Room Capacity & Seating Guide
For any party or event, it is crucial that you have enough space to accommodate the number of guests that will be attending. The amount of space you will need in a room will depend on the type of event and what seating arrangements you plan to have. Here are some suggestions to help you plan the perfect amount of space necessary for your event.
How do I calculate room capacity guide?
Informal parties such as cocktail parties will require less space than formal sit-down dinner such as at a wedding.
The room layout will have a large impact on the number of people you can accommodate however a good indication can be achieved by following this simple room capacity calculation.
Room Capacity Calculation:
Multiply the length of your room by the width of your room to get the total square footage of the room.
For round tables: Divide this number by 10. This is the maximum number of people you can comfortably accommodate in the space you have.
For rectangular tables: Divide this number by 8. This will give you the maximum number of you can fit in that space using rectangular tables.
Room Capacity by Seating Arrangements
Each type of party or event you are hosting will have a different layout and seating arrangements. A cocktail party will have different spacing requirements to a wedding or a conference.
| Cocktail Parties Standing: | 6 square feet per person |
|---|---|
| Cocktail Parties Partial Seating: | 8 square feet per person |
| Dinner Party Seated Trestle Tables: | 8-10 square feet per person |
| Dinner Party Seated Round Tables: | 10-12 square feet per person |
| Banquet Events (spacious): | 20 square feet per person |
| Classroom Seating (rows): | 10 square feet per person |
| Ceremony/Theatre Seating with aisle: | 8-10 square feet per person |
Additional elements that will require space include buffet tables, dancefloor, band, DJ booth and bars areas. We recommend consult your suppliers to obtain their actual space requirements. Here are some suggestions which will serve as a general guide.
| Buffet Table | 200 square feet |
|---|---|
| DJ or Cake table | 100 square feet |
| Bar Area | 200 square feet |
| Dancefloor | 4.5/5 square feet per guest |
| Stage | Depends on band size |
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