Rental problems solved
How Many Chairs, Tables and Dishes Do I Need?
Short answer: Start with one chair per guest, one 60-inch round per eight guests, and one floor-length linen per table. For a plated dinner, plan one dinner plate, salad plate, napkin, fork, knife, water glass and wine glass per guest. Our free calculator multiplies this out for your guest count and prices it from current Chicago rental lists.
What changes
Rough guesses vs counted from guest count
Before
Rough guesses
- Short on chairs at the ceremony
- Linens that don't fit the tables
- Forgetting chargers or salad forks
After
Counted from guest count
- Every item scaled to your guests
- Tables and linens that match
- A priced list you can send as is
Rules of thumb
- Chairs: 1 per guest, plus ceremony seats if ceremony and reception are in different spaces
- 60-inch rounds: 8 guests each (10 is tight); 48-inch rounds: 6
- Cocktail highboys: about 1 per 10 guests during cocktail hour
- Linens: 1 per table, sized to the table and drop length
- Plated dinner: 1 of each plate, fork, knife, napkin and glass per guest
- Coffee cups: about 6 for every 10 guests
FAQ
Questions people ask
How many guests fit at a 60-inch round table?
Eight comfortably, ten if chairs are narrow and plates are small. Use eight for a plated dinner with chargers.
Should I rent extra plates and glasses?
Many planners add a small spare for breakage and late additions. Ask the rental company whether unused extras are charged.
Where can I calculate my rental quantities?
Use our free rental calculator. Enter your guest count and it lists quantities with current prices, then sends the list to our quote builder.
Free quote · no obligation
Turn your guest count into a priced list
The calculator fills the quote builder for you. Change anything before you send it.
- Live pricing as you pick
- Delivery & setup included in quote
- One contact for every vendor
- Reply within one business day
