How Much Caviar per Person? Grams, Tin Sizes and a Table for 2 to 20 Guests
The short answer: plan 10–15 g of caviar per person for a tasting or as one of several canapés, 20–30 g if caviar is the starter, and 50 g or more if caviar is the main event of the evening. One ounce (28–30 g) per person is the classic restaurant portion.
You'll find very different numbers online – 10 g on one site, 60 g on the next. They're all right, they just describe different occasions. Below is the table I use myself when customers ask, by number of guests and type of evening, with the tins that fit.
Caviar per person by occasion
- A taste (10–15 g): caviar is one of several bites – at a reception, on a few blinis or as a single bump before dinner.
- Starter (20–30 g): caviar is a course of its own, on blinis or potatoes, or on a dish like risotto or scallops.
- Centrepiece (30–50 g): a caviar platter is the focus of the evening, with only light food around it.
- Caviar evening (50 g and more): caviar is the dinner. Experienced caviar lovers easily eat 50–100 g.
How much caviar for 2, 4, 6, 8, 10 or 20 people
| Guests | Taste (10 g p.p.) | Starter (20 g p.p.) | Centrepiece (30 g p.p.) | Caviar evening (50 g p.p.) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 30 g tin | 50 g | 50 g + 30 g | 125 g |
| 4 | 50 g | 50 g + 30 g | 125 g | 250 g |
| 6 | 50 g + 30 g | 125 g | 125 g + 50 g | 250 g + 50 g |
| 8 | 50 g + 30 g | 125 g + 30 g | 250 g | 250 g + 125 g + 30 g |
| 10 | 125 g | 250 g | 250 g + 50 g | 500 g |
| 12 | 125 g | 250 g | 250 g + 125 g | 500 g + 125 g |
| 20 | 250 g | 250 g + 125 g + 30 g | 500 g + 125 g | 1 kg |
When in doubt, round up rather than down. Leftover caviar is rarely a problem; running out halfway through the evening is.
One big tin or several small ones?
For a group, I usually recommend several smaller tins rather than one large one. Once opened, caviar is at its best for about an hour on ice. With two 125 g tins instead of one 250 g tin, the second stays closed and fresh in the fridge until the first is empty. It also lets you serve two different caviars side by side – for example Imperial Baerii and Osietra – which turns the evening into a tasting.
For two people, it's the opposite: one tin, finished in one sitting.
How much caviar per blini?
A generous teaspoon, about 3–5 g. That's enough to taste the caviar on every bite. Plan two to three blinis per person for a reception, five to six if caviar is the starter. So for 8 guests with three blinis each: 24 blinis × 4 g ≈ 100 g of caviar.
The same applies to potatoes, toast or a caviar bump: 3–5 g per bite. On a plated dish like risotto or scallops, 10–20 g per plate.
What does it cost?
With our Imperial Baerii as an example:
- 30 g tin: €54 – a taste for two or three
- 50 g tin: €85 – a starter for two
- 125 g tin: €210 – a starter for six
- 250 g tin: €410 – a caviar platter for eight
That works out to roughly €17–18 per person for a taste and €35 per person for a starter. Rarer caviars like Albino and our limited Platinum and Titan Selection cost significantly more; for these I'd plan smaller portions and serve them plain, where the difference is clearest. Platinum and Titan come in 125 g and 250 g tins only.
For larger events, yachts or corporate dinners, we price individually. Write to us with the number of guests and the occasion, and I'll suggest a selection.
Things that change the amount
- Who's coming. First-time caviar eaters take less; enthusiasts take a lot more.
- What else is served. With a full menu, go towards the lower end. With caviar and Champagne only, go higher.
- Time of day. A late-night caviar course after a big dinner needs less than an aperitif before it.
- How it's served. Plain or as bumps, people eat less per bite but more bites. On blinis with crème fraîche, the caviar goes further.
And if you're unsure how to serve it once it's there, our guide how to eat caviar covers spoons, temperature and accompaniments.
FAQ
How many people does 30 g of caviar serve?
Two to three people as a taste, one to two as a starter.
Is 50 g of caviar a lot?
For one person, it's a generous portion. For two, it's a proper starter. For four, it's a taste each.
How much caviar for 10 people?
About 100–150 g for a reception, 200–250 g as a starter, 300 g or more if caviar is the centrepiece.
How many grams is one ounce of caviar?
One ounce is 28.35 g. Most producers round it to 28 or 30 g – our smallest tin is 30 g.
Can I order more caviar than I need and keep it?
Unopened, our fresh caviar keeps for weeks in the fridge. Opened, it should be eaten within two days, so keep spare tins closed.
