Cover Calculator

How this tool works

Enter your table layout, the average dining time per cover, and the service periods you operate each day. The tool calculates your maximum theoretical covers per service, per day and per week, and estimates your revenue potential.

Table Layout
Table Type No. of Tables Seats per Table Total Seats
Service Settings
Avg time per cover at table
Table reset between covers
Realistic fill rate per turn
For revenue potential calculation
Service Periods

Theoretical vs Actual Capacity

This tool calculates your theoretical maximum capacity. In practice, covers will always be lower due to uneven party sizes, last-minute cancellations, no-shows and the impracticality of seating parties of 3 at a table of 4. An occupancy rate of 75–85% is realistic for a well-run busy service.

Table Turns

A table turn is one complete cycle of a table being occupied, dined and reset. If your dining time is 75 minutes and turnaround is 15 minutes, each cycle is 90 minutes. A 2-hour (120-minute) service gives you 1.33 turns per table — meaning most tables turn once and roughly a third turn twice.

Optimising Covers

The most effective ways to increase covers without adding space are: reducing dining time (e.g. through faster service or pre-set menus), reducing turnaround time (pre-set tables, efficient clearing), extending service periods, and optimising table configuration to minimise wasted seats (fewer large tables, more flexible configurations).

Revenue Potential

The revenue potential figure multiplies your theoretical daily covers by your average spend per head. This is a planning estimate — combine it with your break-even analysis to understand what cover count you need to achieve your financial targets.

This calculator provides theoretical maximum capacity estimates. Actual covers achieved will vary. JWBIZ Ltd accepts no liability for operational decisions made on the basis of this tool.