Quick Answer
For weddings of up to about 170 guests, a 24x30-inch acrylic seating chart is the right size. Between 171 and 325 guests, move up to a large 24x36 (to 225) or 24x47 (to 325) chart, a long linen chart, or a double sign that splits the list across two panels. Acrylic tops out at 24x47; linen can go longer.
The right size isn't about filling a wall. It's the size at which every name can be read by someone standing a few feet away, holding a drink, among a small crowd of other guests doing the same thing.
What size seating chart do you need for your guest count?
| Guests | Acrylic | Linen | Double (two panels) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Up to 170 | Standard chart, 24x30 | 24x51, 24x71 or 24x84 | Optional |
| 171 to 225 | Large chart, 24x36 | 24x51, 24x71 or 24x84 | Good choice |
| 226 to 325 | Large chart, 24x47 | 24x71 or 24x84 | Recommended |
| Over 325 | Email us | Longer linen on request | Email us |
We size every seating chart to its guest list, so you don't need to work this out alone. Choose your guest count when you order (or "uncertain" if you don't know yet), and we'll lay out the chart around your final list and send you a proof before anything is made.
What is the standard size for a wedding seating chart?
24x30 inches is our standard acrylic chart, and it comfortably fits a guest list of up to about 170. It sits well on a floor easel and reads clearly at eye level.
That said, most couples go bigger. Over the past year, our large and double seating charts outsold the standard size by about three to one. A larger chart gives each name more room, which matters more than people expect once guests gather around it.
What size seating chart for 150 guests?
At 150 guests, a 24x30 chart works, and a large 24x36 gives the names noticeably more breathing room. Choose the larger size if:
- your guests include older relatives who'll be reading from a step back
- the chart will stand outdoors in bright sun, or in a dim room
- you'd like a heading, a design element or your names at the top in addition to the list
- cocktail hour starts all at once, such as after a ceremony on site, so many guests arrive at the chart together
When should you choose linen or a double sign?
Acrylic's limit is 24x47 inches. It's the largest sheet we cut. For a bigger list or a more dramatic display, you have two good options.
Linen is 24 to 36 inches wide and can run almost any length. Our stock linen charts come in 24x51, 24x71 and 24x84, and we make longer pieces on request, so linen is the answer when a list outgrows acrylic.
A double sign puts your list on two panels, or a welcome on one panel and your seating chart on the other. It's the answer for big weddings, because two groups of guests can read at once instead of queueing for one board. Our double wedding seating charts spread lists of up to 325 across two panels.
If you'd rather build your own backdrop, large acrylic signs can be drilled so they mount to a wood frame you build on site.
Which background is easiest to read?
The one with the most contrast behind the names, because contrast matters as much as size at a distance.
- Clear acrylic shows whatever is behind it. Against greenery or a busy wall, choose a frosted, white or hand-painted background instead.
- Mirror acrylic is beautiful but reflects the room. Place it where it won't face a window or a bright light.
- Frosted, white, black and painted backgrounds give the most even contrast, and the names hold up in photos.
- Linen has a soft, matte texture with no shine, so it reads evenly in sun and in photos.
Lettering on our acrylic is UV printed in permanent ink. White and black are the colors couples choose most; pick whichever contrasts most with your background.
Where should the seating chart stand, and how high?
At the entrance to cocktail hour, with the middle of the list around eye level. We cover placement, and how to arrange the names, in Seating Chart: Alphabetical or by Table?
Frequently asked questions
How big should a wedding seating chart be?
A 24x30-inch chart suits weddings of up to about 170 guests. For 171 to 325 guests, choose a large 24x36 or 24x47 acrylic chart, a long linen chart, or a double sign that splits the list across two panels.
What is the standard size of a wedding seating chart?
24x30 inches is the standard acrylic size and fits up to about 170 guests. Many couples choose a larger 24x36 or 24x47 so names have more room.
What size seating chart do I need for 200 guests?
A large acrylic chart (24x36 or 24x47), a long linen chart, or a double seating chart. For 200 guests, a double sign also keeps the crowd at the chart moving.
What is the largest acrylic seating chart?
24x47 inches is the largest acrylic seating chart we make. For something bigger, choose linen, which can be made longer on request, or a double sign.
Do I need to know my guest count to order a seating chart?
No. Choose "uncertain" when you order and send your final list about four weeks before the wedding. We lay out the chart around your list and send a proof first.
Choose your seating chart in acrylic or linen now, and send the names when they're final.
Choose your seating chart
Acrylic or linen, sized to your guest count. Order now and send the names when they're final.
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