What to Buy for a Poker Night

A poker night needs more than cards and chips. Plan the playing equipment, table setup, drinks and buffet supplies before guests arrive, so nobody is searching for missing items between hands. This shopping list covers the practical details for a hosted poker evening, including dealer buttons, blind cards, chip trays, tableware and cooling space. Check quantities against your guest list, then buy or borrow anything that will be used at every table.

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What to bring

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

Furniture

Tablesqty 6
Chairsqty 24
Buffet table
Stoolsqty 4
Tableclothsqty 6
Poker felt matsqty 6

Equipment

Poker chipsqty 6
Playing cardsqty 12
Dealer buttonsqty 6
Blind cardsqty 6
Kitchen timersqty 6
Chip traysqty 12
Calculatorsqty 2
Bluetooth speaker
Extension cordsqty 3
Power stripsqty 3

Tableware

Platesqty 30
Glassesqty 36
Mugsqty 24
Coffee spoonsqty 24
Serving plattersqty 8
Serving tongsqty 4

Kitchen

Coolersqty 3
Cutting boardsqty 2
Bread knivesqty 2
Kitchen knivesqty 2
Scissorsqty 2
Storage binsqty 6

Decorations

Table numbersqty 6
Welcome sign
Rules boardqty 2
Trophiesqty 3

Lighting

Table lampsqty 6
Mood lightingqty 2

Catering

Coffee maker
Kettle
Thermos flasksqty 3
Drink dispensersqty 2
Ice cube traysqty 3
Groceries
- White mini rolls - 48 pieces
- Wholemeal mini rolls - 24 pieces
- Butter - 500 grams
- Young cheese - 1,5 kilogram
- Back ham - 1 kilogram
- Chicken breast slices - 750 grams
- Hummus - 600 grams
- Cream cheese - 500 grams
- Cucumbers - 4 pieces
- Tomatoes - 1 kilogram
- Arugula - 250 grams
- Paprika chips - 4 bags
- Plain chips - 4 bags
- Tortilla chips - 4 bags
- Salted peanuts - 3 bags
- Pretzel sticks - 3 bags
- Olives - 3 jars
- Grapes - 2 kilogram
- Apples - 24 pieces
- Snack Tomatoes - 1 kilogram
- Mayonnaise - 1 bottle
- Ketchup - 1 bottle
- Mustard - 1 jar
- Garlic sauce - 1 bottle
- Cola - 6 bottles
- Cola Zero - 6 bottles
- Sinas - 4 bottles
- Ice tea - 4 bottles
- Sparkling mineral water - 6 bottles
- Still mineral water - 6 bottles
- Non-alcoholic beer - 24 bottles
- Beer - 24 bottles
- Coffee - 2 packs
- Black tea - 1 box
- Herbal tea - 1 box
- Milk - 4 liters
- Oat milk - 2 liter
- Sugar - 500 grams
- Mints - 1 box
- Lemons - 6 pieces
- Ice cubes - 6 bags
- Napkins - 4 packs
- Paper towels - 4 rolls
- Toilet paper - 24 rolls
- Trash bags - 2 rolls
- Dish soap - 2 bottles
- All-purpose cleaner - 2 bottles
- Sponges - 6 pieces

Cleaning

Waste binsqty 4
Dustpan and brushqty 2
Bucketsqty 2
Mopsqty 2
Cleaning glovesqty 4

Tips

Allow one complete set of playing cards, dealer buttons and blind cards for each poker table, plus at least one spare deck for damaged or marked cards.
Plan two to three drinks per person for the first hour, then roughly one drink per person per hour. Add water, coffee or tea, and chill drinks before guests arrive.
For a buffet, provide one plate and one glass per guest, plus about 10% extra. Put serving platters and serving tongs on the shopping list rather than expecting guests to use cutlery from their place settings.
Prepare enough poker chips for the largest table before the event. Chip trays make denominations easier to sort and prevent chips being mixed together during setup.
Buy or borrow practical items early: table coverings or poker felt mats, kitchen timers, coolers, extension cords and power strips. These are easy to overlook and difficult to replace once play has started.

Frequently asked questions

How many poker chips do I need per player?: Plan for 50 to 100 chips per player for a casual poker night, depending on the denominations and starting stack. Prepare the chips in trays before guests arrive so registration does not delay the first hand.
How many decks of cards do I need for poker night?: Use one deck per active poker table and keep at least one spare deck available. For one table, two decks are a practical minimum because a fresh deck can replace cards that become damaged or marked.
How much food and drink should I buy for poker night?: Allow two to three drinks per person in the first hour and about one per person for each later hour. For food, plan roughly 400 to 600 grams per guest for a meal-style buffet, or 200 to 300 grams for snacks alongside a meal.
What should I buy for a poker night buffet?: Buy plates, glasses, serving platters and serving tongs for every guest, with 10% extra. Add napkins, easy-to-eat food and enough cooler space for the drinks; keep the buffet away from the poker tables to protect cards and chips.

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