How many pizzas for 12 people?
For 12 people, order 5 large pizzas. That’s 40 slices, about 3 each with 4 to spare.
plus 0 small pizzas, gluten-free
40 slices for 12 grown-ups. That’s about 3 each, plus 4 spare for whoever said “I’m not that hungry.”
Suggested delivery tip (15%, at least $5):
Feeding the whole office?
Past 20 people, compare catering on cost per head before you order a tower of pizza boxes. Someone else brings the plates.
Same crowd, different appetites
These follow the calculator above, so they change with the size and the headcount.
How we got to 5
12 grown-ups at 3 slices each need 36 slices. We add 10% so nobody’s left eyeing the last one, which makes 40. A large pizza has 8 slices, which is what Pizza Hut and Papa John’s cut theirs into, so 40 ÷ 8 = 5, exactly 5 pizzas with no rounding.
How to split 5 pizzas
We’d go 2 cheese, 2 pepperoni and 1 veggie or specialty. Cheese is the safe bet for kids and picky eaters, and the veggie pizzas cover anyone who skips meat. If you know your crowd, move pizzas between the three; the total stays the same.
Pizzas for 12 people by size
| Size | Slices in one | Pizzas for 12 | Slices in all |
|---|---|---|---|
| small | 6 | 7 | 42 |
| medium | 8 | 5 | 40 |
| large | 8 | 5 | 40 |
| extra-large | 12 | 4 | 48 |
The same 40 slices, divided by what each size holds and rounded up. Pick a size in the calculator above and the answer follows.
12 people, if some of them are kids
| Who’s coming | Grown-ups | Kids | Large pizzas |
|---|---|---|---|
| All grown-ups | 12 | 0 | 5 |
| A quarter kids | 9 | 3 | 5 |
| Half kids | 6 | 6 | 5 |
| Three-quarters kids | 3 | 9 | 4 |
Kids under 12 count 2 slices each, grown-ups 3. 12 kids on their own need 4.
Serving other food too?
Serving wings, salad or sides? We count 75% of the usual slices when there’s other food, which brings 12 grown-ups down to 4 large pizzas. Tick “Also serving wings, salad or other food” above to see it.
What 5 pizzas might cost, at example prices
| If a large cost (example) | 5 pizzas | For each of 12 |
|---|---|---|
| $12 | $60.00 | $5.00 |
| $16 | $80.00 | $6.67 |
| $20 | $100.00 | $8.33 |
| $24 | $120.00 | $10.00 |
Example prices only, to show the sum; a large costs whatever your pizzeria charges, before tax, delivery and tip. Switch the calculator to Office lunch and type in your price for the real total.
Ordering for a dozen friends, a Friday team lunch or a family birthday
For a Friday team lunch of 12, order in the morning and pick a delivery time, so you aren’t racing every other office’s Friday order. Put the boxes in the kitchen or the break room, not the meeting room, and the crumbs stay out of the keyboards.
For a dozen friends or a family birthday, 2 cheese, 2 pepperoni and 1 veggie covers most tastes. If a few of the 12 skip meat, swap a pepperoni for a second veggie; the total stays 5.
Questions people ask
How many large pizzas do I need for 12 people?
5 large pizzas for 12 grown-ups with normal appetites. That’s 40 slices, about 3 each plus spares. If they’re nibblers, 4 will do; if they’re starving, get 7.
How many slices of pizza do 12 people need?
36 slices at 3 each, or 40 with our 10% extra, which is exactly 5 large pizzas. A dozen hungry people need 48, 53 with the extra: 7 large pizzas.
How many slices of pizza per person?
Plan on 3 slices for a grown-up, 2 for a light eater or 2 for a kid, and 4 for a hungry crowd. Those are the numbers our calculator uses, before the 10% extra.
How many pizzas for 12 kids?
4 large pizzas for 12 kids under 12, at 2 slices each plus a little extra. Add the grown-ups in the calculator if they’re eating too.
How much does pizza for 12 people cost?
Multiply 5 by what a large pizza costs where you’re ordering; the table above shows the sum at a few example prices. Switch the calculator to Office lunch and type in the price to see the order total and the cost per person.