How much space will a booth take in your restaurant? How to choose dimensions so the room adds up

Ordering a booth usually starts with a photo in a catalogue and ends with a question nobody asked earlier: how many metres are actually needed for it to fit against the wall and still leave a walkway for the waiter. The furniture takes up space in two directions at once, along the wall and into the room, and the second one is most often overlooked.

Measure the wall, not the number of guests

Start by measuring the wall or recess where the booth is to stand, not the number of guests you want to seat. The length in linear metres translates into a number of seats only when you know whether you are planning a table for 2, 4 or 6.

At a typical table for four, where guests sit on one side on the booth, comfortable seating takes 1.2 to 1.5 linear metres. A room with five such tables along one wall means roughly 6 to 7.2 metres. We take orders from 1 linear metre.

How much of the room's depth a booth takes

The depth of our models ranges from 50 to 70 cm, depending on the model. That is the figure you subtract from the width of the room before you work out the walkway for the waiter and the space for the table.

The difference between 50 and 70 cm seems small until you place booths on both sides of a narrow room. Then it becomes 40 cm, roughly what a waiter needs to pass a guest getting up from the table. The seat height is 43 cm and the same across practically the whole range, so you choose the table top to suit that dimension.

We set the width of the walkway itself for the particular room, because it depends on the layout of the interior, guest turnover and whether the waiter serves the table from one side or both. It is one of the things we go through on the phone: +48 535 080 040.

Which backrest height for which room

The backrest height decides whether a booth divides the room or merely lines it. Models with a lower backrest, from 75 to 95 cm overall height, work in smaller rooms and where you do not want to cut up the space visually.

Higher backrests, from 100 to 120 cm, give guests a sense of privacy and separate neighbouring tables. They need more space overhead, though, especially with low ceilings or when the booth stands under a window.

How guest turnover affects the choice of model

Guest turnover decides whether comfort for two hours or the durability of the fabric matters more. Models such as Booth Monaco work for longer, calmer meals.

In a pub or pizzeria with high turnover it is the other way round. The fabric has to be easy to wipe, and the foam must not sag after months of intensive use. Every fabric we offer for venues has at least 40,000 Martindale cycles, and most of the range exceeds 100,000.

Why we divide furniture into modules

We build a long run of booth from modules, because otherwise it would not get into the venue. The standard module lengths are 1 metre and 1.2 metres, and the maximum we recommend is 1.4 linear metres.

That way the segments pass through standard doors and staircases, and the joints fall where they cannot be seen. When installing upstairs, this is usually the only constraint that really decides the construction of the furniture. We measure corner elements along the back, that is the outer edge of the backrest, and add them to the total length without a separate rate.

A booth as a room divider: Złota Bila in Blue City

With larger areas, booths organise the whole space. At Złota Bila in Blue City the furniture separates the playing area from the lounge and dining area.

What to send the manufacturer before the quote

Send the length of the wall, the width of the room and how many seats you want. Measuring the space takes a few minutes, and it saves you trouble when the booth you ordered turns out to be a dozen or so centimetres too long.

We agree the length, shape and corner elements individually for custom booths, fitted to the real layout of the room.

Frequently asked questions

How many linear metres does a table for four need?

From 1.2 to 1.5 metres, if guests sit on one side of the table and there are chairs on the other.

How much of the room's depth does a booth take?

From 50 to 70 cm, depending on the model. On top of that comes space for the table and the walkway, which we set for the particular room.

What is the seat height?

43 cm from the floor, the same across practically the whole range, so the table top is chosen to suit that dimension.

How long are the individual modules?

As standard 1 metre and 1.2 metres, and the maximum we recommend is 1.4 metres. That way they fit through standard doors and staircases.

Does a corner element cost more?

No. We measure it along the back and add it to the total length at the same price as a straight element.

Mariusz Wolski · owner of KAIZEN sp. z o.o. · in the furniture industry since 2005