How Much Brisket Per Person?
This is where most people run short. They buy brisket like it's steak. It's not.
A whole packer brisket loses about half its weight after you trim the fat and smoke it. So a 14 pound brisket gives you about 7 pounds of sliced meat.
Here's the rule:
- Serve: 1/3 to 1/2 pound of cooked brisket per adult.
- Buy: 3/4 to 1 pound of raw whole packer brisket per adult.
Go with 1 pound raw if brisket is the main event or your crowd eats big. Our calculator starts at 3/4 pound. Hit "Hearty" and it bumps you up.
Brisket size chart
| Guests | Raw brisket (3/4 lb each) | Raw brisket (1 lb each) | Cooked brisket you'll get |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | 7.5 lb | 10 lb | 3.75 to 5 lb |
| 15 | 11.25 lb | 15 lb | 5.5 to 7.5 lb |
| 20 | 15 lb | 20 lb | 7.5 to 10 lb |
| 30 | 22.5 lb | 30 lb | 11 to 15 lb |
| 50 | 37.5 lb | 50 lb | 19 to 25 lb |
Most whole packers run 12 to 18 pounds. For 20 people, that's one big brisket or two smaller ones.
Whole packer vs flat
Whole packer is the full brisket. Point and flat together. Lots of fat to trim. Plan on that 50% yield.
Brisket flat is the leaner half, usually sold already trimmed. It loses less, so about 1/2 to 2/3 pound raw per person is enough. Flats dry out easier though. The point is where the juicy stuff and the burnt ends live.
How long to smoke a brisket
| Smoker temp | Time per pound | 14 lb packer |
|---|---|---|
| 225°F | 1 to 1.5 hours | 14 to 21 hours |
| 250°F | 45 to 75 minutes | 10.5 to 17.5 hours |
Then rest it. At least 1 to 2 hours wrapped in a towel inside a cooler. Longer is better.
Brisket is done when it's probe tender. That usually lands around 195°F to 205°F, but the real test is your probe sliding in like it's going into soft butter.
Plan your cook backward
Brisket doesn't care about your party schedule. Some finish early. Some stall for hours.
For a 5 pm dinner with a 14 pound brisket at 250°F, put it on the night before. If it finishes early, wrap it and hold it in a cooler. It'll stay hot for hours. Finishing early is a nice problem. Finishing late is a disaster.
Adjust for your crowd
- Lots of sides or a second meat? Go 3/4 pound raw per person.
- Brisket is the only thing on the table? Go 1 pound.
- Kids? Count them as half.
- Sandwich buffet with buns? You can drop to about 1/4 pound cooked per person.
Feeding a big crowd on a budget?
Pulled pork gives you more servings per dollar and is way more forgiving. See our pulled pork per person chart.
FAQ
How much brisket do I need for 20 people?
For 20 people, buy 15 to 20 pounds of raw whole packer brisket. That gives you about 7.5 to 10 pounds of cooked brisket.
How much does brisket shrink when you smoke it?
A whole packer brisket loses about half its raw weight after trimming and smoking.
How much cooked brisket per person?
Plan 1/3 to 1/2 pound of cooked brisket per adult.
How long does it take to smoke a brisket?
At 225°F plan on 1 to 1.5 hours per pound. A 14 pound brisket can take 14 to 21 hours, plus at least 1 to 2 hours of rest.
What temperature is brisket done?
Brisket is usually done between 195°F and 205°F, but the real test is when a probe slides in with almost no resistance.