What you need for a neighborhood barbecue

A neighborhood barbecue needs more than meat and charcoal. Plan food, drinks, servingware, refrigeration, cooking tools, seating, and a weather backup before you shop. Use the final guest count to work out quantities, then check dietary requirements before buying anything. This list also covers the items people often remember too late, such as cool boxes, separate trays for vegetarian food, extension cords, lighting, and waste bins.

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What to bring

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

Furniture

Party tentqty 2
Folding tableqty 6
Folding chairqty 60
Buffet tableqty 3
Drinks tableqty 2

Tableware

Reusable plateqty 70
Reusable bowlqty 60
Reusable glassqty 100
Coffee cupqty 40
Cutlery setqty 70
Serving spoonqty 12
Serving platterqty 12

Equipment

Barbecueqty 3
Cool boxqty 4
Coffee makerqty 2
Kettleqty 2
Bluetooth speaker
Extension cordqty 3

Kitchen

Cutting boardqty 5
Chef's knifeqty 4
Grill tongsqty 6
Aluminum trayqty 8
Cooling packqty 16

Decorations

Buntingqty 6
Table runnerqty 8
Name badgeqty 60

Lighting

String lightsqty 4
Battery lanternqty 6

Cleaning

Waste binqty 6
Litter pickerqty 2

Catering

Groceries
- Beef burgers - 60 pieces
- Pork satay - 50 pieces
- Chicken thigh skewers - 50 pieces
- Beef sausages - 40 pieces
- Vegetarian burgers - 20 pieces
- Vegetarian skewers - 20 pieces
- Hamburger buns - 70 pieces
- Baguettes - 10 pieces
- Herb butter - 6 tubs
- Mixed lettuce - 8 heads
- Cucumbers - 8 pieces
- Tomatoes - 5 kilograms
- Peppers - 3 kilograms
- Red onions - 1 kilogram
- Corn on the cob - 30 pieces
- Mushrooms - 2 kilogram
- Potato salad - 5 kilograms
- Pasta salad - 5 kilograms
- Raw vegetable salad - 4 kilogram
- Baby potatoes - 5 kilograms
- Hummus - 6 tubs
- Garlic sauce - 3 bottles
- Satay sauce - 3 jars
- Mayonnaise - 3 bottles
- Ketchup - 3 bottles
- Mustard - 2 bottles
- Barbecue sauce - 3 bottles
- Olive oil - 2 bottles
- Salt - 1 pack
- Black pepper - 1 jar
- Paprika powder - 1 jar
- Garlic powder - 1 jar
- Plain chips - 8 bags
- Paprika chips - 8 bags
- Peanuts - 2 kilograms
- Still water - 10 bottles
- Sparkling water - 8 bottles
- Cola - 8 bottles
- Cola Zero - 6 bottles
- Sinas - 6 bottles
- Lemonade - 6 bottles
- Beer - 120 bottles
- Non-alcoholic beer - 24 bottles
- Rosé - 8 bottles
- White wine - 6 bottles
- Red wine - 6 bottles
- Coffee - 2 packs
- Tea - 2 boxes
- Milk - 6 liters
- Sugar - 1 kilogram
- Mints - 1 box
- Lemons - 12 pieces
- Ice cubes - 12 bags
- Ice pops - 60 pieces
- Brownies - 60
- Apples - 5 kilograms
- Grapes - 3 kilograms
- Vegan sandwich spreads - 4 packs
- Sandwiches with low-allergen ingredients - 10 pieces
- Napkins - 300 pieces
- Aluminum foil - 3 rolls
- Cling film - 2 rolls
- Baking paper - 2 rolls
- Paper towels - 6 rolls
- Dish soap - 2 bottles
- Dishwasher tablets - 30 pieces
- Sponges - 6 pieces
- Cleaning wipes - 2 packs
- Hand soap - 3 bottles
- Toilet paper - 12 rolls
- Trash bags - 50 pieces
- Hand sanitizer - 3 bottles
- Charcoal - 30 kilograms
- Firelighters - 3 boxes

Tips

Allow about 250–350 g of barbecue food per adult, including meat, vegetarian items, and sides. Buy less for children, but keep a few extra portions for late arrivals.
Plan two to three drinks per person for the first hour, then one drink per person for each additional hour. Keep drinks refrigerated in cool boxes before guests arrive.
Prepare separate serving platters, tongs, and aluminum trays for vegetarian food. Keeping these items apart from raw meat prevents mix-ups during a busy barbecue.
Count one reusable plate, bowl, glass, and cutlery set per guest, plus at least 10% extra. For 30 guests, that means 33 of each reusable item where practical.
Check power and lighting before shopping day. An extension cord, string lights, and battery lanterns help when the barbecue runs into the evening, while waste bins and a litter picker keep the site manageable.

Frequently asked questions

How much food do I need for a neighborhood barbecue?: Allow 250–350 g of total barbecue food per adult, including meat, vegetarian portions, salads, and other sides. For 20 adults, that is roughly 5–7 kg of food in total, adjusted for children and the length of the event.
How many drinks should I buy for a neighborhood barbecue?: Plan two to three drinks per person for the first hour, followed by one drink per person per additional hour. For a three-hour barbecue with 20 guests, buy about 80–100 drinks, including water and non-alcoholic options.
How many plates and glasses do I need for a barbecue?: Allow one plate, bowl, glass, and cutlery set per guest, plus 10% extra for dropped or dirty items. For 30 guests, prepare at least 33 of each reusable item.
When should I buy and prepare barbecue food?: Buy fresh meat, vegetables, salads, and dairy-based items no more than one day before the barbecue. Prepare marinades and cut vegetables the day before, then keep meat and drinks refrigerated until setup.

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