How Much Ice Do I Need for a Party? (Quick Guide)
Running out of ice is the fastest way to end a party. Here's a simple way to work out how much you need.
The rule of thumb
- Drinks only: about 0.5–1kg of ice per guest.
- Hot day, long event, or chilling bottles in tubs: about 1–1.5kg per guest.
- Cocktails with crushed ice: add extra crushed ice on top of your cube ice.
How many 12kg bags?
A rule of thumb – always round up:
| Guests | Drinks only | Hot day / bottles in tubs |
|---|---|---|
| 20 | 1–2 bags | 2–3 bags |
| 50 | 2–4 bags | 4–6 bags |
| 100 | 4–8 bags | 8–12 bags |
Tips to make your ice last
- Keep bags in a freezer, or in a cool box out of direct sun, until you need them.
- Don't drain the cold water from a tub of bottles – ice water chills faster than ice alone.
- Use one bag for drinks and a separate one for chilling bottles, so drink ice stays clean.
Order party ice in London
Nice Ice delivers 12kg bags of cube ice and crushed ice, plus 2kg x 6 retail bags, across London. £10 per bag, minimum 5 boxes, order by 5pm for next-day delivery, Monday to Saturday, with morning or afternoon slots.
FAQ
How much ice do you need for 100 guests?
Roughly 50–100kg for drinks, more on a hot day – about 4–8 bags of 12kg.
How many bags of ice for 50 guests?
Around 2–4 bags of 12kg for drinks, or 4–6 if it's hot or you're chilling bottles.