Tables and chairs calculator
How many chairs and tables to set out or rent. For a seated meal everyone gets a chair; at a party where guests mingle, only part of the crowd sits at once.
Festidy's plan counts your seats from your RSVPs and adds renting tables and chairs to your checklist.
Make my party planHow we calculate
- Chairs: the number of guests who sit at once. At a seated meal that is every guest. When guests mingle, we use the planner's share for each party type: baby shower 90%, graduation open house 45%, birthday for grown-ups 60%, house party 60%. At a kids' birthday the planner has no share, so we seat every kid and 60% of the grown-ups (the same share as a grown-up birthday). Rounded up.
- Tables: a rule of thumb from rental guides: a 6 ft rectangular table seats 6 to 8, an 8 ft rectangular table seats 8 to 10, a 60 inch round seats 8 to 10, and a kids' card table seats 4. For a seated meal we use the low end for comfort (6, 8, 8 and 4); when guests mingle we use the high end (8, 10, 10 and 4), since people only sit for a plate of food and cake. Rounded up.
- Sources: GoFoodService's folding table guide (6 ft: 6 to 8, 8 ft: 8 to 10, 60 inch round: 8, card table 34 inch square: 4, and 24 to 30 inches of table per guest) and a party rental company's seating chart (6 ft: 6 to 8, 8 ft: 8 to 10, 60 inch round: 8 to 10). Both opened October 27, 2026. Chair width and table width change the numbers, so these are rules of thumb.
- Kids' table: kids sit 4 to a card table. If you would rather use one long table, a 6 ft table takes 6 to 8 kids.
- Serving tables: a rule of thumb, 1 table for food for every 25 guests (at least 1), plus 1 for cake and drinks and 1 for gifts if you have them. These are not counted in the seating tables above.
- Rental cost: Festidy's Dallas-Fort Worth prices checked October 8, 2026: about $20 a table and $4 a chair, plus $65 to $130 for delivery, with a $150 minimum. Cloths, setup and tax are extra. Prices change by town, so call two companies.
Last updated October 21, 2026. Free, no sign-up.
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Tips for tables and chairs
- Count the people who sit, not the guest list. At a graduation open house, about 45% of guests sit at once. Renting a chair for everyone doubles the bill and fills the room.
- Leave about 3 feet behind each chair. A rule of thumb: people need room to pull a chair out and walk past it. If the room looks full on paper, drop a table.
- Put the kids' table in sight of the grown-ups. Near the food and the cake works best. Kids under 4 are best seated next to a grown-up, or in a high chair.
- Put the food table where guests can reach both sides. A table against a wall makes a line. Pull it out so two lines can form.
- Order a few extra chairs. Grandparents, a late guest or someone holding a baby will need one. Two or three spares cost about $8 to $12.
Questions
How many people does a 6 foot table seat?
6 to 8. Six is comfortable for a meal, 3 on each side. Eight adds a chair at each end and means elbows touch.
How many people fit at an 8 foot table?
8 to 10. Plan on 8 for a seated meal and 10 when guests only sit for a plate of cake.
How many people sit at a 60 inch round table?
8 is the usual number, and some rental companies say up to 10. We plan 8 for a seated meal and 10 for a mingling party.
How many tables and chairs do I need for 50 guests?
For a seated meal, 50 chairs and 7 eight-foot tables (8 seats each). For a graduation open house where about 45% sit at once, 23 chairs and 3 eight-foot tables.
How many chairs do I need for a party?
Count how many guests sit at the same time. Everyone, for a seated dinner. About 60% for a house party where people stand and talk. About 45% for an open house where guests come and go.
How much does it cost to rent tables and chairs for a party?
In Dallas-Fort Worth, about $20 a table and $4 a chair, plus $65 to $130 delivery and a $150 minimum. For 30 chairs and 4 tables that is about $265 to $330.