A common question about custom dining tables is how big the table should be. The answer comes from two things: how many people you want to seat, and how much room you have around the table. These are the guidelines we use when we size a custom table.
Start with the room
Leave about 36 inches between the table edge and walls or other furniture so chairs can pull out and people can walk behind them. If it is a main walkway, 42 to 48 inches feels more comfortable. Subtract those clearances from each side of the room to find the largest table that fits.
Space per person
Plan about 24 inches of table edge per person. Allow 28 to 30 inches for armchairs or a more generous feel. Table ends seat one person each on most rectangular tables 36 to 42 inches wide.
Rectangular tables
- 4 people: about 48 by 30 to 36 inches
- 6 people: about 72 by 36 inches
- 8 people: about 84 to 96 by 36 to 42 inches
- 10 people: about 108 to 120 by 40 to 42 inches
A width of 36 to 42 inches leaves room for place settings and serving dishes down the middle. Narrower tables feel more intimate but get crowded quickly.
Round tables
- 4 people: about 42 to 48 inches across
- 6 people: about 54 to 60 inches
- 8 people: about 60 to 72 inches
Round tables are great for conversation, but above about 60 inches it gets hard to reach the center. A lazy Susan or an oval shape can help.
Oval tables
Oval tables seat like rectangles but have softer corners, which helps in tighter rooms and around walkways. Size them close to a rectangle of the same seating count.
Height and leg room
Standard dining height is 29 to 30 inches, leaving about 12 inches between a typical 18-inch chair seat and the tabletop. Check the apron, the rail under the top, so it does not hit knees, and place legs or a pedestal base so they do not block chairs.
Bases change how a table seats
- Four legs: classic, but corners are blocked
- Trestle: frees the ends and works well for long tables
- Pedestal: no legs to work around, ideal for round tables
Choosing a wood
White oak is hard and durable for family tables; walnut is rich and dark without stain; cherry deepens to a warm red-brown. Our wood species guide compares them.
A table to start from
Our Cleo Table is a solid white oak trestle table, 30 inches tall and 36 inches deep, built to the length your room needs.
Ready for a custom table?
We build custom dining tables to the size of your room in our shop in Rancho Cordova, near Sacramento. For one example, see the oak and stainless steel table we built for a San Francisco home. See our custom dining tables page or tell us about your room.