How Much Confetti Do I Need? Your Ultimate Calculation Guide
Wedding Confetti Guide
Wedding Confetti Guide
How much confetti do I need? This guide helps you calculate the right amount for your event based on guest count and event size. Read further for detailed calculations and tips.
Key Takeaways
- Use 1 litre of confetti for every 15-20 guests, adjusting based on participation and event size.
- Choose your confetti type wisely, with biodegradable options being more eco-friendly and impactful.
- Utilize confetti calculators to determine your needs accurately and consider timing for that perfect photo moment.

Determining Confetti Quantity

Ensuring you have enough how much wedding confetti can make your wedding day both magical and memorable. The general guideline suggests using 1 litre of confetti for every 15-20 guests. This means, for a wedding with 100 guests, you should ideally order around 10 litres of confetti. Keep in mind that typically only about half of your guests will participate in the confetti throw, which should influence your order.
The amount of confetti needed also varies based on the scale of the event and the number of participants. For a smaller wedding with 30 to 40 guests, around 2-3 litres should suffice. For larger weddings, it’s better to overestimate slightly to ensure you don’t run short during the crucial confetti moment. Balancing your guest list, participation level, and overall vision for the celebration helps in deciding the right amount.
For intimate gatherings, how many guests are likely to participate, allowing you to use less confetti. Conversely, grander celebrations benefit from a more generous amount to ensure a spectacular confetti moment.
Consider these factors when determining the amount of confetti for your wedding.
Confetti Types and Their Impact
Your choice of confetti significantly impacts both the environment and the aesthetic of your wedding. Biodegradable confetti, like natural petal confetti, is ideal for eco-friendly celebrations. Made from dried petals, it decomposes naturally and adds a romantic touch with its delightful fragrance. Opting for biodegradable confetti helps avoid environmental pollution compared to synthetic options.
While beautiful, natural petal confetti can sometimes create a mess, especially in windy conditions where petals may disintegrate or blow away. On the flip side, larger pieces of confetti can create more striking visual effects and are less likely to cause a mess. Incorporating various colors and textures can also enhance your photos and align the confetti with your wedding theme.
Biodegradable paper confetti is another option, particularly safer for guests with allergies as it doesn’t trigger reactions like dried petals might. Each type of confetti, including non biodegradable confetti, has its pros and cons, so your choice should reflect your personal preference, budget, and environmental considerations.
Choose the confetti that best aligns with your vision for the big day, whether it’s fragrant petal confetti or vibrant biodegradable paper.

Calculating by Petal Size
The size of petal confetti can significantly influence how much you’ll need. Small petal confetti ranges from 5mm to 15mm, and 1 litre can provide approximately 10-15 handfuls, making it a cost-effective choice.
Medium petal confetti, which ranges from 10mm to 40mm, offers a balanced option in terms of coverage and visual impact. Large petal confetti, with sizes from 30mm to 60mm, tends to create dramatic and visually appealing effects but requires more volume to cover the same area.
The size of the petals you choose will affect the overall look and feel of your confetti throw, so consider what will best suit your wedding style and venue. Understanding these variations helps you make an informed decision to ensure your confetti moment is picture-perfect.
Confetti Cones and Bags
Confetti cones and bags offer practical and stylish ways to distribute confetti to your guests. Flower petals, including rose petals, are a popular material for homemade wedding confetti, and Shropshire Petals is a recommended source for eco-friendly options. Test the volume of your cones or bags by filling them with dried food and measuring to ensure you have the right amount.
A confetti cone typically holds one handful of throwing confetti. Larger containers like the Deep Oval Basket can hold 60 handfuls of petals, while the Small White Rectangular Basket holds 20. Handmade cones add a personalized touch, while organizing confetti in baskets, cones, or small bags makes it easy for guests to participate.
Using cones or bags to present confetti looks lovely and helps manage portion size and budget. This ensures each guest gets an appropriate amount of confetti, enhancing the overall experience without breaking the bank. Whether you choose handmade cones or pre-purchased bags, adding confetti is key to making it easy for your guests to join in the fun with a confetti cannon.

Handfuls and Litres
Knowing the conversion between handfuls and litres helps you better plan your confetti needs. Typically, 1 litre of confetti equates to about 10-12 handfuls. One litre of small petal confetti yields approximately 10-15 loose handfuls, while medium or large petal confetti yields 8-12 loose handfuls per litre.
A ‘loose handful’ of confetti is roughly equivalent to a double shot glass or about 50ml. Scattering confetti down the aisle requires approximately one litre for every metre of aisle length. This helps ensure that the aisle is beautifully decorated without overdoing it.
Converting your confetti needs into litres and handfuls allows for more accurate calculations and helps avoid last-minute surprises. Understanding these measurements helps create the perfect atmosphere for your big day, whether you’re filling cones, bags, or scattering confetti along the aisle.
Timing Your Confetti Throw
Timing is crucial for a memorable confetti throw. A great moment to throw wedding confetti is just before the newlyweds walk down the aisle together. Guests should wait until the couple is announced as married for a seamless and joyful confetti moment.
Another excellent time to throw confetti is during the couple’s grand entrance at the reception or even during the cake cutting for an additional celebratory touch. Designate confetti holders near the exit to facilitate a smooth confetti throwing, with confetti thrown by guests as they celebrate. This arrangement ensures guests can easily grab their confetti cones or bags without hassle.
Check if your venue permits confetti and understand any restrictions they may have. Inform your officiant about your confetti plans to ensure a seamless ceremony experience. Proper planning and coordination make your confetti throw a memorable and delightful highlight of your celebration.

Using a Confetti Calculator
A confetti calculator helps determine how much confetti you need for your wedding. Input the number of guests, the type of confetti, and other variables into these calculators for an accurate estimate. Adjust the numbers if you’re unsure about the quantity to get a more precise result.
Confetti calculators serve as a guide, so round up to the next whole number if the quantity is a decimal. While not an exact science, a confetti calculator streamlines your planning process and ensures you have enough confetti for that magical moment.
Tips for a Memorable Confetti Moment
Planning and coordination are key to creating a memorable confetti moment. Enhance the visual impact by providing two handfuls of confetti per guest. This approach ensures a fuller and more vibrant appearance in photos. Involving close family members or friends, like bridesmaids or ushers, helps with confetti distribution and smoothens the process.
Consult your photographer about your confetti plans to significantly improve the quality of the photos taken during the throw. Coordinate with your photographer on timing and positioning for the perfect shot. Common times for throwing confetti include when the newlyweds walk up the aisle together or just before group photos during the drinks reception.
Confetti also creates a magical moment during the evening reception. This can occur either midway through or right after the couple’s first dance. Planning these details ensures your confetti moment is memorable and beautifully captured for posterity.

Creative Uses for Extra Confetti
Don’t let leftover confetti go to waste. There are many creative ways to repurpose it. Enhance plain candles by mixing in confetti while pouring the wax, adding color and festivity. Create unique greeting cards decorated with glued-on confetti for a personal, colorful touch.
Create artistic pieces on canvas or wood with extra confetti, turning leftovers into personalized decor. Fill clear balloons with confetti for festive decoration, or transform a plain table with a confetti-adorned table runner. These DIY projects utilize leftover confetti and add a unique, personal touch to your home or future celebrations.
Summary
From calculating the right amount of confetti to understanding different types and their impacts, this guide has covered all the bases to help you plan the perfect confetti moment. Remember to consider petal sizes, use cones and bags for easy distribution, and convert your needs between handfuls and litres. Timing your confetti throw and using a confetti calculator can simplify the process and ensure you’re well-prepared.
By following these tips, you can create a magical and memorable confetti moment that will be cherished for years to come. Whether you’re planning a small intimate wedding or a grand celebration, these insights will help you sprinkle your big day with joy and beauty.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much confetti do I need for 100 guests?
You’ll need about 10 liters of confetti for 100 guests to ensure everyone gets to enjoy the celebration!
What type of confetti is best for an eco-friendly wedding?
Biodegradable petal confetti is the best choice for an eco-friendly wedding since it decomposes naturally, making it a great eco-friendly option!
How should I distribute confetti to my guests?
Distributing confetti in cute cones, bags, or baskets makes it easy for your guests to grab and enjoy. This way, everyone can join in on the fun without any mess!
When is the best time to throw confetti during a wedding?
The best times to throw confetti at a wedding are just before the newlyweds walk down the aisle, during their grand entrance at the reception, or right after the cake cutting. It adds a joyful touch to these special moments!
What can I do with leftover confetti?
You can creatively repurpose leftover confetti by using it to decorate candles, make greeting cards, or craft unique art pieces. It’s a fun way to add a splash of color to your projects!