Cocktailhire · Event bar service & planning
How Many Bartenders & Bar Units Do You Need?
Start with one bartender per 50 guests and one 1.5m bar unit per 100 guests, then account for the menu, arrival pattern and additional duties. These are Cocktailhire planning guides. The calculator below shows the starting numbers without promising a drinks-per-minute or queue-time result.
The initial staffing calculation
Divide the guest count by 50 and round up to a whole bartender. For 50 guests the starting guide is one; for 100 it is two; for 150 it is three. This first calculation should be reviewed against the actual drinks and service period.
The initial bar calculation
Divide the guest count by 100 and round up to a whole 1.5m unit. For 50 or 100 guests the initial equipment guide is one unit; for 150 guests it is two. Multiple floors or service points may need a different arrangement.
Why arrival patterns matter
One hundred guests ordering immediately after a ceremony is different from one hundred people ordering throughout an evening. Include the reception start, announcements, breaks and any time the bar must serve a concentrated group.
What else changes the team
The selected cocktails, other drinks, glass collection, replenishment and separate bar positions all affect the plan. Agree which duties the Cocktailhire team is undertaking. Adding bar frontage alone does not add staff or production capacity.
Check the room before ordering
A 1.5m straight bar needs 1.5m by 1.5m working space; a 3m straight bar needs 3m by 1.5m. Horseshoe depth is 2.5m and the full island footprint is 5.5m by 3.5m. Guest circulation is additional.
Calculate the initial staffing and bar guide
Starting guide only. Confirm the team, bar plan and responsibilities for your actual event.