Running out of ice halfway through a party is one of those small disasters everyone remembers. Ordering too much is a waste. Here is a simple way to work out how much ice you need for a party, braai or event in Johannesburg.
Start with a rule of thumb
A common rule of thumb for drinks is about 1 kg of ice per guest for a party of three to four hours. That covers ice in glasses and a few top-ups. If you are also chilling bottles and cans in tubs or cooler boxes, plan extra on top of that.
Adjust for the weather and the crowd
- Hot day or outdoor event: ice melts faster in a Highveld summer, so add more.
- Longer events: for a full day or an evening that runs late, scale up with the hours.
- Cocktails and mixed drinks: these use more ice than beer or wine.
- Cooling food or drinks for hours: use ice blocks. A solid block melts far more slowly than the same weight of cubes.
Choosing your bag sizes
Mad Ice cubes come in 3 kg, 6 kg and 10 kg bags, and our ice blocks come in one 14 kg size. A few 10 kg bags are usually the easiest way to cover a bigger party, with a 3 kg or 6 kg bag as a top-up. For cooler boxes and drinks tubs, add one or two 14 kg blocks under the cubes to keep everything cold for longer.
Keep it cold until you need it
- Keep bags in a freezer or a closed cooler box until you need them.
- Keep cooler boxes in the shade and open them as little as possible.
- Drain melt water from tubs of drinks, but leave it in cooler boxes holding blocks, where it helps keep things cold.
- For bigger events, ask about on-site mobile cold storage so ice stays frozen all day.
Not sure? Ask us
Tell us how many guests you are expecting, how long the event runs and where it is, and we will help you work out the right amount. WhatsApp or call us on 078 497 0191. We deliver in Sandton, Randburg, Lanseria and surrounds, and supply events across Johannesburg on quote.