The number of dinner forks you should have ultimately depends on the size and frequency of your gatherings. If you frequently host dinner parties for a large number of guests, it's advisable to have a dinner fork for each guest. In general, it is a good idea to have a minimum of 8 to 12 dinner forks for a typical household, thus ensuring you have enough to accommodate both your family and a few guests. However, if you often host larger events, you may want to increase this number. Always remember, the key to a successful event is being well-prepared, and that includes having enough dinnerware for everyone.