The amount of space needed per person sitting varies by context and comfort level, but general guidelines range from 15 to 25 square feet per seated person for most indoor environments. For casual seating areas like lounges or waiting rooms, 15–18 square feet is typical. For more comfortable arrangements with personal space around chairs, 20–25 square feet is standard. In dining settings, roughly 10–15 square feet per person often suffices since chairs are more compact and people occupy vertical rather than horizontal space. For conference rooms and boardrooms, 20–30 square feet per seated person is common to allow room for tables, movement, and comfort. Theater-style seating, where people sit densely packed without tables, can use as little as 5–7 square feet per person. Workspace design typically allocates 50–75 square feet per employee total (including desk and circulation), though seated workspace alone might occupy 15–20 square feet. The variation depends on the activity—people need less space in a theater than in a corporate meeting where they need elbow room at a table. Building codes and accessibility standards also influence minimums; ADA compliance generally requires wider spacing to accommodate wheelchairs and mobility. Climate control, safety regulations, and the duration of occupancy (brief vs. extended periods) further affect practical spacing recommendations.