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:
Learn how we calculated this below
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On this page:
- Ham Size Calculator
- How Much Ham Do You Need?
- How Much Boneless Ham Do You Need?
- How Much Bone-in Ham Do You Need?
- References
By
Joe Sexton
Joe is the creator of Inch Calculator and has over 20 years of experience in engineering and construction. He holds several degrees and certifications.
Full bio
Reviewed by
Shannon Llewellyn
Chef Shannon is a menu and recipe developer, food stylist, private chef, and author of the book The All-American Lemonade Stand.
Full bio
How Much Ham Do You Need?
Planning the holiday meal down to the last cranberry can be a daunting task, but planning how much ham to make for a crowd of any size is easy when you follow these simple guidelines.
First, take into account the number of guests, the type of ham you plan on serving, and how much in leftovers (you’ll definitely want 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?
The folks at the Honeybaked Ham Company have been experts in all things ham since 1957, and they recommend 1/2 pound of ham per person. However, take into account those larger appetites and again…leftovers! What’s a holiday without a midnight ham sammy?[2]
Use the following chart to help plan the right amount of ham based on the number of guests you’re expecting.
Chart showing the amount of boneless ham needed per person| 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?
According to the domestic goddess herself, Martha Stewart, she recommends 3/4 of a pound of ham per person for bone-in hams. She’d also advise saving that flavor-soaked ham bone for future soups and stews![3]
This chart shows the estimated amount of bone-in ham for your holiday dinner party.
Chart showing the amount of bone-in ham needed per person| 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 |
Be sure to set your countdown to Easter or Christmas to ensure you have enough time to find the right size ham!
Considering serving turkey instead? Plan the amount needed using our turkey size calculator.
FAQs
That means for a 10-person Easter dinner, you'll need a bone-in ham that weighs between 7.5-10 pounds or a 5-pound boneless ham. If you're serving country ham, though, you'll need way less of it. Although it is delicious, the saltiness will prevent people from heaping it on their plates.
How to determine what size ham to buy? ›
When buying a ham, estimate the size needed according to the number of servings the type of ham should yield:
- 1/4 - 1/3 lb. per serving of boneless ham.
- 1/3 - 1/2 lb. of meat per serving of bone-in ham.
That means for a 10-person Easter dinner, you'll need a bone-in ham that weighs between 7.5-10 pounds or a 5-pound boneless ham. If you're serving country ham, though, you'll need way less of it. Although it is delicious, the saltiness will prevent people from heaping it on their plates.
How many pounds of ham do I need for one person? ›
With a bone-in ham, plan on one-third to one-half pound of meat per person (or two to three servings per pound), or more if you want leftovers. For a boneless ham, figure about quarter-pound per person, or more for leftovers.
How much will an 8 lb ham feed? ›
A: The 7.5 to 8.5 Lb. Ham serves 12 to 14 for dinner servings. The 8.5 to 9.5 serves 14 to 16 for dinner servings.
What is a good size ham for 4 adults? ›
How much ham per person? The best rule of thumb for ham is to plan about 1/2 pound per person when picking a bone-in ham (it's heavier) and 1/3 pound if boneless. Look, at the end of the day, some people will eat more than expected, some will eat less—it'll even out.
How much ham calculator? ›
How Much Bone-in Ham Do You Need?
| 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 |
2 more rowsBone-In Spiral-Cut Ham
Estimate 3/4 to 1 pound per person for a bone-in ham. No matter what size ham you purchase, save the bone to make the best bean soup or save some ham for sandwiches, casseroles, and other leftover dishes.
What's better, bone-in or boneless ham? ›
A bone-in ham makes for a great visual presentation on the table, and is perfect for carving. And it's not just there for show — a ham bone is an excellent starter for flavorful soups and stocks. Boneless hams are easier to carve, and better suited for sandwiches. There's no real difference in flavor or texture.
How long is a spiral ham good for? ›
Information. Spiral-cut hams and leftovers from consumer-cooked hams may be stored in the refrigerator three to five days or frozen one to two months. Keep your refrigerator at 40 °F or less and your freezer at or near 0 °F. See also Ham and Food Safety.
Cooking Temperature and Time
If the ham is a half ham weighing five to seven pounds, it should heat at 325°F for 22-25 minutes per pound. If it is a whole ham weighing between 10 to 14 pounds, heat the ham at 325°F for 18-20 minutes per pound. The internal temperature should be 140°F.
Can you freeze ham? ›
You can freeze delicious ham and it'll last for weeks before you need to use it. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) reports that fully cooked frozen ham is safe to eat for up to one to two months. If you find yourself with leftover ham, freezing it for future use is both easy and convenient.
How long should a ham rest? ›
An instant-read thermometer inserted into the center, making sure it is not touching the bone, should read at least 160 degrees F (72 degrees C). Let ham rest for about 20 minutes before carving.
How big of a ham do you need for 8 to 10 people? ›
A portion bone-in ham (7.5lbs average weight) serves 10 people. Great for dinner parties, or a family dinner with plenty left over for sandwiches and such. A quarter ham (1.6lbs average weight) serves 6 or 7 people. The way to go for a satisfying family dinner or a week of great sandwiches.
What is the best cut of ham for baking? ›
Ham Type: do not use a pre-sliced/spiral sliced ham. It will be very, very dry. Look for a cut of ham that is not sliced and still has the bone-in. The best cut I've found is a butt or shoulder cut (might be labeled shank, also).
How long to heat an 8 pound ham? ›
Place in a 325-to-350 degree oven, brush with some glaze if desired and bake until heated through and the internal temperature reaches 135 degrees. Again, figure no more than 10 minutes per pound. An 8-pounder will take 1 hour and 20 minutes.
How do I know if my ham is half or whole? ›
A whole ham is the whole back side of the animal, labeled “leg or ham” above, and it typically weighs 18 to 20 pounds. The whole ham includes the butt and shank whereas a half ham is either the butt or shank.
