Linen Sizing & Seating Guide
Mary’s Notes on linen Sizes to buy/rent
Below are standard sizes available for rentals and what you might find at most venues for cocktail, dining and other service tables. Of course, not all the dining tables in our homes are standard sizes, so you might not see the perfect size listed for your particular table(s). You may own an oval or square dining table, or an antique table that is uniquely shaped at each end. Point being, one size does not always fit all. However, I believe this list will give you a general idea of what you want to look for when selecting the appropriate-sized linen for the tables in your home. And should you want or need to rent standard-size tables for extra seating, this guide tells you exactly what linen size will fit those tables.
For rectangular tables, I included sizing for linens that are floor length as well as lap length, which is what I prefer to use on my dining table.
Rental tables should always be covered with floor-length linens, as the mental or plastic legs are unattractive.
For round tables, I almost always prefer a floor-length linen, unless it is a pedestal table or an outdoor table.
If you wish to use an overlay, I suggest putting it over a floor-length linen, unless your table has pretty legs.
Outdoor dining tables on organic surfaces (aka grass) can take floor or lap-length linens (or somewhere in-between), but keep in mind that they might get dirty. If the ground is wet or damp, the moisture will soak up into your table linens if they touch the ground. Also keep in mind you might need table weights (these clip onto the corners of linens) if it is breezy outside.
When you are renting dining tables for any event, please also rent table pads. Most rental tables are made of wood and have seen better days. Thus, they tend to have rough, uneven surfaces, and the edges can be quite severe. A table pad provides a consistent and smooth surface for your tabletop items.
Mary’s Notes on How many guests to seat at a table
As for how many guests to seat at each table, the real question to ask is: “How many people will sit comfortably around a table?” Many online sources and venues will give you the standard number of guests that you can seat around a standard-size rental table. But just because you “can” does not mean you “should.” Unfortunately, it’s not actually a one-size-fits-all model when it comes to rentals. And while there are standard practices, I highly advise you to consider a few things before finalizing how many guests to seat around a table for any event. I included a list below, and please note that some of this is personal preference, but when it comes to rentals, I’ve definitely seen what has worked well and what has not.
For standard 60-in round rental tables, you can seat 8-10 people. If you are seating guests for a formal dinner, it’s best to only seat eight, as you need extra space for place settings. It is also important for servers to have room to deliver plated meals and for your guests to have elbow room. I have found that on most occasions, 10 guests feels very tight around a 60-in round table no matter what the place settings are.
For standard 8-foot rental tables, you can seat 8-10 people. However, if you seat 10 people, those on the end will not be able to slide their chairs under the table, and the area for each place setting is minimal. If you are using formal place settings, you definitely cannot fit more than eight people at the table (four on each side). I almost always advise against seating 10 people at a standard 8-foot table.
For standard 6-foot rental tables, the same rules apply as they do for the 8-foot tables. While you can seat 6-8 people, I almost never do. There is little room at the ends of the table, and guests are crammed together as much as the place settings are.
Keep in mind that the size of your chairs will dictate how many people can sit around a table. Rental chairs tend to have narrower seats than chairs at a private residence. If you need to seat more guests around your dining table for a special occasion, you might consider renting smaller chairs to replace the ones you own. If you are renting tables, but plan to use your own chairs, be sure to account for the fact that your chairs may be larger than what the table typically allows for.
If you want to seat 10 people comfortably at one long rental table, you can rent what is called a “king’s table” or “estate table.” They are extra-wide 8-foot long tables and allow for two guests to sit at each end of the table. These tables also allow for more decor and more elaborate place settings.
72-in round tables are very large, and it is hard for people to talk across them. They also require larger centerpieces or decor to fill-in the center of the table.
60-in round tables are the most commonly used table in the rental world.
If the space allows, I always recommend a long table for dinner parties at home, as it is easy to talk to the guests next to you as well the guests across from you.