Plan a sushi bar for any crowd. Enter guests and appetite to get sushi pieces, rolls, sushi rice and fish for your sushi party.
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This sushi bar calculator turns a guest list into a sushi party plan. Enter the number of guests and choose the appetite level, and the sushi pieces per person rate for that level gives the total pieces. The calculator converts pieces into maki rolls at 8 pieces per roll, then into sushi rice and fish quantities, so a sushi bar party, a sushi platter order, or a catering portion plan all start from one clear total.
Competitor guides agree on the core sushi pieces per person rule, with small differences by setting. As an appetizer or party snack, plan 6 to 8 pieces per person. As a main meal, plan 10 to 14 pieces per person. This calculator uses light 6, standard 8, and generous 12 pieces per person, which covers a sushi bar party, a mixed buffet, and a sushi-focused dinner without asking you to juggle a table of ranges. For a sushi bar for 20 guests at standard appetite, that is 160 pieces; for a sushi bar for 30 guests, it is 240 pieces.
Enter guests first, then appetite. Light suits sushi served with other foods, standard suits a typical sushi bar party, and generous suits a sushi-only meal with hungry guests. The result shows total sushi pieces, maki rolls, sushi rice in kilograms, and fish in kilograms. Use the rolls count when ordering platters, and the rice and fish counts when buying ingredients to roll your own sushi bar.
Maki rolls are the easiest party format because one roll cuts into 8 pieces and travels well on a platter. Nigiri pieces are smaller and lighter, so guests may eat 8 to 12 nigiri pieces as a main course. Sashimi has no rice, so it needs more fish per person, roughly 6 to 8 ounces per person as a main plate. This calculator is built around maki rolls per person, because rolls are what most sushi bar catering portions and sushi platter pieces are counted in.
Sushi rice per person follows directly from pieces: each piece carries about 20 grams of seasoned sushi rice, so total pieces times 0.02 gives kilograms of rice. Fish follows the same logic at about 15 grams per piece, so total pieces times 0.015 gives kilograms of fish. These are planning averages for mixed rolls, not exact chef weights for a single roll type. If your menu is sashimi-heavy, buy extra fish, because sashimi pieces carry more fish than a filled maki piece.
For 30 guests at standard appetite, you need 240 pieces, 30 rolls, 4.8 kg of sushi rice, and 3.6 kg of fish. For 20 guests at light appetite, you need 120 pieces, 15 rolls, 2.4 kg of rice, and 1.8 kg of fish. For 10 guests at generous appetite, you need 120 pieces, 15 rolls, 2.4 kg of rice, and 1.8 kg of fish. The same piece count can come from different guest counts, so always check the guest count before ordering.
A strong sushi bar party mixes 4 to 5 roll types across cooked and raw, mild and spicy, and familiar and signature rolls. California rolls suit newcomers, spicy tuna suits adults, and a vegetarian roll such as cucumber or avocado covers guests who do not eat fish. Label vegetarian rolls clearly, keep a tamari option for gluten-free guests, and put pickled ginger, wasabi, soy sauce, and chopsticks with every platter.
The most common mistake is under-ordering, because sushi pieces look small and guests eat more than expected. Add the generous level when sushi is the only main dish, and add a small buffer for a long party. Keep raw fish chilled until serving, keep it out of the warm room for no longer than a short service window, and discard leftovers that have sat out too long. Buy fish from a reputable supplier and ask when the rolls were cut if you order platters.
Plan 6 to 8 pieces per person when sushi is a party snack, and 10 to 14 pieces when sushi is the main meal. This calculator uses light 6, standard 8, and generous 12 pieces per person.
One maki roll cuts into 8 pieces, so standard appetite is about 1 roll per person, light is about 0.75 rolls per person, and generous is about 1.5 rolls per person.
Allow about 20 grams of sushi rice per piece. At standard appetite of 8 pieces, that is about 0.16 kg of sushi rice per person.
Allow about 15 grams of fish per mixed roll piece. At standard appetite of 8 pieces, that is about 0.12 kg of fish per person. Sashimi-only menus need more fish per person.
At standard appetite, 20 guests need 160 pieces, which is 20 rolls, 3.2 kg of sushi rice, and 2.4 kg of fish.
Yes, children usually eat about half an adult portion, and they often prefer simple rolls such as California or cucumber. Count children at half a guest if most of the group is children.
Include at least one vegetarian roll, such as cucumber, avocado, or a vegetable roll, and label it clearly so guests who do not eat fish can find it easily.
Rolls are best made the same day. If you must prepare ahead, keep rolls chilled, covered, and refrigerated, and bring them out shortly before serving so the rice stays soft.