How Many Crabs Are in a Bushel?

The Short Answer

A bushel of blue crabs holds between five and seven dozen crabs, and the size of the crabs decides which end of that range you get. At Harbour House Crabs, a full bushel of small crabs runs about 7 dozen, a bushel of mediums about 6 dozen, and a bushel of large crabs about 5 dozen. Bigger crabs simply take up more room in the basket, so fewer of them fit.

What a Bushel Actually Is

A bushel is a dry-volume measure, roughly eight gallons, and it is how watermen have counted crabs since long before anyone weighed them. The traditional wooden bushel basket is still the unit Chesapeake crab houses buy and sell by. Because it measures space rather than a fixed count, the same basket holds more small crabs than large ones, which is why every honest answer to this question starts with "it depends on the size."

Crab Counts by Size

• Small crabs: about 7 dozen (84 crabs) per full bushel. The highest count, and a long, social picking session.
• Medium crabs: about 6 dozen (72 crabs). The middle path most crab feasts take.
• Large crabs: about 5 dozen (60 crabs). Fewer crabs, but each one gives up noticeably more meat.

Counts also vary a little by region and by house; a Louisiana bushel is often packed differently than a Maryland one. The numbers above are how we pack ours, and the exact grade is always stated on the product page.

How Many People Does a Bushel Feed?

Plan on 6 to 8 crabs per adult when steamed crabs are the main event. That puts a full bushel in range for roughly 8 to 12 people, depending on crab size, appetite, and how many sides share the table. For smaller gatherings, a half bushel covers 4 to 6 pickers comfortably. Experienced crab eaters will run past eight crabs without blinking, so know your crowd.

Full Bushel or Half?

A full bushel is the classic backyard-feast order: one big, steaming delivery that anchors the whole afternoon. A half bushel suits a family dinner where crabs share the menu. We sell both, sized and steamed to order; our premium full bushel (5½–6½ in crabs) is the crowd favorite, and the full range of grades lives in our steamed blue crab collection.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does a bushel of crabs weigh?

Live weight varies with crab size and how full the crabs are, so the honest measure is the count, not the pounds. That is why crabs are sold by the bushel and dozen rather than by weight.

How many crabs are in a half bushel?

Half of the full-bushel count for that size: roughly 2½ to 3½ dozen, depending on the grade.

How should I store a bushel before the feast?

Steamed crabs keep refrigerated for 2 to 3 days. Plan the feast for arrival day when you can; a quick re-steam brings them back to eating temperature. Our crab picking guide covers what happens once the bushel hits the table.