Pizza ordering questions, answered

Order 4 large pizzas for 10 adults. At 3 slices each they need 30 slices, and 4 large pizzas give you 32. If the group is mostly young kids or there is plenty of other food, 3 large pizzas will do.

Order 8 large pizzas for 20 adults. That covers 60 slices at 3 per person with 4 to spare. For a team, a room of teenagers, or any group where pizza is the only food, plan on 4 slices each and order 10.

Order 12 large pizzas for 30 adults. They need 90 slices, and 12 large pizzas give you 96. At that size, call the pizzeria at least an hour ahead so the kitchen can plan for it.

Order 19 large pizzas for 50 adults, which covers 150 slices at 3 per person. For an order that big, call two or more hours ahead, ask whether the shop offers a bulk price, and consider staggering delivery so the second half arrives hot.

Plan on 1 large pizza for every 4 young kids, since most eat about 2 slices. Ten kids need 3 large pizzas. If parents are staying to eat, add their slices separately, at about 2.5 slices per adult.

Three slices is a reliable default for adults. Plan 2 for young kids, 2.5 when there are plenty of sides, and 4 for teenagers, athletes, or any event where pizza is the only food.

Divide the slices you need by the slices in one pizza and round up. If a school lunch needs 940 slices and each large has 8, that is 117.5 pizzas, so order 118.

A large pizza is usually 14 inches across and cut into 8 slices, which is what the calculator assumes. Some shops cut larges into 10 or 12 thinner slices. More slices does not mean more food, so plan by the size of the pizza.

Extra-large pizzas are usually around 16 inches and are cut into 10 or 12 slices depending on the shop. The calculator assumes 10 slices, which keeps each slice close to the size of a slice from a large.

Large pizzas are usually the better value. A 14 inch large has about 154 square inches of pizza and a 12 inch medium has about 113, so the large holds 36 percent more food. Unless the large costs 36 percent more than the medium, the large wins. Coupons on mediums can change that, so compare before a big order.