Camp Meal Planner
Estimate food, calories, water and food cost from values you choose.
Last updated · View algorithm, constants and default inputs (JSON)
About this calculator
Set the calorie and water amounts for your plan. Food weight and cost use fixed examples by meal style; water uses your entered amount. These are packing estimates, not nutrition or hydration advice.
Worked example
calculated with the default values below
Number of campers 4 · Number of days 3 days · Meals per person per day 3 · Food style Car camping, cook properly · Calories per meal 600 kcal · Water per person per day 3 L Total meals 36 · Total calories 21,600 kcal · Approximate food weight 16.2 kg · Water to carry or cache 36.0 L · Estimated food cost (USD) 162 USD · Packing note Pre-portion dry ingredients at home to cut preparation time at camp
General background references
Disclaimer
These calculators give general estimates. Sizing, pricing, availability and standards vary by brand, retailer and country, so treat the output as a starting point and confirm it against the seller's or authority's own figures.
Implementation source
This record describes the implementation used by this page. It is not independent validation. External references, when available, support only the stated formula or definition; estimates and custom rules retain their own assumptions.
Formula and variables
M = N·d·m; W = M·w_s; Water = N·d·q
- M
- Total meals
- N
- Number of people
- d
- Trip days
- m
- Meals per person per day
- w_s
- Food weight per meal by style, kg
- q
- Water per person per day, L
- W
- Total food weight, kg
- Water
- Total water needed, L
Food weight per meal (kg) by style: car camp 0.45, backpack 0.16, one-pot 0.35, cold 0.4. Food cost per meal (USD): 4.5, 12, 5.5, 5. Total water uses the user-entered litres per person per day.
Frequently asked questions
How are food weight and water estimated?
The planner multiplies people × days × meals per day. Food weight uses a fixed per-meal example by style (0.45 kg for car camping, 0.16 kg for backpacking, 0.35 kg for one-pot and 0.40 kg for cold food). Water is only the per-person daily amount you enter; the default is not a hydration recommendation.