Event Planning Guide
How Much Ice Do I Need for a 150 Quart Cooler?
Start with four to five standard 20 pound bags of ice for a heavily loaded 150 quart cooler, then adjust for the weather, service time, and how many drinks arrive already cold.
Plan for what must be cold at once
A cooler full of ice holds fewer drinks, and a cooler full of drinks has less ice around them. For a busy drink station, four to five 20 pound bags is a sensible starting point. Buy a little extra when the day will be hot, the cooler will be opened often, or beverages arrive warm.
Do not try to fit every drink for the full event into the cooler. Keep backstock in approved cold storage and assign someone to refill the station.
Make the ice work harder
Pre chill cans and bottles before loading. Put the cooler in its final, level location before it is heavy, keep it out of direct sun where possible, and layer ice around the drinks instead of leaving one pile at an end. Keep a clear path for restocking and do not drain melted water across a guest walkway.
Ice is not included with the rental, so include it in the shopping plan. If you need a guest facing display as well as cold backstock, pair the cooler with a separate ice table or bar setup.
