As a rule of thumb, allow 6–7 square metres per 6-seater pub bench seating unit, including circulation space. That means a 50 m² beer garden comfortably fits 6–7 benches and seats around 36–42 covers. Push beyond that and your staff cannot move between tables, customers feel cramped, and your garden stops being a place people want to sit.
Here is how to calculate the right number for your space.
The quick rule of thumb
For a quick estimate before measuring anything:
Usable garden area (m²) ÷ 6.5 = number of 6-seater benches
This accounts for the bench footprint plus the circulation space around it. It is conservative, which is deliberate - a slightly spacious beer garden earns more per cover than a packed one, because people stay longer and order more.
If you are using 8-seater benches, divide by 9 instead. For 4-seaters, divide by 4.5.
Covers per bench size
Different bench sizes give you different cover counts per unit of floor space:
| Bench size | Covers | Bench footprint | Circulation needed | Total space per bench | |-----------|--------|----------------|--------------------|----------------------| | 4-seater | 4 | 1.4 m x 1.5 m | 0.9 m each side | ~4.5 m² | | 6-seater | 6 | 1.7 m x 1.5 m | 0.9 m each side | ~6.5 m² | | 8-seater | 8 | 2.2 m x 1.6 m | 0.9 m each side | ~9.0 m² | | Round 6-seater | 6 | 1.5 m diameter | 0.9 m all round | ~7.0 m² |
The circulation space (0.9 m minimum behind each bench seat) is not optional. It is where people walk past, staff carry trays, and customers swing their legs over the seat to sit down. Drop below 0.9 m and the garden feels congested. 1.2 m is more comfortable for a main service route.
Space planning: pub bench seating vs circulation
The most common mistake in beer garden layout is treating the entire area as seating space. In practice, you need to carve out:
| Space type | % of total area | Purpose | |-----------|----------------|---------| | Seating (bench footprints) | 40–50% | Benches and the immediate space they occupy | | Circulation | 30–35% | Paths between tables, service routes, access to doors and toilets | | Buffer / feature | 15–25% | Planters, smoking area, parasol clearance, bin access, step clearance |
A 50 m² garden with 50% seating gives you roughly 25 m² of bench space. At 2.5 m² per 6-seater footprint (bench only, no circulation), that is 10 bench footprints - but once you add the required circulation, you are back to 6–7 benches total. The maths always lands in the same range.
Worked example: a typical beer garden
Let us say you have a 60 m² rectangular beer garden - 10 m long by 6 m wide.
Step 1: Remove non-seating space
- Main service path from the door: 1.2 m wide x 10 m long = 12 m²
- Smoking area in the corner: 2 m x 2 m = 4 m²
- Planter along the back wall: 0.5 m x 6 m = 3 m²
Usable seating area: 60 - 12 - 4 - 3 = 41 m²
Step 2: Calculate bench count Using 6-seater benches at 6.5 m² each: 41 ÷ 6.5 = 6 benches (rounded down)
Step 3: Total covers 6 benches x 6 seats = 36 covers
Step 4: Sense-check the layout Arrange the 6 benches in the remaining space. Two rows of three, with the service path running between them, works well in a 10 m x 6 m rectangle. Each bench sits perpendicular to the long wall, with 0.9 m clearance on each side.
If you want more covers, you could swap two of the 6-seaters for 8-seaters. That adds 4 covers but uses more floor space per bench - check the layout still works before committing.
For a fuller guide to choosing bench types for trade, see our pub and beer garden trade guide. If you need larger benches, our large bench guide covers 8-seater and 10-seater options.
Frequently asked questions
How many covers can I fit in a 50 m² beer garden?
Using 6-seater pub garden benches and allowing proper circulation space, a 50 m² beer garden typically fits 6–7 benches for 36–42 covers. Using 8-seaters increases covers per bench but reduces the total number of benches due to their larger footprint.
How much space should I leave between pub benches?
Allow a minimum of 90 cm behind each bench seat for customer access, and 120 cm for main service routes where staff carry trays. This circulation space is essential for comfort and safe movement - cramped layouts reduce dwell time and spend per head.
Should I use 6-seater or 8-seater benches?
Six-seater benches give you the best balance of covers per square metre and layout flexibility. Eight-seaters seat more people per bench but need significantly more floor space each, so you fit fewer of them. Use 6-seaters as your default and 8-seaters only where the layout has room.
How do I calculate pub garden capacity for licensing?
Licensing capacity is usually based on the total outdoor area and local authority guidelines, not just seating. However, your seating layout directly affects the practical number of covers you can serve. Measure your usable area, subtract circulation and non-seating zones, and divide by the space per bench from the table above.
Let us plan your layout
Send us your beer garden dimensions and we will suggest a bench layout with cover counts. Every pub bench is built to order from C24 construction-grade timber in our Chelmsford workshop, with delivery across Essex and beyond. Browse our pub and trade benches for specifications and sizes.
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