How much boneless meat per person?

For boneless joints and fillets, allow 150-200g of raw meat per person. We use 175g as the standard, which gives a generous cooked portion of about 130g after cooking shrinkage. For lighter eaters or where there are multiple courses, 150g raw is sufficient.

How much bone-in meat per person?

For bone-in joints (like leg of lamb, rib of beef, or pork shoulder), allow 250-350g of raw weight per person. The bone adds weight but no edible meat. We use 300g as the standard, accounting for bone weight and cooking loss.

How much does meat shrink when cooked?

Meat typically loses 20-35% of its weight during cooking due to moisture loss and fat rendering. Boneless cuts lose about 25%, bone-in joints about 35% (including inedible bone), steaks about 20%, and mince about 30%. These are averages and vary with cooking method and temperature.

How do I calculate meat for a whole chicken or turkey?

For a whole bird, allow approximately 450g of total bird weight per person. A whole chicken yields roughly 45% edible meat (the rest is bone, skin, and waste). So a 1.8kg chicken serves about 4 people, and a 5kg turkey serves about 10-12.

Should I buy extra for leftovers?

If you want leftovers for sandwiches or another meal, add 25-50% to the calculated amount. For a Sunday roast where leftover cold cuts are expected, buying a joint 30% larger than needed for the meal is a good approach.

BakeCalcs

Meat Per Person Calculator

Calculate raw meat weight needed per person based on cut type, whether bone-in or boneless.

Number of People

Meat Type / Cut

How We Calculate This

This calculator uses standard UK portion sizes for raw meat, then applies cooking shrinkage factors to estimate the cooked serving weight. The raw weight includes allowances for bone, fat rendering, and moisture loss during cooking.

Raw Weight per Person

Boneless joints: 175g (150-200g range)
Bone-in joints: 300g (250-350g range)
Steaks / chops: 225g
Mince / diced: 150g
Whole chicken / turkey: 450g total bird weight

Cooking Shrinkage

Boneless: retains ~75% of raw weight
Bone-in: retains ~65% (edible portion)
Whole bird: ~45% is edible cooked meat

Frequently Asked Questions

Related Calculators

Buffet Quantity Calculator

Calculate total food quantities for a buffet based on guest count and dish types.

Wedding Cake Portions Calculator

Calculate tiered cake sizes needed for a specific number of wedding guests.

Pasta Portions Calculator

Calculate dry and cooked pasta quantities per person and for groups.

Rice Portions Calculator

Calculate dry rice quantity needed per person and for groups, by rice type.

Potato Portions Calculator

Calculate potato weight needed for mash, roast, baked, or chips by number of servings.

Last updated: February 2026

All calculations are based on standard ratios and conversions. Results may vary with specific ingredients, equipment, and conditions.