Outdoor picnic shopping list
Planning an outdoor picnic means shopping for more than sandwiches and fruit. You also need enough serving equipment, chilled drinks, shade, seating and supplies for cleanup. Use the guest count to work out portions, then check what you already have before buying anything. Pack dietary items and allergens separately, and leave time to chill drinks, wash produce and load everything before you leave.
What to bring
Grouped the way you'd shop for it, with quantities.
Furniture
- Foldable tablesqty 6
- Folding chairsqty 40
- Picnic blanketsqty 10
- Tableclothsqty 6
- Parasolqty 4
Tableware
- Reusable platesqty 50
- Reusable bowlsqty 40
- Reusable cupsqty 60
- Reusable cutleryqty 60
- Serving plattersqty 12
- Serving spoonsqty 8
- Serving tongsqty 6
Kitchen
- Cutting boardsqty 4
- Kitchen knivesqty 6
- Thermos flasksqty 4
- Drink dispensersqty 3
Equipment
- Coolersqty 6
- Bluetooth speaker
- Power banksqty 2
Lighting
- Battery lanternsqty 6
Decorations
- Buntingqty 4
- Flower arrangementsqty 6
- Table signsqty 6
Sports equipment
- Frisbeesqty 3
- Badminton setsqty 2
- Footballsqty 2
Cleaning
- Waste binsqty 4
- Hand broomsqty 2
- Dustpan and brushqty 2
- Reusable dish towelsqty 6
Catering
- Groceries
- Whole wheat rolls - 40 pieces
- White rolls - 30 pieces
- Wholegrain wraps - 24 pieces
- Young cheese - 2 kilograms
- Aged cheese - 1 kilogram
- Back ham - 1 kilogram
- Smoked chicken breast - 1 kilogram
- Hummus - 1.5 kilograms
- Cream cheese - 750 grams
- Peanut butter - 2 jars
- Strawberry jam - 2 jars
- Lettuce - 6 heads
- Cucumbers - 8 pieces
- Tomatoes - 3 kilograms
- Bell peppers - 2 kilograms
- Red onions - 1 kilogram
- Arugula - 500 grams
- Feta cheese - 750 grams
- Chickpeas - 8 cans
- Pasta salad - 4 kilograms
- Potato salad - 3 kilogram
- Pesto dressing - 3 bottles
- Yogurt dressing - 3 bottles
- Mayonnaise - 2 jars
- Mustard - 2 bottles
- Ketchup - 2 bottles
- Paprika chips - 6 bags
- Plain chips - 6 bags
- Salted breadsticks - 4 packs
- Mixed nuts - 2 kilograms
- Apples - 40 pieces
- Bananas - 30 pieces
- Grapes - 4 kilograms
- Strawberries - 3 kilograms
- Watermelons - 3 pieces
- Brownies - 50 pieces
- Mini muffins - 50 pieces
- Vegan cookies - 4 packs
- Cola - 8 bottles
- Cola Zero - 6 bottles
- Sinas - 6 bottles
- Sparkling water - 10 bottles
- Still water - 12 bottles
- Unsweetened iced tea - 6 bottles
- Apple juice - 4 packs
- Lemons - 12 pieces
- Ice cubes - 12 bags
- Coffee - 4 packs
- Tea - 2 boxes
- Sugar - 1 kilogram
- Milk - 6 liters
- Oat milk - 4 liters
- Salt - 1 pack
- Black pepper - 1 jar
- Olive oil - 2 bottles
- Herb mix - 3 jars
- Dish soap - 2 bottles
- All-purpose cleaner - 2 bottles
- Paper towels - 6 rolls
- Toilet paper - 12 rolls
- Trash bags - 3 rolls
- Hand soap - 2 bottles
- Paper napkins - 200 pieces
Tips
- Plan 2–3 drinks per person for the first hour, then add 1 drink per person for each additional hour. Bring extra water for warm weather and keep drinks in coolers until serving.
- Allow 2 sandwich or wrap portions per adult, plus 1–2 additional portions for every 10 guests. Buy salad, dips and fruit in serving bowls rather than packing everything in one container.
- Pack one reusable plate, bowl, cup and set of cutlery per guest, plus 10% extra. For 20 guests, that means 22 of each item so replacements are available when something is dropped or dirty.
- Use at least one serving platter, serving spoon or pair of tongs for each shared dish. Pack separate utensils and clearly marked containers for allergy-sensitive food before loading the coolers.
- Bring one waste bin for every 10–15 guests and pack hand brooms, a dustpan, reusable dish towels and extra bags. Cleanup supplies are easy to forget when the picnic equipment is packed first.
Frequently asked questions
- How much food do I need for an outdoor picnic?
- Plan around 2 sandwich or wrap portions per adult, with salads, fruit, dips and dessert alongside them. Add 10% extra food when the final guest count is uncertain or children are attending.
- How many drinks should I buy for a picnic?
- Allow 2–3 drinks per person for the first hour and 1 more per person for every additional hour. Include water separately, and chill drinks at least 4 hours before leaving if possible.
- What picnic supplies do people usually forget?
- Serving spoons, tongs, table signs, waste bins and cleanup cloths are often missed. Pack 10% extra reusable tableware and bring at least one waste bin for every 10–15 guests.
- How early should I shop for an outdoor picnic?
- Buy non-perishable supplies 2–3 days ahead, including tableware, decorations, games and cleanup items. Shop for fresh produce and bread 1 day before, then wash, portion and chill food on the day.
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