What you need for a family picnic

A family picnic needs more than sandwiches and a blanket. Plan food and drinks for the full group, then add the serving gear, shade, seating and cooling equipment that make outdoor eating manageable. Reusable plates, bowls, cups and cutlery reduce waste, while coolers and ice packs keep salads, fruit and drinks safe. Check dietary requirements before shopping, and pack a separate meal for each guest who needs one.

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What to bring

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

Furniture

Party tentsqty 2
Foldable tablesqty 6
Folding chairsqty 44
Picnic blanketsqty 12
Buffet tablesqty 2
Tableclothsqty 8

Tableware

Reusable platesqty 50
Reusable bowlsqty 50
Reusable cupsqty 80
Reusable cutleryqty 60
Coffee cupsqty 40
Serving plattersqty 12
Serving tongsqty 8
Water jugsqty 6

Kitchen

Cutting boardsqty 4
Chef's knivesqty 4
Coolersqty 6
Ice packsqty 24
Corkscrewsqty 2
Thermos flasksqty 4
Kettlesqty 2
Aluminum foilqty 2

Equipment

Extension cordsqty 2

Lighting

Battery lanternsqty 6
String lightsqty 4

Decorations

Table décorqty 8
Name badgesqty 50

Sports equipment

Frisbeesqty 3
Footballsqty 2
Badminton setsqty 2
Tug of war rope
Outdoor gamesqty 4

Cleaning

Waste binsqty 6
Hand sanitizerqty 4
Cleaning clothsqty 12
Washing-up tubsqty 3
Broom and dustpanqty 2
First aid kit

Catering

Groceries
- White baguettes - 8 pieces
- Wholemeal bread - 6 loaves
- Whole wheat wraps - 40 pieces
- Butter - 500 grams
- Young cheese - 2 kilos
- Brie - 1 kilo
- Back ham - 1.5 kilos
- Chicken breast slices - 1.5 kilos
- Hummus - 6 tubs
- Cream cheese - 6 tubs
- Egg salad - 4 tubs
- Mayonnaise - 2 bottles
- Ketchup - 2 bottles
- Mustard - 2 jars
- Peanut butter - 2 jars
- Jam - 3 jars
- Herb butter - 6 tubs
- Baby potatoes - 5 kilo
- Pasta - 2 kilo
- Arugula - 8 bags
- Cucumbers - 8 pieces
- Cherry tomatoes - 3 kilos
- Bell peppers - 12 pieces
- Carrots - 2 kilo
- Radishes - 6 bunches
- Red onions - 1 kilo
- Corn - 6 cans
- Pickles - 3 jars
- Olives - 4 jars
- Feta - 1 kilo
- Pasta salad dressing - 4 bottles
- Olive oil - 2 bottles
- Balsamic vinegar - 1 bottle
- Salt - 1 pack
- Black pepper - 1 jar
- Paprika powder - 1 jar
- Garlic powder - 1 jar
- Strawberries - 3 kilos
- Grapes - 3 kilos
- Apples - 40 pieces
- Bananas - 30 pieces
- Watermelons - 3 pieces
- Chocolate cookies - 6 packs
- Apple pies - 4 pieces
- Whipped cream - 6 cans
- Paprika chips - 6 bags
- Plain chips - 6 bags
- Snack mix - 4 bags
- Cola - 6 bottles
- Cola Zero - 4 bottles
- Sinas - 4 bottles
- Sparkling water - 6 bottles
- Still water - 12 bottles
- Apple juice - 4 packs
- Orange juice - 4 cartons
- Beer - 48 bottles
- Non-alcoholic beer - 24 bottles
- Rosé - 6 bottles
- White wine - 4 bottles
- Coffee - 3 packs
- Tea - 2 boxes
- Sugar - 1 kilo
- Milk - 6 liters
- Oat milk - 4 liters
- Ice cubes - 12 bags
- Lemonade syrup - 3 bottles
- Lemons - 12 pieces
- Coffee filters - 1 pack
- Paper napkins - 6 packs
- Paper towels - 6 rolls
- Toilet paper - 12 rolls
- Liquid hand soap - 4 bottles
- Dish soap - 2 bottles
- Sponges - 6 pieces
- Trash bags - 40 pieces
- Cling film - 2 rolls
- Freezer bags - 2 boxes

Tips

Allow two to three drinks per person for the first hour, then about one drink per hour. Bring extra water in jugs, especially if children will be running around outdoors.
Use one cooler for drinks and another for food if possible. Chill drinks before leaving and pack salads, fruit and diet meals in sealed containers with ice packs.
Count serving items by guest: one plate, bowl, cup and set of cutlery per person, plus at least 10% extra. Add separate serving platters and tongs so people are not serving from personal plates.
Pack shade and seating before decorative items. Party tents, picnic blankets, foldable tables and chairs are easy to forget and difficult to replace once you are at the picnic area.
Prepare food that needs cutting at home where possible. If you are cutting vegetables or bread on site, bring cutting boards, chef’s knives, aluminum foil and a way to clean or cover leftovers.

Frequently asked questions

How much food should I buy for a family picnic?: Plan one main portion per person, plus two to three shared side portions for every 10 guests. Add fruit and dessert for the whole group, and buy 10% extra for children, seconds and accidental spills.
How many drinks do I need for a family picnic?: Start with two to three drinks per person for the first hour, then one drink per person for each additional hour. Include water separately and keep drinks chilled in coolers with ice packs.
How many plates, cups and cutlery sets should I bring?: Pack one complete set per guest plus 10% extra. For 20 people, that means at least 22 plates, bowls, cups and cutlery sets, along with enough serving tongs, platters and water jugs.
When should I prepare the picnic shopping list?: Check your stock and dietary requirements at least 3 days before the picnic. Do the main shopping 1 to 2 days ahead, then chill drinks and pack coolers on the day.

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