At a cocktail or garden party, you may only need drinkware and small plates, whereas a formal dinner requires at least three plates per person. Here's what our experts recommend: Cocktail party (or other event serving only finger food) - order three appetizer plates per person plus drinkware.

How many dishes do I need for one person?

If you are single, and you are just starting out, you need 4. No more, no less. You will probably have a few friends over, but it is unlikely you would have much more then that, especially in your new, first apartment.

How many dinnerware sets should you have?

Most experts recommend having eight to 12 five-piece place settings to ensure you have enough dinnerware for general use and entertaining. If you're buying two sets – one for every day and another for formal use – you might choose four to six casual place settings and up to 12 formal place settings.