How many people fit in a conference room?
Room capacity depends on the layout. A boardroom with a central table needs about 25 square feet per person including the table and the space to pull out chairs. U-shapes need more because of the empty middle; classroom rows with tables need about 20 sq ft, and theater seating with chairs only around 10 – 12 sq ft. Always check the occupancy limit set by your local fire code, which may be lower.
| Room type | Size | Seats | Typical AV |
|---|
| Huddle room | 80 – 150 sq ft | 2 – 5 | 50 – 55" display, all-in-one video bar |
| Small meeting room | 150 – 250 sq ft | 6 – 8 | 65 – 75" display, video bar |
| Medium conference room | 250 – 400 sq ft | 10 – 14 | 75 – 86" or dual displays, ceiling mics |
| Boardroom | 400 – 700 sq ft | 14 – 24 | Dual 86 – 98", PTZ cameras, DSP audio |
| Training room | 600 sq ft + | 20 + | Laser projector or LED wall, lectern mic |
Choosing the display size
The AVIXA DISCAS standard links image size to the farthest viewer. For basic viewing – slides, video and people on a call – the image height should be at least one sixth of the distance to the farthest seat. For detailed content such as spreadsheets, use one quarter. Because a 16:9 display's height is about 49 % of its diagonal, you can turn the minimum height into a minimum screen size.
Minimum image height = farthest viewer distance ÷ 6 (basic) or ÷ 4 (detailed)
In hybrid rooms many organizations use two displays: one for remote participants' faces and one for shared content.
Cameras for video conferencing
A camera must capture everyone at the table from the front of the room. Small rooms suit all-in-one video bars with a 90 – 120° field of view. Long boardrooms need PTZ (pan-tilt-zoom) cameras with auto-framing or speaker tracking. Mount the camera at eye level close to the display so people appear to look at the remote audience.
Microphones, speakers and acoustics
Video bars pick up voices well up to about 12 – 15 feet. Beyond that, add table or ceiling microphones – roughly one microphone zone per 150 – 250 sq ft – and a digital signal processor (DSP) for echo cancellation. Soft surfaces matter: carpet, acoustic ceiling tiles and wall panels reduce reverberation. Glass walls and bare concrete make even expensive microphones sound poor.
Network and power
- Budget about 4 Mbps for the room's outgoing HD video and 1 – 2 Mbps per incoming participant.
- Use wired Ethernet for the video system; give it its own VLAN and QoS.
- Provide table power and USB-C or wireless presentation so guests can share in seconds.
- Add a room scheduling panel outside the door to stop double bookings.
Frequently asked questions
How big should a conference room be for 10 people?
Allow about 25 – 30 sq ft per person for a boardroom table: roughly 250 – 300 sq ft (23 – 28 m²), e.g. 20 × 14 ft.
What size TV for a conference room?
Divide the distance to the farthest seat by six to get the minimum image height. A 20 ft deep room usually needs a 75 – 86 inch display.
Where should the conference camera go?
At eye level, directly above or below the main display, centered on the table.
How many microphones does a meeting room need?
Small rooms can rely on a video bar. Larger rooms need about one table or ceiling microphone zone per 150 – 250 sq ft.
How much bandwidth for video conferencing?
Plan around 4 Mbps for the room's HD video plus 1 – 2 Mbps for each remote participant, in both directions.
About MeetRoom
MeetRoom is an independent, free planning calculator for meeting rooms, boardrooms and training rooms. It applies common space-planning and AV design guidelines. We are not an AV integrator or equipment vendor.
Every formula on this page runs entirely in your web browser. The numbers you type are never uploaded, stored or shared. Our goal is simple: give you an honest starting point so you can compare product specifications with confidence and avoid paying for capacity you do not need – or buying something too small to do the job.
The methodology combines widely published engineering rules of thumb, manufacturer data sheets and the electrical code practices that installers use every day. We review the assumptions regularly and update the calculator when typical product specifications change.
Privacy Policy
Last updated: October 28, 2026
This Privacy Policy explains how MeetRoom ("we", "us") handles information when you visit this website. By using the site you agree to this policy.
Information we collect
We do not require registration and we do not ask for your name, address or payment details. Values entered into the calculator are processed locally in your browser and are not transmitted to our servers. Like most websites, our hosting provider may automatically record standard server log data such as IP address, browser type, referring page and time of visit for security and performance purposes.
Cookies and advertising
We use Google AdSense to show advertisements that keep this tool free. Third-party vendors, including Google, use cookies to serve ads based on a user's prior visits to this website or other websites. Google's use of advertising cookies enables it and its partners to serve ads to users based on their visit to this site and/or other sites on the Internet. You may opt out of personalized advertising by visiting Google Ads Settings, or opt out of some third-party vendors' use of cookies for personalized advertising at www.aboutads.info. To learn more, see How Google uses information from sites or apps that use its services.
Visitors from the European Economic Area, the United Kingdom and Switzerland are shown a consent message powered by a Google-certified consent management platform, where you can accept, reject or manage cookie choices. You can change your choices at any time from the privacy link displayed by that message. Some visitors may also be offered the option to view a short ad or complete another offer in exchange for access to the content; this choice is provided by Google and is entirely optional where alternatives are offered.
Analytics
We may use privacy-friendly, aggregated statistics to understand which features are used. These statistics do not identify you personally.
Your rights
Depending on where you live (for example under the GDPR or the CCPA/CPRA), you may have the right to access, correct or delete personal data and to object to certain processing. Because we do not keep personal data from the calculator, most requests can be handled by clearing cookies in your browser. For any other request, contact us at the address above.
Children
This site is intended for a general adult audience and is not directed at children under 13. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children.
Changes to this policy
We may update this policy from time to time. The date at the top of this section shows when it was last revised.
Terms of Use & Disclaimer
The calculator and articles on this website are provided free of charge for general information and educational purposes only. Results are estimates based on typical values and simplifying assumptions; real-world performance depends on the specific product, installation, climate, wiring and how you use your equipment.
Nothing on this site is professional engineering, electrical or financial advice. Always follow the manufacturer's instructions and local electrical codes, and have permanent installations, transfer switches and grid-connected systems designed and installed by a licensed electrician or qualified installer. Never operate fuel-burning generators indoors or in enclosed spaces – carbon monoxide can kill within minutes.
The site is provided "as is" without warranties of any kind. To the fullest extent permitted by law, MeetRoom is not liable for any loss or damage arising from the use of, or reliance on, the information or results provided. Product and brand names mentioned belong to their respective owners and are used for identification only. You may use the calculator for personal and commercial purposes, but you may not copy or republish the site content without permission.
MeetRoom