Wedding Guest Calculator — Seating, Tables & Venue Size

Standard round banquet tables (60-inch diameter) seat 8 comfortably or 10 if space is tight. Rectangular tables (8 ft) seat 8–10. For a relaxed, upscale feel, plan 8 per table. For a larger wedding on a budget, 10 per table is acceptable. Add 1 extra table per 50 guests as a buffer for seating plan changes.

Industry standard is 15–20% no-show for destination or large weddings and 5–10% for local events. It's wise to over-invite by 10–15% if you have a strict guest cap. Conversely, if you invite 200 but only want 150, expect 150–170 to actually attend.

Allow 15–20 sq ft per guest for a seated dinner (including dance floor, head table, and bar area). Cocktail-style events can work with 8–12 sq ft per person since not everyone is seated simultaneously. Outdoor tent events typically need 10–15% more space for walkways and staging areas.

Block rooms for approximately 30% of your out-of-town guests. If you don't know how many are traveling, use 30–40% of total guests as a starting estimate. Most hotels allow you to release unbooked rooms 30 days before the event, so you won't be penalized for over-blocking.