Exactly How Much Potato Salad to Buy for Any Group Size

Potato salad with cilantro, dijon mustard, and red onions.

Are you making potato salad for a group, but you do not know how much to buy? If so, then you have come to the right place. Below are charts to help you determine how much potato salad you will need for your group size!

As a general rule, purchase 1/2 of a pound per person. The average serving size of potato salad is 1/2 a cup. However, individuals will eat more than the serving size, making the recommended amount 1 cup per person. With more dishes available, less potato salad will be needed.

Below are helpful charts to help you know how much potato salad will be needed, based on the size of your group.

Technical serving size vs reality

The technical serving size of potato salad is very different from the actual amount that people will eat.

The average serving size of potato salad is one-half of a cup, or one-fourth of a pound, or five ounces. However, potato salad is a crowd favorite and your group is likely to eat more than just one-half of a cup, one-fourth of a pound, or five ounces. Typically, when at an event, people will eat double what the serving size is.

If your guests eat double the serving size, that means the recommended amount of potato salad is one cup, one-half of a pound, or ten ounces per person.

How many cups of potato salad

Below is a chart to help you determine exactly how many cups of potato salad is needed, based on the size of your group.

# of PeopleAmount needed based on technical serving size (cups)Amount needed based on reality (cups)
10 5 10
2010 20
30 15 30
40 20 40
50 25 50
60 30 60
70 35 70
80 40 80
90 4590
100 50 100
How many cups of potato salad will be needed based on the size of your group

How many pounds of potato salad

Below is a chart to help you determine exactly how many pounds of potato salad is needed, based on the size of your group.

Traditional potato salad with egg and mayonnaise on wooden background.
Traditional potato salad with egg and mayonnaise on wooden background
# of PeopleAmount needed based on the technical serving size (lbs)Amount needed based on reality (lbs)
10 2.5 5
205 10
30 7.5 15
40 10 20
50 12.5 25
60 15 30
70 17.535
80 20 40
90 22.5 45
100 25 50
How many pounds of potato salad will be needed based on the size of your group

How many ounces of potato salad

Below is a chart to help you determine exactly how many ounces of potato salad is needed, based on the size of your group.

# of PeopleAmount needed based on the technical serving size (oz)Amount needed based on reality (oz)
10 50100
20 100200
30 150 300
40 200 400
50 250 500
60300 600
70 350 700
80 400 800
90450 900
100 500 1,000
How many ounces of potato salad will be needed based on the size of your group

How many containers for a small group

Below is a chart to help you determine exactly how many containers of potato salad are needed if you have a small group.

# of PeopleContainer size (oz)# of ContainersPrice based on number of containers needed
2 people321 $2.36
3 people321 $2.36
4 people322 $4.72
5 people322 $4.72
6 people322 $4.72
7 people323$7.08
8 people323 $7.08
9 people323 $7.08
10 people324 $9.44
How many containers will be needed for a small group

How many containers for a medium sized group

Potato salad in a blue bowl on a table.
Potato salad in a blue bowl on a table.

Below is a chart to help you determine exactly how many containers of potato salad are needed if you have a medium-sized group.

# of PeopleContainer size (oz)# of ContainersPrice based on number of containers needed
15484$17.96
20485$22.45
25486$26.94
30487$31.43
35488$35.92
40489$40.41
454810$44.90
504811$49.39
How many containers will be needed for a medium-sized group

How many containers for a large group

Below is a chart to help you determine exactly how many containers of potato salad are needed if you have a large group.

# of PeopleContainer size (oz)# of containers neededPrice based on number of containers needed
554812$53.88
604813$58.37
654814$62.86
704815$67.35
754816$71.84
804817$76.33
854818$88.82
904819$85.31
954820$89.88
100 4821$94.29
How many containers will be needed for a large group

How do you serve potato salad?

As a general rule, you should serve American potato salad cold since they are mostly mayonnaise based. Before serving, refrigerate potato salad in an airtight container so it is cold. When serving, you can keep potato salad cold by simply placing it in a large bowl on top of another bowl filled with ice. Check out this Dip-On-Ice Stainless Steel Serving BowlOpens in a new tab. on Amazon. You can also use a freeze chilled bowl like this one on Amazon to keep it cold. You just need to put the bowl in the freezer before you serve the potato salad in it. Cover the potato salad with aluminum foil or plastic wrap when it is not being served. German potato salad can be served hot or cold because the base is made of vinegar and bacon drippings.

A delicious homemade creamy potato salad on a rustic picnic table.

How do you store potato salad?

Traditional Mayonnaise Russian salad olivier
Traditional Mayonnaise Russian Salad Olivier. Light blue table background.

Store potato salad in an airtight container in the refrigerator when you are not serving it. Check out these leak proof airtight bowlsOpens in a new tab. on Amazon. Throw away potato salad that has been sitting out any longer than 2 hours above 40 degrees Fahrenheit. Potato salad shouldn’t be eaten or served after it has been left in that temperature range as it can cause food-borne illness.

Anna Silver

Anna Silver is the principal creator of CookForFolks.com, a website dedicated to new go-to original recipes. Inspired by her grandmother’s love of cooking, Anna has a passion for treating the people in her life to delicious homemade food and loves to share her family recipes with the rest of the world.

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