How Much Boerewors Per Person?
The short answer: 200 grams of boerewors per adult, when wors is one of several meats on the fire. That's been the rule from butchers in Boksburg to St Marcus in London for decades. Below: when to bump that up, when to dial it down, and exact quantities for 4, 8, 12 and 20 guests.
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The 200g rule
200g is the right number when:
- You're cooking two or more meats (wors + steak, wors + chops, wors + chicken).
- Sides are present, pap, salads, rolls, anything starchy.
- It's a normal afternoon braai, not an all-day epic.
One 500g coil therefore feeds roughly two-and-a-half people. A 1kg pack feeds five. That's the base unit to think in when shopping.
Boerewors quantities by guest count
| Guests | Wors needed (200g/person) | If wors is the only meat (300g/person) |
|---|---|---|
| 4 | 0.8 kg | 1.2 kg |
| 8 | 1.6 kg | 2.4 kg |
| 12 | 2.4 kg | 3.6 kg |
| 16 | 3.2 kg | 4.8 kg |
| 20 | 4.0 kg | 6.0 kg |
| 30 | 6.0 kg | 9.0 kg |
How many boerewors rolls per kg?
If you're doing boerie rolls (the perfect lunchtime move) the conversion is:
1 kg of boerewors ≈ 5 boerie rolls (using standard hotdog rolls cut to ~15 cm length).
For 8 boerie rolls you need 1.6 kg of wors and a 6-pack of hotdog rolls plus a couple extra. The calculator already does this, pick wors and hotdog rolls and it'll round up the buns.
Does it matter which boerewors you buy?
For portion sizing, no, 200g is 200g. For taste and price, very much yes:
- Pick n Pay Country Classic wors, around R110/kg in 2026. Fine for a casual braai, sometimes a bit fatty.
- Checkers Championship Boerewors, R130/kg. Award winner, the safe bet.
- Woolies Free-Range, R199/kg. Premium, leaner, fewer fillers.
- Local butcher, R140-R200/kg. Best flavour if you've got a butcher you trust.
For SA expats overseas: imported boerewors lands at $35/kg in the USA, £18/kg in the UK and around A$28/kg in Australia. See our expat guide for shop links.
Wors-only braais: a quick note
If you're doing wors-only (a "wors and pap" lunch, a kids' birthday braai, a quick weeknight one) you need 300g per adult, not 200g. People will eat more of it when there's nothing else competing on the plate.
Storing leftovers
Cooked wors lasts 3 days in the fridge or 2 months in the freezer. Sliced into rounds it's the best topping a Monday-night pap-en-sous has ever seen. Always over-buy by 10%, you won't regret it.
FAQ
How much wors for 4 people?
800g, a single 1kg pack (with a tiny bit left over for breakfast).
How much wors for 12 people?
2.4kg, three 800g coils, or a 2.5kg butcher pack.
What if half the guests are kids?
Count each child as 100g. So 8 adults + 4 kids = (8 × 200) + (4 × 100) = 2.0 kg.