A successful group meeting begins with a successful group space in which to meet. When people are uncomfortable, they are prone to making quicker decisions in order to end their discomfort. This reasoning is a large part of why our judicial system goes to great lengths to avoid sequestering juries. Feeling trapped in a crowded room is a poor use of valuable meeting time with your organization's key players.
Knowing how to measure, space, and choose the right table size for the room is essential when designing a conference room. Additional creature comforts relating to temperature and amenities can help prepare a conference room for any meeting.
How to Measure a Conference Room:
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Sketch a floor plan of the room. The drawing does not have to be perfectly scaled. However, the more accurate it is, the more useful for planning the space. Include all windows, doorways, and areas involved in your project.
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Measure the room. You will need to measure each individual side of the room’s perimeter. Work your way around the room’s perimeter with a measuring tape, recording the length of each side of the room.
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Measure the length and width of doors, fixtures, and windows. Record the length and width of any doors or windows on your drawing, as well as any clearance needed for doors and windows to open fully. When measuring, first measure the width of the door or window. Then measure from the edge of the window to a perpendicular wall.
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Add electrical outlets. Mark your outlets for the space on the floor plan. For outlets located in places other than a wall, measure from the nearest perpendicular wall to the outlet and record the measurement on the floor plan. Add measurements for breaker boxes, columns, or any other unmovable objects to the floor plan.
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Measure the height of the ceiling. Record this measurement in the margin of the floor plan.
Design Standards for Conference Room Spacing:
Conference Table Seating:
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30″ side-to-side minimum of personal space per chair
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36” minimum of personal space per chair if participants are expected to have computers or other personal materials
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42” minimum of personal space per chair when social distancing protocols are in place
Visual Displays:
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56″ between the table and visual display board
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TV or monitor viewing at 30 to 45 degrees from the center of the screen
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24″ to 30″ minimum clearance for presenting material on a wall while standing
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Cabinets and Storage:
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36″ minimum clearance for lower cabinets, shelves, bookcases, and other furniture that require bending to access
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72″ between table and wall for 24″-deep storage towers and credenzas
Conference Room Design Standards for Table-to-Room Size Ratio
Accessible Table-to-Room Size Ratio:
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68” of space to allow a wheelchair to pass between the wall and back of the chairs
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32″ of space to allow someone to stand up from the table
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36” of space for a wheelchair-accessible path between the chair back and the wall
Comfortable Table-to-Room Size Ratio:
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56″ of space to walk between the wall and chair back
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32″ of space to allow someone to stand up from the table
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24″ walking path between the chair back and the wall
Minimum Table-to-Room Size Ratio:
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Minimum 48″ to walk sideways between wall and chair back
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32″ of space to allow someone to stand up from the table
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16″ sideways walking path between the chair back and the wall
Choose a Conference Table to Fit Your Room:
4–6 Seats
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Table Size: 72″ (6′) L x 48″ (4’) W
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Accessible Room Size: 17’ 4” x 15’ 4”
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Comfortable Room Size: 15′ 4″ x 13′ 4″
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Minimum Room Size: 14′ x 12′
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Table Size: 84″ (7′) L x 48″ (4’) W
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Accessible Room Size: 18’ 4” x 15’ 4”
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Comfortable Room Size: 16′ 4″ x 13′ 4″
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Minimum Room Size: 15′ x 12′
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6–8 Seats
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Table Size: 96″ (8′) L x 48″ (4’) W
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Accessible Room Size: 19’ 4” x 15’ 4”
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Comfortable Room Size: 17′ 4″ x 13′ 4″
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Minimum Room Size: 16′ x 12′
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8–10 Seats
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Table Size: 120″ (10′) L x 48″ (4’) W
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Accessible Room Size: 21’ 4” x 15’ 4”
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Comfortable Room Size: 19′ 4″ x 13′ 4″
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Minimum Room Size: 18′ x 12′
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Table Size: 120″ (10′) L x 58″ W
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Accessible Room Size: 21’.4” x 16’ 2”
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Comfortable Room Size: 19′ 4″ x 14′ 2″
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Minimum Room Size: 18′ x 12′ 10″
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10–12 Seats
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Table Size: 144″ (12′) L x 48″ W
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Accessible Room Size: 23’ 4” x 15’ 4”
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Comfortable Room Size: 21′ 4″ x 13′ 4″
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Minimum Room Size: 20′ x 12′
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Table Size: 150″ (12.5′) L x 48″ W
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Accessible Room Size: 23’ 10” x 15’ 4”
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Comfortable Room Size: 21′ 10″ x 13′ 4″
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Minimum Room Size: 21′ x 12′
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Table Size: 144″ (12′) L x 58″ W
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Accessible Room Size: 23’ 4” x 16’ 2”
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Comfortable Room Size: 21′ 4″ x 14′ 2″
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Minimum Room Size: 20′ x 12′ 10″
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Table Size: 150″ (12.5′) L x 58″ W
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Accessible Room Size: 25’ 4” x 16’ 2”
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Comfortable Room Size: 22′ 4″ x 14′ 2″
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Minimum Room Size: 21′ x 12′ 10″
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12–14 Seats
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Table Size: 168″ (14′) L x 48″ W
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Accessible Room Size: 25’ 4” x 15’ 4”
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Comfortable Room Size: 23′ 4″ x 13′ 4″
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Minimum Room Size: 22′ x 12
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Table Size: 168″ (14′) L x 58″ W
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Accessible Room Size: 25’ 4” x 16’ 2”
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Comfortable Room Size: 23′ 4″ x 14′ 2″
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Minimum Room Size: 22 x 12′ 10″
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Table Size: 180″ (15′) L x 58″ W
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Accessible Room Size: 26’ 4” x 16’ 2”
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Comfortable Room Size: 24′ 4″ x 14′ 2″
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Minimum Room Size: 23′ x 12′ 10″
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14–16 Seats
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Table Size: 192″ (16′) L x 58″ W
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Accessible Room Size: 27’ 4” x 16’ 2”
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Comfortable Room Size: 25′ 4″ x 14′ 2″
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Minimum Room Size: 24′ x 12′ 10″
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18–20 Seats
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Table Size: 240″ (20′) L x 58″ W
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Accessible Room Size: 31’ 4” x 16’ 2”
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Comfortable Room Size: 29′ 4″ x 14′ 2″
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Minimum Room Size: 28′ x 12′ 10″
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22–24 Seats
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Table Size: 288″ (24′) L x 58″ W
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Accessible Room Size: 35’ 4” x 16’ 2”
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Comfortable Room Size: 33′ 4″ x 14′ 2″
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Minimum Room Size: 32′ x 12′ 10″
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Temperature and Amenities
Each human added to your conference room will raise the temperature in the room by some amount. Large windows can also account for temperature swings from morning to afternoon. Having temperature-regulating window coverings can be very beneficial.
Having ice water, coffee, and tea on hand in the conference room can help people regulate their internal temperatures when the room temperature fluctuates. Having hand sanitizer, lotion, tissues, allergy-free snacks, and headache medications easily accessible in the conference room can also help keep your guests comfortable and ready to tackle anything.
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