The Capacity Check
Physics doesn't negotiate. Estimate how many people fit in your space without breaking fire codes.
A room's maximum capacity is its floor area divided by the space each person needs, and that space depends on your seating layout. A 10 by 8 metre room is 80 m². In theater seating at 0.8 m² per person, that holds up to 100 people; a banquet layout at 1.4 m² per person drops it to 57. This tool solves both the tight maximum and a comfortable recommendation for cocktail, theater, banquet, and classroom setups, in metric or imperial.
How it's calculated
Three steps, all driven by your room's floor area:
- Floor area = length x width
- Max capacity = floor(area / area-per-person)
- Comfortable capacity = floor(area / (area-per-person x 1.3))
Area-per-person comes from the layout (see Density Factors below). The comfortable figure adds 30% breathing room so the space stays usable, not just legal.
Worked examples
| Room size | Layout | Floor area | Comfortable | Max |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 x 8 m | Theater | 80 m² | 76 | 100 |
| 12 x 10 m | Cocktail | 120 m² | 184 | 240 |
| 20 x 15 m | Banquet | 300 m² | 164 | 214 |
How it works
Enter your room dimensions (length and width).
Select your layout style (Cocktail, Theater, Banquet, or Classroom).
The tool calculates Tight Capacity (maximum) and Comfortable Capacity (recommended).
The Density Visualizer shows you what the crowd will look like.
Why it matters
Overcrowding isn't just uncomfortable; it's a liability. Whether you are planning a wedding or a workshop, you need to know the hard limits of your square footage. This tool uses standard event industry density ratios to give you a safe baseline. Always bias towards 'Comfortable' if you want people to actually enjoy themselves.
Density Factors
Cocktail (Standing): 0.5 m² / 6 sq ft per person
Theater (Rows of Chairs): 0.8 m² / 9 sq ft per person
Banquet (Round Tables): 1.4 m² / 15 sq ft per person
Classroom (Desks): 1.8 m² / 20 sq ft per person