Table Count and Seating Calculator
The first thing a venue asks is how many tables you need. Dividing the guest list by the table size gives the wrong answer, because the number invited and the number who turn up are never the same.
Enter how many people you are inviting and how many each table seats; the calculator applies an attendance rate and shows how many tables that actually leaves you needing.
What attendance rate should you expect?
Not everyone invited comes. Guests who live in the same city usually turn up in high numbers, while attendance drops noticeably among those travelling from another city or from abroad.
Working from a real number always beats working from an estimate. If your invitation carries an RSVP form, you know who is coming before you set the tables rather than after.
What to watch when planning the seating
Table capacity depends on the venue; round tables commonly seat 8 to 12. Rather than filling every seat, leaving one or two free per table gives you room for guests who arrive unannounced.
Grouping family, friends and colleagues onto separate tables makes the plan much easier to build. Seeing every RSVP in a single list makes that grouping easier still.
Frequently asked questions
How many seats per table should I choose?
Round tables usually seat 8 to 12. Larger tables cut the total number of tables but make conversation across the table harder.
Should I plan for spare tables?
Allowing one or two tables beyond the expected number is common practice. The calculator already rounds up.
How do I know who is coming in advance?
Add an RSVP form to your invitation and guests mark how many of them are coming themselves; you see the list from your dashboard.
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