How much dry rice should I make per person?
A practical starting point is 60 g (about 1/3 US cup) of dry rice per person for a side dish or 85 g (about 1/2 cup) when rice is the main part of the meal. Adjust for appetite and other dishes.
Calculator categories
Rice Per Person Calculator
Cooking & portions
Rice Per Person Calculator
Stop guessing how much rice to cook. Choose the guest count, meal role, appetite, and variety to get dry rice, water, and cooked yield in practical units.
Plan rice for any number of people
Get dry rice, water, and cooked yield using the meal role and appetite.
Dry rice to measure
240 g
1.3 cups
US dry cups
8.5 oz
dry weight
60 g
per person
Cooking plan
Stovetop starting amounts for the selected rice
Water1.95 cups / 460 ml
Expected cooked riceabout 3.9 cups
Rinse until the water is mostly clear for separate, less-starchy grains.
Rice varieties, cookware, altitude, and cooking methods vary. Treat the water amount as a starting point and follow your package or rice cooker instructions when they differ.
Rice portion guide per person
45–50 g
Light side
Useful when several other sides, bread, or a large main dish are served.
60 g
Average side
A reliable baseline for curries, stir-fries, grilled foods, and mixed menus.
85–105 g
Rice-centered meal
Better for rice bowls, fried rice, pilaf, or guests with hearty appetites.
How the calculator works
It starts with dry grams per serving, applies the appetite multiplier, then uses rice-specific dry-cup weights, water ratios, and cooked-yield estimates. This keeps portion planning separate from the cooking method.
When to make extra
Add 10–15% when rice is self-served, the meal has few other starches, or leftovers are welcome. For a fixed plated meal, the calculated amount is usually a better starting point.
Frequently asked questions
How much cooked rice does one cup of dry rice make?
Most white, jasmine, and basmati rice makes about 3 cups cooked from 1 cup dry. Brown and short-grain rice can yield a little less, depending on variety and cooking method.
How much water should I use for rice?
A common stovetop starting ratio is 1.5 cups water per cup of long-grain white or basmati rice, 1.25 for jasmine, 2 for brown, and 1.2 for sushi rice. Package and rice-cooker directions take priority.
Should I measure rice by weight or cups?
Weight is more consistent because cup packing and grain size vary. The calculator supplies both grams and approximate US cups so you can use the equipment you have.
Related Calculators
Unit Rate Calculator
Find cost per unit and compare which option is the better deal.
Volume Calculator
Calculate volume of rectangular objects with multiple units.
Percentage Calculator
Calculate percentage of a number, percentage change, and common percent problems.
Tip Calculator
Calculate restaurant tip, split bills, and reverse-calculate bill amount from total paid.
Share This Calculator
Found this tool helpful?
Help others discover it with one click.
Copy Link
Suggested hashtags: #rice #person #Calculator #FreeTools #AICalculator