What size should a wedding seating chart be?
It depends mostly on your guest count. The more names on the poster, the smaller each one prints. Below are measured name sizes for each chart size, so you can pick one your guests can read from a step back.
Short answer
- Up to about 100 guests: 16 × 20 in is enough. 18 × 24 in or A2 gives larger names.
- About 100–150 guests: 18 × 24 in or A2.
- About 150–250 guests: 24 × 36 in or A1. At this count, smaller posters push names down towards 12–15 pt.
Those cut-offs follow our own rule of thumb: guest names of about 18 pt or larger are comfortable to scan from a step or two away, and 12 pt is the smallest we'll print. That's a judgment, not a standard. Your venue, lighting and guests matter too, and a test print beats any table (see below).
Measured name sizes by chart size and guest count
Typical guest-name size in points (1 pt = 1/72 in). We measured each size with our own layout software, using fictional guest lists with a mix of short and long names, about 8 guests per table, in all three designs and both layouts. The range runs from the tightest to the roomiest result.
| Chart size | 60 guests | 100 | 150 | 200 | 250 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 16 × 20 in 41 × 51 cm | 23–33 | 19–22 | 14–18 | 12–15 | 12–16* |
| 18 × 24 in 46 × 61 cm | 29–31 | 18–28 | 17–20 | 14–18 | 12–15 |
| A2 42 × 59.4 cm | 29–31 | 18–25 | 17–20 | 14–18 | 12–14 |
| 24 × 36 in 61 × 91 cm | 46–49 | 29–39 | 27–31 | 22–28 | 17–22 |
| A1 59.4 × 84.1 cm | 41–44 | 26–36 | 24–28 | 20–26 | 16–20 |
* At 250 guests on 16 × 20 in, one design and layout combination needed two posters to keep names at 12 pt or above. When a list won't fit, we split it across posters by table instead of shrinking the text further. Your own list may land higher or lower in a range: long names, very full tables and many named tables all take more room.
How big is a point, in real life?
As a rough guide, a 12 pt name has capital letters about 3 mm (⅛ in) tall. At 24 pt they're about 6 mm (¼ in). That's why we don't go below 12 pt on a poster. Print one section at 100% on ordinary paper, tape it to a wall at eye level, and stand where guests will stand. If it's hard to read, choose the next size up.
Alphabetical or by table changes the fit
An alphabetical chart prints the table next to every name, so the same list can come out a little smaller than a chart grouped by table. Grouped by table, each table's name appears once as a heading. Every package includes both layouts; you choose which one is the main chart. See alphabetical vs by-table seating charts.
Printing a large seating chart
- Where: sizes from 16 × 20 in up need a print shop or an online poster printer. Most will print on paper, card or foam board.
- Scale: ask for 100% / "actual size". Our files are already the exact size, so nothing needs stretching or cropping.
- Finish: matte or satin reflects less light than gloss, which helps under venue lighting.
- Stand: 24 × 36 in and A1 boards need a sturdy floor easel. A 16 × 20 in print can sit on a tabletop easel.
- Timing: leave time for a reprint in case of a late change. Your files regenerate whenever you correct a name.
Metric and US sizes
A2 is close to 18 × 24 in, and A1 is close to 24 × 36 in, but their proportions differ slightly, so choose the size your printer actually offers. A US print shop will usually stock the inch sizes; in the UK, Europe and Australia, A-sizes are standard.
See your own list at your size
Upload your list and switch between sizes in the free preview to see how your names fit. The package is $99 and includes every size change until your event.