Entertaining: How many can sit at a table?

Update: After almost 10 years of this blog this has been one of our most popular posts. Summer brings entertaining which brings guests which brings seating issues. It is never fun to sit packed together at a table with no room to eat, arms bumping into one another. No matter how great the food, people will come away with a bad experience.

People often ask me how many can sit at a particular table, bar or counter. Here are some quick tips to keep you out of trouble and your guests comfortable.

• Place settings are about 18” wide.
• Dining chairs generally run between 16”-20” wide for side chairs. Bar stools can be narrower and armchairs (often outdoor chairs too) can be 22”-24” wide.
  

  Measure from widest part.

• A safe  amount of space (width on table) to consider for each diner is 24” per person. This takes into account arms and movement while eating. Larger men with big brawny arms might require 30” of space.

General rules for table sizes:

• 60” long rectangular or oval table will seat up to 6 people comfortably.
• 84” long rectangular or oval table will seat up to 8 comfortably.
• 36” round will seat 4 people.
• 60” round will seat 8 people.
• 54” square will seat 8 people.

Always take into account the appropriate amount of space for people, table settings and your chairs. You may require more room than standard.

This table is 72″ long and 44″ wide. Following the above for 24″ per person, technically 72″ should work, but it doesn’t, comfortably. Unless you want people banging their knees together this really doesn’t work. The chairs are 19″ wide at the seat and 21″ at the chair back. Can I squeeze three chairs along a side? Not and give anyone room to move. What works best for this table is two on each side and one on each end for six total.

Remember, your guest should be comfortable. One needs room to eat, drink, move and pass food. More room is always better than less.