Buying a dining table without checking real seating capacity is one of the most common furniture mistakes — tables are often marketed by a “seats 6” label that assumes a squeeze. Here’s how to work out what you’ll actually fit, comfortably.
The space each person actually needs
For comfortable dining, allow roughly 60-70cm of table width per person. Anything tighter and elbows start colliding.
Table sizes and realistic seating
- 110-120cm round table: comfortably seats 4
- 150-160cm rectangular table: comfortably seats 6
- 180-200cm rectangular table: comfortably seats 6-8
- 220cm+ rectangular table: comfortably seats 8-10
Our 6-Seater Wooden Patio Dining Set is sized to genuinely seat six adults comfortably — not a tight squeeze.
Don’t forget chair clearance
Beyond the table itself, allow at least 90cm behind each seat so people can pull chairs out and walk behind seated guests. This is the space most people forget to measure — and the reason a table that “fits” the room can still feel cramped in use.
Matching chairs to your table
Upholstered chairs, like our Velvet Padded Dining Chairs, are slightly wider than hard dining chairs — factor that into your per-person spacing if you’re choosing padded seating.
Rectangular vs round: which seats more efficiently?
Round tables use space more efficiently for smaller groups (4-6) since there are no “corner” seats being wasted. Rectangular tables scale better for larger groups and make it easier to add an extra chair at the ends when needed.
Choosing the right size for your room
Measure your dining space, subtract at least 90cm of walking clearance on each side, and that’s your real table footprint — not the room size. Browse our full Dining Room collection to find the right fit, or ask our team for advice on your space.