The dining table brings the family and guests together, and a wrong size shows at the first dinner: cramped chairs, or a table that swallows the room. This guide sums up the measurements we use in the Woodhouse workshop in Riyadh, so you can choose a table that fits your family and your room.
The basic rule: 60 cm per person
Each person needs about 60 cm of table length to eat comfortably, and 65–70 cm with armchairs or long dinners. If someone sits at the head, add about 15 cm at each end.
A comfortable table width is 90–110 cm. Narrower and dishes get crowded; wider than 120 cm and talking across the table gets hard.
Suggested sizes by number of people
| People | Rectangular (length × width) | Round (diameter) |
|---|---|---|
| 4 | 120–140 × 80–90 cm | 100–110 cm |
| 6 | 160–180 × 90–100 cm | 120–140 cm |
| 8 | 200–240 × 100–110 cm | 150–160 cm |
| 10 | 260–300 × 110–120 cm | Usually not suitable |
Standard table height is 75 cm and chair seat height 45–48 cm, leaving about 27–30 cm between seat and tabletop.
The space around the table matters more than the table
So guests can stand up and others can walk behind them, leave at least 90 cm between the table edge and the wall or sideboard (75 cm minimum in small rooms). Simply: room size = table size + about 180 cm in length and width.
Example: a 240 × 100 cm table for 8 needs a room of about 4.2 × 2.8 m. If a sideboard stands on one wall, subtract its depth (about 45–55 cm) first.
Rectangular, oval or round?
- Rectangular: best for long rooms and large gatherings; seats the most people.
- Oval: almost the same capacity without corners, so moving around is easier and it looks softer, like the River Oval Dining Table and the Asala table.
- Round: great for 4–6 people and square rooms, and everyone can see each other; beyond 8 people the diameter gets too large.
Quick tips before you order
- Measure the room, doorways and lift before ordering, especially for tables over 240 cm.
- Size for the number of people you host every week, not the biggest dinner of the year.
- Sculptural bases (like the Loop Artistic table) need a check that chairs won’t hit them.
Need a size that isn’t listed? We make it for you
Every Woodhouse piece is made in our Riyadh workshop, and most tables can be adjusted in size or material to fit your room. Send us your room size through custom orders, or book a free consultation with a designer. Browse all dining tables here.