How Much Rice to Store Per Person (With Printable Chart)

When it comes to how much rice you need to store per person, plan for 20–25 pounds of rice per person for 3 months, or 80–100 pounds per person for a full year.

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📊 Quick Reference Chart

If you’re building a long-term pantry and wondering how much rice you actually need—good news: I’ve done the math for you.

Here’s a simple guideline based on common storage goals:

Duration	1 Person	2 People	4 People	6 People
3 Months	10–15 lb	20–30 lb	40–60 lb	60–90 lb
6 Months	20–30 lb	40–60 lb	80–120 lb	120–180 lb
1 Year	40–50 lb	80–100 lb	160–200 lb	240–300 lb

🖨️ [Download this chart as a printable PDF]

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⏱️ How Long Do You Want It to Last?

• Short-term emergency backup: 10–15 pounds per person is fine for short outages.
• Seasonal prep (3–6 months): 20–60 pounds per person, depending on your menu.
• Full-year preps: Go for 80–100 pounds per person to stay safe and flexible.

👉 Tip: Store multiple types of rice (white, jasmine, basmati, parboiled) to prevent menu fatigue. See Best Types of Rice for Long-Term Storage for ideas.

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🛢️ What Storage Method Are You Using?

Storage amounts also depend on how you plan to seal it:

• Vacuum Sealing: Best for short- to medium-term storage. Rotate every 1–3 years.
• Mylar + Oxygen Absorbers: Ideal for long-term storage up to 30 years. Learn more in How to Store Rice Long Term (The Safest and Simplest Way).

🔗 Also see: How to Vacuum Seal Rice for Storage (And When It’s Worth Doing)

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🥄 How Much Rice Per Meal?

One pound of dry rice = about 5–6 cups cooked
A typical adult meal uses ¾ to 1 cup of cooked rice, so:

• 1 lb of dry rice = ~5 meals
• 50 lb bag = ~250 meals
  That’s enough for one person to eat rice almost every day for a year.

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👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Family Tip

If you’re storing rice as a staple for your family, use this rule of thumb:
1 adult = 100 lb/year | 1 child = 50 lb/year

Adjust up or down based on how often your household eats rice.

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Final Thoughts

Planning how much rice to store isn’t just about numbers—it’s about having peace of mind. Whether you’re storing it in Mylar bags for the next decade or rotating through vacuum-sealed bags every few months, the key is matching your storage method to your needs.

📌 Ready to learn more? Check out Does Rice Go Bad? How to Tell If It’s Still Safe to Eat to avoid surprises when it’s time to open those bags.