Meeting Room Capacity Calculator
Calculate how many people fit in a meeting room based on room dimensions and seating arrangement style.
Room Capacity
Meeting Room Capacity depends on the room dimensions and the seating arrangement. Different layouts require different amounts of space per person.
Space per person by arrangement:
Theater style (rows of chairs, no tables):
- 6-8 square feet per person (0.56-0.74 m²)
- Best for presentations and lectures
- Highest capacity of any arrangement
Classroom style (rows of tables with chairs behind):
- 14-18 square feet per person (1.3-1.67 m²)
- Good for training and note-taking sessions
- About half the capacity of theater style
Boardroom style (one large table, chairs around all sides):
- 20-25 square feet per person (1.86-2.32 m²)
- Best for small group discussions and decision-making
- Typically maxes out at 20-30 people
U-shape (tables in a U configuration):
- 25-30 square feet per person (2.32-2.79 m²)
- Good for interactive workshops and presentations
- Open end faces presenter/screen
Banquet rounds (round tables of 8-10):
- 12-15 square feet per person (1.11-1.39 m²)
- Common for dining events and workshops
- Requires space between tables for movement
Cocktail/standing (no seating):
- 5-6 square feet per person (0.46-0.56 m²)
- Highest capacity after theater style
- Common for networking events and receptions
Important considerations:
- Subtract 10-15% of total floor area for AV equipment, podium, and walkways
- Fire codes typically require minimum aisle widths of 3 feet (0.9 m)
- ADA accessibility requires wheelchair-accessible paths at least 36 inches (91 cm) wide
- Always check local fire code for maximum occupancy limits
The calculation:
Capacity = (Room Area × 0.85) / Space Per Person
The 0.85 factor accounts for unusable space near walls, equipment areas, and walkways.