According to our Design Crew pros, here’s a simple rule of thumb for determining whether a table will fit in your dining room, kitchen or other dining area:
- Allow room for 3’ of clearance on each side of the table. That’s the amount of space you need to pull out chairs from the table, or to walk behind people seated at the table.
- Take other furniture into account. So if you have a buffet or bar cart against the wall, measure 3’ out from that piece of furniture.
HOW TO CALCULATE THE RIGHT SIZE TABLE:
- Measure the length and width of your dining space.
- Subtract 6 feet from both the length + width of the space to allow a 3’ clearance on all sides.
- The result is the maximum recommended size for your dining table. For example, if you have a 12’ x 9½’ space, the maximum size for your table would be 72” x 40”.
- For the most versatility, choose an expandable table with leaves that will allow you to seat more people when company comes, but feel more spacious when it’s just your family.
- For a square room, small space or dual-duty rooms, consider a round pedestal table, which takes up less space and is easier to walk around. Bonus: It’s great for conversation.
- For tight spaces, consider creating a dining nook in a corner with banquette seating lined up against 1 or 2 walls or use benches, which can slide under the table when it’s not in use.
- Allow about 2’ per person at a rectangular table, though you can squeeze in more chairs when needed. As a rule of thumb:
- A 48”-long table seats 4
- A 60-72” table seats 6
- A 80-87” table seats 8
- A 92-108” table seats 10
- A 120” table seats 12
- A 42-48”-diameter round table seats 4
- A 60” round table seats 6-8