Restaurant Booths Guide
Offering comfort and privacy in addition to more available room, booths are by far the preferred seating choice for most restaurant patrons. They are also a favorite choice with restaurant owners thanks in a large part to their space saving capabilities and vast customization options that allow booths to fit into any interior décor.
Fitting Your Booths in the Available Space
When calculating your booth size, you should first get a clear mental image of the total square footage of the booth you are considering by multiplying its length times the width. For example, a 10'x20' display would encompass 200 square feet. Allow roughly 40-50 square feet of space for each staff person you will have.
Knowing the standard booth dimensions and shapes makes creating a layout much easier. This means you will be able to increase your restaurant’s profits by maximizing the number of guests you can serve at the same time. Booths can be made in any size you like but there are industry standards. The generally accepted standard lengths are 24", 30", 44", 48" and 60". It is very easy to find restaurant tables that correspond with these booth sizes. The standard booth seat height is 18". You also have to take into consideration the comfort of your customers when choosing commercial booths and positioning them in your layout.
Shapes and Dimensions
Booths come in a variety of shapes and sizes to help you make the most of your interior. For your convenience we have listed and diagramed the shapes they come in and their main use:
Smaller than a regular single booth the deuce single comfortable sits one person and is commonly used in wall niches and recess where there is no room for a two persons seat or in areas where a regular booth might impede servers and customers walking by.
Used in locations with limited space the deuce double booth sits two people back to back from each other and is commonly paired with a deuce single or a regular single booth on each side, depending on the available space.
With a wood or padded seat on one side and a flat back on the other they are usually used at the end of an aisle of booths or against a wall.
Basically they are single booths built back-to-back (the back is shared between the two) in an aisle. This is a common booth configuration that can comfortably seat up to 4 people. Many couples prefer this because it offers much desired privacy and there is room to put a coat or a handbag on the seat.
If you want to add a more upscale look to your location and provide your guests with fun and intimate seating the half circle booths are the way to go. Standard dimensions are 48” x 90” x 48” and they easily accommodate 4 - 6 people.
This booth setup is perfect if you have booths along two walls with a shared corner. Elegant and comfortable, the three quarters circle booth will allow you to utilize every available space to its maximum. Standard dimensions are 48” x 90” x 48”. Can accommodate 8-10 people and is great for large parties.
L shape or corner booths are, by their definition, used in corners and custom made to fit any wall length you need. They can often be seen at corners where at least one wall has wall benches along its length.
Also called split booth it is basicallly a single booth in varied lenghts that is paired with chairs and tables on the other side providing greater flexibility when tables need to be moved around or joided together for larger parties while still saving floor space.
Styles
With a plain back and laminate base in a reclaimed wood look the SH Reclaimed Style booth is one of the most popular choices for restaurants with rustic interior designs. The weathered wood look fits in perfectly in country style restaurants, steak houses and southern cuisines.
With a channeled back and padded seat upholstered in one colored vinyl you can create a booth that ads an air of sophistication to your restaurant. Combine your booths with solid wood tables for an upscale looking, comfortable dining area.
The classic look of the button tufted back is a great choice for retro interiors. Simply choose the booth shape you want, add the desired upholstery for your back and seat to make it fit in with the rest of your restaurant furniture and style.
A great way to maximize seating space in small locations while also adding comfortable seating that your customers will enjoy. Just choose the back style and back and seat upholstery option to make the booths fit into any restaurant interior design.
Provide your customers with a comfortable seating area while they are waiting for a table. With a commercial grade, thick padding and vinyl upholstery in a wide selection of colors and textures these waiting benches will not look out of place in any setting.
More than just a novelty, bar height booths are a great way to add comfort while utilizing every and any available space in bars, pubs and restaurants with bar seating. With a choice of wood or metal legs or a padded base, your bar height booths will become a favorite sport for your customers in no time.
Choosing the Right Booth for Your Restaurant
Booths are a great seating option to maximize floor space and provide deluxe seating for your guests as well as creating less traffic and by eliminating the need for servers to walk around all four sides of a table. The decision to choose a wall bench, corner booth, double booth or any other configuration depends on your restaurant’s layout, available floor space and interior design.
Another important point to think about when laying out your booth positions is where they will be relative to doors, hallways and other entrances or exits. If your restaurant is located in an area where it’s especially windy, cold or rainy, you don’t want a booth too close to the doors leading outside. Similarly, positioning them too near to the restrooms means people will have other guests passing by them throughout their meal.
Booth Terminology
Once you have your seating layour ready and you chose your booths' style, shape, size and color scheme it's time to order them. But just before you place your order here are a few booth terms you should get familiar with that will make ordering even easier:
- Top ends and caps: These are placed on the sides to cover the booth’s frame. They come upholstered as standard or can be upgraded to be laminated or solid wood caps.
- Booth head roll: The head roll is ergonomically designed for extra cushioned head support and is made with the same vinyl you for the booth’s back upholstery.
- Logo placement: Whether it is for corporate branding or just to enhance your interior design, a logo can be printed in the center of the booth’s padded back.
- Crumb strip: A Crumb Strip is a 1.5” strip of trim between the back and seat of your booth that can be added to certain models.
- Welt cord: A welt cord is simply a fabric covered cord that follows the seam of a booth cushion and other padded, upholstered furniture giving upholstery a more finished and tailored look. The two types of welt cords are a self-welt & a contrasting welt.