What counts as sitting next to each other?

In classroom rows, side-by-side seats not split by an aisle and seats directly in front or behind count as neighbors. In a U-shape it’s the seats next to each other along the U; at a conference table, seats beside each other and directly opposite. At round tables everyone at the same table counts, so keep-apart pairs end up at different tables.

What happens if the rules can’t all be met?

Obvious contradictions are reported first: a pair that must be both together and apart, someone who needs more neighbors than any seat has, a keep-together group bigger than a table, or two locked people who already break a rule. Otherwise the solver searches for an arrangement that satisfies everything and lists any rule it still couldn’t meet, so you can adjust the list, layout or locks.

How do I rotate seats every week?

Click Shift right one column to move everyone one seat to the right within their row (the last seat wraps to the first), or Move forward one row to bring each column forward (the front row moves to the back). Locked seats stay put. With round tables, moving forward sends each person to the same spot at the next table.

What is the random seed for?

The same list, layout, rules and seed always produce the same chart, so you can keep a record or reproduce it on another computer. Shuffle again picks a new seed for a different result, or you can type a seed yourself.

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💺Seating Chart Maker - Random Classroom & Table Seating, Free

New term, weekly seat changes, tall students blocking the board, and two kids who must never sit together? Pick a layout — classroom rows with aisles, a U-shape, round tables or a conference table — and paste your list, one person per line with optional gender, height and tags, e.g. “Liam, M, 138, front”. Arrange randomly with a reproducible seed, by height with shorter people in front, or boy–girl alternating, and add keep-apart and keep-together pairs; the solver satisfies the rules where possible and lists exactly which ones can’t be met, such as contradictions, too few neighbors or not enough seats. Lock anyone to a seat, drag names to swap, and rotate the whole room one column or one row each week. Set a title and front label, flip to the teacher’s view, color by gender, then print or export a PNG. Your list stays in this browser.

Free · No sign-up · Runs in your browserLast updated: 2026-10-26

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How to use Seating Chart Maker

1Choose a layout (rows, U-shape, round tables or conference) and set the number of seats
2Paste names with optional gender, height and tags, pick a strategy and add rules
3Click Arrange, fine-tune by dragging or locking seats, then print or export a PNG

FAQ

What counts as sitting next to each other?: In classroom rows, side-by-side seats not split by an aisle and seats directly in front or behind count as neighbors. In a U-shape it’s the seats next to each other along the U; at a conference table, seats beside each other and directly opposite. At round tables everyone at the same table counts, so keep-apart pairs end up at different tables.
What happens if the rules can’t all be met?: Obvious contradictions are reported first: a pair that must be both together and apart, someone who needs more neighbors than any seat has, a keep-together group bigger than a table, or two locked people who already break a rule. Otherwise the solver searches for an arrangement that satisfies everything and lists any rule it still couldn’t meet, so you can adjust the list, layout or locks.
How do I rotate seats every week?: Click Shift right one column to move everyone one seat to the right within their row (the last seat wraps to the first), or Move forward one row to bring each column forward (the front row moves to the back). Locked seats stay put. With round tables, moving forward sends each person to the same spot at the next table.
What is the random seed for?: The same list, layout, rules and seed always produce the same chart, so you can keep a record or reproduce it on another computer. Shuffle again picks a new seed for a different result, or you can type a seed yourself.