Banquet Table Placement Guide

Banquet tables and chairs provide seating for guests at dinners, business meetings, conferences, family reunions, graduation parties, community expositions, art fairs, and more. The arrangement of tables is important in ensuring that space is used to seat attendees comfortably and efficiently. A number of different styles bring different benefits to the overall hospitality of the event. Does this Spark an idea?

Determining Seating

Figuring out exactly how many people can comfortably sit at a table can be a difficult task. According to BanquetTables.pro, round, 30-inch tables seat two to three people; 36-inch tables seat four; 42-inch and 48-inch tables seat five; 54-inch tables seat six; 60-inch tables seat eight; and 72-inch tables seat 10. Rectangular 30-by-72-inch tables (standard 6-foot tables) can fit six people comfortably, while 30-by-96-inch tables (standard 8-foot tables) can accommodate eight.

Classroom Banquet Style

The classroom style is a good option for settings in which one or more speakers will address a small audience (fewer than 30 people). Arrange one rectangular table at the head of the room so that one of the long sides of the table is closest to the audience. Arrange the rest of the tables facing the same direction, but in two rows as students desks might sit in a classroom. Leave an aisle at least 6 feet wide for ease of audience movement and so that speakers can traverse the rows if they need to.

U-Shaped Banquet Style

This arrangement is ideal for a presentation setting, as it facilitates interaction between a speaker and an audience. It can also be used for a dinner setting while entertainment performs in the middle. Align two standard 8-foot tables in a row touching one another to form the bottom of the horseshoe. Place two more tables that extend from the left half of the left table and two more that extend from the right half of the right table. This setup will seat 29 people around the outside, but additional chairs can sit along the interior in a dinner setting.