Quick Answer: For beef tenderloin per person, plan about ½ lb (8 oz) of trimmed raw tenderloin as a main dish, which cooks down to roughly 6 oz on the plate. With several hearty sides, 6 oz raw per person is enough. If you buy an untrimmed tenderloin, add about a third more weight, since trimming removes 15 to 30 percent. Use the calculator below for your group.
Beef Tenderloin Per Person Calculator
Untrimmed weight allows for about 25% trimming loss. Cooked meat assumes about 25% loss from trimmed raw weight at medium-rare.
Beef Tenderloin Per Person: Chart for 4–20 Guests
| Guests | Trimmed (½ lb each) | Untrimmed to Buy | Cooked Meat |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | 2 lbs (0.9 kg) | ~2.7 lbs | ~1.5 lbs |
| 6 | 3 lbs (1.4 kg) | ~4 lbs | ~2.25 lbs |
| 8 | 4 lbs (1.8 kg) | ~5.3 lbs | ~3 lbs |
| 10 | 5 lbs (2.3 kg) | ~6.7 lbs | ~3.75 lbs |
| 12 | 6 lbs (2.7 kg) | ~8 lbs | ~4.5 lbs |
| 15 | 7.5 lbs (3.4 kg) | ~10 lbs | ~5.6 lbs |
| 20 | 10 lbs (4.5 kg) | ~13.3 lbs | ~7.5 lbs |
Keep reading for the difference between trimmed and untrimmed tenderloin, how many people a whole tenderloin feeds, and how to adjust portions for your menu.
Trimmed vs Untrimmed Beef Tenderloin
Tenderloin is sold two ways. A trimmed (or "peeled") tenderloin is ready to cook, with the fat, silverskin, and side muscle known as the chain already removed. An untrimmed whole tenderloin still has all of that attached. It costs less per pound, but trimming it at home removes about 15 to 30 percent of the weight. That's why you need roughly a third more untrimmed weight to end up with the same ½ lb of usable meat per person. The trimmed chain isn't wasted, though: it makes good stir-fry or kebab meat.
How Many People Does a Whole Tenderloin Feed?
| Tenderloin | Typical Weight | Serves (½ lb Trimmed Each) |
|---|---|---|
| Center-cut roast | 2–3 lbs | 4–6 |
| Trimmed whole tenderloin | 4–5 lbs | 8–10 |
| Untrimmed whole tenderloin | 5–8 lbs | 8–10 after trimming |
For a small group of four to six, a center-cut roast is the easiest choice: it's evenly shaped, so it cooks evenly. For larger groups, a whole tenderloin is more economical. Folding the thin tail end under and tying it helps the whole roast cook at the same rate.
Adjusting Tenderloin Portions for Your Menu
Tenderloin is lean, rich in texture, and expensive, so many hosts serve slightly smaller portions than with other roasts. With several hearty sides, 6 oz raw per person is plenty. For a steak-house style dinner, plan 8 to 10 oz. If tenderloin is sharing the table with another main, 4 to 5 oz per person is usually enough. For a bone-in centerpiece with more weight per guest, compare our guide to how much prime rib per person, or see how many pounds of roast beef per person for other cuts.
How Much Tenderloin Shrinks When Cooked
Because tenderloin has so little fat, it loses less weight than fattier roasts, and most cooks serve it rare to medium-rare, which keeps loss low. Expect about 20 to 25 percent, so 8 oz of trimmed raw tenderloin gives roughly 6 oz cooked. Cooking it past medium dries it out quickly and increases the loss. Our guide to beef raw vs cooked weight shows how this compares with other cuts.
Beef Tenderloin Nutrition
Tenderloin is one of the leanest beef cuts. A 3 oz serving of trimmed, roasted tenderloin has roughly 180 to 200 calories, about 24 to 26g of protein, and around 8 to 9g of fat. That's about as much protein as four large eggs, as shown in our guide to how many eggs equal 30g of protein, which makes a modest slice a good fit for a balanced, protein-focused meal.
Frequently Asked Questions
About ½ lb (8 oz) of trimmed raw tenderloin per person as a main dish, or 6 oz with several hearty sides.
About ⅔ lb (10 to 11 oz) per person, since trimming the fat, silverskin, and chain removes 15 to 30 percent of the weight.
A whole tenderloin weighing 4 to 5 lbs trimmed feeds about 8 to 10 people at ½ lb each.
About 5 lbs of trimmed tenderloin, or roughly 6.5 to 7 lbs if you buy it untrimmed.
About 20 to 25 percent at rare to medium-rare, so 8 oz of trimmed raw tenderloin gives roughly 6 oz cooked.
Final Answer: Beef Tenderloin Per Person
Plan ½ lb of trimmed raw beef tenderloin per person, which gives about 6 oz cooked, or drop to 6 oz raw with plenty of sides. If you buy it untrimmed, add about a third more weight to cover trimming. A trimmed whole tenderloin of 4 to 5 lbs feeds 8 to 10 guests, and cooking it no further than medium-rare keeps both the yield and the texture at their best.