Seating chart planner
and guests

From the guest list to a specific table.

This free seating chart maker is designed for weddings, quinceañeras, dinners, and gatherings where you need to keep certain groups together. You can work with first names, last names, or labels like “North Team.” Each row represents a unit: if you enter four people in a group, the arrangement places all four at the same table. A row without a count is treated as one person.

The example data is fictitious. Replace it with your RSVPs, check plus-ones, and use actual guest counts. To organize that first step, check out our guest list guide. To prepare the physical layout, see how to arrange wedding tables.

How to create your seating chart in four steps

1. Define the tables. Enter the table name, the capacity confirmed by the venue, and any reserved seats you want to leave open. An eight-person table with one reservation allows seven people to be assigned.
2. Enter your units. For example, Luna Family;4;Garden requests keeping four people together and attempting to place them in Garden. You can skip the preference or add groups using the individual fields.
3. Assign and review. Click “Assign guests.” Review any unassigned groups; change criteria if needed. Move a group using its table selector via mouse, touchscreen, or keyboard. On a desktop computer, you can also drag the “Move group” bar to another card. A full table will reject the move without losing your arrangement.
4. Save the working version. Save A before trying B, review the changes, and revert to A if it suits you better. Download CSV for a spreadsheet, TXT for a simple list, or JSON to restore your work here later. Printing displays the complete arrangement without the editor fields.

The method: full groups first, then adjustments.

The assignable capacity of each table is total seats minus reserved seats. The seating chart maker sorts units from largest to smallest. It first tries the preferred table when there is space; after that, the compact criterion picks the table with the fewest open seats where the group fits. The balanced criterion picks the lowest proportional occupancy. Ties are resolved following the order in which you entered the tables and groups.

When a small arrangement leaves unassigned groups, the tool can test additional combinations up to a search limit. This assistance does not guarantee an optimal arrangement. If groups remain unassigned, the result clearly indicates it: capacity may be insufficient, a group may be too large, or there may be another combination that the algorithm did not find. Reserved seats are never used to resolve placement.

A table preference is an attempt, not a mandatory requirement. If it cannot be met, it appears in the review list even if all guests are seated. We do not infer relationships, ages, dietary restrictions, or personal needs. If a group needs to stay close to an entrance or separated from another, consult the guests involved and adjust their table manually. To check pathways and flow, use the guide to a more accessible event.

An example: 18 guests and two reserved seats.

The initial example has three tables: Garden with eight seats and one reservation; Patio with eight seats and no reservations; Window with six seats and one reservation. That leaves 20 assignable seats. The seven groups total 18 guests, so a complete arrangement leaves two open seats plus the two reserved seats.

The Luna Family has four people and prefers Garden. If you try to move them to Window while Team and Alex already occupy its five available seats, the tool rejects the move: nine seats would be needed and there are only five. You can move Team first, undo the attempt, or adjust capacities if confirmed by the venue. Saving A before making changes lets you compare who changed tables.

To do this without JavaScript, subtract reservations from each table, write down the largest groups first, and deduct their headcounts from the chosen table. Keep an unassigned column and review preferences at the end. Do not split a family automatically just to make the numbers add up.

What you need to confirm outside the tool

The cards represent assignments, not a scale floor plan or chair order. The seating chart maker does not determine permitted venue capacity, aisle widths, or emergency exits. Confirm capacities and setup directly with venue management. The tool supports up to 200 units, 60 tables, 50 guests per unit, and 1,000 guests in total; this limit reflects how the tool operates, not a recommended event size.

Review the downloaded version before sharing it. The CSV includes labels, counts, and tables; the JSON includes the entire project. Those files remain entirely under your control. On a shared computer, close the tab when finished and be mindful of where you save your lists. The tool does not automatically save data in your browser or transmit entries to Convite or third parties; data is only copied or downloaded when you choose to do so.