How many gallons of icing do I need to ice 200 cupcakes with 1M tip?? I need to convert in gallons because I m ordering the icing online.

I think you would need between 6 and 7 gallons. How much icing do you think you put on 1 cupcake...1/2 cup, 1/3 cup? The 1M swirl uses a good amount. There are 16 cups to a gallon. If you think 1/2 cup on each cupcake, that's 32 cupcakes to a gallon. If you think 1/3 cup on each cupcake, that's 48 cupcakes to a gallon.

OOOPs, sorry, my previous post said 6-7 gallons, but it really depends on how much frosting you put on. If you put on 1/3 cup on each you may only need 4 gallons. Hope I haven't confused you now.

I have done 200 cupcakes with the 1M tip making the rose swirl and it only took 3 gallons. If you are swirling on more icing than that then of course the estimate increases drastically. For a nice build up it can take as much as 5 - 6 gallons for 200 cupcakes.

Ice one cupcake and weigh it. Figure out the weight of one of your "batches" and then figure out how many batches you need for the 200. This will be the most accurate way.

Thanks a lot guys.

Will do the rose swirl.

You are probably safe with 3 gallons of frosting. (I just re-read Heartsync's recommendation above, and that's exactly what she said.) The rose swirl will use less frosting because it is a "flat design".

Here's a very good illustration of the "rose swirl":
http://iambaker.net/rose-cake-tutorial/

Here is a photo of the "rose swirl" I used on cupcakes. [To make a rose swirl, start in the CENTER, then slowly move your tip in a circle around the center point.]
http://christinascakes.shutterfly.com/pictures/316

Here is an example of a cupcake done with the "1M swirl" which is higher, and uses about twice as much frosting. [Pipe a spiral of icing, beginning at the OUTER EDGE and working inward.]
http://www.wilton.com/technique/1M-Swirl

http://christinascakes.shutterfly.com/pictures/316#321

Apti... You rock! I m very visual and will practice this swirl. Thanks a lot for your support guys!!!!

Apti, the two colored rose swirls u did are perfect!

What a lovely thank you! It is appreciated.

Are you going to be using 2 colors in your frosting, or only 1 color? It is very easy to get multiple colors of frosting in your piping bag. If you want those instructions, please let us know.

I m going to do one color to practice my piping techniques, which are not so good. I do fondant better.