Finding The Perfect Dining Table To Fit Your Space

How Big Can My Dining Table Be Compared With The Size Of The Room?

• The maximum size for a dining table – without being physically too large or overwhelming the space – scales with the total size of your dining room, as well as the shape of the table
• The table is a central element of the room, and can generally take up as much as a third of the total floor space
• Each side of the table should have at least 3 feet of clearance, for pulling out dining chairs and walking around the table
• If you need some versatility to accommodate larger numbers of people occasionally, an extendable table or one with folding leaves can provide the space you need at a moments notice
• Round tables are often the best choice for smaller spaces, as they’re more compact and easier to walk around
• Each person at the table should have about two feet of space per person to comfortably sit and engage

How Many People Can I Fit at Dining Tables of Different Sizes?

For rectangular tables:

• 48” length – Seats 4 people
• 60-72” Length – Seats 6 people
• 80-90” Length – Seats 8 people
• 90-110” Length – Seats 10 people
• 120” Length – Seats 12 people

For round tables:

• 42-48” diameter should seat about four people, while a 60” diameter round table can seat up to 8

For square tables:

• For square tables, 36-48" diameter should seat about four people, while a 60" diameter can seat two per side, for up to 8

How to Determine the Right Table Size For Your Dining Room

Calculate your total available floor space.

• Along with the table itself, you’ll also need to ensure you have enough space for the other furniture – chairs, bookcases, buffet tables, sideboards, and other elements

Consider your seating plans

• How many people will you typically need to seat at one time? For larger households, it’s often best to choose the largest table that can reasonably fit in the space

Make sure there will be adequately sized walkways along the sides of the table.

• A good rule of thumb is to ensure a minimum of three feet of space on each side of your dining table to allow guests to move their chairs out and sit down with ease. This also allows people to move about freely when coming to or leaving the table without disturbing other guests

Consider what you’re using the room for.

• Do you have a separate dedicated dining room, or is it part of a larger space in an open plan architectural design?
• Is it a seldom-used “formal dining room” for entertaining company, or do you eat most of your meals there?

Take ceiling height into account.

• Rooms with high ceilings feel visually larger than those with lower ceilings, even with the same length and width

Round pedestal tables can conserve space in smaller dining rooms

• By eliminating any corners, a contemporary round dining table provides ample surface space without taking up too much room and allows everyone to easily see each other and engage in conversation. Perfect for smaller dining spaces or homes without much space