How much crawfish per person?
For a real Louisiana crawfish boil, plan on about 3 pounds of whole crawfish per person. Go up to 4 or 5 pounds for serious crawfish eaters, and down to 1 or 2 pounds when there's plenty of other food.
Quick chart
| Guests | Crawfish | What to order |
|---|---|---|
| 2 people | 6–8 lb | 10 lb box |
| 3–4 people | 10–12 lb | 10 or 15 lb box |
| 5 people | 15 lb | 15 lb box |
| 6–7 people | 20 lb | 20 lb box |
| 8–10 people | 25–30 lb | 30 lb box |
| 20 people | 60 lb | Two 30 lb boxes |
Based on 3 lb per person. Our shipped boxes come in 10, 15, 20 and 30 lb.
Why so much?
Most of a crawfish is shell. It takes roughly 6 to 7 pounds of whole boiled crawfish to get 1 pound of tail meat, so 3 pounds per person works out to only about half a pound of meat each.
Adjust for your crowd
- Crawfish is the main event: 4 to 5 lb per person.
- Normal boil with corn, potatoes and sausage: 3 lb per person.
- Lots of other food, or kids: 1 to 2 lb per person.
Feeding a big crowd in Natchitoches? See our catering. Having it shipped? Here's how to reheat crawfish when the box arrives.
Common questions
How many pounds of crawfish per person?
About 3 pounds of whole crawfish per person for a typical boil, 4 to 5 pounds for big eaters, and 1 to 2 pounds when other food is served.
How much crawfish do I need for 10 people?
About 30 pounds of whole crawfish at 3 pounds per person.
How much tail meat is in a pound of crawfish?
Roughly 15 percent. It takes about 6 to 7 pounds of whole crawfish to get 1 pound of peeled tail meat.
Louisiana crawfish, at your door.
Boiled in Natchitoches, shipped cold overnight, never frozen.