Updated 30 September 2026
How much meat per person should you buy? It's the question we hear most at the counter, before Sunday lunch, Christmas or a big BBQ. Buy too little and someone goes without; buy too much and the freezer fills up with leftovers. The right amount depends on the cut, whether there's a bone, and what else is on the plate. Here's a butcher's portion guide, in grams and kilos, for roasts, mince, steaks, chicken and BBQs.
Quick portion guide
| What you're cooking | Raw weight per person |
|---|---|
| Boneless roast joint (beef, pork, lamb) | 200–250g |
| Bone-in roast joint | 300–400g |
| Steak | 170–280g (6–10oz) |
| Mince in a sauce (bolognese, chilli) | 100–150g |
| Mince for burgers | 125–170g (one or two burgers) |
| Chicken breast | 150–200g |
| Bone-in chicken pieces (thighs, drumsticks) | 250–350g |
| Diced meat for stews and curries | 150–200g |
| Ribs | 400–500g |
| BBQ (mixed meats) | 250–350g in total |
These are common butchery rules of thumb for adults with a normal appetite. Allow a little less for children and a little more for big eaters, or if you want leftovers.
How much meat per person for a roast
For a boneless joint, allow 200–250g raw per person. Meat loses weight as it cooks, so that gives a generous cooked portion. For a joint on the bone, allow 300–400g to account for the bone.
| People | Boneless joint | Bone-in joint |
|---|---|---|
| 4 | 800g–1kg | 1.2–1.6kg |
| 6 | 1.2–1.5kg | 1.8–2.4kg |
| 8 | 1.6–2kg | 2.4–3.2kg |
| 10 | 2–2.5kg | 3–4kg |
So a Topside Joint 1kg (£21.99) feeds about 4, and a Whole Carvery Leg of Lamb 2.2-2.7kg (£34.99), a 2.2–2.7kg bone-in leg, feeds 6–8. See our Sunday roast timing plan.
How much minced meat per person
For bolognese, chilli, cottage pie or lasagne, allow 100–150g raw mince per person. The sauce, vegetables and pasta or potatoes bulk it out. So a 400g pack of Lean Beef Mince 400g (£7.49) feeds 3–4. For burgers, allow one or two burgers each, about 125–170g of mince per person.
Steak portions
A steak is usually one per person. A 6oz (170g) steak is a good everyday portion; 8oz (227g) is generous. Big sharing steaks like a tomahawk or a large rump are sliced and shared: allow about 250–300g raw per person on the bone. Our Sirloin Steak 4x 8oz (£27.99) are 8oz each.
Chicken portions
Allow one chicken breast fillet (150–200g) per person, or two or three bone-in thighs or drumsticks. See how much does a chicken breast weigh?.
How much meat per person for a BBQ
For a BBQ, allow about 250–350g of raw meat per person in total, or roughly one burger, two sausages and one other item each (a chicken thigh, a pork steak or a few ribs). People eat more at a BBQ than you'd expect, especially if it goes on all afternoon.
| Guests | Burgers | Sausages | Other (chicken, pork, ribs) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | 10–12 | 20 | 10 portions |
| 20 | 20–24 | 40 | 20 portions |
| 30 | 30–36 | 60 | 30 portions |
For a crowd, the 24x Prime Beef Burgers MEGA BBQ Pack (£53.94) gives you 24 quarter-pounders. See how many a BBQ party pack feeds and what meat to BBQ.
How much meat per person in kg: quick maths
- Roast for 6 (boneless): 6 × 0.25kg = 1.5kg
- Bolognese for 8: 8 × 0.125kg = 1kg of mince
- BBQ for 20: 20 × 0.3kg = 6kg of mixed meat
- Christmas for 10 (bone-in): 10 × 0.35kg = 3.5kg
Round up rather than down; leftovers are rarely wasted. Cold roast beef, pork or lamb makes brilliant sandwiches, and leftover BBQ meat is great in wraps.
Things that change the amount
- Lots of sides? If there are plenty of vegetables, potatoes and Yorkshire puddings, you can go to the lower end.
- Children? Allow about half an adult portion for younger children.
- Leftovers? Add 25–50% if you want cold cuts for sandwiches, or a second meal.
- Two meats? For a mixed roast or BBQ, reduce each meat so the total per person stays about the same.
Buying for a party: a butcher's approach
When you're catering for a crowd, write down the number of adults and children, decide on the main meat (or two), and work out the total from the table above. Then add about 10% as a buffer: people often turn up with an extra guest, and a few extra sausages or burgers cost little. Anything left over can go straight into the freezer if it hasn't been cooked. For cooked leftovers, cool them within 2 hours, refrigerate them, and eat them within 2 days.
Christmas portions
For Christmas, most people want leftovers, so allow the top of each range, or a little more. See our best beef joint for Christmas dinner and Christmas meat guide.
Browse our Sunday roast, beef joints and BBQ packs.
Meat per person FAQs
How much meat per person for a roast?
About 200–250g raw per person for a boneless joint, or 300–400g for a joint on the bone.
How much mince per person?
About 100–150g of raw mince per person for bolognese, chilli or cottage pie.
How much meat per person for a BBQ?
About 250–350g of raw meat per person in total, such as a burger, two sausages and one other item.
How much meat for 10 people?
For a boneless roast, 2–2.5kg. For a bone-in joint, 3–4kg. For a BBQ, about 3–3.5kg of mixed meats.
Does meat weigh less after cooking?
Yes. Meat usually loses around 20–30% of its weight during cooking, which is why portions are calculated on raw weight.