How do you know what dining table size and shape is right for you? This is one of our most frequently asked design questions and, with a few standard measurement guidelines, we take out the guesswork of finding the perfect dining table for your needs. We begin with two considerations: the size and shape of your room and how many people you want to seat.

Before you start shopping for tables, it’s always a good idea to measure the length and width of your dining room. As a general rule of thumb, allow for at least 3 feet of clearance between the table’s edges and walls or other furniture in the room (such as a sideboard or console table). 3 feet is the minimum amount of space for you and your guests to comfortably move around the table and to pull dining chairs in and out. Taking these measurements into account will give you your maximum dining table dimensions.

Keep in mind that our interior design team is always happy to help measure your room and select the perfect dining furniture - it’s part of our complimentary design service!

WHAT SHAPE IS RIGHT FOR ME?

ROUND & SQUARE DINING TABLES

Round and square dining tables often work well in square dining rooms and smaller spaces, while rectangular and oval dining tables are popular choices for larger and rectangular rooms. Round and square tables are great for cozy and intimate gatherings since guests are able to see each other and easily converse, but they are less popular for large gatherings. Too large of a table diameter can make it hard for guests to hear and talk to one another.

To occasionally accommodate large groups, a round or square table with expansion leaves is a great option. We have a wide range of round tables that expand to oval, or round Jupe expanding tables, and square tables with leaves to expand into a rectangle.

WHAT IS A JUPE EXPANDING TABLE?

A Jupe table is a round table that expands its diameter - and maintains its round shape - through a patented mechanism developed in 1835 by Theodore Alexander Robert Jupe. Jupe’s original design featured a spiral Capstan mechanism to expand the table top and separately storing leaves. Today’s Jupe tables typically include conveniently self-storing, fold-out triangular leaves.

OVAL & RECTANGULAR DINING TABLES

Most dining rooms today are rectangular in shape, making oval and rectangle dining tables common choices. These tables comfortably seat larger groups, and often expand with leaves for even more flexibility. With their rounded corners, oval tables seem to occupy less space visually and are particularly well suited (popular) for narrow rooms.

A NOTE ABOUT EXPANSION LEAVES

If you opt for a table that expands, keep in mind that some tables offer self-storing leaves. These are stored within the table design itself for easy expansion.

HOW MANY PEOPLE CAN I SEAT?

Think about your dining table as having two main areas - space for a place setting in front of each guest and the common area running along the center of the table for serving dishes, centerpieces, etc.

The minimum width for each person/place setting is generally average shoulder width - or 24 inches. More optimal is around 30” per place setting accommodate formal settings and more elbow room. For ample room for serving dishes, look for a table with a depth of 36” and greater.

With space for place settings and common area in mind, here are some standard table and seating guidelines. Keep in mind that these measurements are approximate - manufacturers vary their dimensions and the size of your dining chairs could impact seating arrangements.

STANDARD SIZES: ROUND

To seat 2 people: 30” - 36” diameter

To seat 4 people: 42” - 48” diameter

To seat 6 people: 54” - 60” diameter

To seat 8 people: 72” diameter

To seat 10 people: 84” diameter

STANDARD SIZES: SQUARE

To seat 4 people: 36” x 36”

To seat 8 people: 72” x 72”

STANDARD SIZES: OVAL

To seat 4 people: 60” x 36”

To seat 6 people: 72” x 36”

To seat 8 people: 84” x 48"

To seat 10 people: 96” x 48”

STANDARD SIZES: RECTANGULAR

To seat 4 people: 60” x 36”

To seat 6 people: 72” x 42” - 84” x 42”

To seat 8 people: 96” x 44”

To seat 10 people: 120” x 44”