Room-capacity estimator
Estimate how many guests a room can hold for a given layout style, or — if you already know your guest count — how large a room you need.
Result
Estimated maximum guests
Result
Room area needed
How to use this tool
- Enter usable room length and width.
- Choose a layout and, if known, enter your venue's space-per-person figure; zero uses the illustrative layout allowance.
- Read the planning estimate, or use reverse mode for a fixed guest count.
Assumptions
- Default layout allowances of 1m² per person (standing/theatre) and 1.5m² (banquet) are editable scenario examples, not sourced legal occupancy standards. Room shape, circulation routes, furniture, exits, accessibility and the venue's approved capacity are not modelled.
Technical details: what the fields mean
- Room length
length - Usable length of the floor area available to guests, excluding fixed obstructions and areas not used for the event.
- Room width
width - Usable width of the floor area available to guests, excluding fixed obstructions and areas not used for the event.
- Layout style
layoutStyle - Selects the layout example: 1m² per person for standing/theatre or 1.5m² for banquet. These are illustrative, not legal occupancy standards.
- Custom floor area per guest (0 uses layout example)
spacePerPersonM2 - Optional venue-specific floor area per guest. Enter a positive value to replace the layout example; leave at zero to use the selected example.
Methodology
Maximum guests = usable floor area ÷ entered space per guest. If the custom value is zero, the selected illustrative layout allowance is used.
Worked example
Illustrative example: 10m × 8m room, theatre layout and default space allowance
Inputs: Room length: 10 m, Room width: 8 m, Layout style: Theatre, Custom floor area per guest (0 uses layout example): 0 m²/guest
Result: 80m² ÷ 1m² per guest = 80 guests. Use the custom area field for your venue's layout.
Practical guidance
- Always confirm the permitted occupancy with your venue and applicable fire-safety requirements. This floor-area estimate is not a legal limit, venue approval or substitute for the venue's official capacity.
Common mistakes
- Using a standing/theatre space allowance for a banquet (round table) layout, which needs meaningfully more space per guest.
FAQs
I have a fixed guest count — how big a room do I need?
Use reverse mode below: enter your guest count and layout style to see the room area needed.
Last reviewed: 2026-10-11
A planning estimate from the floor area and space-per-guest assumption you enter; always confirm against your venue's approved capacity and fire-safety limits.
This tool provides an indicative estimate, based on the assumptions stated above.
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