How to choose a dining table: what to consider

A dining table is the piece a room is arranged around. These are the things worth settling before you choose one. The numbers are common rules of thumb, not fixed rules.

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Size and seating

A common rule of thumb is about 60 cm of table edge per person, and 70 cm if you want to sit comfortably. A table of roughly 140-160 cm seats four to six; 180-200 cm seats six to eight.
Round tables of about 100-120 cm seat four, and about 140-150 cm seat six.
If the table extends, measure it both closed and open.

Space in the room

Leave about 90-100 cm between the table edge and walls or furniture, so chairs can be pulled out and people can pass behind.

Shape and base

Round and square tables suit square rooms and uneven numbers of guests. Rectangles suit long or narrow rooms.
A pedestal or trestle base gives more freedom for knees and chairs than four corner legs. Check where the legs sit against your chair width.

Height

Table height is commonly about 72-75 cm. Check it against your chairs: you want roughly 25-30 cm between the seat and the underside of the top.

Materials and finish

Solid wood moves with the seasons and can usually be sanded and refinished. Veneer over a core is more stable but allows less refinishing.
Oiled wood marks more easily but is easier to repair in one spot. Lacquered surfaces resist marks and are harder to repair.
Stone and ceramic resist heat and scratches but are heavy and can chip at the edges. Glass shows every mark. Metal can dent or scratch.
Whatever the material, protect the top from hot dishes and standing water.

Practicalities

Check weight, and whether it will fit through your doors and stairwell. A table that comes apart is easier to move.
Outdoor tables are made for weather. An indoor table left outside usually is not suitable.

Longevity and repair

Look at how the legs attach, how the extension works, and where the leaves are stored. Parts that can be replaced or tightened keep a table going longer.

Questions worth asking the maker

Exact dimensions and weight, how it ships, what finish is used and how to care for it, whether the finish can be redone, and the delivery and return terms.

Sources and further reading

A label covers one aspect of a product, such as where the wood came from or which chemicals are in a textile, not its whole footprint. These pages explain what each covers; they are not endorsements, and Formground does not rate products.

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