Seating chart template: rows of desks (free printable)
A landscape seating chart with desks in rows, the board across the top, and your desk and the door marked. Choose the columns and rows, print and write names in pencil.
To save a PDF, choose Print, then “Save as PDF” as the printer. Only the sheet prints.
About this sheet
Rows are still the most common way to arrange a room, and the simplest to chart. This page draws a grid of desks, each with a line for a name, under a bar for the front of the room, with a box for your desk and one for the door. Choose how many columns and rows to match your room, from two by two up to ten by eight. The page is blank on purpose: names go in by hand, in pencil, so the chart can change as often as the room does, and no list of students ever has to be typed into a device. Keep it in your plan book or on a clipboard, and leave a copy in your substitute folder.
Best in: August, September, January.
How to use it
- Set the number of columns and rows to match your room, and edit the label on the board if you like. Print on landscape letter or A4.
- Write the names in pencil, row by row, as you see the room from the front, or from the back if that is easier.
- Copy it for your substitute folder. Print a fresh page each time you move the desks, and keep the old ones to see what worked.
Five ideas for class
- Chart the room from the point of view of someone standing at the front, so the chart matches what you and a substitute see.
- Change seats on a schedule everyone knows, such as the first Monday of each month, so no move feels like a punishment.
- Mark with a small dot the desks that must stay near the front or the door, and plan the rest around them.
- Print two copies, one for the wall of your plan book and one for a substitute, with a different color pencil for each.
- Draw the chart before you move the desks, and try several arrangements on paper first. It is quicker than moving furniture.
Related
Questions
Is there a seating chart maker?
Yes. The seating chart tool on this site can shuffle a list into a chart, with names kept in your browser. This page is the blank paper version, for pencil and a clipboard.
Should I post the chart on the wall?
Many teachers keep it private, because a posted chart can reveal who sits where for the wrong reasons. Follow your school's guidance. The page works equally well in a folder.
Can I change the number of seats?
Yes. Set up to ten columns and eight rows. Unused seats can be crossed out in pencil.
How do I save it as a PDF?
Choose Print, then pick “Save as PDF” as the printer. Only the sheet prints: the page around it is hidden. You can also save a sheet as a PNG image under the preview.
Can I print it in black and white?
Yes. Switch to Black and white beside the sheet: fills turn white and lines turn black, so it saves ink and photocopies cleanly.
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