How many tables do I need for my guests?

Divide the guests who will sit at guest tables by the seats per table and round up. A 120-guest event with no head table needs 12 rounds of 10, or 15 rounds of 8. The calculator does this for four table types and shows the empty seats left over.

What does “best fit” mean?

The table type with the fewest empty seats. If two types leave the same number of empty seats, the one needing fewer tables wins. It is a count of seats only, so also think about your room, your budget and the look you want.

How is the head table handled?

A sweetheart table seats two and a long head table seats the number you enter. The head table is set up in addition to the guest tables, and the people sitting at it come out of the guest count before the tables are worked out.

What linen size do I need for each table?

The calculator suggests a floor-length cloth for a 30" high table: 120" round for a 60" round, 132" round for a 72" round, 90" × 132" for a 6 ft banquet table and 90" × 156" for an 8 ft banquet table. Ask your linen supplier to confirm, especially for a shorter drop.

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Free tool · For couples & planners · For venues

Wedding table and seating calculator

Enter your guest count, head table and seating comfort to compare four table types and find the best fit.

Your numbers

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Your event

Guests

Everyone who needs a seat, including the couple and anyone at the head table. The number shown is an example.

Head table

A sweetheart table seats 2. It is set up in addition to the guest tables.

No head tableSweetheart tableLong head table

People at a long head table

Only used when you choose a long head table. Starting assumption: edit it.

Seating comfort

Snug fits more people per table; roomy gives everyone more space. Each level has its own seats per table below.

SnugStandardRoomy

Seats per table

How many people sit at each table, at each comfort level. These are planning rules of thumb: starting assumptions, not market data or a standard. Edit any of them.

Edit seats per table

Snug

Snug: 60" round

Snug: 72" round

Snug: 6 ft banquet

Snug: 8 ft banquet

Standard

Standard: 60" round

Standard: 72" round

Standard: 6 ft banquet

Standard: 8 ft banquet

Roomy

Roomy: 60" round

Roomy: 72" round

Roomy: 6 ft banquet

Roomy: 8 ft banquet

Your result

Best fit for 120 guests: 72" round: 12 tables, 0 empty seats.

Head table: No head table
At guest tables: 120

Your event: tables needed (standard seating)
Table	Seats each	Tables needed	Linen
60" round	8	15	120" round
72" round (best fit)	10	12	132" round
6 ft banquet	6	20	90" × 132"
8 ft banquet	8	15	90" × 156"

Best fit = the fewest empty seats, then the fewest tables. Linen sizes assume a floor-length cloth on a 30" high table (30" wide for banquet tables). For a shorter drop, ask your linen supplier for the size they recommend.

Your event: seats per table used (standard), a planning rule of thumb
Table	Seats per table
60" round	8
72" round	10
6 ft banquet	6
8 ft banquet	8

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How many tables do I need?

Guests at guest tables = guests − people at the head table (0 for none, 2 for a sweetheart table, or the number you enter for a long head table).
Tables needed = guests at guest tables ÷ seats per table, rounded up.
Empty seats = tables × seats per table − guests at guest tables.
Best fit = the table type with the fewest empty seats; if two tie, the one that needs fewer tables.

The recommended linen is a floor-length cloth for a 30" high table. Ask your linen supplier to confirm the size, especially if you want a shorter drop.

What are the starting assumptions?

Seats per table change with comfort. These are planning rules of thumb, not a standard or market data, and every one is editable:

Snug: 10 at a 60" round, 12 at a 72" round, 8 at a 6 ft banquet, 10 at a 8 ft banquet.
Standard: 8 at a 60" round, 10 at a 72" round, 6 at a 6 ft banquet, 8 at a 8 ft banquet.
Roomy: 7 at a 60" round, 9 at a 72" round, 5 at a 6 ft banquet, 7 at a 8 ft banquet.
The example event has 120 guests and standard seating. A long head table seats 10 unless you change it.

Worked example

With 120 guests, no head table and standard comfort, a 60" round seats 8, so 120 ÷ 8 rounds up to 15 tables with 0 empty seats. The best fit is 72" round: 12 tables, 0 empty seats:

Head table: No head table
At guest tables: 120

Worked example: tables needed (standard seating)
Table	Seats each	Tables needed	Linen
60" round	8	15	120" round
72" round (best fit)	10	12	132" round
6 ft banquet	6	20	90" × 132"
8 ft banquet	8	15	90" × 156"

Worked example: seats per table used (standard), a planning rule of thumb
Table	Seats per table
60" round	8
72" round	10
6 ft banquet	6
8 ft banquet	8

With a sweetheart table, two of the 120 guests sit there, so 118 are left for the guest tables. The best fit becomes 72" round: 12 tables, 2 empty seats.

Frequently asked questions

How many tables do I need for my guests?: Divide the guests who will sit at guest tables by the seats per table and round up. A 120-guest event with no head table needs 12 rounds of 10, or 15 rounds of 8. The calculator does this for four table types and shows the empty seats left over.
How many people sit at each table?: It depends on the table, the chairs and how much room you give people. The calculator uses planning rules of thumb for snug, standard and roomy seating, shows the numbers it used, and lets you edit every one. They are not a standard.
What does “best fit” mean?: The table type with the fewest empty seats. If two types leave the same number of empty seats, the one needing fewer tables wins. It is a count of seats only, so also think about your room, your budget and the look you want.
How is the head table handled?: A sweetheart table seats two and a long head table seats the number you enter. The head table is set up in addition to the guest tables, and the people sitting at it come out of the guest count before the tables are worked out.
What linen size do I need for each table?: The calculator suggests a floor-length cloth for a 30" high table: 120" round for a 60" round, 132" round for a 72" round, 90" × 132" for a 6 ft banquet table and 90" × 156" for an 8 ft banquet table. Ask your linen supplier to confirm, especially for a shorter drop.
Is anything I type sent to VenueDirector?: Your numbers stay in your browser, which also remembers them for next time. We count anonymous events such as “a result was exported”, without your inputs or anything that identifies you. Your inputs and email are stored only if you ask us to email your results.