How Many People Can Sit at 8 ft Table?

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When you’re creating the perfect celebration, part of making it memorable is making sure your guests are comfortable. Stuffing too many people around a small table leaves little elbow room to enjoy dinner and socializing. In order to do this, you must first ask: how many people can sit at 8 ft table or 6 ft table, etc. This article will help you decide how to make seating for dinner work just right and ensure a perfect day!

How Many People Can Sit at 8 ft Table?

Part of designing dreamy receptions, is putting your guests’ comfort as a priority. Here are a few answers to this question:

10 People – If you need to fit 10 per table, that would be 4 on each side and 1 on each end.

8 People – You can fit 8 per table comfortably putting 4 on each side, or 3 on each side and 1 on each end.

Children – Smaller children take up less space and you may get 5 to 6 on each side.

The customary allowance is two-feet of space per person minimum. This allows room for glassware and elbows of course!

How Many Tables Will I Need?

Once you determine the answer to, “how many people can sit at 8 ft table,” then you will be able to determine how many tables you will need. Here is the formula:

*Take your guest list and your wedding party and divide by how many you want to put at each table. For example, if 8 people are going to sit at the table:

150 guests + 16 Wedding Party = 166

150 Guests / 8 = 19 Tables

16 Wedding Party = 4 Tables to line up and make a Head Table

So the total is:

23 tables total if you use a Head Table for your Wedding Party

21 tables without Head Table for your Wedding Party

The head table will be 4 of the 8 ft tables placed side by side with the wedding party sitting on one side facing the guests, four at each table. See sample image below:

Take Accessory Tables into Consideration

You will of course need a few extra tables for things like:

  • Cake

  • Gifts

  • Guest Book

What About Linens and Centerpieces?

Depending on the type of look you are trying to achieve, you will need 1 table cloth per table. Here are some of the sizes:

Casual Mid-Length – 60” x 120” Rectangle

Formal Floor-length - 90” x 156” Rectangle

Centerpieces can be a little trickier. You will want to leave space for table settings, favors, and your guests:

2 Centerpieces – If your center piece design is a bit large, go with 2 centerpieces.

3 Centerpieces – If you can get away with smaller centerpieces, you can do 3 on each table.

More centerpieces along the center of the line if it’s in a flowy fashion like green vines.

Tips for Pretty and Comfortable Tables

How many people can sit at 8 ft table? 8 is more comfortable than 10 because your guests will have more space, but there are more things to do:

  • Accessorize! Keep centerpieces small and less in number and use accessories like strings of ornamental pearls, flower petals and votive candles.

  • Simplify glassware. Keep wine glasses off the table until dinner. Have the wait staff bring them out when it’s time to pour dinner wine. Any cocktail or drink glasses can be removed before dinner as well. Flutes can be brought out at toasting time.

  • Ditch place cards and favors. Unless your wedding is a very formal one, ditch the place cards and favors for more table space. You can place wedding favors on or near your cake table.