What to Buy for a Picnic

A picnic needs more than sandwiches and a blanket. Plan food by guest count, then add the tableware, coolers and serving equipment that make setup and cleanup manageable. Wash fruit and vegetables before packing, chill drinks early, and keep salads and prepared wraps cold until serving. This list also helps you spot commonly forgotten items, such as bottle openers, serving tongs, coffee cups and separate waste bins.

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What to bring

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

Furniture

Picnic tablesqty 5
Folding chairsqty 40
Picnic blanketsqty 10
Buffet tablesqty 3
Tableclothsqty 8

Tableware

Platesqty 50
Bowlsqty 50
Drinking glassesqty 60
Coffee cupsqty 40
Forksqty 50
Knivesqty 50
Spoonsqty 50
Serving plattersqty 12
Serving tongsqty 6

Kitchen

Cutting boardsqty 4
Chef's knivesqty 4
Bread knivesqty 2
Coolersqty 4
Thermos flasksqty 4
Corkscrewsqty 3
Bottle openersqty 3
Serving trays with lidsqty 8
Food storage containersqty 12

Equipment

Bluetooth speaker

Lighting

LED string lightsqty 4
LED lanternsqty 6

Decorations

Buntingqty 4
Flower arrangementsqty 5

Cleaning

Waste binsqty 4
Waste sorting binsqty 3
Spongesqty 6
Dish brushesqty 3
Tea towelsqty 10
Cleaning bucketsqty 2

Catering

Groceries
- Baguettes - 8 pieces
- Wholemeal bread - 6 loaves
- Whole wheat wraps - 40 pieces
- Mini bake-off rolls - 50 pieces
- Butter - 500 grams
- Young cheese - 2 kilograms
- Brie - 1 kilogram
- Hummus - 1 kilogram
- Herb cream cheese - 750 grams
- Smoked chicken breast - 1.5 kilograms
- Back ham - 1 kilogram
- Herb cream cheese - 500 grams
- Arugula - 500 grams
- Iceberg lettuce - 4 heads
- Cucumbers - 8 pieces
- Cherry tomatoes - 2 kilograms
- Bell peppers - 10 pieces
- Red onions - 6 pieces
- Carrots - 2 kilogram
- Celery - 2 heads
- Grapes - 2 kilogram
- Apples - 40 pieces
- Bananas - 30 pieces
- Strawberries - 2 kilograms
- Melons - 4 pieces
- Pasta salad - 4 kilograms
- Potato salad - 3 kilogram
- Mixed salad - 2 kilogram
- Pine nuts - 250 grams
- Feta cheese - 750 grams
- Olive oil - 1 bottle
- Balsamic vinegar - 1 bottle
- Mayonnaise - 1 jar
- Mustard - 1 jar
- Ketchup - 1 bottle
- Salt - 1 pack
- Black pepper - 1 jar
- Paprika powder - 1 jar
- Spice mix - 2 bags
- Paprika chips - 6 bags
- Plain chips - 6 bags
- Tortilla chips - 5 bags
- Salted Nuts - 1,5 kilogram
- Olives - 1 kilogram
- Mini pickles - 2 jars
- Cookies - 6 packs
- Brownies - 50 pieces
- Chocolate - 2 kilogram
- Cola - 8 bottles
- Cola Zero - 6 bottles
- Lemonade - 5 liters
- Sparkling mineral water - 12 bottles
- Still mineral water - 18 bottles
- Apple juice - 6 liters
- Orange juice - 6 liters
- Non-alcoholic beer - 24 bottles
- White wine - 8 bottles
- Rosé - 6 bottles
- Coffee - 3 packs
- Tea - 2 boxes
- Milk - 6 liters
- Oat milk - 3 liters
- Sugar - 1 kilogram
- Honey - 1 jar
- Lemons - 10 pieces
- Ice cubes - 10 kilograms
- Trash bags - 3 rolls
- Paper towels - 6 rolls
- Toilet paper - 2 packs
- Dish soap - 2 bottles
- All-purpose cleaner - 2 bottles
- Hand soap - 3 bottles
- Tissues - 4 boxes

Tips

Plan 1½ to 2 sandwiches or wraps per adult, plus 2 to 3 snack portions and at least 2 servings of fruit or vegetables per person. Add extra food for children with larger appetites and for picnics lasting more than 3 hours.
Allow 2 to 3 drinks per person for the first hour and 1 drink per hour after that. Chill them several hours ahead, and use coolers with ice packs rather than relying on a last-minute refrigerator run.
Bring one plate, bowl, glass, coffee cup, fork, knife and spoon per guest, plus 10% extra. Serving platters, tongs and trays with lids are easy to forget but prevent people from handling shared food.
Pack sandwiches, wraps and salads in food containers or covered trays, separating dressings and wet ingredients until serving. Wash and cut produce before leaving so preparation does not take over the picnic.
Set aside one waste bin for general rubbish and one for sorting, and bring at least one tablecloth per picnic or buffet table. Check the forecast the day before and pack blankets, chairs and lighting according to the conditions.

Frequently asked questions

How much food do I need for a picnic per person?: Plan 1½ to 2 sandwiches or wraps, 2 to 3 snack portions and 2 fruit or vegetable portions per adult. For a picnic of 10 adults, that means about 15 to 20 sandwiches or wraps, 20 to 30 snacks and at least 20 fruit or vegetable portions.
How many drinks should I buy for a picnic?: Buy 2 to 3 drinks per person for the first hour, then 1 additional drink per person for every extra hour. For 10 guests at a 3-hour picnic, plan roughly 40 to 50 drinks, including water and other options.
When should I chill drinks and pack picnic food?: Chill drinks at least 4 hours before leaving, or overnight when possible. Pack salads, wraps and other perishable food in coolers just before departure and keep them cold until serving.
How many plates and cups do I need for a picnic?: Take one of each item per guest, plus 10% extra for breakage, spills or second servings. For 20 guests, pack at least 22 plates, bowls, glasses, coffee cups, forks, knives and spoons.

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