How much ice cream do you need for a party?

Plan on about 125 to 150 ml of ice cream per person if it is served with another dessert, such as cake or pie, and about 200 ml per person if ice cream is the main treat. For children, 100 to 150 ml each is usually plenty. Then add one extra tub, because people always come back for a second flavour.

The basic rule

Work out how many people, decide whether ice cream is the star or a side, then multiply. As a sense check, the reference serving used on US nutrition labels for ice cream is 2/3 of a cup, about 160 ml (see this summary of the FDA labelling rules). That sits nicely between our "with dessert" and "on its own" amounts.

• With cake, pie or another dessert: 125–150 ml per adult, 100–125 ml per child.
• Ice cream is the dessert: about 200 ml per adult, 150 ml per child.
• Ice cream sundae bar or ice cream social: 250 ml per person, because toppings encourage seconds.

Quantity table

Based on 150 ml, 200 ml and 250 ml per adult. For a mostly-kids party, take about a quarter off.

Things that change the numbers

Adjust up or down depending on the crowd and the day:

• Hot weather: people eat more ice cream on a scorching day. Add 20%.
• Evening dinner parties: after a big meal, smaller servings go further.
• Teenagers: plan for adult portions, at least.
• Choice: the more flavours on offer, the more people sample, so add a little.

How many flavours?

One flavour per 8 to 10 guests is a good balance, with a minimum of three. A reliable line-up covers a few bases:

1. A crowd-pleaser such as vanilla, cookies & cream or a caramel.
2. A chocolate.
3. Something fruity or a little adventurous.
4. A dairy-free option, so vegan guests and anyone avoiding dairy are included.

Check for allergies before you choose, especially nuts, gluten and egg. Our ingredients and allergens table shows what is in each of our flavours, and our dairy-free range is made with oat milk.

Tubs, sandwiches or party tubs?

Pick the format that suits your party. Tubs give you the most flavour choice. Ice cream sandwiches are brilliant for kids' parties and outdoor events, because there is no scooping, no bowls and no spoons. Large party tubs are the most efficient for big groups. We have made 5-litre party tubs for events, including custom flavours; see order options for what is available now.

Example: a 20-person birthday party

Here is how the numbers work for a typical party: 12 children and 8 adults, with birthday cake as well as ice cream.

• Children: 12 × 100 ml = 1.2 litres.
• Adults: 8 × 125 ml = 1 litre.
• Total: about 2.2 litres, so buy three 1 litre tubs and you'll have a little spare.

For flavours, choose three: a vanilla or cookies & cream that every child will eat, a chocolate, and a dairy-free option in case anyone avoids dairy. If it is a hot summer afternoon and the party is outside, add a fourth tub or a box of ice cream sandwiches, which are quicker to hand out when the queue builds.

Then plan the kit: two scoops, a jug of warm water, cups or bowls, spoons, napkins and somewhere cold to keep the tubs until the candles are blown out. A chilly bin with ice packs in the shade works if the freezer is full of party food.

Keeping it frozen on the day

Ice cream is easy to buy in the right amount and easy to ruin by leaving it out. A few habits keep it perfect:

• Clear freezer space the day before. A 10 litre order takes more room than you think.
• Pre-scoop onto a tray lined with baking paper and refreeze for 30 minutes before serving.
• Serve one tub at a time, and put each one back before opening the next.
• At outdoor events, use a chilly bin with plenty of ice packs, in the shade.

If you are transporting ice cream any distance, read our guide to keeping ice cream frozen on the way home, including how to handle dry ice safely. For a rock-hard tub on the day, see how to soften ice cream for perfect scoops.

Toppings without the waste

If you're running a sundae bar, toppings stretch the ice cream further and keep people happy. Plan small bowls of three or four toppings rather than a dozen: a sauce, something crunchy, sprinkles and fresh fruit cover most tastes. Put nut toppings at the far end, clearly labelled, with their own spoon.

Leftovers

Leftover ice cream keeps well if you look after it. Press baking paper onto the surface, put the lid on tight and freeze at -18°C or colder. Partly melted ice cream that stayed cold can go back in; ice cream that fully melted in the sun is best thrown away. Our storage guide has more detail.