How Much Ham Per Person?
How much ham you need comes down to one thing. The bone.
- Bone in ham: about 3/4 pound per person
- Spiral sliced ham (bone in): about 1/2 to 3/4 pound per person
- Boneless ham: about 1/3 to 1/2 pound per person
Want the exact number for your crowd? Plug it into the calculator.
Ham size chart
| Guests | Bone in (3/4 lb each) | Spiral (1/2 lb each) | Boneless (1/3 lb each) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 | 4.5 lb | 3 lb | 2 lb |
| 8 | 6 lb | 4 lb | 2.75 lb |
| 10 | 7.5 lb | 5 lb | 3.5 lb |
| 12 | 9 lb | 6 lb | 4 lb |
| 16 | 12 lb | 8 lb | 5.5 lb |
| 20 | 15 lb | 10 lb | 6.75 lb |
Want leftovers for sandwiches and split pea soup? Go one size up.
Which ham should you buy?
Spiral sliced ham is the easy button. It's already cooked and already sliced. You just glaze it and warm it up. This is what most people serve at Christmas and Easter.
Bone in ham (not sliced) has the most flavor and stays juicier. You carve it yourself. You also get the bone for soup, which is half the reason to buy it.
Boneless ham is all meat. No carving drama. It slices clean and stretches the furthest per pound.
How to heat a spiral ham without drying it out
Spiral hams dry out fast because all those slices let the moisture escape. Here's how to keep it juicy:
- Set your oven to 325°F.
- Put the ham cut side down in a roasting pan with a splash of water or juice in the bottom.
- Cover it tight with foil.
- Heat it about 10 to 14 minutes per pound. Check your package for its exact time.
- Pull it when the center reads 140°F. It's already cooked, so you're just warming it.
- Brush on the glaze for the last 15 to 20 minutes, uncovered.
What about a fresh or uncooked ham?
A fresh ham isn't cured or cooked. Treat it like a pork roast. Cook it to 145°F and let it rest at least 3 minutes before slicing. Always check the label so you know which kind you bought.
Serving ham and turkey together?
Cut both back. When there are two mains, plan about 1/4 to 1/3 pound of bone in ham per person plus a smaller turkey. Our turkey per person chart helps you size the bird.
Save that bone
Don't toss the ham bone. Freeze it. It makes the best split pea soup, bean soup, or pot of greens you'll have all winter.
FAQ
How much ham do I need for 10 people?
For 10 people, buy about a 7.5 pound bone in ham, a 5 pound spiral ham, or a 3.5 pound boneless ham.
How much spiral ham per person?
Plan about 1/2 pound of spiral ham per person, or up to 3/4 pound if you want leftovers.
How much boneless ham per person?
Plan about 1/3 to 1/2 pound of boneless ham per person.
What temperature should I heat a spiral ham to?
Spiral hams are already cooked. Heat them at 325°F until the center reaches 140°F.
How long do you heat a spiral ham per pound?
Plan about 10 to 14 minutes per pound at 325°F, covered with foil. Check your package for its exact time.