A critical American household furniture element is a dining table. Several factors play in choosing a small kitchen table suitable for your dining room, such as the sizes of the dining room, the number of diners, etc., to account for a small space in your dining room.
If you’re looking for a table for a formal dining room or separate dining room, this article will be your ultimate guide in finding an important piece of furniture – like a small and suitable kitchen table — with helpful standard dimensions.
Table of Contents
- Dining Table Standard Measurements
- Dining Table Size
- Four-Seater Square Dining Table
- Four-Seater Round Dining Table and Oval Tables
- Four-Seater Rectangular Tables
- Two-seater Dining Table
- Measurements in Terms of Seating Capacity
- The Depth and Shared Area Measurements
- The Dining Table Height Measurements
- Factors to Consider for the Right Size Dining Table in your Kitchen
- Distance from the Wall and Plate Settings
- The Shape of the Table
- Dining Room Rag Size
- Frequently Asked Questions
Dining Table Standard Measurements
Before deciding on the ideal dining room table to purchase, several factors play a significant role in your choices. In some households, the head of the table (the interior designer!) gets to choose because ultimately, they have a better understanding of how things work with surrounding accessories and design elements.
There are many choices, such as:
- The number of seats
- The width of your dining area
- Visual balance (edge of the table, and the side of the table)
- Enough spaces to allow people to pass
- Dining table shape (wide table or large table for large gatherings, large families)
- Dining room size
As shown above, dining measurements are a crucial element. So, how do you make these standard measurements using a tape measure?
Dining Table Size
The size of the dining table is dependent on its design, i.e., square, rectangular shape, or circular shape. Keep in mind that furniture is available as extendable tables or a narrow rectangular table which may be useful in small dining rooms and narrow dining rooms when there is less space.
Not all homeowners and residents have the luxury of space and larger tables mean there must be extra space for passage at the ends of the table. I remember when my parents bought this large trestle table (lol!). It was large, beautiful but too big! It certainly did not leave enough elbow room.
Homes built in the 1960s and earlier had smaller dining rooms but had plenty of room for a smaller table. Our new dining table met some of the standard sizes for dining table dimensions back then. For example, the standard height of a dining table fits the standard conditions for counter height tables which is 34-36 inches tall. This is an important consideration if you’re thinking about chairs or bar stools but the best option is about 24-27 inches tall.
All this floods my memory banks because I remember we had to use the living room as additional space to accommodate a large number of people. I remember the clatter, clanking, and noise with serving dishes, extra cutlery, and LIMITED space (let alone normal storage space) to have a house party! Ah, the 70s!
Below is an outline of different table sizes for the number of seats.
Four-Seater Square Dining Table
Forty-three Inches is the approximate measurement for a four-seater table. This is a common choice. On the other hand, the average minimum size of this table can be as low as thirty-six inches. However, it would be best to leave an allowance that leaves a room of about fifty inches. This will be the right size table for its purpose.
It is primarily important if the table has wide legs, and going up to about sixty inches is ideal for up to six people.
Four-Seater Round Dining Table and Oval Tables
The standard measure for a four-seater is approximately thirty-eight inches. However, you can squeeze two more seats if you go up to 4 feet (or 102cm). An oval shape or circular tables provide enough space for a small family; it is a great option for smaller spaces like breakfast nooks!
Note that a pedestal base is ideal for allowing more room even on the minimum measurement of this table, i.e., thirty-six inches. If you want more room allowance for the legs and the chairs, ensure this round pedestal table diameter ranges between forty-eight and fifty inches.
Four-Seater Rectangular Tables
The standard comfortable measurement that can adequately fit four seats on this small kitchen table is sixty by thirty-one inches. You can also squeeze in two more seats with the right chair designs.
If you want to fit four seats on the opposite sides, the ideal minimum measurement should be about forty-eight by thirty-six inches. Note that the measure excludes the table head and the place settings. If you want one seat on each end of the table, the ideal size for utmost comfort should be sixty by fifty-five inches.
Two-seater Dining Table
Two-seaters are usually the most petite dining tables. So for those who need a small kitchen table to account for a shared space, your rectangular table should measure forty-two by thirty-one inches. As for a square table, your measurement should be thirty-one inches. But if you settle for a thirty-six-inch square dining room table, it should fit up to three seats.
Measurements in Terms of Seating Capacity
On average, every diner needs a space of twenty-four inches to sit and eat comfortably. If your want to squeeze in more seats than the standard number, it depends on the choice of your chair designs. Also, benches are an excellent alternative that can allow you to squeeze in more diners.
The ideal comfortable table surface measurement should range between twenty and thirty inches. Moreover, that measurement is also suitable for those with wider seats or seats with armrests.
If you fancy small rectangular dining tables, you also need to incorporate a twelve-inch extra measurement if you intend on having seats at the head and the foot of the table. In addition, dining table depth measurement is crucial for basic plate setting and space for the shared area for food placement.
The Depth and Shared Area Measurements
For the minimum depth of the place setting, the measurement should be 15 inches. And measure for the shared space for placing food should be 5 inches for every seater or ten inches for total table calculations.
If you have guests, it’s easy to allow more room. The ideal table width and depth should be eighteen and thirty inches, respectively, while the shared space should be about nine inches per dinner.
Remember that rectangular dining tables are ideal for large family gatherings or other special occasions with many diners. Plus, if you choose a large round table, ensure it isn’t larger as it might make it difficult for people to reach the food. An ideal maximum diameter for round tables should be sixty inches.
If the measurement is past sixty inches, a lazy Suzan would be a great addition to the table’s design for comfort. Be careful not to create a more considerable distance from the shared spaces and the diners.
If you don’t plan to use the table to place food or decorations, you don’t have to worry about measurements for the shared space. So since the shared space measurement is out of the equation, you can have a narrow round table diameter of thirty-six inches. Note there will still be much space for placing things such as candles or bottles of wine.
The Dining Table Height Measurements
One common fact about standard dining tables is that they have a fixed height even though they vary in designs and size. The table height prioritizes the following factors:
- Leave enough dining space for diners to fit.
- It’s not too high or too low for the diners
- It’s high enough for the diners to cross their legs
All the factors above ensure all the diners are seated comfortably. Also, you should leave a minimum space measuring about 12 inches between the tabletop and the chair top.
Generally, the chair height between eighteen and twenty-three inches is ideal for an average bar height table measuring between twenty-eight and thirty inches. Remember, the chair’s and the table’s height gets calculated from the ground to the chair and tabletop, respectively. Similarly, this applies to other alternatives such as stools or benches.
Counter-height tables, on the other hand, aren’t of standard measurements. The good thing about such tables is people can either stand or sit on high-wooden stools. The average height from ground to tabletop ranges between thirty-four and thirty-six inches for this table. And the chair height to be used along with the tables should measure between twenty-four and twenty-six inches.
As for those who prefer a high table, your height measurements should range between forty and forty-two inches. And the average stool height should range between twenty-eight and thirty inches from floor to top.
Factors to Consider for the Right Size Dining Table in your Kitchen
Currently, the market is flooded with numerous dining tables with varied designs, making it challenging to decide on the perfect dining table ideal for your kitchen. As previously mentioned, the number of diners is a crucial factor in selecting the right dining table.
In addition, the amount of space the table leaves for walking around the table is also of utmost importance. So using a measuring tape, how should you make the appropriate measurements?
Distance from the Wall and Plate Settings
A more extended table would be typically wider. And, with the standard measurement, there’ll be enough room for placing food and plate settings.
Multiply the number of diners against 12 inches of eating space. The result you get is to determine the appropriate small kitchen table length or area. Note this formula is ideal for preventing overcrowding, plus it’s pretty handy if you have extra visitors to squeeze in.
You should leave approximately 42 to 48 inches between the table and other furniture such as the cabinet and the walls.
The Shape of the Table
Square and circular dining tables are the most preferred tables, and most households have circular ones. Also, the number of diners you intend for the dining table to accommodate depends on your choice of the best shape.
For example, a circular dining table is preferable for two to four diners. On the other, a square table is best for accommodating four to six, while a rectangular dining table is ideal for over six diners.
As you make your kitchen table choice based on shape, you shouldn’t pick a rectangular dining table if your small dining room is square-shaped. Also, if your dining room is rectangular, a circular table isn’t the best choice either.
Instead, you can have a round table for your square dining room and a rectangular table for a rectangular dining room. However, if you prefer oval dining tables, it’s a perfect match for your rectangular dining room.
Dining Room Rag Size
The probability of finding a dining rag in a typical household may be low, but several homes have such rags. So if you’re measuring your rag size against the dining table, ensure it’s thirty inches longer than the table on all sides.
It is the ideal recommended measure for free body movement if the rag gets included. Additionally, allow at least forty-eight inches of space between the walls and the table.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does table size determine seat capacity?
No. As previously mentioned, there’s a possibility of squeezing in more seats at the table, for example, squeezing in two more seats in a four-seater dining table.
However, this is only possible with the right chair designs. But if you settle for standard chairs meant solely for the kitchen table you’ve chosen, it might not be possible to squeeze in more seats.
What are the measurements for ideal dining chairs?
The average size of a dining chair should be approximately 16 to 20 inches wide. If you’re measuring, add 6 inches on the widest point. The widest point on a seat is usually on or at the chair’s back. In addition, ensure there’s a 12-inch allowance between the seat and the tabletop.
That measurement should remain constant regardless of the table height. You should leave a seven-inch space between the table apron and the chair armrest for dining chairs with armrests.
How Can I space the chairs properly around my dining table?
Typical dining chair height ranges between seventeen and nineteen inches, while dining table heights range between 29.5 and 30.5 inches. However, you have to leave enough small space for leg crossing and free body movement. At the tabletop, there should be enough.
Also, that space measurement should include the table apron. As for spacing around the small kitchen table, twenty-four-inch chair spacing should suffice between two adjacent chair center points.
What should be the distance between the lighting fixtures and the tabletop?
As you already know, the lighting fixtures add more elegance to the beauty of your dining room. So you should choose one that best fits your dining area. As for the distance, the lighting fixture should be sixty to sixty-six inches from the tabletop.
How much space should I allocate per chair?
Two inches per chair is the best spacing, and this rule of thumb for seats is =for tables with fixed capacities— for example, four-seaters for four diners or six seaters for six diners.
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John Thompson, Writer and Commentator, EvolutDesign.com
Soldier, writer, researcher, consultant, and bon vivant, John Thompson is the author of numerous columns, op-eds, reports, briefs, short stories and books as the “Felicity Files” and “Spirit Over Steel: A Chronology of the Second World War” (version III). Often found hunched over his computer, or in his garden, and now often found doing both. His diverse talent has led him to work in industries and projects such as energy, security and home construction and renovation. To see the entire team at Evolutdesign.com, visit Our Team page.
