What to Buy for a Board Game Night

A board game night needs more than games and snacks. Plan drinks, finger food, coffee, serving dishes and enough tableware for the full group, then check what the venue already has before shopping. Keep pencils, score pads, dice and spare component storage at the game tables so players do not have to interrupt a round. This shopping list also covers practical setup items such as coolers, extension cords, signs and a registration desk.

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What to bring

Grouped the way you'd shop for it, with quantities.

Furniture

Tablesqty 8
Chairsqty 36
Buffet table
Registration desk

Game materials

Board gamesqty 25
Card gamesqty 8
Diceqty 30
Score padsqty 6
Pencilsqty 36
Game component binsqty 12

Tableware

Glassesqty 40
Coffee cupsqty 30
Platesqty 40
Cutlery setsqty 40
Serving bowlsqty 8
Serving plattersqty 6
Serving utensilsqty 8

Kitchen

Coffee maker
Kettle
Thermos flasksqty 3
Cutting boardsqty 2
Bread knivesqty 2
Kitchen knivesqty 2
Pliersqty 4

Equipment

Coolersqty 3
Extension cordsqty 2
Power stripsqty 3

Decorations

Tableclothsqty 8
Welcome sign
Directional signsqty 6

Lighting

Atmosphere lightsqty 6
LED light stringsqty 3

Cleaning

Dishpanqty 2
Cleaning bucketsqty 2
Broom
Dustpan and brush
Mopqty 2
Trash binsqty 3

Catering

Groceries
- Coffee - 2 packs
- Black tea - 2 boxes
- Herbal tea - 1 box
- Sugar - 1 kilo
- Milk - 4 liters
- Oat milk - 2 liter
- Lemon - 4 pieces
- Cola - 6 bottles
- Cola Zero - 4 bottles
- Sinas - 4 bottles
- Ginger ale - 2 bottles
- Spa Blauw - 12 bottles
- Spa Rood - 6 bottles
- Apple juice - 3 packs
- Orange juice - 3 cartons
- Ice cubes - 4 bags
- White sandwich bread - 4 loaves
- Wholemeal sandwich bread - 3 loaves
- Young cheese - 1,5 kilo
- Back ham - 1 kilo
- Chicken breast topping - 750 grams
- Hummus - 4 tubs
- Cream cheese - 3 tubs
- Cucumber - 5 pieces
- Tomatoes - 1 kilo
- Lettuce - 3 heads
- Paprika chips - 4 bags
- Plain chips - 4 bags
- Tortilla chips - 4 bags
- Salsa - 3 jars
- Party nuts - 3 bags
- Salted peanuts - 2 bags
- Pretzels - 3 bags
- Popcorn - 3 bags
- Olives - 2 jars
- Grapes - 2 kilos
- Apples - 30 pieces
- Bananas - 20 pieces
- Cookies - 5 packs
- Chocolate bars - 30 pieces
- Vegan cookies - 2 packs
- Gluten-free crackers - 2 packs
- Napkins - 4 packs
- Cling film - 1 roll
- Aluminum foil - 1 roll
- Paper towels - 4 rolls
- Dish soap - 2 bottles
- All-purpose cleaner - 2 bottles
- Sponges - 6 pieces
- Microfiber cloths - 6 pieces
- Trash bags - 2 rolls
- Toilet paper - 2 packs
- Hand soap - 2 bottles

Tips

Plan two to three drinks per person for the first hour, then add one drink per person for each additional hour. Chill the drinks before guests arrive and keep extra bottles in coolers.
For snacks, allow about 150–200 grams of food per person when you are also serving sandwiches. Buy more than one serving bowl and platter so food can be replenished without clearing the game tables.
Provide one glass, plate and cutlery set per guest, plus at least 10% extra for breakage or replacements. Count coffee cups separately; they are easy to overlook when the event uses both cold and hot drinks.
Match the game supplies to the schedule: keep at least one pencil per active table, spare dice and score pads available, and use component bins to separate pieces between games. Pick up borrowed or reserved games before the event day.
Check power and wayfinding before shopping is finished. Extension cords and power strips may be needed for the coffee maker and kettle, while a welcome sign and directional signs prevent guests from crowding the registration desk.

Frequently asked questions

How many drinks do I need for a board game night?: Plan two to three drinks per person for the first hour and one additional drink per person for every hour after that. Include water as well as other cold drinks, and chill them before guests arrive.
How much food should I buy for board game night?: Allow roughly 150–200 grams of snacks per person when sandwiches are also served. If snacks are the only food, plan closer to 250 grams per person and include options for the dietary requirements you collected.
How many plates and glasses do I need?: Buy or prepare one plate, glass and cutlery set per guest, plus 10% extra. For 30 guests, that means at least 33 of each item so replacements are available during the evening.
What game supplies are easy to forget?: Pencils, score pads, spare dice and containers for loose game components are often missed. Check these at least 2–3 days before the event, and keep the supplies at the game tables rather than at the registration desk.

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