Tablecloth Sizes: Chart and Drop Length Calculator
A tablecloth is sized from the table, not the room: add the overhang you want on each side to the table's length and width. These charts pair every common table with the standard cloth sizes and the drop each one gives.
Add twice the drop to the table's dimensions. For a casual 8- to 12-inch drop, a 36 × 36 in table takes a 52 × 52 in cloth, a 40 × 60 in table a 60 × 84 in cloth, and a 48 in round a 70 in round cloth. To reach the floor on a standard 30-inch-high table, add 60 in: a 6-ft banquet table needs a 90 × 132 in cloth.
- Formula
- Table + 2 × drop
- Casual drop
- 8-12 in (20-30 cm)
- Floor-length drop
- 29-30 in (74-76 cm)
- 6-ft banquet, floor
- 90 × 132 in
On this page
How to work out the tablecloth size
- Measure the tabletop: length and width for rectangles, or the diameter for rounds. Leaves in or out changes the size, so measure the setup you will use.
- Choose the drop, the length the cloth hangs below the edge on each side (see the drop table below).
- Add the drop twice to each dimension. A 40 × 72 in table with a 10-inch drop needs 60 × 92 in.
- Pick the nearest standard size, usually the next one up. A 60 × 90 in cloth is close; 60 × 102 in gives longer ends.
Measure the table height too if you want a floor-length cloth. Dining tables are typically 28 to 30 in (71 to 76 cm) tall, and the floor drop should equal that height, or about half an inch less so the hem clears the floor.
Tablecloth drop lengths
| Style | Drop | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Minimal / everyday | 6-8 in (15-20 cm) | Stays clear of laps; good with children |
| Standard dining | 8-12 in (20-30 cm) | The usual choice for home meals |
| Formal | 15 in (38 cm) | Dinner parties, holidays; rests on laps when seated |
| Floor length | 29-30 in (74-76 cm) | Weddings, buffets, banquet and display tables |
The longer the drop, the more of it rests on guests' laps. Chair seats sit about 12 in (30 cm) below the tabletop, so a 15-inch formal drop reaches past the seat. That is fine at a formal dinner, but a long drop is easier to catch and pull when someone stands up.
Rectangular and square tablecloth sizes
| Table size | Seats | Cloth | Drop (sides / ends) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 34 × 34 in (card table) | 4 | 52 × 52 in | 9 / 9 in |
| 36 × 36 in | 4 | 52 × 52 in | 8 / 8 in |
| 40 × 40 in | 4 | 60 × 60 in | 10 / 10 in |
| 36 × 48 in | 4 | 52 × 70 in | 8 / 11 in |
| 36 × 60 in | 4-6 | 52 × 70 in or 60 × 84 in | 8 / 5 in or 12 / 12 in |
| 40 × 60 in | 6 | 60 × 84 in | 10 / 12 in |
| 40 × 72 in | 6 | 60 × 90 in or 60 × 102 in | 10 / 9 in or 10 / 15 in |
| 40 × 84 in | 8 | 60 × 102 in | 10 / 9 in |
| 42 × 96 in | 8-10 | 60 × 120 in | 9 / 12 in |
| 42 × 108 in | 10 | 60 × 126 in or 60 × 144 in | 9 / 9 in or 9 / 18 in |
Drops under 6 in look like a cloth that is too small, and very uneven drops (5 in on the sides, 20 in at the ends) look accidental. When two standard sizes are close, choose the one that keeps side and end drops within a few inches of each other. Standard dining table sizes are in the dining table dimensions guide.
Round tablecloth sizes
| Table diameter | Seats | Cloth for 8-15 in drop | Floor length (30 in table) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 30 in (76 cm) | 2 | 52-54 in round (11-12 in drop) | 90 in round |
| 36 in (91 cm) | 4 | 60 in round (12 in drop) | 90-96 in round |
| 42 in (107 cm) | 4 | 60 in (9 in) or 70 in (14 in) | 102 in round |
| 48 in (122 cm) | 4-6 | 70 in round (11 in drop) | 108 in round |
| 54 in (137 cm) | 6 | 70 in (8 in) or 84 in (15 in) | 114-120 in round |
| 60 in (152 cm) | 6-8 | 90 in round (15 in drop) | 120 in round |
| 72 in (183 cm) | 8-10 | 90 in round (9 in drop) | 132 in round |
Round cloths draped over round tables form even folds. A square cloth on a round table also works and leaves four points hanging: a 70 × 70 in square on a 48-inch round gives an 11-inch drop at the sides and about 26 in at the corners.
Banquet and event table linens
Event tables are standard sizes, which is why rental linens come in only a handful of sizes. Floor-length cloths assume a 30-inch-high table.
| Table | Size | Partial drop | To the floor |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4-ft rectangle | 48 × 30 in | 60 × 90 in (15 / 21 in) | 90 × 108 in |
| 6-ft rectangle | 72 × 30 in | 60 × 120 in (15 / 24 in) | 90 × 132 in |
| 8-ft rectangle | 96 × 30 in | 60 × 144 in (15 / 24 in) | 90 × 156 in |
| 60-in round | Seats 8 | 90 in round (15 in) | 120 in round |
| 72-in round | Seats 10 | 90 in round (9 in) | 132 in round |
| Cocktail table, 30 in round, 42 in high | Standing | Not used | 120 in round (slight puddle), or 132 in tied at the waist |
The 90 × 132 in size comes straight from the formula: 30 in wide + 2 × 30 in drop = 90 in, and 72 in long + 2 × 30 in = 132 in. Use the same arithmetic for any other table height.
Metric tablecloth sizes
European tablecloths are sold in centimeters. The 140 cm width is the most common, sized for tables 80 to 100 cm wide.
| Cloth | Inches | Fits a table of about |
|---|---|---|
| 130 × 130 cm | 51 × 51 | 80-90 cm square |
| 140 × 180 cm | 55 × 71 | 90 × 130 cm (4-6 seats) |
| 140 × 240 cm | 55 × 94 | 90 × 180 cm (6-8 seats) |
| 160 × 300 cm | 63 × 118 | 100 × 240 cm (8-10 seats) |
| 160 cm round | 63 round | 100-110 cm round |
| 180 cm round | 71 round | 120-130 cm round |
Tablecloth mistakes to avoid
- Ignoring shrinkage. Cotton and linen cloths that are not pre-shrunk can lose a few percent in length after the first wash, which on a 120-inch cloth is several inches. Polyester and blends barely shrink.
- Forgetting table leaves. A 60-inch table that extends to 84 in needs a second, longer cloth or a cloth sized for the extended length folded under.
- Mixing rectangles and ovals. A rectangular cloth on an oval table hangs lower at the corners; an oval cloth on a rectangular table leaves the corners bare.
- Layering without math. Over a floor-length base cloth, the overlay is usually a square with a 6- to 15-inch drop. On a 60-inch round with a 120-inch base, that means a 72 × 72 in topper (6 in at the sides) or a 90 × 90 in topper (15 in).
A table runner or placemats can replace a cloth on a good tabletop, and cloth napkins in a matching fabric are cut from the same yardage.
Frequently asked questions
What is a standard tablecloth size?
The most common retail sizes are 52 × 70 in, 60 × 84 in, 60 × 102 in and 60 × 120 in for rectangles, 52 × 52 and 60 × 60 in for squares, and 60, 70 and 90 in for rounds. A 60 × 84 in cloth fits the typical 6-seat table of about 40 × 60 in.
How much should a tablecloth hang over?
For everyday meals, 8 to 12 in (20 to 30 cm) on every side. Formal dinners use 15 in (38 cm) or more, and events often go all the way to the floor, about 29 to 30 in on a standard table.
What size tablecloth for a 6-foot table?
A 6-ft banquet table is 72 × 30 in and about 30 in high. A 60 × 120 in cloth gives a 15-in drop on the sides and 24 in at the ends; a 90 × 132 in cloth reaches the floor on all four sides.
What size tablecloth for an 8-foot table?
An 8-ft banquet table is 96 × 30 in. Use 60 × 126 in or 60 × 144 in for a partial drop, or 90 × 156 in to reach the floor on all sides.
Can I use a rectangular tablecloth on an oval table?
Yes. Use the same size you would for a rectangular table of the same length and width; the corners hang a little lower than the sides. Oval cloths in the same sizes give an even drop all round.