What to Buy and Bring for a Picnic

A picnic needs more than sandwiches and drinks. Plan the food, serving items, seating and cleanup supplies together so you are not washing fruit at the last minute or looking for extra cups when guests arrive. Use coolers for drinks and perishable food, storage bins for transport, and separate containers for prepared salads, snacks and sandwiches. Check dietary requirements before shopping, then add a little spare capacity for drinks, plates and cutlery.

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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
Transport cratesqty 12

Kitchen

Coolersqty 4
Cutting boardsqty 4
Chef’s knives and bread knivesqty 6
Serving plattersqty 12
Serving tongsqty 8
Storage bins with lidsqty 12
Thermos flasksqty 4

Tableware

Reusable platesqty 50
Reusable bowlsqty 50
Reusable cupsqty 60
Reusable cutleryqty 60
Coffee cupsqty 40
Water jugsqty 6

Equipment

Bluetooth speakersqty 2
Power banksqty 3
Extension cordsqty 2

Decorations

Buntingqty 4
Table décorqty 6

Lighting

LED light stringsqty 6

Sports equipment

Frisbeesqty 3
Badminton setsqty 2
Ballsqty 3
Gamesqty 5

Cleaning

Dishpanqty 2
Reusable cleaning clothsqty 10
Hand brush and dustpanqty 2

Catering

Groceries
- White casino bread - 6 loaves
- Wholemeal bread - 6 loaves
- Gluten-free bread - 2 loaves
- Whole wheat wraps - 30 pieces
- Butter - 500 grams
- Cream cheese - 1 kilogram
- Young cheese - 1,5 kilogram
- Brie - 750 grams
- Hummus - 1 kilogram
- Chicken breast slices - 1 kilogram
- Smoked salmon - 600 grams
- Eggs - 30 pieces
- Cucumbers - 8 pieces
- Tomatoes - 2 kilograms
- Red bell peppers - 8 pieces
- Arugula - 500 grams
- Iceberg lettuce - 4 heads
- Red onions - 6 pieces
- Potatoes - 4 kilograms
- Pesto sauce - 3 jars
- Olive oil - 1 bottle
- Balsamic vinegar - 1 bottle
- Mayonnaise - 2 jars
- Mustard - 2 jars
- Ketchup - 2 bottles
- Salt - 1 pack
- Black pepper - 1 jar
- Paprika powder - 1 jar
- Apples - 40 pieces
- Bananas - 30 pieces
- Grapes - 3 kilograms
- Strawberries - 2 kilograms
- Melons - 3 pieces
- Plain chips - 6 bags
- Paprika chips - 6 bags
- Mixed nuts - 1 kilogram
- Rice cakes - 6 packs
- Cookies - 6 packs
- Brownies - 50 pieces
- Cola - 6 bottles
- Cola Zero - 6 bottles
- Sinas - 4 bottles
- Sparkling mineral water - 8 bottles
- Still mineral water - 12 bottles
- Apple juice - 6 packs
- Lemons - 10 pieces
- Coffee - 3 packs
- Tea - 2 boxes
- Milk - 4 liters
- Oat milk - 3 liters
- Sugar - 1 kilogram
- Ice cubes - 10 bags
- Paper napkins - 200 pieces
- Bamboo cocktail picks - 200 pieces
- Aluminum foil - 2 rolls
- Cling film - 2 rolls
- Parchment paper - 1 roll
- Paper towels - 6 rolls
- Trash bags - 40 pieces
- Dish soap - 2 bottles
- Hand soap - 2 bottles
- Hand gel - 4 bottles
- Wet wipes - 4 packs

Tips

Plan two to three drinks per person for the first hour, then add one drink per person for each additional hour. Bring extra water, especially if the picnic is outdoors in warm weather.
Pack perishable food in coolers and keep drinks in a separate cooler if possible. This keeps the food cooler because guests are not opening it every few minutes.
Bring one reusable plate, bowl, cup and set of cutlery per guest, plus at least 10% extra. Add serving platters, tongs and knives so guests do not serve food with personal utensils.
Prepare fruit, vegetables, salads and sandwiches before leaving, but transport each item in a lidded container. Pack a cutting board and kitchen knives only if you expect to prepare or refill food on site.
Allow one waste station for every 15 to 20 guests and pack a dishpan with reusable cleaning cloths. Include transport crates so food, tableware and equipment can be carried from the car in one trip.

Frequently asked questions

How much food do I need for a picnic?: Allow around 400 to 600 grams of food per adult for a meal-style picnic, including sandwiches, salads, fruit and snacks. Add 10% extra when the picnic lasts several hours or includes active games.
How many drinks should I buy for a picnic?: Plan two to three drinks per person for the first hour and one additional drink per person for every later hour. Include water as well as other drinks, and chill them in coolers before leaving.
What picnic supplies do I need besides food?: Bring seating, table coverings, coolers, reusable plates, bowls, cups, cutlery, serving platters, tongs, water jugs and lidded storage containers. For cleanup, pack a dishpan, reusable cloths and supplies for waste stations.
When should I prepare picnic food?: Wash fruit and vegetables and prepare salads, snacks and sandwiches on the day of the picnic whenever possible. Finish chilled food at least 30 to 60 minutes before departure so it can cool properly while you load the coolers and transport crates.

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