How to Throw a Super Bowl Party in 2026
- Essential Super Bowl Party Gear for the Ultimate Game Day
- Super Bowl Party Food: Delicious Game Day Snacks and Drinks
- What to Bring to a Super Bowl Party: A Guest's Checklist
- Setting the Perfect Viewing Area for Your Super Bowl Party
- How to Ensure Your Super Bowl Party Runs Smoothly
- Make Game Day One to Remember
- FAQs
- Disclaimer
Super Bowl LX kicks off Sunday, February 8, 2026, at 6:30 p.m. ET / 3:30 p.m. PT in the middle of winter. It will be hard to run multiple machines at the same time, serve hot food that stays fresh for four quarters, and set up screens that look as good as those in sports bars. Below, these party tricks solve real problems you'll have.
Essential Super Bowl Party Gear for the Ultimate Game Day
Your gear changes how much you spend, how well people see the game, and your power bill. Here's what you need to know to avoid common hosting pitfalls.
Pick the Right Screen Size
Simple math can help you: Find the distance in inches between your screen and the farthest seat, then divide that number by 1.5. That's the smallest screen size that will work. You need at least a 96-inch screen if the people in the back row are 12 feet (144 inches) away. When the seats are 10 feet back, most living rooms need TVs or projectors that are 80 inches or bigger.
It's cheaper to get a projector, but you have to be careful with the light. When the lights are bright, a 120-inch picture needs about 2,000 lumens. When the lights are dim, it only needs 1,500 lumens. A good short-throw projector that sits close to the wall will cost between $400 and $800.
Get Loud Enough
The loudest your TV speakers can go is about 20 to 30 watts, which is way too low for 10 or more people to talk over the game. To fill the room with stadium-quality sound, you'll typically need 150–300 watts of power. Don't place the soundbar high so that sound goes over everyone's heads when they sit down. Instead, put it at ear level.
Having the party outside? Get powerful PA speakers with 100 to 300 watts of power that can send sound across your yard. Before the party starts, make sure the volume is right at your seats. Sound fades faster outside than inside.
Don't Trip Your Circuits
Most home lines can handle up to 1800 watts. This is what you're really running:
65-inch TV: 100 to 150 watts
Soundbar: 100–150 watts
Three slow cookers: 600 watts (200W each)
Projector: 300–400 watts
Coffee maker: 900–1200 watts
Outdoor heater: 1500 watts
One circuit can power a projector, a sound system, and three slow cookers. That's a total of 1000–1500W. There are only 650 to 800 watts left before everything turns off. Turn on that coffee maker at halftime and you'll crash the whole setup.
Parties outside or in older homes need a backup power source. You can use the EcoFlow DELTA 3 Ultra to power projectors, pro sound systems, multiple kitchen tools, and outdoor lights all at the same time from your backyard. It can put out 3600W of power at once and 7200W of surge power. You don't need to have lines going through windows. It can hold 3072Wh, which means that a 400W projector and a 200W sound system can run for up to around 4–5 hours, depending on power load and efficiency—enough to cover most games, even if they go into overtime. The durable design operates in temperatures from 14°F to 113°F, handling winter outdoor conditions when kept sheltered from rain and snow. Plus, its screen tells you exactly how much power you're using.
Most hosts find out how much power they can handle when circuits trip in the second quarter. You can skip that headache.
Super Bowl Party Food: Delicious Game Day Snacks and Drinks
When you time your food right, your spread looks great instead of just okay. How long you can keep things hot or cold and when you serve them matters more than which recipes you pick.
Time Everything Right
| Food Type | Cook/Heat Time | Stays Good For | When to Serve |
| Chicken wings | 30 to 40 min | Two hours at 140°F+ | Cook before the game, during halftime, and at the start of the third quarter |
| Pulled pork | 8 to 12 hours | 4 hours in the slow cooker | Start the day before and hold until 4 p.m. |
| Cheese dips | 15-20 min | 90 minutes at 135°F+ | Make at 5:30 PM for a 6:30 PM start time, and do it again at halftime |
| Pizza | Varies | 30 minutes fresh | Order delivery for halftime, which is between 7:45 and 8:00 PM EST |
| Fried foods | 3 to 5 minutes for each batch | 15-20 minutes at most | Fry during breaks in the ads |
Because they stay at 165–175°F, "warm" slow cookers are great for making pulled pork, chili, and meatballs all game long. Those little fuel cans can keep food at 160–180°F for two to three hours each.
Once cold foods are out in the open for two hours, they go bad. Every 90 minutes, put new ice under your shrimp platters, vegetable trays, and dip bowls. In February, when the temperature is between 68°F and 72°F, bacteria grow faster than you might think.
Budget by Group Size
10 guests: $150 to $200 (wings $40, chips and dips $30, pizza $40, beer and soda $50, plates and cups $20)
20 guests: $300 to $400 (double everything, add $60 for chili or pulled pork and extra drinks)
30+ guests: $500 to $700 (triple the base, add $50 worth of desserts, and buy more slow cookers)
It costs about the same to make a meal at home as a restaurant spread, which costs $12 to 18 per person.
What to Bring to a Super Bowl Party: A Guest's Checklist
Smart guests fix problems for the hosts. Bring what the hosts always run out of:
Extra ice (3–4 bags): It melts much faster than anyone thinks it will
Serving utensils: Sometimes hosts don't get enough spoons for dips
Folding TV trays: Give people safe places to put their plates close to their seats
Phone chargers: Set up charging stations so guests know where to plug in
Trash bags (13-gallon size): Parties use three to four bags, but most hosts only have one or two on hand
Check First Before You Buy
Text your host two to three days in advance and ask, "What drinks do you need?" or "Should I get appetizers or dessert?" You stay away from duplicates and fill in real gaps. Show up 20 to 30 minutes early to help set up and you become the favorite guest.
It doesn't cost much for guests to become MVPs if they bring party square grids (you can print them online for free), poster boards for prop bets, or games to play during breaks.
Setting the Perfect Viewing Area for Your Super Bowl Party
Good viewing comes from accurate measurements and smart placement.
Put Your Screen at Eye Level
Place your TV 42 inches off the ground so you can watch it while sitting down. From the 18-inch-high cushion on your couch to eye level, which is 24 inches above the seat, that's 42 inches, which is right where people look.
If you place the screen higher than eye level, tilt it down 10 to 15 degrees. This stops neck pain during games that last three hours or more. Most mounts have tilt adjustments that aren't used by installers.
Deal with February Cold for Outdoor Setups
Where you live makes a big difference in the weather in February:
Southern states (Texas, Florida, and Southern California): The nights are 60 to 75°F, so people should wear light jackets
Mid-Atlantic/Midwest: If it's 30 to 45°F, you need propane heaters. The 40,000 BTU types can heat 20×20-foot areas
Northern states: 15°F to 30°F; you can't watch outside unless you have a heated, enclosed area
When it's windy, projector screens move around. Sandbags (25 pounds or more per corner) can be used to weigh down screens that stand alone. The picture is messed up when the wind is over 15 mph.
Projector batteries only last for about two to three hours. AC power or power stations with a lot of power can handle whole games.
Give People Enough Room
Each person needs 30 inches of space on a couch and 24 inches on the floor. A normal 90-inch couch is good for three people, but not so good for four or five. Don't cram more people in than you can fit.
In the first half, floor pillows work fine, but by the third quarter, they hurt your back. Cushions or camping chairs with backs can help your lower back during games that last three hours or more.
How to Ensure Your Super Bowl Party Runs Smoothly
Setting deadlines and having backup plans can stop common issues before they happen.
Your 48-Hour Countdown
Two days out:
Do a 30-minute test run with all of the AV gear
Make sure your login for streaming works
Text guests to make sure they're coming (about 80% to 90% of those who RSVP'd will do so)
Buy things that will last on shelves
Day before:
Make sauces, dips, and slow cooker meals
Put drinks in the fridge (cold soda needs 4 to 6 hours)
Make room in the fridge for what people bring
Arrange seating to identify gaps
Game day morning:
Make snacks and wings that you can reheat later
Set up serving tables and write on them where each item goes
Charge wireless speakers, remotes, and phones
Stream a 4K movie to see if your connection can handle the speed test
Have a Backup Way to Watch
When too many people use a streaming service at once, it may stop working or cut out. Have two ways to watch ready: your main antenna or cable, and a second streaming app like NFL+, YouTube TV, or Hulu Live. Get streaming apps before the game. When a lot of people try to run them at the same time, it can take up to ten minutes.
A lot of hosts find out that their stream login didn't work during the warmup. Try to log in 24 hours ahead of time.
Make Sure Your WiFi Can Handle Everyone
For 4K viewing, each device needs at least 25 Mbps. You need more than 275 Mbps to stream the game while ten people use their phones. To find weak spots, test your speed at the real time (Sunday 6 PM). Ask people to use social media on their phones while the game is going on.
Place your WiFi router in the middle of the room, 5 to 6 feet above the ground. Routers on the first floor can barely reach the basement.
Make Game Day One to Remember
Fix any tech issues before they happen and time your food so it stays fresh during the whole game. That way you can have a great Super Bowl party. For best results, plan your meals around when food stays fresh instead of when it's easiest to cook and figure out how much power you need. With good planning and reliable tools, such as EcoFlow's power solutions for tough setups, you can make sure that your guests are comfortable, fed, and focused on the game from the start to the end of the ceremony.
FAQs
Q1: Does hosting save money compared to sports bars?
After food, drinks, cover, and tips, a 4-hour visit to a sports bar costs $50 to $100 per person. Food and materials for 10 people cost $150 to $200, or $15 to $20 each. You could save $300 to $800 total compared to if everyone went to a sports bar. Having 20 or more people over costs about the same per person as going to a sports bar, but you can choose the food, where people sit, and how loud it is. About 15 to 18 guests is the magic number where you break even. Smaller groups save you money at home, while bigger groups give you the same flexibility as a restaurant.
Q2: How do I stop WiFi from crashing when everyone arrives?
For guests, set up a WiFi network with limits on how much they can use the internet. This keeps their devices from getting in the way of your streaming traffic. Usually, to set your streaming device's MAC address (a unique ID number) as the most important, go to the router's admin page and turn on QoS. QoS controls who gets online first. During the game, ask your friends to turn off Instagram and TikTok auto-play videos and any app updates. If you want to watch the show, don't download the app to your phone and then cast it to your TV or streaming box. Casting causes more delays and connection drops. The 5 GHz band is faster, but it only works well up to 30 feet away from your router. If your TV is close enough, use this band for it.
Q3: What temperature keeps hot food safe without drying it out?
So that germs don't grow, food needs to stay at least 140°F. However, temperatures above 165°F for two hours or more dry out meat and make dips crusty. To find the best balance between safety and quality, aim for 150°F to 160°F. Slow cookers set to "warm" generally stay in this range. Put instant-read thermometers in different parts of your slow cookers because the edges heat up faster than the middle. So that foods like pulled pork and chili don't dry out, add a little broth, water, or sauce every hour or so. Above 170°F, queso and cheese dips get a skin on top. Stir them every 20 to 30 minutes and add a splash of milk to make them smooth again.
Disclaimer
Prices mentioned in this article are estimates based on current market rates and may vary by location, season, and retailer. Food costs, equipment prices, and service fees can change without notice. Always verify current prices and product details before making purchases.
Save Bills
For press requests or interview opportunities, reach out to our media team
media.na@ecoflow.com