The bar is the front of the room. Each box is a desk, and the mark beside it is the chair.
Press Seat my class like this under any plan. The chart at the top of the page takes that shape and keeps your names.
Pods of 4 5
8 pods of 4 in 2 columns32 seats
5 across and 11 deep, for a long narrow room. Only 8 of the 32 sit in a front pod.
5 pods of 4, staggered 3 and 220 seats
10 across and 5 deep. 2 back pods sit behind the gaps: no desk between them and the board.
6 pods of 424 seats
8 across and 5 deep. 12 of the 24 sit in a front pod, so a long front list fits.
7 pods of 4, staggered 2, 3 and 228 seats
10 across and 8 deep. Pods in a row stand 2 desk-widths apart, but only 8 sit in front.
9 pods of 436 seats
8 across and 8 deep, the largest class here: 36. The middle pod has a pod on every side.
Pods of 3 3
6 pods of 318 seats
8 across and 5 deep for 18. Pair work leaves 1 over in every pod, so set tasks for threes.
7 pods of 321 seats
11 across and 5 deep. 21 divides evenly by 3 and by no other pod size from 3 to 6.
9 pods of 327 seats
8 across and 8 deep, the same square as 9 pods of 4. It trades 9 seats for smaller groups.
Pods of 5 and 6 2
4 pods of 624 seats
5 across and 7 deep: 24 students at only 4 tables. Plan work a pod can split between 2 threes.
7 pods of 535 seats
11 across and 7 deep. 35 divides by 5 and not by 3, 4 or 6: its only even split.
Mixed pods for classes that 4 does not divide 8
4 pods of 4 and 1 pod of 319 seats
8 across and 5 deep, for 19. A pod in each front corner leaves 4 desk-widths of floor between them.
4 pods of 4 and 2 pods of 322 seats
5 across and 8 deep, for 22. 5 fours leave 2 over, so both back pods seat 3 instead.
5 pods of 4 and 1 pod of 323 seats
8 across and 5 deep, for 23: 6 pods of 4 less 1 desk in the back right pod.
4 pods of 4 and 3 pods of 325 seats
11 across and 5 deep, for 25: 4 fours in front and 3 threes behind, so nobody sits alone.
5 pods of 4 and 2 pods of 326 seats
10 across and 8 deep, for 26, around open floor 6 desk-widths wide. Both back corner pods seat 3.
6 pods of 4 and 1 pod of 529 seats
11 across and 6 deep, for 29. The 29th desk sits across the back end of the last pod.
7 pods of 4 and 1 pod of 533 seats
11 across and 6 deep, for 33. The 33rd desk faces the board at the back right, nobody behind it.
7 pods of 4 and 2 pods of 334 seats
8 across and 8 deep, for 34: a square of 9 pods where the 2 back corner pods seat 3.
How this list was compiled: Arrangements and desk plans drawn for this site. Every plan was checked on 2026-09-19: the rows of a plan are the same length, the desks add up to the seat count given, desks that belong to different pods never touch, corners included, and the 3 plans that open as the chart's own Pods of 4 room match it desk for desk. The arithmetic quoted on the page (a class of 4 times k plus 1, 2 or 3 students; 21 divides only by 3 and 35 only by 5 among pod sizes 3 to 6) was worked out twice. No measurements, desk sizes or research findings are quoted. Licence: own work
How it works
A pod seating arrangement pushes 3 to 6 desks together, side-on to the board. These 18 drawn plans cover classes of 18 to 36, with mixed pods of 3, 4 and 5 for the sizes 4 does not divide.
Read the full guide
Pick pod sizes from your class size
Divide the class by 4. Nothing over: all fours. 3 over: make 1 pod of 3. 2 over: make 2 pods of 3. 1 over: trade 2 fours for 3 threes, or add a fifth desk to 1 pod.
Seat your class in the pods
The chart opens on 8 pods of 4 with a made-up class. Paste your class onto the chart and the room resizes, 2 pods per row, with spare seats in the last pod: 23 names give 5 pods of 4 and 1 pod of 3. If a whole pod would stand empty, the chart offers a closer plan. For pods of 3, 5 or 6, or mixed pods, press Seat my class like this under that plan below.
Front-row students fill the first row of pods: 8 seats at 2 pods per row, 12 at 3.
Add a Keep apart pair under the chart and the two are seated in different pods wherever seats allow.
For table points, number the pods by hand on the printed chart, front left to back right.
Questions and answers
How many students should be in a pod?
Start with 4: a pod of 4 splits into 2 pairs, and every desk touches the other 3. Use pods of 3 for closer work, and pods of 5 or 6 only when you want fewer tables to visit.
Can students in pods see the board?
Yes, when the pods are side-on. In every plan here a desk faces across its pod or towards the board, and none faces away, so students turn their heads and not their chairs to see you.
How do I arrange 30 desks in pods?
8 pods of 4 in 2 columns seats 30 with 2 spare seats in the back right pod. For 6 pods of 4 and 2 pods of 3, or 5 groups of 6, see the seating arrangements for 30 students.