# Why are there 12 hot dogs per package and 8 buns per package? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [March 20, 2006, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-there-12-hot-dogs-per-package-and-8-buns-per-package/349186 "2006-03-20T19:47:57Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Ins\_Outs\_What-have-yous](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/8797f3/32.png) [@Ins\_Outs\_What-have-yous](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ins_Outs_What-have-yous)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2006, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-there-12-hot-dogs-per-package-and-8-buns-per-package/349186/1 "2006-03-20T19:47:57Z")
Is there a logical reason for this? Or is it just one of life’s mysteries? ---
**Author:** ![RyJae](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9d8465/32.png) [@RyJae](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RyJae)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2006, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-there-12-hot-dogs-per-package-and-8-buns-per-package/349186/2 "2006-03-20T19:51:25Z")
> [@ArchitectChore](#): > > Is there a logical reason for this? Or is it just one of life’s mysteries? Cecil has spoken, but still did not really answer the question. Put in a lot of opinion, but well Cecil opinions may be facts? 🙂 [http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a2\_350.html](http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a2_350.html) Must be one of life’s mysteries as you have said. ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2006, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-there-12-hot-dogs-per-package-and-8-buns-per-package/349186/3 "2006-03-20T19:51:40Z")
[Listen to your Unca Cecil](http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a2_350.html), for he is wise in these matters. ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2006, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-there-12-hot-dogs-per-package-and-8-buns-per-package/349186/4 "2006-03-20T19:51:53Z")
[The Master Speaks](http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a2_350.html) ---
**Author:** ![mhendo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mhendo/32/3159_2.png) [@mhendo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mhendo)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2006, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-there-12-hot-dogs-per-package-and-8-buns-per-package/349186/5 "2006-03-20T19:54:18Z")
That is some impressive triple simulpost! ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2006, 9:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-there-12-hot-dogs-per-package-and-8-buns-per-package/349186/6 "2006-03-20T21:04:37Z")
If only it were as the OP posits. 12 dogs and 8 buns would at least allow for 2 packs of dogs = 3 packs of buns. A volume easily consumed by a busy family before the buns went stale. However, I most often see 10 dogs and either 6 or 8 buns. That would take some massive buying to even out. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![Eonwe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eonwe/32/240_2.png) [@Eonwe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eonwe)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2006, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-there-12-hot-dogs-per-package-and-8-buns-per-package/349186/7 "2006-03-20T21:11:40Z")
One of my favorite Steve Martin bits from _Father of the Bride_ involves this very same question. ---
**Author:** ![Canadjun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/76d3ee/32.png) [@Canadjun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Canadjun)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2006, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-there-12-hot-dogs-per-package-and-8-buns-per-package/349186/8 "2006-03-20T21:11:43Z")
> [@ArchitectChore](#): > > Is there a logical reason for this? Or is it just one of life’s mysteries? When I buy hot dogs I always buy packages of 12 buns (not sure whether I can even buy a package of 8 in my local Safeway; I’ll have to pay attention the next time I go). I guess we’re more logical in The Great White North. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2006, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-there-12-hot-dogs-per-package-and-8-buns-per-package/349186/9 "2006-03-20T21:45:45Z")
Just picked up a package of Hebrew National hot dogs. Seven in the package. (12 oz.) ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2006, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-there-12-hot-dogs-per-package-and-8-buns-per-package/349186/10 "2006-03-20T21:54:36Z")
[http://www.thomasjlang.com/archives/000548.html](http://www.thomasjlang.com/archives/000548.html) [http://www.nwherald.com/MainSection/local/340455405038463.php](http://www.nwherald.com/MainSection/local/340455405038463.php) Rejoice, and waste bread no more. ---
**Author:** ![ParentalAdvisory](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/53a042/32.png) [@ParentalAdvisory](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ParentalAdvisory)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2006, 1:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-there-12-hot-dogs-per-package-and-8-buns-per-package/349186/11 "2006-03-21T01:58:21Z")
It gets worse. A store by us sells hotdogs in a pack of 8. Guess how many buns come in a package in the next aisle? 1. ---
**Author:** ![Ins\_Outs\_What-have-yous](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/8797f3/32.png) [@Ins\_Outs\_What-have-yous](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ins_Outs_What-have-yous)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2006, 6:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-there-12-hot-dogs-per-package-and-8-buns-per-package/349186/12 "2006-03-21T06:35:33Z")
Cecil never fails to impress even when He can only offer hypothetical reasoning. I have never read that particular column; I thank you all for linking it not once, not twice, but THRICE. 😃 So, there are 10 hot dogs per package rather than 12. I’ve never purchased hot dogs or buns since I don’t eat hot dogs. A friend asked me this question so I was essentially asking on his behalf though I was curious myself. I could have sworn he said “hot dogs in packages of twelve” but of course humans are vulnerable to miscounting. ---
**Author:** ![treis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bc79bd/32.png) [@treis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/treis)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2006, 6:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-there-12-hot-dogs-per-package-and-8-buns-per-package/349186/13 "2006-03-21T06:42:07Z")
> [@gigi](#): > > If only it were as the OP posits. 12 dogs and 8 buns would at least allow for 2 packs of dogs = 3 packs of buns. A volume easily consumed by a busy family before the buns went stale. > > However, I most often see 10 dogs and either 6 or 8 buns. That would take some massive buying to even out. ☹ Only if you are poor at math. 2 packs of 10 dogs, two packs of 6 buns and one pack of 8 buns. ---
**Author:** ![dhunter1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/f14d63/32.png) [@dhunter1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dhunter1)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2006, 7:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-there-12-hot-dogs-per-package-and-8-buns-per-package/349186/14 "2006-03-21T07:36:47Z")
I’ve always been under the impression that the end pieces of a bread loaf make up the two missing rolls? ---
**Author:** ![Lynn\_Bodoni](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e47c2d/32.png) [@Lynn\_Bodoni](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lynn_Bodoni)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2006, 10:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-there-12-hot-dogs-per-package-and-8-buns-per-package/349186/15 "2006-03-21T10:57:15Z")
I solve this problem in one of two ways. Either we buy bun length hot dogs in the first place, which come 8 to a package, or I make beanie weenies from the two leftover dogs in a 10 pack. My husband LOVES beanie weenies, and I like them well enough to eat them on occasion. Hot dog buns, by the way, make pretty good garlic/herb bread, are good for other kinds of sandwiches (tuna salad, for instance), and make pretty good stuffing base, much better than the regular white loaf bread. ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2006, 1:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-there-12-hot-dogs-per-package-and-8-buns-per-package/349186/16 "2006-03-21T13:40:31Z")
> [@treis](#): > > Only if you are poor at math. 2 packs of 10 dogs, two packs of 6 buns and one pack of 8 buns. Hey now! You can’t mix types of bun bags because the buns won’t be the same. –gigi, OK at math, even better at compulsion > [@Johnny L.A.](#): > > Just picked up a package of Hebrew National hot dogs. Seven in the package. An odd number?? ::head explodes ---
**Author:** ![Honey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/honey/32/5074_2.png) [@Honey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Honey)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2006, 2:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-there-12-hot-dogs-per-package-and-8-buns-per-package/349186/17 "2006-03-21T14:02:00Z")
Ya buncha woosies. You don’t need a bun to eat a hot dog. A hot dog should be shoved onto the end of a long stick and stuck into a roaring fire until black. Then you eat it off the stick. Problem solved. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![butler1850](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/779978/32.png) [@butler1850](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/butler1850)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2006, 2:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-there-12-hot-dogs-per-package-and-8-buns-per-package/349186/18 "2006-03-21T14:35:55Z")
The 10/12 dogs/buns ratio is well answered. You always need an extra bun. When one rips coming out of the bag, you need a “spare.” One bun gets crushed in the massive bags of groceries on the way home, you need a “spare.” When the kid at the table spills his juice, and it soggifies the bun, you need a “spare.” Think of the sausages! One of those needs a bun, you need a “spare.” The stoned teen shows up, eats a bun sans dog, while waiting for one to cook, you need a “spare.” That guy that wanted it toasted, passed out and forgot to take his bun off the grill, you need a “spare.” If you use one as a spare from an 8/8 purchase, do you really want to be that guy (or gal) that has to eat their hotdog cut up, with a fork? ( **Honey** ’s camping adventure excluded… then who needs buns at all!!! 😃 ) ---
**Author:** ![Duke\_of\_Rat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ad7895/32.png) [@Duke\_of\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duke_of_Rat)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2006, 2:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-there-12-hot-dogs-per-package-and-8-buns-per-package/349186/19 "2006-03-21T14:57:29Z")
I like Hormel Wranglers Beef Franks, they come 8 to a pack. And I get Mrs. Bairds hot dog buns, also 8 to a pack. ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2006, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-there-12-hot-dogs-per-package-and-8-buns-per-package/349186/20 "2006-03-21T16:43:30Z")
> [@butler1850](#): > > The 10/12 dogs/buns ratio is well answered. > > You always need an extra bun. But it’s usually more hot dogs than buns. In my case, I enjoy the “spare” dog; if I’m famished and am waiting for the four dogs to cook, I can eat that fifth one raw and cold, and still have four buns left. [10 dogs {one brand by me is packed in two 5-dog sections}, 8 buns scenario] [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-there-12-hot-dogs-per-package-and-8-buns-per-package/349186.md?page=2)