Wedding Table and Seating Calculator
The rental company wants counts, not guesses. Enter your guest list and table size and get every count on the order sheet, plus the floor space the layout needs.
Your results
Worked example
137 guests at tables of 8
Tables: ceil(137 ÷ 8) = 18, seating 144, so 7 spare seats for late additions. Chairs: 18 × 8 + 10 head table = 154. Napkins: ceil(137 × 1.1) = 151. Floor space: 18 × 9.3 m² = 167.4 m² for guest tables alone, before dance floor and staging.
How this calculator works
tables = ceil(guests ÷ seats per table) using epsilon-safe rounding so an exact division never adds a phantom table. Every rental count follows: chairs are tables times seats plus the head table, linens are one per table plus one for the head table, centrepieces are one per guest table, and napkins carry a 10 percent spare allowance for drops and late guests.
Floor space uses about 9.3 square metres (100 square feet) per round table including chairs and walking room. Long banquet tables pack tighter per guest but need wider service aisles; measure your room and sketch the layout before ordering.
Common questions
Is it better to squeeze to fewer tables?
An extra table costs little compared with cramped guests. The spare-seat line shows your slack; 4 to 8 spare seats is a comfortable buffer for plus-ones and seating-plan diplomacy.
How many chairs should I actually order?
Order for seats provided, not guests expected: every place at every table gets a chair, plus the head table. Venues often include chairs; rental orders only need to cover the shortfall.
Does this work for a banquet or fundraiser, not just weddings?
Yes. The math is identical for galas, reunions and corporate dinners; only the head table line changes meaning (podium or VIP table).
Plan the rest
Tables planned? Set the overall numbers with the Wedding Budget Calculator and the bar quantities with the Wedding Drink Calculator.
Planning estimates only. Confirm table sizes, chair counts and room capacity with your venue and rental company; fire-code capacities govern.