table-turn

Table-turn, turn, or turn-over in the context of restaurants and other eating establishments refers to the number of parties (covers) served at a table over a set amount of time – such as a lunch or dinner seating, or over the course of a day. It can mean the number of times a table is used (or turned) over a set period or the number of times a seat is used.{{cite web |last1=Delucci |first1=Ray |title=Table Turnover: What it is and how to improve it |url=https://www.therestauranthq.com/operations/table-turnover/ |website=The Restaurant HQ |publisher=The Restaurant HQ |access-date=3 March 2025 |date=July 15, 2024}}

A restaurant's turn is considered an important metric of its commercial viability. Generally, to maximize revenue, restaurant managers aim to have as high a table-turn as possible. The faster a guest or a party is seated, the order is taken, served, and the check paid, the sooner the following party can be seated at the table — the quicker the turn, the greater the revenue.{{cite web |last1=Kando |first1=Andrea |title=Mobile Credit Card Processing: The Benefits of Letting Your Customers Pay at the Table |url=https://www.touchbistro.com/blog/mobile-credit-card-processing-the-benefits-of-letting-your-customers-pay-at-the-table/#subheading=7 |website=Touchbistro.com |publisher=TouchBistro |access-date=3 March 2025}}

Decreasing the time needed to turn a table has been a perennial goal of restaurant management. Staff training, improved restaurant design, up-to-date POS technology, and order tracking and payment technology can be helpful.{{cite web |title=What Restaurants Need To Know About Pay-At-The-Table |url=https://hospitalitytech.com/what-restaurants-need-know-about-pay-table |website=Hospitality Technology |publisher=EnsembleIQ |access-date=3 March 2025 |date=June 17, 2016 |quote=Most restaurants measure table turns closely, and even small increases can contribute to profitability. Moving from three to four table turns per shift can increase revenue by 20-25 percent.}} Order and pay-at-the-table technologies are effective in reducing the time needed to turn a table. Pay-at-the-table tablets and other table-top technologies have also increased per-customer check amounts and tips.