Tool · Couscous
Couscous calculator
How much couscous per person? Choose servings, appetite, and couscous type – you'll get grams of couscous, water or broth, oil, and salt. The selection is stored in the link, so you can share it.
How the calculator works
As a rule of thumb, allow 60 to 70 grams of dry couscous per person as a side dish and about 100 grams as a main course when vegetables or meat are added. Pre-cooked instant couscous absorbs about 1.2 times the amount of water (in milliliters, relative to the weight), whole grain a little more. A teaspoon of oil or butter per serving keeps the grains fluffy.
Here's how: Mix the couscous with salt and oil, pour hot water or hot broth over it, cover and let it swell, and fluff with a fork. The exact swelling time and amount of water are on the package and are what counts.
Important: Couscous is made from wheat and contains gluten. If you need to avoid gluten, you need an explicitly gluten-free product.
Quick answer: how much couscous per person?
| People | Side dish | Main course |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 60–70 g | 100 g |
| 2 | 120–140 g | 200 g |
| 4 | 240–280 g | 400 g |
| 6 | 360–420 g | 600 g |
| 8 | 480–560 g | 800 g |
How much water for how much couscous?
| Couscous | Water or stock (instant) |
|---|---|
| 100 g | 120 ml |
| 200 g | 240 ml |
| 250 g | 300 ml |
| 500 g | 600 ml |
Guideline values; the package instructions take precedence.
Frequently asked questions
How much couscous per person?
Count 60 to 70 g of dry couscous per person as a side dish and about 100 g as a main course.
How much water for 100 g of couscous?
Instant couscous takes about 120 ml of hot water or stock per 100 g (1.2 times the weight). Whole-wheat takes a little more. Follow the package if it differs.
How much couscous for 4 people?
About 240 to 280 g as a side dish and about 400 g as a main course.
How much couscous for 10 guests?
Around 600 to 700 g as a side dish or 1 kg as a main course.
Handy extras
For good results: Advertisement: The Amazon links are affiliate links. They lead to search results, not to a specific offer. Exception: links marked “Our pick” lead directly to a specific product.
Tagine pot
Goes well with couscous with vegetables or chicken.
Ras el Hanout
Spice blend for vegetables, meat, and couscous. Check the ingredient list.
As of: October 2026 · Guideline values from cooking practice. Related: Couscous with Vegetables (recipe) and Spices in the guide.