Table Runner Sizes: Width and Length for Every Table
A runner's length depends on how much you want it to hang over the ends, and its width on the space left between place settings. Two simple rules and a chart cover every dining, banquet and round table.
Standard table runners are 12 to 16 in (30 to 40 cm) wide, most often 13 or 14 in, and come in lengths of 36, 54, 72, 90, 108 and 120 in. Choose a width of about one third of the table's width, and a length of the table plus 12 in (a 6-inch drop at each end): a 72-inch table needs 84 in, so the nearest standard size, 13 × 90 in, gives a 9-inch drop.
- Standard width
- 13-14 in (33-36 cm)
- Width rule
- About 1/3 of table
- Length rule
- Table + 12 in
- 6-ft banquet
- 108 in long
On this page
Standard table runner sizes
| Size (in) | Size (cm) | Fits |
|---|---|---|
| 12-14 × 36 | 30-36 × 91 | Coffee tables, consoles, 36-48 in tables without overhang |
| 13 × 54 | 33 × 137 | Round tables 36-48 in, small square tables, dressers |
| 13-14 × 72 | 33-36 × 183 | Tables 48-60 in long (4-6 seats) |
| 13-14 × 90 | 33-36 × 229 | Tables 72-78 in long (6-8 seats) |
| 13-14 × 108 | 33-36 × 274 | Tables 84-96 in long, 6-ft banquet tables |
| 14-16 × 120 | 36-40 × 305 | Tables 96-108 in long, 8-ft banquet tables |
Retail runner lengths step in 18-inch increments (36, 54, 72, 90, 108 in), so the next size up gives 9 extra inches of drop at each end. European runners are sold in centimeters and are often around 40 cm (16 in) wide, at the wide end of the US range, so check the width against your table.
How long should a table runner be?
Decide on the overhang first. Then runner length = table length + 2 × overhang.
| Table length | No overhang (stops 3-6 in short) | 6 in drop each end | 12 in drop each end |
|---|---|---|---|
| 48 in (122 cm) | 36-42 in | 60 in (use 54 or 72) | 72 in |
| 60 in (152 cm) | 48-54 in | 72 in | 84 in (use 90) |
| 72 in (183 cm) | 60-66 in | 84 in (use 90) | 96 in (use 90 or 108) |
| 84 in (213 cm) | 72-78 in | 96 in (use 90 or 108) | 108 in |
| 96 in (244 cm) | 84-90 in | 108 in | 120 in |
| 108 in (274 cm) | 96-102 in | 120 in | 132 in |
- 6-inch drop: the everyday look. The ends hang just past the edge and do not get in the way of anyone at the head of the table.
- 12-inch to 15-inch drop: more formal; matches the drop of a standard tablecloth if you layer the runner over one.
- No overhang: the runner stops 3 to 6 in from each end. It suits tables with someone seated at the ends, coffee tables and sideboards.
How wide should a table runner be?
About one third of the table's width leaves room for a place setting on each side. Most dining tables are 36 to 42 in wide, which is why 12 to 14 in is the standard.
| Table width | Runner width | Room left per side |
|---|---|---|
| 30 in (76 cm) | 10-12 in | 9-10 in |
| 36 in (91 cm) | 12-13 in | 11.5-12 in |
| 40 in (102 cm) | 13-14 in | 13-13.5 in |
| 42 in (107 cm) | 14 in | 14 in |
| 48 in (122 cm) | 15-16 in | 16-16.5 in |
A standard placemat is 12 in deep, so on a 36-inch table two mats and a 12-inch runner fill the width exactly. If you use mats, keep the runner narrow enough that mats sit flat on the table rather than half on the fabric. The dining table size guide lists standard widths by seating.
Runners on round and square tables
A single runner across a round table works like one on a rectangle: diameter plus the overhang at each end. Two crossed runners make an X or a plus and give each quarter of the table a defined space.
| Table | One runner, 6-12 in drop | Width |
|---|---|---|
| 36 in round or square | 48-60 in (use 54) | 12 in |
| 42 in round or square | 54-66 in (use 54 or 72) | 12-13 in |
| 48 in round | 60-72 in (use 72) | 13-14 in |
| 60 in round | 72-84 in (use 72 or 90) | 14 in |
| 72 in round | 84-96 in (use 90) | 14-16 in |
On rounds, a full-width runner leaves less room for the plates at its ends. For 6 or more diners on a 60-inch round, many hosts skip the runner and use a centerpiece on a 14- to 18-inch round mat instead.
Banquet and event table runners
Banquet tables are 30 in wide and about 30 in tall, so runners are narrower than for home dining tables.
| Table | Size | Partial drop | To the floor both ends |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4-ft | 48 × 30 in | 72 in (12 in each end) | 108 in |
| 6-ft | 72 × 30 in | 108 in (18 in each end) | 132 in |
| 8-ft | 96 × 30 in | 120 in (12 in each end) | 156 in |
Runners for banquet tables are usually 12 in wide. On a long row of tables pushed end to end, run one continuous runner per 2 or 3 tables rather than one per table, or lay runners crosswise at each pair of seats: 30-inch table + 2 × 9 in = a 12 × 48 in runner hangs 9 in on each side.
Runners for coffee tables, sideboards and dressers
- Coffee tables: the runner usually stops short of both ends. A 48-inch coffee table takes a 36-inch runner, centered with 6 in of bare wood at each end. See the coffee table size guide for standard tops.
- Sideboards and buffets: runner length about two thirds to the full length of the top, with no drop, or a short drop of 2 to 4 in if the front is plain.
- Dressers: a narrow 12-inch runner with no overhang protects the top from bottles and trays.
Add 1 in to each dimension for ½-inch hems, or 2 in to the length if you add a pointed end. A 14 × 108 in runner needs a cut piece 15 × 109 in, which is just over 3 yd of fabric when cut along the length. Two runners fit side by side across 44-inch fabric.
Coordinate the set with napkins in the same fabric: the leftover width after cutting two runners from 44-inch fabric (about 12 in) is enough for a row of 10-inch cocktail napkins.
Frequently asked questions
What is the standard size for a table runner?
The most common size is about 13 × 72 in or 14 × 72 in (33-36 × 183 cm) for small tables, and 13 or 14 × 90 to 108 in for 6- to 8-seat dining tables. Runners are sold in lengths from 36 to 120 in.
How wide should a table runner be?
About one third of the table's width. A 36-inch-wide table takes a 12- to 13-inch runner, a 40 to 42 in table a 14-inch runner. Wider than about 16 in starts to crowd the place settings.
Should a table runner hang over the edge?
Usually yes, by 6 to 12 in (15 to 30 cm) at each end. For a formal look the drop can match the tablecloth drop, about 15 in. A runner that stops a few inches short of each end also works, especially on coffee tables and sideboards.
What size runner for a 6-foot table?
A 6-ft banquet table is 72 × 30 in. A 108-inch runner hangs 18 in over each end; a 90-inch one hangs 9 in. To reach the floor at both ends of a 30-inch-high table, use 132 in. Use a 12-inch-wide runner on a 30-inch-wide table.
Can I use a table runner with placemats?
Yes. On a 36-inch table, two 12 × 18 in placemats leave 12 in between them, which a 12- to 13-inch runner fills exactly. Runners can also be laid across the table to serve as a shared placemat for two diners facing each other.