Rules of Thumb: How Much Space Does Your Startup Restaurant Really Need?

You will encounter many "rules of thumb" to guide you when determining the amount of space you need for your overall restaurant and for allocating space within your restaurant. While these formulas may point you in the right direction, every restaurant is different and these percentages, as you can see from the chart below, vary greatly.

It will be worthwhile to develop a conceptual plan for a potential space before committing to the lease or purchase to ensure that the space works for you. Additionally, local building code requirements, general circulation, access and egress and Americans with Disabilities Act requirements may significantly affect these figures.

With that disclaimer, here is a chart based on some different restaurant types that may serve as a planning guide.