Picnic shopping list: what to buy and bring

A picnic needs more than sandwiches and a blanket. Plan the food and drinks first, then pack reusable tableware, coolers, ice packs and serving equipment so everything arrives safely and is easy to share. For the first hour, allow two to three drinks per person, plus extra water for warm weather. Separate dietary options before leaving and keep salads, fruit and other chilled food refrigerated during transport.

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What to bring

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

Furniture

Picnic blanketsqty 12
Foldable tablesqty 6
Folding chairsqty 40
Parasolsqty 4
Tableclothsqty 6

Tableware

Reusable platesqty 60
Reusable bowlsqty 60
Reusable cupsqty 80
Coffee mugsqty 50
Reusable cutleryqty 70
Serving plattersqty 12
Serving tongsqty 8
Water jugsqty 6

Equipment

Coolersqty 5
Ice packsqty 20
Thermos flasksqty 4
Bluetooth speaker
Power banksqty 3

Lighting

LED lampsqty 6

Decorations

Buntingqty 6
Table decorationsqty 8

Kitchen

Cutting boardsqty 4
Kitchen knivesqty 4
Bread knivesqty 3
Kitchen scissorsqty 2
Can openersqty 2
Food storage containersqty 20

Sports equipment

Footballsqty 2
Frisbeesqty 3
Badminton setsqty 2
Card gamesqty 4
Board gamesqty 3

Safety

First aid kit
Hand sanitizerqty 4

Catering

Groceries
- Baguettes - 12 pieces
- Wholemeal bread - 6 loaves
- Wraps - 50 pieces
- Gluten-free bread - 3 loaves
- Unsalted butter - 2 packs
- Mild cheese - 3 kilograms
- Slices of ham - 2 kilograms
- Hummus - 2 kilograms
- Vegan spread - 1 kilogram
- Peanut butter - 2 jars
- Strawberry jam - 2 jars
- Cucumbers - 8 pieces
- Tomatoes - 3 kilograms
- Lettuce - 6 heads
- Bell peppers - 2 kilograms
- Carrots - 2 kilogram
- Cherry tomatoes - 2 kilograms
- Potato salad - 4 kilogram
- Pasta salad - 4 kilograms
- Couscous salad - 3 kilogram
- Apples - 40 pieces
- Bananas - 40 pieces
- Grapes - 5 kilograms
- Strawberries - 3 kilograms
- Watermelons - 3 pieces
- Plain chips - 8 bags
- Paprika chips - 6 bags
- Crackers - 8 packs
- Olives - 6 jars
- Pickles - 4 jars
- Mayonnaise - 3 bottles
- Ketchup - 3 bottles
- Mustard - 2 jars
- Salt - 1 pack
- Pepper - 1 jar
- Italian herbs - 1 jar
- Spa Blauw - 60 bottles
- Spa Rood - 30 bottles
- Cola - 12 bottles
- Cola Zero - 12 bottles
- Lemonade syrup - 4 bottles
- Orange juice - 12 cartons
- Apple juice - 8 cartons
- Coffee - 4 packs
- Tea - 2 boxes
- Milk - 8 liters
- Oat milk - 4 liters
- Sugar - 1 kilogram
- Ice cubes - 15 kilograms
- Paper napkins - 300 pieces
- Paper towels - 6 rolls
- Trash bags - 40 pieces
- Dish soap - 2 bottles
- Cleaning sponges - 6 pieces
- Toilet paper - 12 rolls

Tips

Allow about 2–3 drinks per person for the first hour, then add 1–2 drinks per person for each additional hour. Pack extra water if the weather is warm or the location has no nearby drinking-water point.
Use one cooler for drinks and another for food when possible. Chill drinks before departure and use at least two ice packs per cooler so salads, dairy products and other perishables stay cold during transport.
Pack 1 reusable plate, bowl, cup and set of cutlery per guest, plus 10% extra. Bring serving platters and serving tongs separately; guests should not have to serve shared food with their own cutlery.
Keep dietary options in clearly labelled food containers and pack them separately from the main dishes. Prepare fruit and vegetables before leaving, but keep cut bread, wraps and salads covered until serving.
Bring shade and seating for the whole group: one picnic blanket for every 3–4 people, plus a parasol for each main seating area. Add power banks and LED lamps if the picnic may continue after daylight fades.

Frequently asked questions

How much food do I need for a picnic per person?: Plan roughly 400–600 g of savoury food per adult for a meal, including bread, wraps, salads and snacks. Add fruit or another dessert, and increase the amount by about 10% if guests are likely to stay for several hours.
How many drinks should I buy for a picnic?: Allow 2–3 drinks per person for the first hour and 1–2 more for every additional hour. Include water as well as other drinks, and buy extra water for hot weather or a remote picnic location.
How long can picnic food stay out of the cooler?: Keep chilled food out of refrigeration for no longer than 2 hours, or 1 hour when temperatures are above 32°C. Transport salads, dairy products and cut fruit in a cooler with ice packs and put them out shortly before serving.
What tableware do I need for a picnic?: Pack one plate, bowl, cup, mug and set of reusable cutlery per guest, plus 10% extra. For 20 guests, that means 22 of each main item, along with serving platters, tongs and water jugs.

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