How Much Mashed Potatoes Per Person Calculator
Figure out how many pounds of raw potatoes to buy, and roughly how many cups of mashed potatoes you’ll end up with, based on your guest count.
What this calculator does
Figuring out how many potatoes to buy for a crowd is a common source of holiday-dinner guesswork. This calculator uses a standard side-dish planning ratio to tell you how many pounds of raw potatoes to buy and roughly how many cups of mashed potatoes that will yield.
How the math works
A commonly used planning rule for mashed potatoes as a side dish is about 1/2 pound of raw potato per adult and about 1/4 pound per child, since kids typically eat smaller portions. The calculator adds up your guest counts using those per-person amounts, then applies a leftovers multiplier if you want extra. To estimate the finished yield, it assumes about 1 pound of raw potato (once peeled, boiled, and mashed with butter and milk) becomes roughly 2 cups of mashed potatoes.
- No leftovers: just enough for the table
- Some leftovers: about 25% extra
- Lots of leftovers: about 50% extra
These are general planning estimates for home cooking – actual appetite, other side dishes on the table, and how rich you make the potatoes will all shift the real amount needed.