How to Choose the Right Size Dining Table
Work out the exact table size your room, your chairs and your guests need, in centimetres. Every table we build is made to order in 1cm increments, so once you have your number, you can have it made.
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Allow at least 50cm of table space per person, then check your chairs, your room and the table legs before you settle on a size.
A compact 4 seater can be as short as 75cm long when diners sit at the ends, while most 6 seaters start at around 125 to 130cm. Tablemaker builds dining tables to order in 1cm increments, so the size can match your space exactly.
Dining table size guide
In this guide
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of table edge per diner, minimum
Allow enough space for each diner
Give each diner at least 50cm of table edge. That is the working minimum for a place setting, a glass and a pair of elbows. If your diners are on the larger end of the spectrum, increase this number slightly to keep everyone comfortable.
Comfort is also partly psychological. One guest may be perfectly happy in cosy close proximity, while another feels hemmed in at elbow-touching distance. When you host often, lean towards the generous end rather than the minimum. Nobody remembers a table for being slightly too big.
Consider the chair width
either side of each chair
Measure the width of your chairs before you settle on a table size. It is annoying to find your chairs cannot sit neatly next to each other when tucked under and not in use. Allow the chair width plus at least 2cm of space on either side so they do not clash. So a 49cm chair needs 51cm per person, a 52cm chair needs 54cm, and so on.
Chairs with arms are the most common sizing mistake we see. Arms add width, and they can stop a chair tucking under the table at all, so check them first. If space is tight, benches are worth a thought: they tuck fully under the table when not in use and seat more people per side than chairs. In short: allow 50cm per person as a minimum, and more whenever your chairs are 49cm or wider.
clearance so a chair can pull out
Measure the room before the table
Leave at least 90cm between the edge of the table and the nearest wall or piece of furniture. That is the space a chair needs to pull out so someone can sit down and stand up again. Where people walk behind seated diners, 100 to 120cm is better, and allow around 120cm between the table and a doorway.
If you find it hard to picture, mark the table's footprint on the floor with masking tape or sheets of newspaper. Pull out an imaginary chair, walk around it, and open any nearby doors and drawers. A room that looks large when empty can feel very different once the chairs are out.
The largest table your room can take
A quick formula tells you the largest table your room can take. Take the length of the room and subtract the clearance on each side. A 4m long room with 90cm of clearance at both ends can take a table up to about 220cm long. Do the same for the width.
- Room length400cm
- Less clearance, one end90cm
- Less clearance, other end90cm
- Largest table220cm
between the legs for three people per side
Factor in the design of the table
The position of the legs decides how many chairs genuinely fit, which is why two tables of identical length can seat different numbers. For each of our dining tables we publish a dimensions sheet that shows how to work out the room between the legs. The rule is simple: multiply the people per side by the space each needs. If you want three people per side at 50cm each, you need at least 150cm between the table legs.
Leg placement is a trade-off. If the legs sit well in from the ends, as on Wing 200 or Box 85, there is less seating space along the middle of each side. In return, a large inset gives you more room for seats at the ends.
Check the table width for end seating
working width for end seats
Table width matters most when people sit at the ends. On a table with only a small leg-to-end inset, anything under 75 to 80cm wide means the person at the end knocks knees with the diners on either side of them. If end seats are part of your plan, treat 80cm as a sensible working width, and check the model's dimensions sheet for its exact figure.
Width also feeds the middle of the table
Each place setting needs around 40cm of depth, so a wider top leaves a clear strip down the centre for serving dishes.
Match the table size to your seat count
The ranges below show what each of our dining tables can seat at standard sizes, all in centimetres. They assume the 50cm rule above; if your chairs are wide, step up a size. For a deeper look at one popular size, see how many people fit around a 180cm table.
4 seater table sizes
| Model | Length | Width |
|---|---|---|
| ATO 55 | 80 to 129cm | 80 to 100cm |
| Radius 70 | 75 to 124cm | 75 to 100cm |
| Element 57 | 82 to 131cm | 82 to 100cm |
| Stadium 300 | 108 to 157cm | 87 to 100cm |
| Wing 200 | 110 to 159cm | 88 to 100cm |
| Box 85 | 126 to 175cm | 85cm |
| Record 65 | 110 to 120cm diameter | |
6 seater table sizes
| Model | Length | Width |
|---|---|---|
| ATO 55 | 130 to 179cm | 80 to 100cm |
| Radius 70 | 125 to 174cm | 75 to 100cm |
| Element 57 | 132 to 181cm | 82 to 100cm |
| Stadium 300 | 158 to 190cm | 87 to 100cm |
| Wing 200 | 160 to 190cm | 88 to 100cm |
| Box 85 | 176 to 190cm | 85cm |
| Record 65 | Available as a custom order | |
8 seater table sizes
| Model | Length | Width |
|---|---|---|
| ATO 55 | 180 to 190cm | 80 to 100cm |
| Radius 70 | 175 to 190cm | 75 to 100cm |
| Element 57 | 182 to 190cm | 82 to 100cm |
Stadium 300, Wing 200, Box 85 and Record 65 are available as custom orders.
Treat these ranges as a guide, and weigh up your own chair sizes and space per person before buying.
Order the exact size your space needs
If the maths points to a size that is not on any shelf, that is not a problem. We size almost every table in 1cm increments, and anything beyond the standard ranges can be built as a custom order. Before anything is made, you approve an order confirmation with the exact measurements, so the table that arrives is the table you worked out.
If your guest list only outgrows your room a few times a year, extending tables with stored leaves solve that without a permanently larger table. And if you are budgeting for a made to order piece, here is what a custom oak dining table costs.
Your room and chairs have already told you the size; we can build precisely that.
Start a Custom TableQuotations are free and without obligation.
Dining table size questions
The questions we are asked most often about seating, clearance and table height, answered in centimetres.
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What size dining table seats 4 people?
A table from around 75 to 131cm long seats four, with one diner per side and one at each end. If all four sit along the sides, or your chairs are wide, choose from around 120cm and up. A round table of 110 to 120cm diameter also seats four.
What size dining table seats 6 people?
Most 6 seaters run from around 125 to 190cm long, depending on the leg positions. Allow 50cm of table edge per person and check the space between the legs on the side where three people will sit, which needs at least 150cm.
How much space should you leave around a dining table?
Leave at least 90cm between the table edge and the nearest wall or furniture so chairs can pull out. Allow 100 to 120cm on walkways and around 120cm near a doorway.
What is the standard height for a dining table?
Most dining tables stand 71 to 76cm tall, paired with chair seats of roughly 43 to 48cm. Our guide to the ideal dining table height covers this in detail.
Get the size right before you order
A dining table lasts decades, so ten minutes with a tape measure now is the best money you will not spend.
Advice and quotations are free and without obligation, from the people who build the tables.
Email us , or send your room measurements or a sketch through the contact form and we will recommend a size. You can also visit our London showroom by appointment to see the tables in person.