The best seating arrangement for your event

Pondering what type of seating arrangement is most suited to your event and how much space you might need to fit everyone comfortably? Besides finding the perfect venue, choosing appropriate seating is vital for anyone organising an event.

Choosing the seating arrangement comes first

Finding the perfect venue and choosing the most suitable seating arrangement go hand in hand. It’s not enough to know the number of attendees you are expecting as different seating arrangements require different amounts of space per person. How you arrange tables and chairs will significantly impact whether a space feels empty, overcrowded, or just right.

The right seating arrangement supports your event goals

The right seating arrangement, alongside the venue and its ambience, plays a crucial role in the success of your event. Depending on the purpose and goals of your event, different types of seating arrangements may be more or less suitable.

Dive into the basics of event seating

In this guide, we introduce the 10 most popular seating arrangements, provide an overview of their advantages and disadvantages, and explain which seating arrangement is best suited for which type of event.

Auditorium/Theatre Style
Classroom
Chevron Style (Herringbone)
Boardroom
U-Shape
Hollow Square
Banquet
Cabaret
Circle
Cocktail

1. Auditorium/Theatre Style Seating

Theatre style seating, also known as auditorium style seating, is the go-to seating arrangement for lectures, presentations, and shows. It consists of chairs set out in rows, all facing the same direction, with no tables. The chairs can either be set up directly behind one another or staggered, as they tend to be arranged in theatres. This allows for an unobstructed view towards the stage or presenter.

Use of space:

highly efficient

Space needed per person:

1.5 m²

Best suited for:

presentations
lectures
performances, shows, readings

Advantages of theatre style seating

maximises capacity of event space
offers clear view of stage/presenter, especially if rows are staggered

Disadvantages of theatre style seating

no workspace, making note-taking difficult
limited legroom depending on row spacing
problems with accessibility; catering is restricted if not impossible

2. Classroom Style Seating

To achieve classroom style seating, tables with chairs are arranged in rows parallel to the stage or presenter, similar to the way students are seated in classrooms. This type of seating arrangement is ideal for educational events where the main focus is on a presenter and attendees require a workspace to take notes.

Use of space:

moderately efficient

Space needed per person:

2 m²

Best suited for:

seminars
trainings
workshops
lectures
conferences

Advantages of classroom style seating

space for materials, note-taking, electronic devices, and beverages
pleasant work environment
focus on and good view of the presenter/speaker
ample legroom
allows for catering and table service

Disadvantages of classroom style seating

attendees are not facing each other
interaction is limited to neighbouring participants
attendees might adopt uncomfortable postures if rows aren’t staggered

3. Chevron Style Seating (Herringbone)

If you are looking to maximise the participants’ focus on the stage or presenter, a chevron style seating arrangement is the perfect fit. Like classroom style seating, this type of seating arrangement consists of rows of tables facing the front, with the difference that all rows are angled inwards rather than parallel to the stage.

Use of space:

moderately efficient

Space needed per person:

2.5 m²

Best suited for:

seminars
trainings
lectures
conferences

Advantages of chevron style seating

excellent view of speaker
staggered seating avoids uncomfortable postures
space for materials, note-taking, electronic devices, and beverages
ample legroom
makes it possible to fill large spaces

Disadvantages of chevron style seating

requires more space
attendees are not facing each other
interaction is limited to neighbouring participants
acoustics might be slightly more challenging

4. Boardroom Style Seating

With all participants seated around a single table, boardroom style seating is a classic for all kinds of meetings, discussions, and negotiations. This type of seating arrangement is suitable for both small-scale gatherings and can be adapted for larger celebrations by combining several tables into one elongated table.

Side note: Using an oval table removes the head of the table and with it any sense of hierarchy, making this variation of boardroom style seating the perfect choice for meetings and negotiations at eye level.

Use of space:

rather space-consuming

Space needed per person:

3 m²

Best suited for:

meetings and team briefings
negotiations
discussions
celebrations
culinary events

Advantages of boardroom style seating:

attendees facing each other allows for eye contact
encourages interaction and open communication
fosters a sense of inclusion
offers ample workspace for everyone
minimal to no perceived hierarchy
catering and table service made easy

Disadvantages of boardroom style seating:

requires a larger amount of space per person
depending on seating position, view of presentation is not ideal

5. U-Shape (Horseshoe)

As can be deduced from the name, horseshoe-style seating refers to rectangular tables being arranged in a U-shape. Usually, event attendees are only seated on the outside of the U-shape, allowing the presenter to move freely within the open space.

Use of space:

rather space-consuming

Space needed per person:

3 m²

Best suited for:

presentations that include discussions
interactive workshops
meetings centred around a presentation

Advantages of U-shape seating

allows for a focus on the presenter and interaction between participants
mostly clear view of presentation
attendees facing each other, encouraging communication
offers sufficient workspace for everyone
minimal sense of hierarchy
catering and table service possible

Disadvantages of U-shape seating

requires a larger amount of space per person
some participants need to angle themselves towards the presentation

6. Hollow Square Seating

For this type of seating, rectangular tables are arranged into a square with an open centre, so that all event attendees are facing inwards. Compared to boardroom style seating, a hollow square seating arrangement offers more legroom but also requires more floor space for the same number of participants.

Use of space:

very space-consuming

Space needed per person:

4-5 m²

Best suited for:

meetings
negotiations
discussions
business lunches/dinners
celebrations

Advantages of hollow square seating

offers more legroom compared to boardroom seating
all participants are facing each other
encourages communication and interaction
offers sufficient workspace for everyone
no perceived sense of hierarchy
allows for catering and table service

Disadvantages of hollow square seating

requires more space than other meeting set-ups
not ideal for large groups
not suitable for presentations as some guests will have to turn around

7. Banquet Style Seating

For a banquet style setting, groups of four to twelve guests are seated around small tables spread throughout the event space. This creates a relaxed yet elegant atmosphere that invites guests to socialise, making this seating arrangement highly popular for festive events with table service, such as anniversaries, charity events, or ceremonies.

Use of space:

rather space-consuming

Space needed per person:

3 m²

Best suited for:

gala dinners
celebrations
culinary events

Advantages of banquet style seating

creates a relaxed yet elegant ambience
guests at the same table are facing each other, perfect for socialising
encourages interaction and conversation
catering and table service made easy
ideal for formal events and special occasions

Disadvantages of banquet style seating

requires more space per guest than other seating options
less workspace per person at the shared table
not suitable for long presentations or speeches as a large percentage of the guests needs to turn around
may require more service staff due to the large number of individual tables

8. Cabaret Style Seating

For celebrations and culinary events that are accompanied by an entertainment programme, a presentation, or long speeches, the cabaret style seating arrangement is ideal. What distinguishes this variation from banquet style seating is that guests are only seated on one side of the table, ensuring all guests enjoy a clear view of the stage. This makes cabaret style seating the perfect choice for events with a strong focus on both the programme and interaction between attendees.

Use of space:

rather space-consuming

Space needed per person:

3.5 m²

Best suited for:

dinner shows
events with entertainment and table service
presentations with group work elements

Advantages of Cabaret Style Seating

clear view of the stage, presentation, and speakers
encourages interaction and conversation
offers more space for materials and note-taking or food and beverages
catering and table service made easy

Disadvantages of Cabaret Style Seating

fewer participants per table
more complex room set-up, might require additional effort
may require more service staff due to the large number of individual tables

9. Circle of Chairs

For highly interactive event formats, a circle of chairs is an ideal set-up. As the name suggests, chairs without tables are arranged in a circle, which fosters open communication but makes it difficult to work with training materials or take notes. Therefore, this type of seating arrangement is best suited for short meetings and group work rather than lengthy work sessions.

Use of space:

moderately efficient

Space needed per person:

2.5 m²

Best suited for:

brainstorming sessions
meetings
discussions
group work

Advantages of a circle set-up:

quick and simple to set up
all participants are facing each other
encourages communication and interaction
minimal hierarchy creates an inclusive and relaxed atmosphere

Disadvantages of a circle set-up:

no workspace for training materials or note-taking
not suitable for presentations, lectures, or speeches as it requires attendees to turn

10. Cocktail Style Set-up

A cocktail style set-up features a number of cocktail tables with or without high stools placed around the event space — there is little to no seating for event attendees. Allowing guests to move freely, this set-up encourages networking and social interaction. A cocktail style set-up is therefore not only the perfect choice for casual receptions but also popular for break zones. For lengthy events or breaks, lounge furniture or other additional seating should be available to keep guests comfortable.

Use of space:

highly efficient

Space needed per person:

0.5 m²

Best suited for:

receptions
get-togethers
networking events
event breaks

Advantages of a cocktail style set-up:

attendees can move freely
perfect for networking and socialising
requires minimal space per participant

Disadvantages of a cocktail style set-up:

offers little comfort and is not suitable for long events
no workspace for materials or note-taking

Choosing the right seating arrangement is just the beginning

Once you’ve decided on the most suitable seating arrangement for your event, choosing the right event space becomes easier.

Our online platform is here to help you find the perfect venue for your next event. With Konflinx, you can discover, compare, and book Austria’s most popular event venues in just a few clicks.

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04.06.2024