Ham Size Calculator – How Much Ham do You Need?
Are you planning a holiday ham dinner and wondering how much you’ll need for your guests? Take the guesswork out of estimating the amount of ham needed with this handy calculator.
Ham Size Estimate:
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Joe is the creator of Inch Calculator and has over 20 years of experience in engineering and construction. He holds several degrees and certifications.
How Much Ham do you Need per Person?
Planning the right amount of ham for a holiday meal isn’t exactly a precise science, but you can follow a few rules of thumb to prepare just the right amount for your guests.
The amount needed will vary based on the number of guests, the type of ham (bone-in or boneless), and how much leftovers you want.
Whichever size ham you choose, be sure to allow enough cooking time. The USDA suggests baking at 325 °F (160 °C) until it reaches an internal temp of 145 °F (63 °C) and then letting it rest for 3 minutes, or 140 °F (60 °C) to reheat a pre-cooked smoked ham.[1]
How Much Boneless Ham do you Need?
According to the Honey Baked Ham Company, experts in ham if there ever were any, you’ll want to allow about 1/2 pound of ham per person.[2]
Use the following chart to help plan the right amount of ham based on the number of guests you’re expecting.
| Number of People | Amount of Boneless Ham |
|---|---|
| 4 – 6 | 2 – 3 lbs |
| 6 – 8 | 3 – 4 lbs |
| 8 – 10 | 4 – 5 lbs |
| 10 – 12 | 5 – 6 lbs |
| 15 – 20 | 8 – 10 lbs |
| 25 – 30 | 13 – 15 lbs |
How Much Bone-in Ham do you Need?
You’ll need a bit more bone-in ham per person to allow for the additional weight of the bone. Per Martha Stewart, you should plan on 3/4 pound of bone-in ham per person.[3]
This chart shows the estimated amount of bone-in ham for your holiday dinner party.
| Number of People | Amount of Bone-in Ham |
|---|---|
| 4 – 6 | 3 – 4 1/2 lbs |
| 6 – 8 | 4 1/2 – 6 lbs |
| 8 – 10 | 6 – 7 1/2 lbs |
| 10 – 12 | 7 1/2 – 9 lbs |
| 15 – 20 | 9 – 15 lbs |
| 25 – 30 | 19 – 22 1/2 lbs |
Considering serving turkey instead? Plan the amount needed using our turkey size calculator.
References
- Food Safety and Inspection Service | USDA, Hams and Food Safety, https://www.fsis.usda.gov/food-safety/safe-food-handling-and-preparation/meat/hams-and-food-safety
- The Honey Baked Ham Company, How Much Ham Per Person Will You Need?, https://www.honeybaked.com/whole-ham
- Martha Stewart, Ham 101, https://www.marthastewart.com/268082/ham-101