Knowing how much steak per person to buy takes the guesswork out of a dinner party, a special meal or a simple midweek steak night.
For most meals, allow around 250g of raw steak per adult for a standard main, or 300g to 400g for bigger appetites.
This guide gives you clear portions by cut and by occasion, explains how the weight on the label becomes the weight on the plate, and helps you buy the right steak with confidence.
The quick answer: steak portions at a glance
For most people, 250g of raw steak per adult is a satisfying main, rising to 300g or 400g for hearty eaters or a special occasion. The right figure depends on the cut, the appetite and what else is on the plate.
Leaner cuts feel lighter, so steak lovers often prefer a touch more, while a richly marbled cut satisfies at a smaller size. Use the table below to match the portion to the occasion.
| Occasion | Raw steak per adult | Notes |
| Everyday dinner | 200g to 250g | A standard main with sides |
| Dinner party | 250g to 300g | Generous without being heavy |
| Steak lovers or big appetites | 300g to 400g | The steak is the star |
| Barbecue, mixed meats | 200g to 250g | Steak is one of several meats |
Portions by cut: what a serve looks like
The cut decides the portion, since bone and marbling change how far each steak goes. A lean eye fillet satisfies at a smaller weight, while a bone-in T-bone needs to be larger to deliver the same amount of meat.
The table below reflects the weights these cuts are typically sold at and how many people each feeds. For more on individual cuts, our guides to the porterhouse and the scotch fillet explain what sets them apart.
| Cut | Typical weight | Feeds | Notes |
| Eye fillet | 200g to 250g | 1 | Lean and tender |
| Scotch fillet | 300g | 1 | Rich marbling |
| Porterhouse | 250g to 300g | 1 | The classic steak |
| Rump | 300g | 1 to 2 | Great value, easy to share |
| T-bone | 400g to 500g | 1 to 2 | Bone adds weight |
| Tomahawk | 1kg to 1.2kg | 2 to 3 | Bone-in, made for sharing |
Sharing big steaks: tomahawk and T-bone maths
A large bone-in steak like a tomahawk or T-bone is best shared, since a good portion of the weight is bone. That is why a 1.2kg tomahawk feeds two to three people rather than filling a single plate.
Once you account for the bone and any trim, a tomahawk yields roughly 700g to 800g of eating meat, which comfortably covers two hearty serves or three moderate ones. A T-bone sits between a single serve and a shared one, depending on appetites. Our guide to the tomahawk steak covers how to cook and carve one for the table.
Raw vs cooked: why 250g raw is not 250g on the plate
Steak loses around a quarter of its weight during cooking, so a 250g raw steak lands closer to 190g once cooked and rested. Fat renders and moisture cooks off, more so the longer the steak is on the heat.
This is why every figure in this guide is a raw weight, which is what you buy. A well-done steak shrinks more than a rare one, so if your guests like their steak cooked through, buy a little extra. Resting the steak keeps those juices in the meat rather than on the board, and our guide on how to rest beef explains how long to leave it.
Adjusting for appetites and the rest of the plate
Adjust the 250g serve up or down for who is eating and how substantial the sides are. The steak rarely sits on the plate alone.
Lighter eaters are well served by 150g to 200g, while hungry guests or those on a high-protein diet may want 300g or more. If you are serving chips, creamy mash or a loaded salad, you can lean towards the smaller end, since the sides do plenty of the filling. Count young children as roughly half an adult serve.
Buying steak the smart way
Match the cut and portion to the occasion, then buy by weight rather than by the number of steaks. Buying by weight is what keeps portions consistent when cuts vary in size.
For a special dinner, a leaner premium cut at 250g each looks after most guests, while a value cut like rump stretches further for a casual meal or a crowd. When you are ready to order, you can browse our porterhouse steaks or scotch fillet and have them delivered chilled. Buying a little extra is sensible, since steak freezes well for another night.
Conclusion
Getting the steak portion right comes down to about 250g of raw steak per adult, adjusted up for big appetites and bone-in cuts, and down when the sides are generous. Match the cut to the occasion, buy by weight, and share the big steaks. For premium cuts delivered to your door, Cost Cut Meats makes steak night easy.
