How Many Potatoes Per Person? Mashed, Baked, Roasted

Plan about 1/2 lb of potatoes per person for any potato side dish. In real-world terms that’s one medium-to-large russet each for baked potatoes, about 1/2 lb per person for mashed (a 5 lb bag feeds roughly 10), and 3 to 4 baby potatoes each for roasting. Round up to 3/4 lb per person if potatoes are the star of the plate, big eaters are coming, or you want leftovers — which, with potatoes, you do. Below are the by-dish charts, the bag math, and how to scale for a holiday crowd.

This is the question we get every single holiday, so here’s the math we actually use — the same “how much do I buy” arithmetic behind our pasta portions guide.

The one rule: 1/2 lb per person

Raw potatoes lose very little to peeling and cooking, so unlike pulled pork math, what you buy is close to what you serve. A half pound raw per person lands you at a generous side-dish portion cooked, whatever the method. Two useful translations:

• A 5 lb bag ≈ 10 side servings.
• One medium russet ≈ 1/2 lb; one large russet ≈ 3/4 lb.

Count kids under 10 as half portions, teenagers as adults-plus.

By dish: what 1/2 lb looks like

Dish	Per person	For 4	For 10	For 20
Mashed	1/2 lb	2 lbs	5 lbs	10 lbs
Baked	1 medium-large russet	4 potatoes	10 potatoes	20 potatoes
Roasted chunks	1/2 lb (3–4 baby potatoes)	2 lbs	5 lbs	10 lbs
Potato salad	1/3–1/2 lb	1.5–2 lbs	4–5 lbs	8–10 lbs
Fries/wedges	1/2 lb	2 lbs	5 lbs	10 lbs
Scalloped/au gratin	1/2 lb	2 lbs	5 lbs	10 lbs

Notes on the edges of the chart:

• Mashed shrinks less than you think — butter and milk add back volume. 1/2 lb raw per person is genuinely plenty next to a full meal; go 3/4 lb for Thanksgiving, where mashed potatoes are arguably the main.
• Baked is the easy one: one potato per guest, plus 2–3 spares for the person who drops one or comes back for seconds.
• Potato salad runs lighter because it’s dense, dressed, and usually one of several sides — the low end of the range is right for a cookout with a full spread.
• Roasted potatoes vanish faster than any other format. If your family treats them like fries, you already know to round up.

Scaling for a holiday or a crowd

For big gatherings, the per-person number slides with the rest of the menu:

• Full holiday spread (many sides): 1/2 lb each is right; the stuffing and rolls compete for plate space.
• Meat-and-potatoes menu (few sides): go to 3/4 lb.
• Buffet service: add roughly 10% — people serving themselves are generous with potatoes in particular.
• Feeding 20+: stay at 1/2 lb per person and cook in two vessels rather than one giant pot; mashed for a crowd holds beautifully in a slow cooker on low with a knob of butter on top.

For the whole-menu version of this math — mains, sides, and desserts for any headcount — start with our easy meals for a group planning guide.

Which potato for which job

Buying the right sack matters as much as the weight:

• Russets: baking, mashing, fries. Fluffy, absorbent, big.
• Yukon golds: the all-rounder — buttery mashed, crisp roasts, holds shape in salads. If you’re buying one bag for mixed jobs, buy this.
• Red and baby potatoes: potato salad, boiling, roasting whole. They stay intact when cooked — our baby potato boiling guide covers exact times, and 3 to 4 baby potatoes make one serving.

Leftover math is a feature

Potatoes are the cheapest thing on the plate, so err generous: leftover mashed becomes potato cakes or shepherd’s-pie topping, leftover baked become breakfast home fries, and leftover roasted reheat shockingly well in a hot oven or air fryer. The only true leftover casualty is dressed potato salad past day three. When in doubt, buy the bigger bag — the failure mode of too many potatoes is “easy lunch tomorrow.”

FAQ

How many potatoes do I need for mashed potatoes for 10?

About 5 lbs of raw potatoes — that’s 1/2 lb per person, or one standard 5 lb bag. For a holiday meal where mashed potatoes are the headline side, step up to around 7 lbs and hold the extra in a slow cooker on low.

How many baked potatoes should I make per person?

One medium-to-large russet per adult, half for young kids, and a few spares per dozen guests. If the baked potato is dinner — a loaded potato bar, say — plan one large potato each plus generous toppings, and expect some teenagers to eat two.

How many pounds of potatoes for potato salad for 20?

About 8–10 lbs raw. Potato salad is dense and typically shares the table with other sides, so 1/3 to 1/2 lb per person covers it — use the high end when the spread is light or the crowd skews hungry.

How many baby potatoes is one serving?

Three to four baby potatoes, or roughly 1/2 lb. A standard 1.5 lb bag of baby potatoes serves about three people as a side — for a family of four with big eaters, boil or roast two bags and enjoy the leftovers at breakfast.