How many glasses do I need for a champagne tower?

The allure of a champagne tower is obvious; they’re dramatic, elegant, and total show-stoppers that are sure to leave your guests in awe. If you’ve ever dreamt of creating one, you’re probably asking yourself: how many glasses for a champagne tower will you actually need?

Whether you’re planning a lavish wedding, a corporate event, or another special occasion, it’s important that you consider the essentials to get a champagne tower and not a champagne fiasco!  

How to make a champagne tower 

If you’re wondering how to build a champagne tower, the first step is always working out how many champagne glasses you’ll need. This will depend on how many tiers you want to build and the size of your base layer.

Calculate the base layer 

When you are thinking about your champagne glass hire, start by deciding how big the base layer is going to be. For example, if you want a base layer that’s 5 glasses by 5 glasses, that will come out as a total of 25 glasses for the first layer. 

Build upwards in a pyramid shape 

Each of the following layers will have one less glass in each dimension than the layer below it. So, continuing from the example above: 

The second layer would be 4×4 (16 glasses), 

The third layer would be 3×3 (9 glasses), 

The fourth layer would be 2×2 (4 glasses), 

The top layer would be – you guessed it! – 1 glass. 

Champagne tower calculator

For the total number required, you now just need to add up the glasses from all layers. For the 5×5 base example: 25 + 16 + 9 + 4 + 1 = 55 glasses required. 

This same formula works for any size – whether you want a 3-tier champagne tower, a 4-tier champagne tower, or a dazzling 5-tier champagne tower.

Think of this as a simple champagne tower calculator:

• Base = n × n glasses
• Each layer reduces by 1 on each side
• Add all the layers together for the total number of glasses

Example:

• 3 tier champagne tower → 14 glasses
• 4 tier champagne tower → 30 glasses
• 5 tier champagne tower → 55 glasses

This makes it easy to scale your tower and adjust how many champagne glasses to hire, depending on your guest list and the level of drama you want at your event.

You can use the above formula and apply it to your own guest list to work out exactly how many glasses you’ll need for your own event. For a wider perspective, this article on ‘how many drinking glasses do I need‘ also explores the differences between glass styles and capacities. 

Remember, it’s a good idea to have extra glasses on hand. Accidents happen, and having a few more glasses can save the day if one gets dropped or knocked over. Plus, having a few spare glasses can enhance the visual aspect of your champagne tower, as you can rotate the glasses occasionally to keep the display pristine and dazzling!

What else do I need to think about when building a champagne tower? 

When building a champagne tower, it’s important to remember that you need to use champagne saucers, rather than the more traditional champagne flutes. Saucers, with their wide, shallow ‘bowls’, are more sturdy than flutes, making them perfect for champagne towers. For more on the difference in capacity and style between flutes vs coupes, see this helpful guide by Wine Enthusiast. 

How much champagne do you need?

The need to use saucers rather than flutes means you also need to think about how much champagne you need to fill the glasses. While a standard flute holds approximately 6 ounces of champagne, a saucer is shallower and typically holds about 4.5 ounces. Multiply this by the number of glasses in your tower to get the total quantity required. We’ve got a handy champagne toast calculator to help you work out how much champagne you need for your event. 

Is a champagne tower the right choice for my event? 

While a champagne tower offers a generous sprinkle of opulence and sophistication, it’s a good idea to weigh its practicality against your event’s needs. Will it enhance the ambience and create unforgettable memories? Absolutely. But for smaller, more informal occasions, the traditional flute might be more practical and less of a hassle for you on the day.

If there are likely to be lots of children running around, you’ll need to think about the positioning of your fountain to make sure it won’t get knocked over – no one needs a champagne disaster. 

Champagne tower checklist 

Here’s a quick recap when working out how many glasses for a champagne tower:

• Decide on the number of tiers (3-tier champagne tower, 4-tier champagne tower, 5-tier champagne tower or more).
• Use the pyramid formula (or our champagne tower calculator) to find the total glasses.
• Arrange champagne glass hire for saucers, not flutes.
• Factor in champagne quantities per glass.
• Always have spare glasses for safety and aesthetics.

With the right planning, your champagne tower will be the glittering centrepiece your guests will never forget.