What to Buy for a Poker Night

A poker night needs more than cards and chips. Plan supplies for the playing area, drinks, snacks, serving, lighting and the people who are not playing every hand. For a home game, check the number of players before shopping: one poker table usually seats up to 8–10 players comfortably. Buy or bring spare cards, enough glasses and serving equipment, and chill drinks before guests arrive so setup does not compete with the first round.

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What to bring

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

Furniture

Tablesqty 4
Chairsqty 20
Buffet table
Side tablesqty 2
Tableclothsqty 5

Equipment

Poker chipsqty 1000
Playing cardsqty 8
Poker buttonsqty 4
Poker clocksqty 2
Poker staff cardsqty 4
Card holdersqty 20
Calculatorsqty 2
Bluetooth speaker
Extension cordsqty 2
Power stripsqty 3

Tableware

Dinner platesqty 24
Dessert platesqty 24
Drinking glassesqty 30
Wine glassesqty 20
Coffee cupsqty 20
Cutlery setsqty 24
Serving plattersqty 8
Serving spoonsqty 8

Kitchen

Coffee maker
Kettlesqty 2
Thermos flasksqty 3
Cutting boardsqty 2
Knivesqty 4
Hot traysqty 2
Ice cube traysqty 2

Decorations

Poker postersqty 4
Table décorqty 4
Prizesqty 3

Lighting

Mood lightingqty 4
Table lampsqty 4

Cleaning

Waste binsqty 3
Bucketsqty 2
Spongesqty 6
Dishclothsqty 8
Hand soap dispensersqty 2

Catering

Groceries
- Cola - 6 bottles
- Cola Zero - 4 bottles
- Sinas - 3 bottles
- Ice tea - 3 bottles
- Sparkling mineral water - 6 bottles
- Still mineral water - 6 bottles
- Alcohol-free beer - 12 bottles
- Pilsner - 36 bottles
- White wine - 4 bottles
- Red wine - 3 bottles
- Bitter lemon - 2 bottles
- Tonic - 2 bottles
- Coffee - 2 packs
- Decaf coffee - 1 pack
- Black tea - 1 box
- Herbal tea - 1 box
- Sugar - 1 pack
- Mints - 1 box
- Milk - 4 liters
- Oat milk - 2 liter
- Lemons - 6 pieces
- Paprika chips - 3 bags
- Plain chips - 3 bags
- Tortilla chips - 3 bags
- Salted peanuts - 2 bags
- Mixed nuts - 2 bags
- Olives - 3 jars
- Pickles - 2 jars
- Cherry Tomatoes - 2 kilogram
- Cucumbers - 4 pieces
- Carrots - 2 kilogram
- Grapes - 2 kilogram
- Apples - 16 pieces
- Hummus - 4 tubs
- Garlic sauce - 2 bottles
- Ketchup - 1 bottle
- Mayonnaise - 1 jar
- Baguettes - 6 pieces
- Herb butter - 4 tubs
- Mini pizzas - 40 pieces
- Bitterballen - 60 pieces
- Vegetarian snacks - 30 pieces
- Chicken skewers - 30 pieces
- Wraps - 24 pieces
- Cream cheese - 3 tubs
- Smoked chicken breast - 500 grams
- Lettuce - 3 heads
- Grated cheese - 500 gram
- Salsa - 3 jars
- Chocolate - 4 bars
- Cookies - 4 packs
- Brownies - 24 pieces
- Butter - 1 pack
- Paper towels - 4 rolls
- Toilet paper - 12 rolls
- Trash bags - 2 rolls
- Dish soap - 2 bottles
- Dishwasher tablets - 30 pieces
- All-purpose cleaner - 1 bottle
- Kitchen degreaser - 1 bottle
- Toilet cleaner - 1 bottle
- Cleaning wipes - 2 packs
- Towel rolls - 2 rolls

Tips

Allow about 200–300 g of snacks per guest for a three- to four-hour poker night, with extra food if people are drinking. Use serving platters and spoons so players do not need to reach across the cards.
Plan one drinking glass per guest plus 2–3 spares, and add wine glasses or coffee cups only if those drinks are on the menu. Keep water available throughout the evening rather than relying only on welcome drinks.
Have at least two decks of playing cards available. A second deck lets you prepare the next hand while the first deck is still in use and gives you a backup if cards are marked or damaged.
Check the table layout before shopping for food and furniture. Leave clear space for chips, cards and drinks, and use side tables or a separate buffet table so plates and snacks do not crowd the poker table.
Prepare the practical items people often forget: extension cords and power strips for lighting or a speaker, ice for drinks, thermos flasks for coffee, and a visible copy of the poker rules and blinds.

Frequently asked questions

How many poker chips do I need per player?: Plan for around 50–100 chips per player for a casual poker night, depending on your denominations and blind structure. For 8 players, that means roughly 400–800 chips in total.
How many decks of cards do I need for poker night?: Bring two complete decks for a game with up to 10 players. One deck is enough to play, but the second keeps the game moving during checks, reshuffles or damaged cards.
How much food and drink should I buy for poker night?: Allow about 200–300 g of snacks per guest for three to four hours, plus a meal if the game overlaps dinner. For drinks, start with 2–3 servings per person for the first hour and provide water throughout.
What should I prepare before guests arrive for poker night?: Finish shopping and chill drinks at least 2 hours before the start time. Set out the tables, chairs, chips, cards, rules, snacks and glasses 30–45 minutes before guests arrive so the first round can begin on time.

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