Sukkah Dinner Seating: How Many Fit by Sukkah Size

Sukkot is the autumn holiday when Jewish families build a sukkah, a temporary hut, and eat meals in it for a week. Dates follow the Jewish calendar and fall in the fall, so check this year's date. The roof is made of branches or bamboo so you can see the sky, and the walls can be canvas, wood or whatever the family uses. Customs differ among families and communities, so use this guide as a starting point and follow your own tradition.

For Chicago hosts, the challenge is the same each year: a small space, a long dinner and an October evening that gets cold. This guide helps you count seats and plan the table.

How many fit in your sukkah

Start with the floor size and the 10 to 12 square foot rule. That gives each person room to sit, pull out a chair and pass dishes. Tighter than that and people cannot get in and out.

These numbers are rules of thumb. A big family can squeeze in more for a short meal, and a long holiday dinner needs room. Measure the inside floor, not the outside frame.

Tables and chairs that work

• Long tables. A 6-foot or 8-foot banquet table fits most sukkahs. See banquet table sizes. Round tables waste the corners.
• Folding chairs. They stack and are easy to carry in and out. See garden folding chairs and the chairs rentals page.
• Narrow doors. Many sukkah doors are a flap or a narrow gap. Measure before you order, and fold tables to fit.
• Floor. A sukkah often sits on grass, a deck or pavers. Chairs sink in soft ground. See chairs on grass.
• Kids. If kids will be in and out, add a small table. See kids tables and chairs.

If you have a lot of guests, a second table in the yard or in a nearby tent for overflow is a common choice, and you can ask your rabbi what is acceptable for the meal.

Lights, heat and cold evenings

In Chicago, Sukkot nights are often in the 40s and sometimes colder, and the sun sets around 6 pm or earlier as the weeks pass.

Lighting. Use LED string lights or battery lanterns. They stay cool, which matters near a roof of branches and fabric. See string light layouts, battery-powered lighting and lanterns and luminaries. Avoid open flames and candles near the roof and walls. See candles at venues and fire code rules.

Heat. The roof of branches is dry and burns easily, and canvas walls can too. Keep any heater well away from the roof and walls, outside the sukkah if you can, and never leave it on unattended. Read the heater's clearance rules and ask your rabbi what is acceptable for your sukkah. For outdoor heaters, see patio heaters: how many per guests and tent heater vs patio heater. Not every heater fits a small hut. Check with your village or fire department if you are not sure.

Blankets and warm drinks. The easiest fix is a stack of blankets and a hot drink station with coffee, tea or cider. Wool throws and hot soup go a long way.

Wind. Chicago wind can lift roof branches and flap walls. Tie the walls, and use weights or stakes on the frame. See tent anchoring.

Rain and the backup plan

Sukkot comes in fall, and rain is common. Customs about eating in the sukkah in the rain differ by family and community, so ask your rabbi. Most hosts plan:

1. A waterproof cover for the table and the food, and for the buffet if there is one
2. A backup table inside the house
3. A tarp or tent near the entrance for coats and shoes
4. A plan for wet chairs, with towels at the door

If you want a tent over a wider space, see what size tent you need and rain plan with a tent. Use our outdoor weather plan download to decide ahead.

What most hosts find out too late

• Rental companies are busy in fall. Weddings and the High Holiday meals fill the calendar. Ask early for delivery a day or two before the holiday starts.
• Holiday timing matters. Many families do not accept deliveries or set up on the holiday itself. Ask for delivery before it starts and pickup after it ends. Sukkot is long, so ask how many days of rental you need and what it costs.
• Measure the door. A table that fits the sukkah may not fit through the gate. Check the width of the gate, gangway or alley.
• Level ground. A long table rocks on a slope or uneven grass. Ask about shims, or move the table. See table rental on level ground.
• Count at delivery. Count chairs and tables when they arrive.

Get the sukkah set before the holiday

Book a free 15-minute planning call and we will help you pick tables and chairs for your sukkah size and check delivery dates. Or get a quote with your date and address. We check the date with the rental companies for you.