Party Venue Size Calculator

Plan for 10-12 sq ft per person for a standing cocktail party, 15-18 sq ft for a seated dinner, and 25-30 sq ft if you have activities like games or a dance floor. Kids need about 70% of adult space. These are industry-standard guidelines used by event planners and venue coordinators.

For 50 guests, you need 500-600 sq ft for a standing reception, 750-900 sq ft for a seated dinner, or 1,250-1,500 sq ft with activities and a dance floor. Add extra space for buffet tables, a DJ setup, or a bounce house. A community room or small event hall typically works well for this size.

Multiply your guest count by the space-per-person for your party style: 10-12 sq ft for standing, 15-18 sq ft for seated, 25-30 sq ft with activities. Then add space for extras like a dance floor (100-200 sq ft), buffet table (50 sq ft), or bounce house (225 sq ft). Kids need about 70% of adult space.

A standard residential bounce house needs about 225 sq ft (15x15 feet) of clear space, plus 3 feet of clearance on all sides for safety. That totals roughly 440 sq ft including the safety zone. Make sure the venue has accessible power outlets and allows inflatables — many indoor venues do not.

Most backyards are 400-1,500 sq ft of usable space. For a standing party, that fits 35-125 guests comfortably. For seated dinners with tables, plan for 25-85 guests. Measure your usable outdoor area (excluding gardens, slopes, and obstacles) and compare it to the calculator results above.

Plan 15-18 sq ft per adult for a seated dinner. This includes chair space, table space, and room to move between tables. Round tables of 8 need about 70 sq ft each. Long rectangular tables need about 30 sq ft per seat. Add 20% more if you are serving a buffet so guests can move to the food station.