Salad Quantity Calculator
Choose the kind of salad and how many people.
Answer
250g of leaves, about one 260g bag
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Worth knowing
- A handful of leaves next to a main course.
- Leaves look like a lot in the bowl and disappear on the plate. 40g per person is a proper side portion.
- Dress at the last minute and toss with your hands so every leaf gets a little rather than a few getting a lot.
- If the salad is one of several dishes on a table, people take about a third less than they would on a plate.
Source: Standard UK catering and home-cooking portion guidance · Reviewed 2026-09-10 · Guidance version 1.0.0
Reference and detail
Leaves look like more than they are
A big bowl of leaves weighs almost nothing. Around 40g of leaves per person for a side and 80g for a main is realistic, which is more bags than most people buy.
A main course salad needs substance
Leaves alone will not fill anyone up. Count on a similar weight again in tomatoes, cucumber, beans, cheese, chicken or grains.
Buy leaves late
Bagged salad deteriorates fast once opened, so buy it the day before at the earliest and keep it in the fridge until the moment you dress it.
Questions and answers
Questions about salad quantities
How much salad do I need per person?
Enter your guest numbers and the style of salad above. A side salad needs less than a main-course salad, and a buffet bowl needs less per head again, since guests take a smaller amount from a shared bowl than they would from a plated side.
How much dressing do I need for a salad?
Enter your numbers above for a total. Dress lightly and toss just before serving, an oversauced salad wilts and pools liquid at the bottom of the bowl.
Does a salad on a buffet need less than a plated side salad?
Yes, people take less from a shared bowl than they would if a fixed portion were plated up for them, so buffet quantities per head are lower than for a plated meal.
Can a salad be a main course rather than a side dish?
Yes, but it needs a protein (chicken, halloumi, salmon or pulses) and roughly double the leaves and additions of a side salad to feel substantial enough as the whole meal.
How do children change salad quantities?
Children generally eat far less salad than adults and prefer fewer strong flavours, so plan a smaller, plainer bowl for them rather than scaling the adult recipe straight down.