Table Sizing & Room Planning

A practical reference informed by decades of custom furniture work

Designing a table isn’t just about fitting it into a room — it’s about allowing space for movement, seating, and daily life. These guidelines reflect real-world use, not showroom illusion.

• Allow 36 inches from the table edge to walls, cabinetry, or other furniture for comfortable circulation
   
• 30 inches is the minimum workable clearance in tighter spaces
   
• Less than this quickly feels crowded and impractical
   

• Plan 24–26 inches per seated person
   
• End seating on rectangular tables requires additional clearance
   
• Chair width, arm style, and base design all affect comfort
   

Rectangular Tables

• 60"–72" → seats 6
   
• 84"–96" → seats 8 - 10
   
• 106"–120" → seats 10 -14
   

Round Tables

• 48" → seats 4
   
• 60" → seats 6
   
• 70" → seats 8
   

Images online often compress scale and exaggerate seating capacity. Comfort comes from proportion, not maximum count.

Pinterest is aspirational. Geometry is real.

These guidelines help us recommend pieces that work beautifully in real spaces. We’re happy to help translate them to your room.