Charcuterie Calculator

Plan the perfect charcuterie board for any party. Enter your guest count and board style to get exact pounds of meat and cheese, plus crackers, fruit, bread and extras for your shopping list.

Charcuterie board with cured meats, cheese and crackers

Quick answer: charcuterie portions

For an appetizer board, plan 2–3 oz each of meat and cheese per person; for a grazing dinner, 4–6 oz each per adult. Add 6–8 crackers per person, one baguette per 10 guests, and about 1 lb of fresh fruit per 6 guests. Use the calculator below for exact deli-pack and pound counts.

Calculate your charcuterie board

2.5 lb
Cured meat
2.5 lb
Cheese
3 boxes
Crackers (9 oz)
3 lb
Fresh fruit
2 baguettes
Baguette
2 cups
Olives & nuts

Charcuterie quantities chart

Appetizer-style portions for a two-hour party. For a grazing dinner, double the meat and cheese.

GuestsCured meatCheeseCrackers (9 oz)Fresh fruitBaguettesOlives & nuts
101.5 lb1.5 lb2 boxes2 lb11 cup
202.5 lb2.5 lb3 boxes3 lb22 cups
304 lb4 lb5 boxes5 lb33 cups
506.5 lb6.5 lb8 boxes8 lb55 cups

Pair your board with drinks using the party drink calculator, or build out the rest of the meal with the party food calculator. For meat-focused menus like taco or BBQ, the meat per person calculator covers pulled pork, brisket and taco meat.

Charcuterie board questions

How much charcuterie per person?

For an appetizer or snack board, plan 2 to 3 ounces each of cured meat and cheese per person. For a grazing dinner where the board is the main meal, double that to 4 to 6 ounces each per adult.

How much meat and cheese for a charcuterie board?

Keep meat and cheese roughly half and half. For 20 guests at appetizer portions, plan about 2.5 to 3 lb of cured meat and the same amount of cheese. Use 2 to 3 different meats and 3 to 4 cheeses so people can mix.

How many crackers per person for a charcuterie board?

Plan 6 to 8 crackers per person. A 9-ounce box of crackers holds about 60 crackers, so it covers roughly 8 guests. For 20 people, plan 2 to 3 boxes of crackers plus sliced baguette.

How much charcuterie for a party of 20 people?

For 20 adults as an appetizer, plan 2.5 to 3 lb of cured meat, 2.5 to 3 lb of cheese, 3 boxes of crackers, 2 baguettes and 2 lb of fresh fruit. If the board is the main meal, double the meat and cheese.

How much charcuterie for 50 people?

For 50 guests at appetizer portions, plan about 6 to 7 lb of cured meat, 6 to 7 lb of cheese, 8 to 9 boxes of crackers, 4 to 5 baguettes and 5 lb of fresh fruit. Serve it on several boards or refill stations.

What should go on a charcuterie board for a crowd?

Aim for 3 to 4 cured meats (salami, prosciutto, chorizo, soppressata), 3 to 4 cheeses (one soft like brie, one firm like aged cheddar, one blue and one goat), crackers and baguette, fresh fruit, olives, nuts and a drizzle like honey or fig jam. Balance meat and cheese as the base and fill gaps with fruit, nuts and bread.

How many people does a large charcuterie board feed?

As an appetizer, a large board with roughly 1.5 lb of meat and 1.5 lb of cheese feeds 8 to 12 people. For a grazing dinner it feeds closer to 4 to 6. Plan about 2 boards for 20 guests so different cheeses stay separated.

How far ahead can I assemble a charcuterie board?

Assemble the board up to 4 hours ahead and cover it with plastic wrap, keeping hard cheeses and meats fine at room temperature for a while. Add crackers, anything crisp and fresh berries close to serving so they do not soften. Soft cheeses and sliced fruit taste best served within an hour.