How many cocktail glasses do I need per guest?

Plan for 2 glasses in the first hour and 1 per additional hour. For a 4-hour event that is 5 drinks per guest. However, if you have a glass wash turnaround, you may need fewer glasses in circulation at once. A good rule is to have at least 2-3 glasses per guest available at any time.

What types of cocktail glasses do I need?

Highball glasses are the most versatile, used for G&Ts, mojitos and long drinks. Martini glasses suit espresso martinis and cosmopolitans. Coupe glasses work for daiquiris and champagne cocktails. Flutes are ideal for prosecco cocktails and Bellinis. Most UK events need a mix of highball and one other type.

Should I hire or buy cocktail glasses?

For events over 30 guests, hiring is usually more cost-effective. UK glass hire companies charge around 30-60p per glass including delivery and collection. Buying makes sense if you entertain regularly. Polycarbonate glasses are a good option for outdoor events and are available from most UK catering suppliers.

How many spare glasses should I allow for breakage?

Allow 10% extra for breakage at a standard event with bartender service. For self-serve or outdoor events, increase to 15-20%. If using polycarbonate or Tritan plastic glasses, you can reduce spares to 5%. Glass hire companies often include a breakage allowance in their pricing.

Cocktail Glass Calculator

Calculate the number of glasses needed by cocktail type for your event bar.

Number of Guests

Total guests attending the event

Event Duration

Total length of the drinks service

Cocktail Types on Menu (proportional split)

Martini Glass Cocktails

Number of martini-glass drinks on menu

Highball Glass Cocktails

Number of highball-glass drinks on menu

Coupe Glass Cocktails

Number of coupe-glass drinks on menu

Flute Glass Cocktails

Number of flute-glass drinks on menu

Service Type

Affects breakage rate estimate

How We Calculate This

This calculator estimates the number of cocktail glasses needed by type, based on guest count, event duration and your cocktail menu proportions.

Drinks per guest

Total drinks = 2 (first hour) + 1 per additional hour

Glass allocation

Glasses are allocated proportionally based on the cocktail types on your menu. If no specific types are entered, a default split of 25% martini, 35% highball, 25% coupe and 15% flute is used.

Wash turnaround

If glasses can be washed and returned to service, fewer are needed at peak. The default assumes each glass is used twice before washing.

Frequently Asked Questions

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Last updated: March 2026

All calculations are estimates. Adjust quantities based on your guests and event type.