10 bags = £100, 19 bags = £190 |
| 20 to 29 | £8 | 20 bags = £160, 25 bags = £200 |
| 30 or more | £7 | 30 bags = £210, 40 bags = £280 |
The same jump happens at 30. Twenty-nine bags at £8 is £232, and 30 bags at £7 is £210. So if your count lands just under 20 or just under 30, check the next step up before you check out. You get more ice for less money. The full price table is on our bulk ice prices page.
Cube ice 12kg, crushed ice 12kg and the cube ice retail pack (6 × 2kg) all count towards the same total, so you can mix them. Dry ice is not part of the bulk price.
Cube or crushed for a Christmas party?
Most office parties run on cube ice: it goes in glasses, in ice buckets and in tubs of bottles, and it melts more slowly than crushed. Crushed ice is worth adding if cocktails are on the menu or you want bottles to sit deep in a tub. Both are £10 per 12kg bag before the bulk price, and both count towards 20 and 30, so a split such as 15 cube and 5 crushed still reaches the £8 price.
Timing your delivery
December fills up, so book your date as soon as you know it. You choose the delivery date when you order online, so you can order days or weeks ahead.
- Order by 8pm for next-day delivery, Monday to Saturday.
- Pick a slot: 8am to 1pm or 1pm to 5pm. For an evening party, either works if the venue has freezer or cool box space. If it doesn't, the afternoon slot keeps the gap shorter.
- Need ice today? Same-day delivery is by phone only: call 020 3841 5700 in the morning.
- Free London delivery from 5 bags. Some outer areas carry a charge, for example £20 for KT1, KT2 and KT3. Other KT postcodes are not served. Check yours on our delivery areas page.
For venue and office deliveries, it helps to tell the venue the slot, and to check where the bags can go when they arrive. A 12kg bag is easy to carry, but 25 of them take up floor space.
Keeping the ice cold on the night
- Keep unopened bags in a freezer or a closed cool box, out of the sun and away from radiators.
- Open bags as you need them rather than tipping everything out at the start.
- Put bottles in tubs an hour or two before guests arrive, then top up with fresh ice through the evening.
For house parties, birthdays and smaller gatherings, see our party ice delivery page. For office parties and work events, our corporate event ice page covers the details.
Ready to book? Choose your ice and delivery date here.
Christmas party ice: FAQs
How many bags of ice do I need for 100 people?
About 9 bags of 12kg for drinks only, or 17 bags if you are also chilling bottles in tubs. At 17 bags it is worth ordering 20: £160 at £8 a bag, instead of £170. Round up if you are unsure.
Do I need a code to get the bulk price?
No. Every order of 20 or more bags gets £8 a bag, and 30 or more gets £7 a bag. The price is applied automatically at checkout.
Can I order now for a party in December?
Yes. Pick your delivery date when you order online. Delivery runs Monday to Saturday in a morning or afternoon slot.
Written by KEMAL HAS
