Event Seating Calculator
Tables, seats and floor area for a given guest count and layout.
Different layouts need very different space per person.
How the event seating calculator works
Different layouts need very different space per person. Theatre seating fits about 0.8 m² per person; a cabaret layout with round tables needs 1.5 to 1.8 m²; a seated banquet with service access needs about 1.6 m².
Round tables seat by diameter. A 1.5 m round comfortably seats eight and can take ten at a squeeze; a 1.8 m seats ten comfortably. Squeezing is a false economy — guests at a crowded table cannot reach their glasses and servers cannot get between chairs.
The figure this calculator will not give you is legal capacity. That is set by the venue and by fire regulations based on exits, and it overrides any arithmetic here. Always check it before planning a layout.
Formula: tables = guests / seats per table; area = guests × m² per person
Worked examples
| Inputs | Floor area needed | Note |
|---|---|---|
| 120 guests at a banquet | 192 m² | 192 m² across 13 tables |
| Theatre style | 96 m² | far less space |
| Smaller tables | 192 m² | more tables needed |
FAQFrequently asked questions
How much space per person at an event?
Roughly 0.8 m² theatre style, 1.6 m² for a seated banquet, and 0.6 m² for a standing reception.
How many people fit at a round table?
A 1.8 m round seats nine or ten comfortably; a 1.5 m seats eight. Circumference divided by about 0.6 m per person.
Can I squeeze more in?
Physically yes, but guests cannot reach their glasses and servers cannot get between chairs. It is a false economy.
Does this give me legal capacity?
No. Legal capacity is set by the venue and fire regulations based on exits, and always overrides a planning estimate.
Why does cabaret need more space than banquet?
Because seats are left empty on the stage-facing side, so the same guest count needs more tables.
Where these figures come from
- US FDA Food Code — food service guidance — holding and service context behind catering quantities
- UK Food Standards Agency — the UK food regulator
Last checked: September 2026. Portion and spacing figures are standard catering and event-industry conventions, stated on each page.