Venue Capacity Calculator

Theater style holds the most at about 6 sq ft per person. Cocktail/reception is second at 8 sq ft per person since guests stand and mingle.

Generally 10-20% of floor space goes to aisles and walkways. Fire codes require clear egress paths, so check local requirements for your venue.

For irregular shapes, calculate the approximate rectangular area or divide the space into sections and add them together for total usable square footage.

Fire codes typically mandate maximum occupancy based on square footage and available exits. The calculated capacity should never exceed the venue's legal occupancy limit. Always verify with the venue and local fire marshal for official capacity numbers.

For presentations, reserve 100-150 sq ft for a small stage or podium area, plus 10-15 feet of clearance from the front row. For performances or panels, plan for 200-400 sq ft of stage space. Subtract this from your usable area before calculating seating capacity.