Venue Capacity Guide
Venue Capacity Guide
These figures are working estimates. Actual capacity depends on table shape, aisle widths, staging, bar position and any fixed features. Treat them as a starting point, then adjust for your layout.
| Table | Size | Comfortable seating | Maximum (tight) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5ft Round | 152cm dia. | 8–9 | 10 |
| 6ft Round | 183cm dia. | 10–11 | 12 |
| 4ft Rectangular | 122cm x 76cm | 4 | 6 (inc. ends) |
| 6ft Rectangular | 183cm x 76cm | 6 | 8 (inc. ends) |
| Oval 90" x 40" | 229cm x 102cm | 8 | 10 |
These figures include the chair footprint, elbow room and aisle/service circulation.
| Layout style | m² per person | People per 100m² |
|---|---|---|
| Seated dinner (round tables) | 1.2–1.5m² | 65–80 |
| Conference / classroom (rows) | 1.5–2.0m² | 50–65 |
| Boardroom / cabaret (rectangular tables) | 1.8–2.2m² | 45–55 |
| Standing reception / cocktail | 0.5–0.75m² | 130–200 |
| Theatre / lecture (chairs only) | 0.7–0.9m² | 110–140 |
| Venue type | Approx. total area | Seated dinner | Classroom | Standing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Small meeting room | 30–40m² | 18–25 | 15–20 | 40–70 |
| Village hall / community room | ~100m² | 65–80 | 50–65 | 130–200 |
| Medium function room | ~200m² | 130–165 | 100–130 | 270–400 |
| Large function suite | ~300m² | 195–245 | 150–195 | 400–600 |
| Large banqueting suite | ~400m² | 265–330 | 200–260 | 535–800 |
Main serving aisles need at least 1.5m for catering staff with trays. Guest access aisles between table rows should be at least 90cm.
Leave at least 60cm between the back of a pushed-in chair and the wall or next table. Guests need room to stand without disrupting neighbours.
Round tables lose 10–15% of floor space to the corners between them. Rectangular tables tile more efficiently but guests at the ends feel more distant from the group.
A 6m × 6m dance floor removes roughly 25–30 seated places. A small raised stage (3m × 2m) removes 6m² plus safety clearance.
Fire exit routes must remain clear. Keep 1.2m minimum clear width on escape routes and check with your venue for any fixed pillar or column exclusion zones.
These rooms often have a stage at one end and fixed wall bars or radiators that reduce usable width. Measure the open floor area, not the total room dimensions.
