Table and seating calculator
Enter your guest count and choose a table shape to see how many tables, chairs and table linens you need for a seated wedding or party. Every figure is rounded up, and you can enter your own number of guests per table.
What to buy
100 guests, 60 in round tables
- Tables
- 13 tables seating 8 at each, with 4 seats left empty
- Chairs
- 100 chairs one for every guest
- Table linens
- 13 linens 120 in round, one for each table
These are planning estimates, rounded up, for guest tables only. Add tables for a head table, the cake, gifts and a band or DJ, and check your venue's fire and layout rules. Read our disclaimer.
Assumptions
The calculator uses these common rules of thumb. Change the inputs above to fit your guests.
| 60 in round table | seats 8, with a 120 in round linen |
|---|---|
| 72 in round table | seats 10, with a 132 in round linen |
| 6 ft banquet table | seats 6, with a 90 x 132 in linen |
| Your own seating | any whole number from 2 to 20 guests a table; the linen still follows the table shape |
| Chairs | one for every guest |
| Buffer | +10% spare chairs when switched on; tables and linens are not buffered |
| Rounding | every quantity is rounded up |
How we calculate
- Tables. Guests ÷ the seats at each table, rounded up to whole tables: 8 at a 60 in round table, 10 at a 72 in round table or 6 at a 6 ft banquet table. You can enter your own seating from 2 to 20 instead.
- Chairs. One for every guest. The 10% buffer adds spare chairs, rounded up, and never adds tables.
- Linens. One for each table, in the floor-length size for its shape: 120 in round, 132 in round or 90 x 132 in.
- Empty seats. Tables × the seats at each − guests, shown beside the table count.
Worked example: 100 guests at 60 in round tables
With the default inputs (100 guests at 60 in round tables):
- 100 guests ÷ 8 a table = 12.5, rounded up to 13 tables. That seats 104, so 4 seats are empty.
- One chair for each guest: 100 chairs.
- One linen for each table, 120 in round: 13 linens.
With 72 in round tables, 100 ÷ 10 = 10 tables and 10 linens of 132 in round, with every seat filled. With 6 ft banquet tables, 100 ÷ 6 = 16.67, rounded up to 17 tables, each with a 90 x 132 in linen. Switch on the 10% buffer and the chairs rise to 110, and the tables stay at 13.
Questions
How many guests fit at a round table?
A 60 in round table seats 8 comfortably and a 72 in round table seats 10. A venue can sometimes fit a guest or two more, but everyone then has less room, so enter your own seating if you plan to do that.
What size linen do I need?
For a floor-length look the cloth hangs about 30 in over the edge all the way round. A 60 in round table needs 60 + 30 + 30 = 120 in, and a 72 in round table needs 132 in. A 6 ft banquet table is 72 in long and about 30 in wide, so it needs 90 x 132 in. Rental companies list the sizes they hold, so check their sizes against these.
Does the count include a head table, a cake table or gifts?
No. It counts tables for your guests only. Add tables for a head or sweetheart table, the cake, gifts, the guest book and a band or DJ as your layout needs.
What does the buffer do?
It adds 10% spare chairs for plus-ones and late changes to the guest list. It never adds tables, because a table is only needed once guests fill the one before it.
Why are some seats empty?
Guests fill whole tables, so the last table is often not full. The result shows how many seats are left over, which you can use to move guests around, or switch to a different table shape or number of guests per table to see if it fits better.