How Much Ground Beef Per Burger (and Per Person)

Plan on about 4 ounces (1/4 pound) of raw ground beef per standard burger, which means one pound makes four burgers. For bigger appetites, use 1/3 pound (about 5 1/3 ounces) or 6 ounces per patty; for smash burgers, use two 2- to 3-ounce balls per burger. Per person, budget roughly 1/4 to 1/2 pound depending on whether guests will want seconds.

Standard burger patty sizes

There's no single correct size, but most home burgers fall into a few common weights. Here's how far one pound of ground beef goes at each:

• Sliders (1.5-2 oz): 8 to 10 patties per pound.
• Smash burger balls (2-3 oz): 5 to 8 balls per pound; most smash burgers use two per burger.
• Quarter-pound patty (4 oz): 4 patties per pound. The classic size for a standard bun.
• Third-pound patty (about 5.3 oz): 3 patties per pound. A hearty backyard burger.
• 6-ounce patty: about 2 2/3 patties per pound, or 8 patties from 3 pounds.
• Half-pound patty (8 oz): 2 patties per pound. Pub-style and best cooked thick.

Weigh the raw meat if you can. A kitchen scale makes every patty the same size, which means they all cook at the same rate. For smash burgers, our smash burger calculator works out ball sizes and how much beef to buy.

How much ground beef per person

A common rule of thumb is about a quarter pound of raw ground beef per person, but burgers are often the main event, so it's smart to plan a little higher:

• Kids: one 3- to 4-ounce patty, or two sliders.
• Average adults: one 4- to 6-ounce burger.
• Big eaters or a burger-only meal: two quarter-pound patties or one half-pound burger.
• Mixed crowd with plenty of sides: about 1.5 quarter-pound patties per guest on average.

How much ground beef for a party

For a cookout, a simple formula is: number of guests × 1.5 patties × patty weight. Round up to the next full pound so you aren't caught short. With quarter-pound patties, that works out to:

• 10 guests: about 15 patties, or roughly 4 pounds.
• 20 guests: about 30 patties, or roughly 8 pounds.
• 30 guests: about 45 patties, or roughly 12 pounds.
• 50 guests: about 75 patties, or roughly 19 to 20 pounds.

Adjust from there. If you're also serving hot dogs, chicken or lots of hearty sides, you can scale back. If it's a hungry crowd and burgers are the only main, plan on two patties per adult. Leftover raw patties can be frozen, so a little extra isn't a waste.

How much weight burgers lose when cooking

Ground beef loses water and fat as it cooks, so a patty weighs noticeably less when it comes off the heat. A common estimate is about 25 percent, which means a 4-ounce raw patty ends up around 3 ounces cooked. Higher-fat blends and well-done burgers lose more; leaner blends lose a bit less. Patties also shrink in diameter, which is why you should form them slightly wider than the bun. Our guide to why burgers shrink explains how to keep that in check.

This matters if you're tracking nutrition: the nutrition label on a package of ground beef describes the raw product, so 4 ounces raw and 4 ounces cooked are not the same amount of food.

Choosing the right patty size and thickness

Patty weight and thickness go together. As a rough guide:

• 2-3 oz smash balls: pressed very thin, about 1/4 inch or less, on a hot griddle.
• 4 oz: about 1/2 inch thick and 4 to 4 1/2 inches across for a standard bun.
• 5-6 oz: about 3/4 inch thick; a good size for grilling.
• 8 oz: about 1 inch thick; needs gentler heat and a thermometer to cook through.

Thicker patties take longer to reach a safe temperature, so check them with an instant-read meat thermometer. The USDA recommends cooking ground beef to 160°F (71°C) and ground poultry to 165°F (74°C). Cooking burgers to a lower temperature is a personal risk choice. See our burger temperature guide for doneness and how long to grill burgers for timing by thickness. For shaping tips, read how to form burger patties.

Portions for doubles, stuffed burgers and other styles

Some burger styles change the math, so adjust your shopping list when you plan them:

• Double cheeseburgers: two 3- to 4-ounce patties make a 6- to 8-ounce burger, so a pound of beef serves only two or three people.
• Stuffed burgers: a Juicy Lucy uses two thin patties sealed around cheese, usually about 6 to 8 ounces of beef in total.
• Double smash burgers: two 2- to 3-ounce balls per burger, or about 4 to 6 ounces each.
• Sliders for a party: plan on two or three per adult, which works out to roughly 4 to 6 ounces of beef per person.

Picking the right ground beef

How much to buy also depends on what you buy. An 80/20 blend (80 percent lean, 20 percent fat) is the classic burger choice because the fat keeps patties juicy, but it also loses a little more weight in the pan than leaner beef. If you're grinding your own or mixing cuts, the burger blend calculator helps you hit a target fat ratio. Our guide to the best ground beef for burgers covers fat ratios and cuts in more detail.

Buying and storing ground beef ahead of a cookout

• Buy close to the day: USDA guidance is to refrigerate raw ground beef at 40°F or below and use it within 1 to 2 days.
• Freeze for later: frozen ground beef stays safe indefinitely, but for best quality use it within about 4 months.
• Prep patties early: form patties a few hours ahead, separate them with parchment, and keep them covered in the fridge until cooking.
• Thaw safely: thaw frozen beef in the refrigerator, not on the counter.

Frequently asked questions

How many burgers are in a pound of ground beef?

One pound makes four quarter-pound burgers, three third-pound burgers or two half-pound burgers. For smash burgers, a pound makes about six to eight thin patties, or three to four double smash burgers.

Is 1/4 pound or 1/3 pound better for burgers?

A quarter pound fits a standard bun and is enough for most people. A third pound makes a thicker, juicier backyard burger and suits bigger appetites or larger buns.

How much ground beef do I need for 20 burgers?

With quarter-pound patties, you need 5 pounds. With third-pound patties, plan on about 6 2/3 pounds, so buy 7.

Does a 4-ounce burger weigh 4 ounces after cooking?

No. Burgers lose water and fat as they cook, so a 4-ounce raw patty typically ends up around 3 ounces cooked, depending on the fat content and doneness.