How many appetizers per person

Plan 4–6 appetizer pieces per person when a full meal follows, and 10–15 pieces per person when appetizers are the whole meal.

A piece is one bite: a slider, a skewer, a stuffed mushroom, a spring roll. The counts assume adults and a party of about 2 hours.

Who / occasion	Per person	10 people	20 people	30 people	50 people
Before a full meal	4–6 pieces	40–60	80–120	120–180	200–300
Cocktail hour, light dinner later	6–8 pieces	60–80	120–160	180–240	300–400
Appetizers are the meal	10–15 pieces	100–150	200–300	300–450	500–750

Tips

Variety: 3–4 kinds for up to 20 guests, 5–6 kinds for 30–50. More kinds means fewer pieces of each.
Add 2–3 pieces per person for every hour past 2 hours.
Count a child under 10 as about half an adult.
Dips and cheese boards stretch the count; a big board covers roughly 2 pieces per person.

These counts are rules of thumb. Portion sizes vary by restaurant and caterer, so ask them if their pieces or trays run small or large.