What is a seating chart generator?
A seating chart generator turns a list of names into a plan of who sits where. It is a seating chart maker and seating plan in one: a wedding seating chart, a party table plan or a classroom seating chart. You lay out the tables as they stand in the room, place people by drag and drop or let the generator fill the chairs, and print the result for the venue, the welcome table or the classroom wall.
How to make a seating chart
- Start from a layout, such as a wedding with a sweetheart table and round tables. The tables appear on the floor plan.
- Drag tables to where they stand in your room, and add more with the table buttons.
- Type your guests: a comma or Enter adds each person. Or import a guest list from a Word, PDF, TXT or CSV file.
- Drag each name onto a chair, or tap a name and then a chair. Seat everyone places all guests with their group.
- Click Print, or Save as image to get a picture of the whole room for your venue.
Can I import my guest list?
Yes. Click Import and choose a Word document (.docx), a PDF, or a TXT or CSV file. Each line, and each name separated by a comma or semicolon, becomes a guest. Numbers and bullet points in front of the names are removed. The file is read in your browser and is never uploaded. Older Word files (.doc) can't be read: open them in Word and save as .docx first. Scanned PDFs that are only pictures of text have no names to read.
Tips for a wedding seating chart
- Start with the sweetheart or head table and the closest family, then work outwards.
- Use groups such as Bride's family, University friends or Work. Seat everyone places each group at the same table when it fits.
- Seat couples and families together, and give children a table near their parents.
- Keep a few spare chairs for late replies: eight people at a table for ten is fine.
- Send the venue a copy: Save as image gives a picture of the whole room, and Download CSV gives a list the caterer can open in a spreadsheet.
Which table shape should I choose?
| Table | Guests | Good for |
|---|---|---|
| Round, 150 cm (60 in) | 8–10 | Weddings and parties: everyone can talk to everyone |
| Round, 180 cm (72 in) | 10–12 | Large families, fewer tables in the room |
| Oval | 10–12 | Elegant dinners in long, narrow rooms |
| Square | 8 | Modern settings and smaller groups |
| Long, 240 cm (8 ft) | 8–10 | Rustic and family-style banquets |
| Sweetheart | 2 | The couple, facing the guests |
Check the sizes with your venue, as tables and chairs vary.
Making a classroom seating chart
Choose a classroom layout with desks of two or single desks, import or type your class list and click Shuffle for a random seating plan, or drag students to the seats you want. Move the desks to match your room, then print the plan for a substitute teacher.
Seating Chart Generator: questions and answers
Is this seating chart maker really free?
Yes. There's no account, no limit on guests or tables and no watermark on the printout or image.
How do I add many guests at once?
Type or paste names separated by commas, or one per line: each comma or Enter adds a person straight away. Or import a Word, PDF, TXT or CSV file with your guest list.
Can I import a guest list from Word or PDF?
Yes. Word documents (.docx) and PDFs with real text work, as do TXT and CSV files. Every line or comma-separated name becomes a guest. The file is read on your device and never uploaded.
Can I move the tables around?
Yes. The floor plan is free: drag any table to where it stands in your room. Scroll the mouse wheel to zoom and drag the empty floor to look around. Click a table to rename it, change its shape or the number of chairs, duplicate it, or press Delete to remove it.
Does drag and drop work on a phone?
Yes. Hold a name and drag it to a chair, or tap a name and then tap a chair. Drag a table by its middle to move it.
How do I keep families or friends together?
Type a group, for example Bride's family, in the group field before adding those guests. Each group gets its own colour, and Seat everyone tries to seat each group at the same table.
Why is there a CSV download?
Venues and caterers often work in spreadsheets. The CSV file lists every guest with their group, table and seat and opens in Excel, Numbers or Google Sheets.
Where is my guest list stored?
Only in your browser. Nothing is uploaded. Tick Remember on this device to keep the plan on this device for next time; untick it to delete it.
How do I print the seating chart?
Click Print to get the floor plan with names and, on the next page, an alphabetical list of guests with their table. Choose Save as PDF as the printer to keep a file, or click Save as image for a PNG picture.