Today Decorati Contributing Antiques Editor Buzz Kaplan of The Buzz on Antiques, provides the essential guide for dining table seating.
I’m glad this question wasn’t “How many angels can sit on the head of a pin?” Because I have no idea so help me God.
But I do know my dining tables, antique or otherwise. And when a client is looking at a particular table, they invariably ask, “Can this table fit ten people?” Here’s how you answer that question.
FIRST, it depends on the shape of the table and I realize there are a million different variations on this:
Just to keep it simple, let’s stick with two basic shapes: rectangular (No. 4 above) and round (No. 11 above).
SECOND, depends how super-sized your guests’ behinds are…oh, never mind, we’ll just go with table shape.
Shown above, a 19th century mahogany and brass inlaid neoclassical dining table that sits 12 people very comfortably.
The general rule is that people need about 24 inches of width for dining table seating, but banquet room chairs will often work at 21 inches or even less (I’ve seen them at hotels measuring 17 1/2″ wide and if you use chairs like this then 12 sardines can sit at a 6 foot round table).
So here are some general seating rules:
• If rectangular and the table length is 5 feet, sits 4-6 comfortably; if it’s 5 feet round, up to 8 people comfortably;
• If rectangular and the table length is 6 feet, sits 6-8 comfortably; if it’s 6 feet round, up to 10 people comfortably (if you use banquet chairs, you can squeeze 12 people);
• If rectangular and the table length is 7 feet, sits 8 very comfortably; if it’s 7 feet round, 9-11 people comfortably;
• If rectangular and the table length is 8 feet, sits 8 very comfortably; if it’s 8 feet round, up to 12 people comfortably;
• If rectangular and the table length is 9 feet, sits 10 comfortably; if it’s 9 feet round, up to 14 people comfortably;• If rectangular and the table length is 10 feet, sits 10 comfortably; if it’s 10 feet round, up to 15 people comfortably;
• If rectangular and the table length is 11 feet, sits 10 very comfortably and 12 comfortably; if you have a round table this big, you’re in the UN General Assembly Room and good luck;
• If rectangular and the table length is 12 feet, sits up to 12 very comfortably and up to 14 with narrower chairs;
• If rectangular and the table length is 13 feet, sits 12-14 comfortably;
• If rectangular and the table length is 14-15 feet, sits 14 very comfortably and 16 if need be;
• If rectangular and the table length is 16 feet, sits 16 very comfortably and 18 if need be.
Shown below, a parquetry walnut and satinwood dining table (with later leaves) that measures up to 187 1/2″ (about 15 1/2 feet) long and can sit 14 people very comfortably and 16 if need be:
Other little known dining table factoids that you might find useful:
• The maximum height that you’d want for a dining table is 31″ (30″ high for a dining table is about average)
• A critical measurement, especially with antique dining tables that have very big aprons is that you need at least 25 3/4″ for roomy leg clearance and to cross your legs, you need 30″ for a person 5’9″ tall–generally, you don’t have antique tables with clearance to cross legs and that’s fine
• A light fixture over a dining table should hang between 28-32″ from the top of the table and the bottom of the fixture
Ok, Mr. Smarty Pants, if you’re so smart then what’s a 12-sided table called? Honestly, I had no clue until we got one in and had to look it up. It’s called dodecagonal and here it is:
Other posts by Buzz:
Antique Terminology: Chinoiserie Part I
Antique Terminology: Chinoiserie Part II
Get a Leg Up: How Legs Can Help Identify Antique Periods & Styles
Antique Terminology: SETTEE and CANAPÈ
The Little French Farm Table that Could
Buzz Kaplan is a graduate of UCLA where he earned both Bachelor’s and Juris Doctorate degrees. Buzz began collecting antiques in the late 1970′s, while he was still practicing law and for the last 28 years has been a principal of Kaplan & Co., a consulting firm specializing in antique and other investment grade tangible asset collections. His clients have included dealers, major banks, foundations and other institutions seeking guidance in the acquisition and deaccession of 17th and 18th century European antiques as well as investment portfolios in gold, silver and platinum commodities. He is currently Executive Director of C. Mariani Antiques, Restoration & Custom in San Francisco.
36 Comments
Great post! I realized that a round table sits more number of person than a rectangular table.
Buzz’s posts are really englihtening and pretty funny as well.
I wish he’d write a book or something about all of his tips and knowledge. Ths latest “course” in calculating how many people can squeeze in at dining tables is great. I never can remember so this is a good refresher. In fact, I alredy printed it out for my file “DR Tables”. More Buzz, more info please!
Jenny
I’ve been gardening (it’s Sunday!) and decided to take a break and check in on Decorati.
Thanks Patrice and Jenny for the nice comments.
I’m happy to say that Decorati has made me a Contributing Antiques Editor (thanks Shane and the Decorati Editorial Board). That means I’ll be submitting The Buzz on Antiques posts WEEKLY from now on. So I have to laugh that Jenny asked for more “Buzz”. What do they say, “Be careful what you wish for” because now you may wind up an “antique geek” like me! Which is actually really fun (although it can be kind of expensive).
By the way, if you love antiques and vintage pieces, take a look at the guest blog by Donna Sapolin on “Hollywood Regency Style”. It’s really interesting and educational.
Buzz
I heart Buzz…
How wonderfully informative!
Buzz,
Thank you for the great information about Dining Room seating. I find that so many times clients fall in love with a table that is not suitable for their lifestyle-or, it is just plain ugly and I need some back up info to guide them in the right direction. These facts will definitely help with making the right decision!
Bon Appetit!
Holly
Really great article Buzz. Super informative, I printed a copy to keep in our files.
One suggestion to Decorati – could you make it easier to print these articles? Thanks
Hey Buzz,
A great post once again and the “factoids” are a nice touch of additional detail that makes you …incredible!
Thank you,
Dan.
You are such a pleasure to work with and I love that you’re sharing your knowledge with our clients and other designers through Decorati Access. Keep up the great work (both here and online). P.S. I already knew how many people are seated at tables but it was fun to read it too.
Claudio
Love the commentary and factoids. Now the proud owner of a home furnishings store, with your Decorati contributing articles I am able to train and inform my staff on the antiques we are selling. We sound so knowledgeable now. Keep it coming. Web site in the works. Maybe you could come to the shop one day and give out your factoids in person. We do not have the fine antiques that you have at C. Mariani, but we do have some interesting “finds”. My best to you and your success with Decorati. They are lucky to have you. Knowledge is a priceless commodity.~Rhonda Shipley, Shipley Interiors and Studiolo in San Anselmo, CA.
This is some VERY useful information! I would have thought that a rectangular table would have fit more people than a circle!
Thanks all. I’m glad you found this post useful–Buzz
Buzz, Spaciously seated dinner guests everywhere may soon owe you a debt of gratitude. We thank you, too–not only are you the most knowledgable man in the biz, but you share your knowledge with such a glorious dose of wit! Big thanks! -Damien, James Swan & Co., Beverly Hills
Life saver. Greatly appreciated.
Thanks Buzz
So does this mean dining table should be low? My dining table is not high, but it is not low either. Maybe it is around the maximum height. So how do you know when the dining table is too high?
Nicolette
http://www.furnitureanddesignideas.com
Thanks Buzz. It’s always a question that comes up with clients. It’s great to have a concise reference tool. And as always, you do it with style and panache!
- Susan Peck, Marla Sher Design
Thank you for such a concise and informative and fun submission! Keep up the good work!
Very useful info now at my fingertips in my bookmarks thanks to you Buzz.
dodecoganal… like I”m going to use THAT word at my next cocktail party… unless, Buzz, you’re there of course. I liked that you got technical here! an article packed tight like 12 chairs on a six foot table. and aunt suzie’s occupying two of them.
Perfect timing…I was just sketching kitchen table shapes and syles for a potential client meeting and I remembered you posted information on this topic last week. I just glanced through my recent emails and boom, there was your lesson on dining tables. Keep it up Buzz!
Heather
Hi! I like your srticle and I would like very much to read some more information on this issue. Will you post some more?
This is a great site and I am hoping to do some networking with your members .
I am with a retained executive search company in New York and conducting a search for a luxury home furnishings business.Our client is seeking a sales and marketing focused preofessional to run the their US company.The ideal candidate should have experience in the home and or hard goods industry working exclusively with interior designers through national field sales.
Candidates can forward their resumes to meat the above email address or feel free to call me at 212 204 9531
Please let me know if if and when you will be posting this email.
Many thanks
Paula
Thanks for everyone’s comments and just to show I actually READ THEM, my next post will be on “How High Should a Dining Table Be?
Best,
Buzz
Do you reduce the number of people who can sit at a race track shaped table vs. the rectangular rules of thumb given? For example, a 130″ racetrack table is just shy of 11 feet. Would 12 people be cramped around such a table?
Thanks.
i love this article. my fiance and i are planning a wedding and had no idea how many to seat at a table but thank god for this (:
I was glad to read such information,Fanny
In answer to Fooshie’s questions about how many people can sit at an oval table around 11 feet long, the answer is 12 comfortably; racetrack tables generally can sit as many as a rectangular tables. But beware of true oval tables because the ends are sometime too narrow to seat even one person. So they’re not very ergonomic. And with all tables, you can increase the number of guests you can seat but using narrower chairs. For example, banquet chairs can be as narrow as 16-18 inches…but that’s really more for sardines than for people! Buzz
That said, if the question is also “How many people are the maximum that should be at a table?” The social rule of thumb is twelve. Above that number is much less intimate.
perfect put and so, so helpful!!
Thanks for the helpful tool! And to think that in the past I just said, “It depends on how well they like each other”, when asked that question. I guess I can be more precise now that I don’t have to figure it up with a calculator!
This was very helpful information. I wanted to know how many people could sit at a 4 foot round table and I believe it would be 6 comfortably.
Diameter of table = 48
D x 3.14 = Circumference of table (D x C)
Circumference = 150.72
Divide C by 24 (comfortable Space per person = 24″) (C / S)
150.72 / 24 = 6.28
I tested the math on the table sizes listed in this article and the results matched.
My question is this. If you put a leaf in a round table to make it oval do you really increase the seating much? If you put a 22 inch leaf in a 48″ round table the length is now 70″. Is that similar to a 6′ rectangle table, so maybe now you could seat 2 more people, increasing from 6 to 8 people?
Thank you so much for the information Buzz! I just saved you to “My Favorites” and thank you to Amy for that formula- I will be sharing this with the other designers I work with as a “Refresher”. We can all use one once in a while. Keep it up and Best Wishes!
Thanks to everyone for their kind comments and thoughts. If you have a topic you’d like me to cover in a future “The Buzz” article here on Decorati, please email me at bkaplan@cmarianiantiques.com. Cheers, Buzz
Great info on how many will a table seat comfortably. Every tuesday night my wife and I have family nite. we started this when our firstborn was born 39 years ago. We now have 12 at the dining table on family nite. I am looking at a nine foot round table to accomodate our 12 plus a couple guests at holidays. What size room would I need, in the clear, to accomodate chairs and people being able to get out and move around? I am also planning on a carousel in the middle so the food can easily be accessible. I saw this when visiting an Asian restraunt and thought that is what I need. Do you have any suggestions or plans on how to build it so it can be removed for cleaning when the grandkids spill? Is there a proven size the caraousel should be from the edge of the table for best placement of utensils and ability to reach the food to serve?
Hi Buzz: We have a pretty small dining room and we think a custom-made squarish table would maximize our seating. Our dining room is 11’9″ by 13’7″. We were thinking a table that was 8′ by 6’6″ would be the biggest we could use. How many people could we sit at such a table? I’m hoping 12, but thinking 10 is more realistic. Thanks.
Hi Trudy,
The general rule is that you need 2 feet per person to sit at a dining table (3 feet if you want plenty of room). But using the two foot rule, then you can sit 4 people on each side of the table (so that’s
and 2 people at each end of the table (so that’s 4). So you should be able to seat 12 people! Hope that helps.
I noticed in your article about how many people can sit at a table that there is no mention of a relevant issue: the size and placement of the legs or base.
If the legs are at the four corners, the table needs to be 48″ wide to fit 2 chairs comfortably between them. Two narrow chairs will fit between 42 inches, but the chairs rubbing against the table legs or each other, and the difficulty of pulling in one’s chair are problematic. Inset legs or base allow seating all around the table and make squeezing two more seats in on special occasions more comfortable. No one wants to be seated where they have to straddle a table leg. A solid table base works very well on a large table, but if the base is too small for the top it may be tippy and if it is too large for the top, it will be inadvertently kicked and damaged over time. My rule of thumb is a minimum of 12″-14″ between base and table edge to accommodate longer legs.
The depth of a chair is also a consideration, especially at a small table where the chairs may get in the way of each other. Right at the corners, two chairs cannot occupy the same space.
In a project where maximizing comfortable seating in a limited space was required, I designed an elliptical table with a cross base where the cross was held back 10″ from table edges. I have photos, but don’t know how to place them here. I’ve used that table several times to address similar situations.
I agree with the height of a light fixture over the table at no less than 28″ above the surface. It’s also important to be sure that the fixture isn’t too big for the table top to avoid diners bumping their heads when standing. Ideally the fixture will not encroach on the last 10″ to the table’s edge.
Another consideration is the size of any rug placed under a table. A rug under a dining table should be ample, extending at least 30-36″ from the table edges on all sides. This allows a diner to pull out his/her chair without the back legs going off the rug. With a smaller rug, diners are required to lift the back legs while pulling in to avoid the rug being drawn in with the chair. Acrobats and youngsters can do this easily, but more “aged” guests may find it difficult.
Many clients often struggle with a small dining space and the appropriate table size. On sides where there will be limited traffic, allowing 30″ between table edge and wall will be adequate to access the chairs and sit. Between the table and a credenza or server 42″ minimum will allow grazers at the buffet to walk/stand when chairs are pulled in to the table. If there is a traffic pattern, for example, access to the kitchen, 42″ is needed to walk past seated diners. Note that these are tight allowances; the more spacious, the more gracious. Placing a table on the diagonal can allow more room for seating.
I don’t know if you’re interested in posting these additional dining table factoids, but I thought I’d offer my two cents worth.
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