Learn SeatPlan · Create a table

Create a table.
In less than a minute.

Drag. Drop. Done. Build your first table right now — no signup, no learning curve, no spreadsheet. This page walks you through every tool you’ll touch on the way.

Start designing freeSee how it works

SeatPlan.io is a free drag-and-drop seating chart designer. Tables, chair rows, and special areas like stages and dance floors all live on one canvas — you add an element from the toolbar, drop it where it belongs, and seats arrange themselves automatically. This tutorial covers the whole flow, from your first table to sharing seats with guests.

The walkthrough · Five short steps

Drag. Drop. Done.

Five easy steps — watch them happen below, then try them live in the free designer.

Watch the flow. Round table dropped in, seats set to 10, renamed — the exact five steps above, in real UI. Animated demo with sample data.

  1. Step 1

    Open the designer

    Head to the free designer. The canvas is ready immediately — no account, no onboarding, no spreadsheet.

  2. Step 2

    Drop in a table

    Click Round Table in the toolbar and hit Add Round Table. A round eight-seater lands on the canvas, ready to drag anywhere.

  3. Step 3

    Pick a shape

    Round or rectangular — both live in the toolbar. Seats follow the shape automatically: evenly spaced around a round table, or along each edge of a rectangular one.

  4. Step 4

    Set the seats

    Select the table and tap its pencil control to open Edit Table. Round tables have a single Number of Seats stepper; rectangular tables let you set seats per side. Two seats or two hundred — there’s no hard cap.

  5. Step 5

    Name it

    In the same Edit Table popover, type into Table Name — “Family”, “Head Table”, “M1” — and save. The label is yours to customise.

  6. That’s it

    One table down. The rest of your venue works exactly the same way.

    Try it now

Keep learning · One tool per lesson

Your table is the start

Every other tool in the designer has its own short animated lesson. Pick up where this one leaves off, or browse all lessons.

The fine print · Questions we get a lot

Quick answers, before you start

Do I need an account to use SeatPlan?

No. Open the designer and start dragging tables right away — the full designer is free with no signup. You only need an account (and a plan) when you want to save your chart, share it, or come back to it later.

How long does it take to build a seating chart?

Your first table takes under a minute. A full chart for 200 guests typically takes 15–30 minutes once you've imported your guest list from CSV or Excel.

Is there a limit on how many tables or seats I can create?

No hard cap. The designer scales from an intimate dinner to weddings, corporate galas, and conference banquets with hundreds of tables on a single canvas.

Can I export my seating chart as a PDF?

PDF export is included on paid plans, along with saving your work, guest-list Excel export, and printable name tags. The free designer lets you build the full layout first and upgrade only when you're ready to export or save.

What do the paid plans add on top of the free designer?

Saving your chart, PDF and Excel exports, printable name tags, real-time collaboration with up to 2 people on Collaborate, the guest QR seat finder, and version history. Event Manager adds unlimited events, reusable templates, and to-scale layouts for professionals.

See all FAQs

Now seating · Your event

Take it from here

You’ve read the tutorial — the first table takes less time than this page did. The full designer is free, no signup.

Start designing free