The Complete Braai Shopping List

Updated 30 April 2026 · Printableby Braai Calculator team

A braai shopping list isn't just meat. It's the wors, the wood, the wood-lighters, the salt, the rolls you forgot, and the ice you definitely forgot. This is the full list, broken into sections, sized for 4 / 8 / 12 / 20 guests, with realistic South African prices. Print it, save it, share it.

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1. Meat

Plan for 400-500g raw meat per adult. Full breakdown here.

Item	4 guests	8 guests	12 guests	20 guests
Boerewors	0.8 kg	1.6 kg	2.4 kg	4 kg
Rump or sirloin	1 kg	2 kg	3 kg	5 kg
Lamb chops (optional)	0.4 kg	0.8 kg	1.2 kg	2 kg
Chicken pieces	0.6 kg	1.2 kg	1.8 kg	3 kg

2. Sides

Item	4 guests	8 guests	12 guests	20 guests
Mielie meel (2.5kg pack)	1 pack	1 pack	1 pack	2 packs
Tomato & onion smoor (cans)	2	4	6	10
Potato salad 500g	1 tub	2 tubs	3 tubs	5 tubs
Greek/garden salad 500g	1 tub	2 tubs	3 tubs	5 tubs
Hotdog/burger rolls (6-pack)	2	3	4	7
Garlic bread loaf	1	1	2	3

3. Drinks

Item	4 guests	8 guests	12 guests	20 guests
Beer (340-440 ml each)	8	16	24	40
2 L Coca-Cola	1	2	3	5
1.5 L sparkling water	1	2	2	4
Brandy 750ml (optional)	-	1	2	3
Wine bottles (optional)	1	2	3	5

4. Sauces, spices, oils

Salt & coarse pepper
Spur sauce / Mrs Ball's chutney
Tomato sauce + mustard
Mayonnaise (for the potato salad and the boerie rolls)
Worcestershire / Steers monkeygland (optional)
Cooking oil for the salad & brushing meat
Lemon juice or lemons (for the chicken)
Robertson's Spice for Chops, BBQ Spice, Chicken Spice, at minimum one

5. Fire & equipment (the easy-to-forget extras)

Charcoal or wood (4 kg covers a braai for 8; 8 kg for 20)
Firelighters or blitz
Matches / long lighter
Tin foil (for potatoes & covering finished meat)
Tongs & basting brush
Sharp knife & cutting board
Paper towel
Bin bags
Ice (1 kg per 4 guests)
Disposable plates & cutlery (only if you really want to)

6. The "you'll regret forgetting these" list

Lemons, for the gin and the fish
Extra rolls (someone always wants a second boerie roll)
Marinade ingredients (yoghurt, garlic, paprika for the chicken)
Toothpicks
An extra 6-pack, always

What does this all cost?

Use the calculator for the exact total in your country, but as a 2026 ballpark for South Africa: a braai for 8 with all three meats, sides, beers and a brandy comes out around R1,400-R1,800 at Pick n Pay / Checkers prices. At Woolies Free-Range, closer to R2,400.

For SA expats: roughly $140 / £90 / A$160 in the USA, UK and Australia respectively for the same braai.

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Pre-built shopping lists by guest count

Skip the maths, jump straight to a fully-costed list: