What this calculator does
Ham is bought by the guideline of three quarters of a pound per person bone-in, or half a pound boneless. Ten guests therefore need 7.5 lb of bone-in ham or 5 lb of boneless.
The difference is the bone, which is roughly a third of the weight of a bone-in ham and is not eaten. It is not waste, though: a ham bone makes excellent stock, which is a large part of why many cooks buy bone-in despite paying for weight they will not serve.
The formula
The guest count is multiplied by the serving guideline for the ham type: 0.75 lb per person for bone-in or 0.5 lb for boneless. The result is converted to kilograms. The figures are purchase weights and already account for the bone in the bone-in case, so no further allowance is needed.
| Term | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Bone-in | Ham with the bone still in, roughly a third of the weight, which is why more is needed per person. |
| Boneless | All edible weight, so less is needed for the same servings. |
| Spiral-cut | Pre-sliced around the bone, which is convenient for serving but tends to dry out faster when reheated. |
The inputs explained
| Field | What to enter |
|---|---|
| Number of guests | Number of guests. |
| Ham type | Bone-in or boneless, which sets the per-person guideline. |
When to use it
Buying for a holiday meal
The usual case, and the one where buying short is most awkward to fix on the day.
Comparing bone-in against boneless value
Bone-in ham is cheaper per pound but includes the bone, so comparing on price per serving rather than price per pound is what settles which is better value.
Planning for leftovers
Ham keeps and reheats well, so many cooks deliberately buy above the guideline. Adding a third gives a comfortable margin for sandwiches afterwards.
Worked examples
Every figure in the tables below is produced by this page’s own calculator at build time, so the numbers and the tool always agree. Select any row to load that scenario.
How much ham do ten guests need?
The same ten guests catered with each ham type.
| Ham type | Ham to buy | In kilograms | Guideline used |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bone-in | 7.5 lb | 3.40 kg | 0.75 lb per person, the standard bone-in/boneless serving guideline |
| Boneless | 5.0 lb | 2.27 kg | 0.5 lb per person, the standard bone-in/boneless serving guideline |
Questions
How much ham per person?
About three quarters of a pound bone-in or half a pound boneless for a main course. Reduce it if the ham is one of several meats, and increase it deliberately if leftovers are wanted, which with ham they usually are.
Is bone-in or boneless better value?
Bone-in is cheaper per pound but about a third of that weight is bone, so it needs to be more than a third cheaper to win on edible weight. Many people buy bone-in anyway for the flavour and the stock the bone makes.
How long does leftover ham keep?
About three to five days refrigerated, or a couple of months frozen. Slicing before freezing makes it far more useful later, since portions can be taken out as needed rather than defrosting the whole piece.
Do I need to cook a pre-cooked ham?
Not for safety, since it is already cooked, but heating improves it considerably. Most pre-cooked hams are warmed through to about 60°C rather than taken to a full cooking temperature, which avoids drying them out.
For how long to heat it, see the ham cooking time calculator. For a full party spread, see the BBQ party planner.