If you’re planning a birthday party for a bunch of 8 year olds you might be wondering how many bags of chips you’ll need? Or, what if you’re hosting the next Super Bowl party? How do you figure out how many chips everyone eats?
The number of bags of potato chips you’ll need for your next gathering depends on several factors. It depends on the type of party you’re planning, how much alcohol you’re serving, and if you’ll have any other snacks.
As a general rule, you should purchase two regular 8 oz. bags or one party-sized bag of chips per every 5 guests you invite. While this is more than the recommended serving size of 16-18 chips per person, it’s better to purchase more than recommended. This is especially true for longer events, where you can expect each person to eat 2-3+ servings.
Many people do not stick to the serving size recommendation, so make sure you do not base your purchase off of the serving suggestions.
No one wants to come up short with their snacks at a party. But, you also do not want to have a ton of leftovers because chips don’t have a long shelf life.
So how many bags of chips should you get for your next gathering? Keep reading to find out.
Different Sizes Of Chips Bags
Potato chips come in almost every size you can imagine, from party to personal. Each size is intended for a different environment, whether you are headed to school or work or looking to have fun with friends.
The size of the bag is meant to invoke a certain response from the viewer but also intends to meet a specific need. The range of sizes is important for preparing your next party or lunch box.
Different brands have slightly different-sized bags. For example, Lay’s notably has a 10.5 oz bag that they call their “party size”. While other brands such as UTZ can reach up the 13 oz. So what exactly is a standard chip bag?
What is a Regular Sized Bag of Chips?
Typically, it is anywhere around 7-8 oz. and is considered a “regular” size. Regarding how many people each type will feed, this varies based on the crowd and how much each person eats. In other words, the serving size is only 1 oz. (approximately 15 chips) most people eat more than this.
The typical “regular” sized bag chips are meant to be split up amongst several people. These bags are large, but not the largest by far. These 7oz-8.5 ozs. bags of chips can satisfy a few roommates gathered around for a movie.
But they may not be the most cost-effective way to stock your party. For example, the average cost for an 8 oz. bag of chips is $3.00. This might sound great, but try getting just one and inviting a bunch of buddies over and you’ll see how fast they disappear.
What is a Party or Family Sized Bag of Chips?
A party-sized or family-sized bag of chips is designed to meet the needs of a large group of people. These bags are typically between 13oz-15.5 oz. and contain a total of 13-15 servings.
But, of course, almost no one sticks to the serving size. So, it is best to double the serving size and calculate for your party this way. In other words, count on your guests consuming an average of 2-3 oz. each.
But, this bag of chips is cheaper per ounce than the regular size. Especially if you go for the 15.5-ounce bag, which is about $5-$6 per bag, which is not an overwhelming difference. But, if you need a lot of chips it’s a better value.
What is the Single Size Bag of Chips?
A single-size bag of chips is just what the name is, a singular bag of chips. This means it is not really intended to serve a large host of people. But rather it is intended to be used in lunch boxes or for kids sporting events.
If you’re planning a large party for kids and you plan to use chips as a prize for games, these are a great choice. They are typically only 1-2 oz each and cost about $1 for each package.
How Many Bags Of Chips You Need For Different Group Sizes
Typically, the average regular-sized bag of chips will serve about 3 people. But, the amount of chips you’ll need depends a little on the type of party you’re planning.
If you plan a somewhat lowkey event with a few friends just chilling out, you will need maybe 1-2 bags of regular-sized chips. This is a typical 7-8oz bag. But, for a larger gathering or a more exciting party, you’ll want to get more.
It is important to know beforehand what type of party you are planning. Are planning a party with 20 or more people, late-night, alcohol, and greasy food? Under this setting, many people want to indulge themselves.
How old is your audience? Children can eat a lot, but typically an 8-year-old can’t compete with an 18-year-old. Are you planning a high school or college party? You should definitely plan on getting plenty of chips.
But, how many should you purchase for each party size? Let’s break it down based on type (age group/setting) and size.
| Number of Guests | Size of the Bag | Total Number of Bags | Increasing/Decrease Total by Variables |
| 5-9 | Regular 7-8.5 Oz. | 2-3 Bags | If serving alcohol, 3-4 bags kids under 12: 2 bags |
| 9-15 | Regular 7-8.5 Oz. | 5-7 Bags | If serving alcohol, 7-8 bags Kids under 12: 5-6 bags |
| 15-21 | Regular 7-8.5 Oz. | 6-11 Bags | If serving alcohol, 8-13 bags Kids under 12: 5-7 bags |
| 21-27 | Regular 7-8.5 Oz. | 10-14 Bags | If serving alcohol, 13-17 bags Kids under 12: 10 bags |
This chart is helpful in helping you gauge the probable increase in chip consumption for every group. The scale is based on the idea that each person tends to eat a minimum of 2 servings. And, add a late-night drinking party (especially for college kids), and this likely doubles.
Also, remember your audience. If you are inviting 4-6 35-year-old ladies over for some wine and cheese you can get away with maybe a single bag. But, have the same number of guys over for the Super Bowl you’ll want to get at least 2 bags.
What Snacks Can You Pair With Chips at a Party?
Some obvious snack pairs with potato chips are pretzels, popcorn, and cheese noodles. However, this is a lot of salt. We recommend these snacks of course. But, if you’re looking for a nice contrast you should also serve some candies or sweets.
When serving a lot of salty snacks it is great to serve chocolates and maybe some simple pastries. Chocolate chip cookies or brownies are an excellent addition to a party like this.
You can also add a few bowls of M&M’s, Reese’s pieces, or other sweet candies. With all that salt going around, adding a little sweetness is a great way to complement and contrast your snacks.
How Much Is a Single Serving Of Chips?
A single serving of potato chips is usually 1 oz. This is true for almost every potato chip brand, but it fluctuates when it comes to corn chips and other chip snacks. Across the board, though, for regular potato chips, the serving is usually around 15 chips.
This averages to about 8 total servings, if everyone is only eating the serving. Anyone who has ever been to a party knows they rarely only consume 15 chips.
A regular size bag of potato chips has approximately 8 servings of chips. But, most people will consume at least 2 if not 3 servings of chips. Remember what we discussed in the last section regarding how chip consumption may go up based on demographics and setting.
If you are serving different types of chips, such as Doritos or corn chips, the average consumption is a little lower. This is because these chips are more filling and feel more substantial than a paper-thin potato chip. The serving size for Doritos and corn chips is usually 11 chips (1 oz). But, since they feel more substantial, the rate of consumption is typically only 2 servings per person.
How Do You Serve Potato Chips At A Party?
Serving potato chips in large plastic party bowls is definitely the most popular way of serving potato chips. People rarely serve only potato chips. If you plan on mixing your chips with other snacks be careful what you pair it with. It pairs well with other salty snacks such as pretzels or popcorn. But, avoid flavored snacks as the chips may absorb these flavors.
In other words, if you plan on having a mixture of different snacks make sure you mix salty with salty. If you have various potato chip flavors try to avoid mixing them with the salted ones. In other words, if you get sour cream and onion, barbecue, and regular sea salt, don’t combine them.
However, blending salted kettle chips and regular chips is a good idea! This adds a nice combination of crispy chips with softer chips.
If you add flavored chips a good combination is sour cream and onion and barbeque. Believe it or not, the flavor fullness of the sour cream and onion clashes well with the sweetness of the barbeque. Vinegar and sea salt chips match well with pickle-flavored chips.
How Do You Keep Potato Chips Fresh At A Party?
The most obvious way to keep your chips fresh at a party is to cover them with plastic wrap. But, this is not the best method of storing them prior to serving them. Chip freshness is dependent on a number of factors regarding how you store them and then the environment after serving.
If you are hosting a party in the summer and there is a lot of humidity, you should definitely keep them in either an airtight container or covered before eating. If you plan on serving food for a specific time, keep your chips in their sealed bags and only open when you’re ready to serve.
Or, you can open them and keep them in the serving bowl as long as they’re covered. You should serve your chips in a Tupperware container if you have them. These make it super easy to cover your chips when people are not at the snack table and uncover when they are around.
Storage Before the Party
Ideally, you will have the perfect amount of chips for your party. You won’t run short and you won’t have leftovers. But, if you find yourself with leftovers you need to store them properly to prevent them from spoiling.
If you leave your chips in their original bags then don’t simply rely on rolling up the bag. This won’t keep the moisture out properly. You should purchase a bag clip, or use a rubber band to hold the bag completely shut.
A better storage method is to put your chips in a sealed container or vacuum-sealed bag. If you have a vacuum sealer, this is one of the best ways to preserve freshness, but you may find that it crushes the chips a little.
What Chips Are Good For A Party?
The type of chip you purchase for your next party should be based on the type of party you’re hosting. Base your chip selection on the taste preferences of your guests. If you are not familiar with their tastes, you should go for more basic types of chips. You can’t go wrong with sea salt chips and maybe a bag or two of barbecue or garlic chips.
Children tend to like more traditional, less savory snacks. You should not purchase spicy or overly savory flavored chips if you’re hosting a children’s party. Sea salt, pizza-flavored, and cheese-flavored snacks are almost always a win for children’s parties.
But, if you’re having more mature guests over you can be more creative. Adults tend to enjoy a savory chip. You could get some jalapeno chips, sour cream and onion, and sea salt and vinegar.
Just make sure you always have some basic, less savory snack though, regardless of your demographic. While some people may really like a jalapeno chip, no one dislikes a plain sea salt chip!