Passover Seder Planner
Plan Your Passover Seder With Confidence
The Passover (Pesach) Seder is a centerpiece of the holiday, combining ritual, storytelling, and a festive meal. Hosting means making sure you have enough of each symbolic food so every guest can participate fully in the experience. This planner calculator helps you estimate how much matzah, wine or grape juice, charoset, maror (bitter herbs), and other key Seder items to prepare based on your total number of guests.
The quantities shown are practical, modern hosting guidelines—not halachic rulings. Customs differ between families, communities, and halachic authorities, so treat these numbers as a helpful starting point that you can adapt to your own traditions and the guidance you follow.
What This Passover Seder Calculator Estimates
When you enter your guest count, the calculator multiplies a set of per-person estimates to give you total amounts for:
- Matzah – estimated number of whole pieces for the ritual eating of matzah and the meal.
- Wine or grape juice – total cups for the four cups customarily drunk by each participant.
- Charoset – approximate teaspoons to serve with matzah and maror.
- Maror (bitter herbs) – grams of bitter herbs for the required tastes.
- Salt (for karpas) – a small amount of table salt for saltwater used in the dipping ritual.
The output is designed to be easy to convert into shopping lists. You can round the totals up or down based on package sizes, appetite, and whether you are hosting one or two Seders.
Formulas and Serving Assumptions
Behind the scenes, the calculator uses simple multiplication. For each item, there is a baseline amount per person. The total amount is:
The default assumptions used in this tool are:
- Matzah: 1 whole piece of matzah per person per main eating portion (approximately 3 pieces per person over the course of the Seder).
- Wine or grape juice: 4 cups per person (one for each of the four cups of the Seder, sized according to your own custom).
- Charoset: about 2 teaspoons per person.
- Maror (bitter herbs): roughly 30 grams per person.
- Salt for karpas: a small pinch per person, scaled to a shared bowl or two for the table.
If you prefer different serving sizes, you can change the underlying per-person values in the code so the totals match your family or community practice more closely.
Baseline Serving Estimates
The table below summarizes the assumptions this calculator uses for each guest.
| Item | Per-person baseline | What this represents |
|---|---|---|
| Matzah | 3 pieces | For the required matzah portions and extra during the meal. |
| Wine or grape juice | 4 cups | One cup for each of the four cups of the Seder. |
| Charoset | 2 teaspoons | Enough for combining with matzah and maror. |
| Maror (bitter herbs) | 30 g | Approximate amount for the required tastes per guest. |
| Salt (for karpas) | Pinch per person | Scaled into one or more bowls of saltwater for dipping. |
Interpreting Your Results
Once you click the button and see your results, use them as a guide rather than an exact prescription. Here is how to read the numbers:
- Matzah pieces: Consider whether the total covers all ritual requirements plus casual eating. Many hosts round up to the next full box.
- Cups of wine or grape juice: Think in terms of bottles. Divide the total cups by how many servings you typically pour from one bottle.
- Charoset teaspoons: Because charoset is popular, you may want to increase this by 25–50% if your guests tend to take generous portions.
- Maror grams: Check whether you are using romaine, horseradish, or another form; different types may feel more or less intense for the same weight.
- Salt: As long as each table has at least one small bowl of saltwater, you rarely need to measure this very precisely.
For large groups or community Seders, it is usually wise to round up so that late arrivals, second helpings, or spills do not leave anyone out.
Worked Example: Hosting 12 Guests
Imagine you are hosting a Seder for 12 people, including adults and children. Using the default assumptions, the calculator would roughly suggest:
- Matzah: 12 guests × 3 pieces each = 36 pieces total. If a box has about 10 pieces, you might buy 4 boxes to be safe.
- Wine or grape juice: 12 guests × 4 cups each = 48 cups. If a bottle gives you about 5 cups, you would need around 10 bottles, adjusting down if some guests drink grape juice or small pours.
- Charoset: 12 guests × 2 teaspoons each = 24 teaspoons (about 8 tablespoons). Many hosts prepare more to allow for generous servings.
- Maror: 12 guests × 30 g each = 360 g total. You might round this up to 400–450 g, especially if you know your guests like a noticeable portion.
- Salt: A few tablespoons of salt dissolved in water is sufficient for multiple dipping bowls.
This example shows how to turn the calculator output into real shopping decisions that also account for packaging and your guests’ habits.
Adapting for Your Customs and Guests
Practices around the Seder vary widely:
- Different communities: Ashkenazi, Sephardi, Mizrahi, Reform, Conservative, and Orthodox communities may emphasize different quantities or specific halachic measures. Always prioritize the customs and rabbinic guidance you follow.
- Children and light eaters: Young children or guests with smaller appetites may not consume full portions of matzah, wine, or maror. You can mentally discount them when interpreting the totals.
- Wine vs. grape juice: Some guests may avoid alcohol and prefer grape juice. The calculator combines them into a single “wine or grape juice” total, which you can then divide into however many bottles of each you wish to serve.
- Multiple Seders: If you host on two nights, decide whether to enter your total guests for one Seder or both combined, and then double or adjust the results accordingly.
For strict halachic requirements, this tool does not replace rabbinic advice or detailed halachic guides. It is meant to support practical planning so you can organize your home and kitchen smoothly.
How to Use These Estimates for Shopping and Prep
To make the most of the calculator results:
- Use the per-person numbers as a baseline, then round up for large gatherings or hearty eaters.
- Convert cups and teaspoons into bottles, jars, or packages based on what is available in your local stores.
- Plan for a little extra if you expect leftovers to be enjoyed during Chol HaMoed or for a second Seder.
- Coordinate with co-hosts or family members so that multiple people are not bringing the same item in excess while other essentials are short.
Clear estimates help you prepare calmly, leaving more attention for the storytelling, songs, and conversations that make the Seder meaningful.
Limitations and Assumptions
Every Seder table is different, so keep these limitations in mind:
- The calculator uses simplified serving sizes; actual halachic shiurim (minimum amounts) can be more specific and should be confirmed with a competent halachic authority if that is important in your household.
- Results are approximate and do not account for special dietary needs, vegetarian or vegan adaptations, or guests who avoid particular ingredients.
- Quantities do not include the entire festive meal (soup, main course, sides, dessert), which you should plan separately based on your menu.
- Item weights (especially maror) may vary depending on whether you use fresh greens, prepared horseradish, or other forms.
- Because packaging sizes differ by country and brand, you may still need to adjust to the nearest whole package and consider your budget.
Despite these limitations, the calculator gives a clear, practical framework so you can avoid major shortages and reduce unnecessary excess when preparing for Passover.