How to make a dinner party seating chart
- Pick your table. Start from one long table of 12, the formal dinner, or blank, and set the seats to your guest count.
- Add your guests. Type or paste the names, with couples in the same household, and tag the hosts and the guest of honour.
- Choose who sits where. Drag guests to seats, or press Smart arrange to seat households together.
- Check the etiquette. Hosts at the ends, the guest of honour on the host’s right, and couples split if it’s a formal dinner.
- Print it. Download the seating chart as a PDF and print place cards with the seating card maker.
The chart above is a dinner for 12 at one long table, with each couple sitting together. Switch to Formal dinner for the traditional pattern: the hosts at the two ends, each guest of honour on a host’s right, and every couple split so nobody sits beside or opposite their partner.
Dinner party seating etiquette
- Hosts at the ends. The host and co-host sit at the two ends of a long table, or opposite each other at a round one.
- Guest of honour on the host’s right. A second guest of honour sits on the co-host’s right.
- Split couples at a formal dinner. Partners sit apart so conversation mixes; at a relaxed dinner, let them sit together.
- Mix the talkers. Put a good talker beside a shy guest, and keep people who disagree out of earshot.
- Think about the practical things. Left-handers at a corner, anyone who needs to step out near the door, and the cook nearest the kitchen.
For more on precedence at formal meals, see seating protocol.
One long table or several
Up to about 12 guests fit at one long table, which keeps everyone in one conversation. For 16 or more, two or three tables work better: give each table a host, and mix the tables so friends meet. Change the table’s seats or add tables from the Add menu; the chart is drawn to scale, so you can see whether it fits your dining room. Allow about 2 feet (60 cm) of table per guest.
Print the chart and place cards
Download PDF prints the table with every name and a numbered list of the seats. For the table itself, make tented place cards with the seating card maker. For a bigger party, use the table planner.
Dinner party seating chart templates
PDF, Letter · PDF, A4 · Blank: Letter · A4
PDF, Letter · PDF, A4
Frequently asked questions
Where should the host sit at a dinner party?
Traditionally at one end of the table, with the co-host at the other end, so each can look after half the table. At a round table, the hosts sit opposite each other.
Where does the guest of honour sit?
On the host’s right. If there are two guests of honour, the second sits on the co-host’s right.
Should couples sit together at a dinner party?
At a casual dinner, sitting together is fine. At a formal dinner, couples are usually split, so everyone talks to someone new; the formal dinner example above shows one way.
Do I have to alternate men and women?
Only if you want the traditional pattern. Most hosts today simply mix people who will enjoy talking to each other and avoid seating two quiet guests side by side.
How many people fit at a dinner table?
About 2 feet (60 cm) of table per guest: a 6-foot table seats 6, or 8 with one at each end; an 8-foot table seats 8, or 10 with the ends.
Is there a dinner party seating chart template?
Yes. Download the PDFs below, filled in or blank, or press Use this layout above to keep the table and type your own guests.