Allow 50 - 75g of cheese per person after dinner, 75 - 100g for a grazing board alongside other food, or 150 - 200g when cheese is the main part of the meal. These are totals across the whole selection, not an allowance for each cheese.
Once you know how many people are eating and what else is on the menu, choosing the right amount becomes much easier. Use the guide below to work out your total, then divide it between your favourites.
Cheese portions by occasion
The Academy of Cheese’s portion guide distinguishes between a small cheese course, grazing and a cheese-based meal. The ranges above are useful starting points for buying, rather than a promise of what every guest will eat.
- After dinner: choose this allowance when everyone has already had a full meal.
- Grazing alongside other food: use this for a party spread with substantial extras such as sandwiches, charcuterie or savoury dishes.
- Cheese as the meal: choose the larger allowance when the cheeseboard is dinner, with bread and accompaniments.
If you expect hearty appetites, choose the upper end. If several other dishes are competing for attention, start nearer the lower end.
How much cheese for 4, 6, 8, 10, 12 or 20 people?
| People eating cheese | After dinner | Grazing with other food | Cheese as the meal |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | 200–300g | 300–400g | 600–800g |
| 6 | 300–450g | 450–600g | 900g–1.2kg |
| 8 | 400–600g | 600–800g | 1.2–1.6kg |
| 10 | 500–750g | 750g–1kg | 1.5–2kg |
| 12 | 600–900g | 900g–1.2kg | 1.8–2.4kg |
| 20 | 1–1.5kg | 1.5–2kg | 3–4kg |
These totals cover cheese only. Plan bread, crackers, fruit and chutney separately.
Work out your own quantity in three steps
- Count the people who will eat cheese. If two of your ten guests will skip it, calculate for eight.
- Choose an allowance for the occasion. Decide where your menu fits before choosing the cheeses.
- Multiply, then round to the packs you want. Number of people × grams per person = total grams of cheese.
For example, eight people at 100g each need 800g altogether. You could split that into four 200g cheeses. Adding a fifth variety means redistributing the total; it does not mean giving everyone another full portion.
Turn the total into a shopping list
Pack sizes make the arithmetic straightforward. Our 200g Vintage Cheddar truckle could provide one quarter of an 800g selection, leaving 600g for your other choices.
For a broader selection of flavours, our Cheese Lover’s Box contains ten 100g wedges and three chutneys. That is 1kg of cheese: ten 100g portions or twenty 50g portions. Match that calculation to your menu before deciding how many guests it will cover. Flavours may vary.
Check the cheese weight when comparing boxes and hampers. Chutney, crackers and packaging should not count towards your cheese total.
How many different cheeses should you choose?
Three or four is a manageable starting point. In Which?’s expert cheeseboard guide, the advice is to choose contrasting styles and textures. A firm cheese, a soft cheese and a blue gives you a simple selection to build on.
You can also make the board more personal. Give extra space to a cheese you know your guests enjoy and offer a smaller piece of something unfamiliar. There is no need to divide everything equally or buy a large selection for a small group.
Common portion questions
Is 100g per person enough?
It is a useful grazing allowance when other food is available. It may be more than you need after a large dinner and too little for a cheese-focused meal.
Should I allow the same amount for children?
Plan around the children coming to your event and what they are likely to eat. A fixed half-portion rule will not suit every age or appetite. For a family gathering, asking the parents is more useful than guessing.
Do I need to buy extra just in case?
Check what rounding up has already added. If your chosen allowance gives a 900g total and you buy five 200g packs, you already have 100g extra. Decide whether you want leftovers before adding more.
Choose the cheese for your gathering
Start with your guest count and menu, then choose the flavours. Explore our cheese wedges to put together your selection and add crackers for cheese to serve alongside it.