What you need for a karaoke night

A karaoke night needs more than songs and microphones. Plan drinks, snacks, serving items and enough equipment for guests to sing without queues or loose cables becoming a problem. This shopping list also covers the practical items people often forget, such as spare power connections, cable tape, microphone stands and chilled storage. Use your guest count to adjust food, glasses and seating, then check the full equipment list before shopping or collecting rentals.

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What to bring

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

Furniture

Tablesqty 6
Chairsqty 55
Buffet tablesqty 2
Registration desk

Tableware

Reusable drinking glassesqty 70
Reusable coffee cupsqty 50
Platesqty 70
Cutlery setsqty 60
Serving plattersqty 12
Tongs and serving spoonsqty 8

Equipment

Karaoke set
Laptop
Projector
Projection screen
Active speakersqty 2
Microphonesqty 3
Mixer
Microphone standsqty 2
Extension cordsqty 4
Power stripsqty 4
Cable matsqty 4
Gaffer tapeqty 2

Decorations

Balloonsqty 100
Buntingqty 8
Karaoke board
Tableclothsqty 8

Lighting

LED light stringsqty 4
LED lampsqty 4

Kitchen

Coolersqty 3
Thermos flasksqty 4
Cutting boardsqty 3
Bread knivesqty 2
Kitchen knivesqty 2
Ice packsqty 12

Cleaning

Dustpan and brushqty 2
Bucketsqty 2
Mopsqty 2
Cleaning glovesqty 4

Catering

Groceries
- Coffee - 2 packs
- Tea bags - 100 pieces
- Black tea - 1 box
- Herbal tea - 1 box
- Sugar - 1 kilo
- Mints - 1 box
- Milk - 6 liters
- Oat milk - 2 liter
- Cola - 8 bottles
- Cola Zero - 6 bottles
- Sinas - 4 bottles
- Ice tea - 4 bottles
- Spa Blauw - 8 bottles
- Spa Red - 4 bottles
- Apple juice - 3 packs
- Orange juice - 3 cartons
- Lemons - 10 pieces
- Ice cubes - 8 bags
- Breadsticks - 8 pieces
- Cream cheese - 4 tubs
- Hummus - 4 tubs
- Herb butter - 4 tubs
- Young cheese - 2 kilos
- Dry-cured ham - 1 kilo
- Chicken breast topping - 1 kilo
- Cucumbers - 6 pieces
- Tomatoes - 2 kilos
- Bell peppers - 8 pieces
- Grapes - 3 kilos
- Apples - 30 pieces
- Bananas - 20 pieces
- Paprika chips - 6 bags
- Plain chips - 6 bags
- Tortilla chips - 6 bags
- Salsa - 4 jars
- Salted peanuts - 4 bags
- Snack mix - 4 bags
- Cookies - 6 packs
- Brownies - 50 pieces
- Chocolate bars - 4 packs
- Mayonnaise - 1 bottle
- Ketchup - 1 bottle
- Napkins - 300 pieces
- Cling film - 1 roll
- Aluminum foil - 1 roll
- Parchment paper - 1 roll
- Paper towels - 6 rolls
- Trash bags - 4 rolls
- Dish soap - 2 bottles
- All-purpose cleaner - 2 bottles
- Glass cleaner - 1 bottle
- Toilet cleaner - 2 bottles
- Toilet paper - 24 rolls
- Hand soap - 4 bottles
- Paper hand towels - 6 packs

Tips

Allow two to three drinks per guest for the first hour, then roughly one drink per hour after that. Chill part of the supply before guests arrive and keep the rest in cool boxes.
Provide one reusable drinking glass per guest plus about 10% extra, so a group of 30 needs 33 glasses. Add coffee cups, plates, cutlery and serving platters if you are serving food.
Plan one microphone for each singer at the front, with at least two microphones available for duets. Microphone stands keep the performance area usable when nobody is singing.
Bring enough power distribution for the karaoke set, laptop, projector, speakers and lighting. Pack extension cords, power strips, cable mats and gaffer tape so cables can be secured before the first song.
Prepare the karaoke screen, projector and song library before guests arrive, not during the first performances. Keep a printed or accessible singing list ready so guests can sign up while others are choosing songs.

Frequently asked questions

What drinks do I need for a karaoke night?: Plan two to three drinks per person for the first hour and one per person for each additional hour. Add water and a few non-alcoholic options, then chill the first serving before guests arrive.
How many glasses and plates do I need for karaoke night?: Use one glass per guest plus 10% spare; for 30 guests, prepare 33 glasses. For plates and cutlery, use one set per guest and add five extra sets for dropped or misplaced items.
How many microphones do I need for a karaoke party?: Two microphones cover most duets and group singing, while three or four help a larger group keep the queue moving. Include microphone stands if singers need to use both hands.
What equipment should I buy or bring for karaoke night?: Bring a karaoke set, laptop, projector, screen, active speakers, microphones and mixer, plus extension cords, power strips, cable mats and gaffer tape. Test every connection at least 60 minutes before guests arrive.

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