What to Buy for a Picnic
A picnic needs more than sandwiches and a blanket. Use this shopping list to cover chilled food, drinks, serving items, seating and simple outdoor activities without making extra trips. Plan around the number of guests, and allow enough cooler space to keep salads, fruit and desserts cold until serving. Drinks, ice packs, serving utensils and rubbish bags are easy to overlook when shopping, especially if you are also bringing picnic tables, blankets or a party tent.
What to bring
Grouped the way you'd shop for it, with quantities.
Furniture
- Picnic tablesqty 6
- Folding chairsqty 20
- Picnic blanketsqty 10
- Party tentsqty 2
- Buffet tablesqty 2
Tableware
- Reusable platesqty 50
- Reusable bowlsqty 50
- Reusable cupsqty 80
- Reusable cutleryqty 60
- Serving spoonsqty 8
- Scissorsqty 3
Kitchen
- Cutting boardsqty 4
- Chef's knivesqty 4
- Serving plattersqty 10
- Serving trays with lidsqty 6
- Bread basketsqty 4
- Thermos flasksqty 4
- Water jugsqty 6
Equipment
- Coolersqty 5
- Ice packsqty 20
- Bluetooth speaker
- Power banksqty 3
Decorations
- Tableclothsqty 6
- Napkin holdersqty 6
- Welcome sign
- Route arrowsqty 6
Lighting
- LED light stringsqty 4
- LED lampsqty 6
Sports equipment
- Frisbeesqty 3
- Kubb set
- Badminton setsqty 2
- Volleyball
- Card gamesqty 4
Cleaning
- Waste binsqty 4
- Washing-up tubsqty 3
- Spongesqty 6
- Tea towelsqty 10
Catering
- Groceries
- Baguettes - 8 pieces
- Wholemeal bread - 6 loaves
- Mini croissants - 40 pieces
- Butter - 500 grams
- Young cheese - 2 kilograms
- Aged cheese - 1 kilogram
- Ham - 1 kilogram
- Chicken breast slices - 1 kilogram
- Hummus - 1 kilogram
- Cream cheese - 750 grams
- Cucumbers - 8 pieces
- Tomatoes - 3 kilograms
- Lettuce - 6 heads
- Bell peppers - 10 pieces
- Red onions - 6 pieces
- Carrots - 2 kilogram
- Cherry tomatoes - 2 kilograms
- Potatoes - 4 kilograms
- Feta cheese - 1 kilogram
- Chickpeas - 6 cans
- Pesto dressing - 2 bottles
- Yogurt dressing - 2 bottles
- Olive oil - 1 bottle
- Balsamic vinegar - 1 bottle
- Salt - 1 pack
- Black pepper - 1 jar
- Paprika powder - 1 jar
- Mayonnaise - 1 jar
- Ketchup - 1 bottle
- Mustard - 1 jar
- Plain chips - 6 bags
- Paprika chips - 6 bags
- Salted peanuts - 4 bags
- Olives - 4 jars
- Apples - 40 pieces
- Bananas - 40 pieces
- Grapes - 4 kilograms
- Strawberries - 3 kilograms
- Watermelons - 3 pieces
- Cookies - 6 packs
- Brownies - 40 pieces
- Yogurt - 4 liters
- Custard - 4 liters
- Cola - 8 bottles
- Cola Zero - 6 bottles
- Sinas - 6 bottles
- Lemonade - 6 bottles
- Spa Blauw - 10 bottles
- Spa Rood - 6 bottles
- Apple juice - 6 packs
- Orange juice - 6 cartons
- Alcohol-free beer - 40 bottles
- White wine - 6 bottles
- Rosé - 6 bottles
- Coffee - 3 packs
- Tea - 2 boxes
- Sugar - 1 kilogram
- Milk - 6 liters
- Oat milk - 4 liters
- Ice cubes - 15 kilograms
- Paper towels - 8 rolls
- Trash bags - 40 pieces
- Dish soap - 2 bottles
- Hand soap - 2 bottles
- Wet wipes - 6 packs
- Toilet paper - 12 rolls
Tips
- Plan around 1 main sandwich or wrap per guest, plus 1–2 side portions such as salad or fruit. Add 10% extra food if the picnic lasts longer than three hours or guests are arriving at different times.
- Allow at least 1 litre of drinking water per person for a half-day picnic, then add coffee, tea or other drinks separately. Chill drinks before leaving and pack at least 2 ice packs per cooler compartment.
- Buy or bring one reusable plate, bowl, cup and set of cutlery per guest, plus 10% extra for dropped or misplaced items. Pack serving spoons, platters and trays with lids separately so they are easy to reach at the buffet.
- Pack food in sealed containers and keep chilled items in coolers until serving. Wash fruit and vegetables before packing, and bring separate cutting boards and chef’s knives if food will be finished at the picnic.
- Allow one picnic blanket for every 4–6 people who will sit on the ground, and check seating before buying supplies. If the forecast is uncertain, arrange a party tent and pack LED lamps or light strings for a picnic that runs into the evening.
Frequently asked questions
- How much food do I need for a picnic per person?
- Plan 1 main sandwich, wrap or equivalent per person, plus 1–2 side portions and 1 dessert. Add about 10% extra food for a long picnic or an uncertain guest count.
- How many drinks should I buy for a picnic?
- Provide at least 1 litre of water per person for a half-day picnic. For the first hour, allow roughly 2–3 drinks per person, then add coffee or tea according to the guest list.
- How many plates, cups and cutlery do I need for a picnic?
- Take one plate, bowl, cup and cutlery set per guest, plus 10% extra. For 20 guests, that means 22 of each reusable item if you want a small buffer.
- How long before a picnic should I buy and chill the food?
- Buy fresh food no more than 1 day before the picnic and chill drinks and perishable items for at least 4 hours beforehand. Pack chilled food directly into coolers before leaving.
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