Commercial Furniture Dimensions
Planning numbers for the commercial spaces designers furnish most: restaurants and cafés, offices and meeting rooms, and hotel lobbies. Figures come from codes, manufacturer planning guides and restaurant industry references, noted under each table.
Restaurants and cafés
Dining-room area per seat
| Style of service | Area per seat |
|---|---|
| Fine dining | 18–20 sq ft (1.7–1.9 m²) |
| Full service or casual | 12–15 sq ft (1.1–1.4 m²); some guides allow up to 18 |
| Café or fast casual | 11–14 sq ft (1.0–1.3 m²) |
| Counter seating | 18–20 sq ft (1.7–1.9 m²), because of the counter depth and the walkway behind |
| Banquet | 10–12 sq ft (0.9–1.1 m²) |
Trade guidance from WebstaurantStore, Superior Seating and Oak Street Manufacturing; sources differ by up to a few square feet per seat. No code sets a seating density, but occupant load (below) sets exits and washrooms.
Tables and seats
| Table | Size | Seats |
|---|---|---|
| 2-top | 24 × 24" (61 × 61 cm) or 24 × 30" (61 × 76 cm) | 2 |
| 2-top, roomy | 30 × 30" (76 × 76 cm) | 2, or 4 in casual service |
| 4-top | 30 × 48" (76 × 122 cm) or 36 × 36" (91 × 91 cm) | 4 |
| Round | 30" (76 cm) | 2–3 |
| Round | 36" (91 cm) | 4 |
| Round | 42" (107 cm) | 4–5 |
| Round | 48" (122 cm) | 5–6 |
| Round | 60" (152 cm) | 6–8 |
Allow 24–30" (61–76 cm) of table edge per diner; armchairs need the upper end.
Heights
| Surface | Height | Seat height |
|---|---|---|
| Dining table | 28–30" (71–76 cm) | 18–19" (46–48 cm) |
| Counter | 36" (91 cm) | 24–26" (61–66 cm) |
| Bar-height table | 40–42" (102–107 cm) | 28–30" (71–76 cm) |
| Bar counter | 42–45" (107–114 cm) | 30–33" (76–84 cm), about 10–12" (25–30 cm) below the bar top |
| Accessible dining surface | 28–34" (71–86 cm), with 27" (69 cm) knee clearance | – |
Booths and bars
| Element | Typical dimension |
|---|---|
| Booth seat height | 18–19" (46–48 cm) |
| Booth seat depth | About 19" (48 cm) |
| Booth back height | 36", 42" or 48" (91, 107 or 122 cm) |
| Booth depth, single / double | 24" (61 cm) / 43–44" (109–112 cm) |
| Width per person in a booth | 24" (61 cm) |
| Facing booths, centre to centre | 66–72" (168–183 cm), using 66" with a 24" deep table |
| Seat back to table edge | 16–18" (41–46 cm) |
| Bar stool spacing, centre to centre | 24–30" (61–76 cm) |
| Bar foot rail height | About 7–9" (18–23 cm) |
Aisles
- Accessible route to accessible seats: 36" (915 mm) under the ADA, 1,000 mm under the BC Building Code.
- Main service aisles: 44–60" (112–152 cm) is common trade guidance, so servers and guests can pass.
- Code minimums for aisles between tables vary by jurisdiction. For example, the BC Fire Code requires 1,400 mm (55") between rows of tables with seating back to back. Check the code that applies to your project.
Offices and meeting rooms
Conference table seating
| Table length | At 27" per person (Haworth) | At 30" per person (Teknion) |
|---|---|---|
| 6 ft (183 cm) | 6 | – |
| 8 ft (244 cm) | 8–10 | 6–8 |
| 10 ft (305 cm) | 10 | 8–10 |
| 12 ft (366 cm) | 10 | 8–10 |
| 14 ft (427 cm) | 12 | 10–12 |
| 16 ft (488 cm) | 14 | 12–14 |
From Haworth and Teknion planning data. Haworth’s counts allow for its own leg positions, which is why some lengths don’t gain a seat.
- Widths: 36–42" (91–107 cm) for tables up to 8 ft, 42–54" (107–137 cm) up to 12 ft, 48–60" (122–152 cm) up to 15 ft and 54–60" (137–152 cm) beyond. Teknion offers 54" (137 cm) widths from 9 ft and 60" (152 cm) from 12 ft.
- Clearance from table edge to wall: about 48" (122 cm) recommended; 36" (91 cm) is a tight minimum.
- Heights: seated conference tables 28.5–29" (72–74 cm); standing tables 40–42" (102–107 cm); Haworth’s lounge-height table 26" (66 cm).
Try our conference table calculator for a specific room.
Desks and workstations
| Item | Dimension |
|---|---|
| Fixed desk height | 28.5–29" (72–74 cm) |
| Sit-stand range (BIFMA G1-2013) | 22.6–48.7" (574–1,237 mm) |
| Worksurface depth | 30" (76 cm) recommended for monitors; 24" (61 cm) minimum without one |
| Worksurface width | 60" (152 cm) or more recommended; 46" (117 cm) minimum |
| Workstation planning modules | 6 × 6 ft and 6 × 8 ft (183 × 183 and 183 × 244 cm) |
Sit-stand range as cited by manufacturers and university standards referencing BIFMA G1-2013; desk dimensions from university facilities standards; modules from Herman Miller.
Occupant load
Occupant load decides exits and washroom counts, not seating comfort. It is calculated from floor area by use:
| Use | IBC 2021 (Table 1004.5) | BC Building Code 2024 (Table 3.1.17.1) |
|---|---|---|
| Dining with tables and chairs | 15 sq ft net per person | 1.2 m² (12.9 sq ft) per person for dining space |
| Assembly, chairs only | 7 sq ft net | See the code |
| Standing space | 5 sq ft net | See the code |
| Space with non-fixed seats and tables | – | 0.95 m² (10.2 sq ft) |
| Lounges and reading rooms | Library reading rooms 50 sq ft net; lounges take the nearest listed use | 1.85 m² (19.9 sq ft) for reading or writing rooms and lounges |
| Business (offices) | 150 sq ft gross; 50 sq ft for concentrated business use | See the code |
A design can seat more people than the default occupant load if exits and washrooms are designed for the higher number and the building official approves it; the IBC allows up to 1 person per 7 sq ft of occupiable floor space this way (1004.5.1). Jurisdictions adopt different IBC editions, so check the one in force.
Hotel lobbies and lounges
- No code or manufacturer standard sets coffee table height or spacing in commercial lounges. Designers usually follow residential norms: tables 16–18" (41–46 cm) high, 14–18" (36–46 cm) from the seating.
- For working from lounge seating, a lounge-height table of about 26" (66 cm) works better than a coffee table.
- Keep accessible routes of 36" (ADA) or 1,000 mm (BC) through seating groups, and include some 28–34" surfaces if the lounge serves food or drink.
Planning figures, not code advice. Confirm requirements with the authority having jurisdiction.
