Planning the seating for a wedding, gala dinner or family party starts with two numbers: how many tables you need and how big the room must be. This calculator gives both from the number of guests, the type of table and the floor space you allow per person.
Seats per table
| Table | Comfortable seating | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 60 in round | 8 | the most common banquet table; 10 is a squeeze |
| 72 in round | 10 | 12 is possible with small chairs |
| 6 ft rectangular | 6 | 8 with one guest at each end |
| 8 ft rectangular | 8 | 10 with one guest at each end |
Allow about 24 in of table edge per guest, and 30 in for comfort at a formal dinner.
How the calculation works
- Tables = guests ÷ seats per table, rounded up
- Room size = guests × space per guest × (1 + extra space)
- Side of a square room = square root of the room size
Space per guest
| Layout | Space per guest |
|---|---|
| theater style (rows of chairs) | 6 to 8 sq ft |
| reception, standing, some seats | 8 to 10 sq ft |
| banquet, rectangular tables | 10 sq ft |
| banquet, round tables | 12 to 13 sq ft |
Then add room for what is not tables: a buffet line, a dance floor (about 3 sq ft per guest if a third to half of them dance at once), a stage, a bar, a gift table and a photo corner. The extra percentage covers that.
Example
For 100 guests at 60 in round tables of 8, you need 13 tables (104 seats, so 4 empty seats) and 100 chairs. At 12 sq ft per seated guest plus 25% for a buffet and dance floor, the room should be about 1,500 sq ft, roughly 39 × 39 ft.
Tips
- Leave at least 5 ft between round tables (measured edge to edge) so guests can push their chairs back and servers can pass.
- Plan a head table or sweetheart table separately.
- Odd numbers are fine: a few empty seats are easier than squeezing a ninth guest at a table of eight.
- Order linens to match: one tablecloth per table, plus a few spares. A 60 in round table takes a 120 in round cloth for a floor-length drop.
- Check the venue’s capacity limit set by the fire marshal, which may be lower than what fits on paper.