How many pizzas for 5 people?
For 5 people, order 3 large pizzas. That’s 24 slices, about 4 each with 4 to spare.
plus 0 small pizzas, gluten-free
24 slices for 5 grown-ups. That’s about 4 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 3
5 grown-ups at 3 slices each need 15 slices. We add 10% so nobody’s left eyeing the last one, which makes 17. A large pizza has 8 slices, which is what Pizza Hut and Papa John’s cut theirs into, so 17 ÷ 8 = 2.13, and we round up to 3.
How to split 3 pizzas
We’d go 1 cheese, 1 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 5 people by size
| Size | Slices in one | Pizzas for 5 | Slices in all |
|---|---|---|---|
| small | 6 | 3 | 18 |
| medium | 8 | 3 | 24 |
| large | 8 | 3 | 24 |
| extra-large | 12 | 2 | 24 |
The same 17 slices, divided by what each size holds and rounded up. Pick a size in the calculator above and the answer follows.
5 people, if some of them are kids
| Who’s coming | Grown-ups | Kids | Large pizzas |
|---|---|---|---|
| All grown-ups | 5 | 0 | 3 |
| A quarter kids | 4 | 1 | 2 |
| Half kids | 2 | 3 | 2 |
| Three-quarters kids | 1 | 4 | 2 |
Kids under 12 count 2 slices each, grown-ups 3. 5 kids on their own need 2.
Serving other food too?
Serving wings, salad or sides? We count 75% of the usual slices when there’s other food, which brings 5 grown-ups down to 2 large pizzas. Tick “Also serving wings, salad or other food” above to see it.
What 3 pizzas might cost, at example prices
| If a large cost (example) | 3 pizzas | For each of 5 |
|---|---|---|
| $12 | $36.00 | $7.20 |
| $16 | $48.00 | $9.60 |
| $20 | $60.00 | $12.00 |
| $24 | $72.00 | $14.40 |
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 movie night, a family of five or a study group
3 large pizzas for 5 is a pick-up order: one trip, one stack of boxes, and you’re back on the couch before the opening credits. Order before you choose the movie, because choosing the movie always takes longer than anyone thinks.
With 1 cheese, 1 pepperoni and 1 veggie, everyone has a pizza they like and nobody has to vote. For a study group, have it land before the books open; nobody learns anything while listening for the doorbell.
Questions people ask
How many large pizzas do I need for 5 people?
3 large pizzas for 5 grown-ups with normal appetites. That’s 24 slices, about 4 each plus spares. If they’re nibblers, 2 will do; if they’re starving, get 3.
Are 2 large pizzas enough for 5 people?
2 large pizzas are 16 slices: 3 each, with 1 slice to spare, and no cushion. That’s fine for light eaters, or with other food on the table; tick the other-food box above and the count is 2. For 5 normal appetites we’d get 3: 15 slices plus our 10% extra is 17, 1 slice more than 2 pizzas hold.
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 5 kids?
2 large pizzas for 5 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 5 people cost?
Multiply 3 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.