Table Layout Calculator — Tables & Seating Plan

A 5ft (150cm) round table comfortably seats 8 guests and a 6ft (180cm) round seats 10. For trestle tables, allow about 60cm (2ft) per person along the length: a 6ft trestle seats 6-8 (3 per side plus ends) and an 8ft trestle 8-10. Squeezing in extra chairs makes it cramped and uncomfortable during a meal.

For a seated dinner allow about 1.5 sqm per guest once you include chair pull-back and at least a 1.5m service aisle between table rows, as UK event-hire firms recommend. That works out at roughly 12 sqm for a 5ft round of 8, 15 sqm for a 6ft round of 10, 9 sqm for a 6ft trestle and 11.5 sqm for an 8ft trestle. It is wise to add a 15-20% buffer when shortlisting venues.

Round tables are best for conversation as everyone can see each other. Long trestle tables create a communal, banquet feel and pack guests in along their length (about 60cm per person). Mixing both can work well for larger events.

A top table is traditional for weddings and formal dinners, seating the hosts and VIPs at the front. Enter the number of top table guests to exclude them from the round table calculation.