Table Linen Size Information

A beautiful dining table starts with quality linens of the right sizes. The linens set the backdrop for the china and table-wear, and they set the tone for the table. The mood and style of the table will suggest the size of the linens, so knowing a few guidelines will help you choose the right size of linens for your table. Does this Spark an idea?

Size and Style

A general guideline in table linen selection is that larger is more luxurious. This stems from the expense that used to be incurred in the production of fine table linens and the belief this generated that larger meant the homeowner had more money. Larger also suggests a more formal decor; short table cloths and small napkins are more suited to casual dining. For example, small napkins are more often used at a breakfast table and to-the-floor tablecloths are rarely used anywhere but at a formal banquet.

Tablecloths

Casual dining suggests a table cloth drop of 8 to 12 inches. "Drop" is the length of the table cloth from the table surface to the bottom of the hem. A rectangular table, 48 inches by 92 inches, that seats eight people requires a table cloth 64 inches by 108 inches for an 8-inch drop. For formal dining, the table cloth for this table would be 128 inches by 152 inches. (Add the table width or length plus two times the table height for this measurement). A drop to the top of the chair seat is very common in better restaurants and semi-formal home dining rooms.

Napkins

Fabric cocktail napkins are rare, but if used they are most often 6 or 7 inches square. Breakfast or small lunch tables have less room per person and the napkin should be smaller; usually these napkins are 13 to 20 inches square. The more formal the dinner, the larger the napkin. Twenty inches square is the minimum, 24 inches square is the most common, and 27 or 28 inches square is luxuriously large.

Placemats and Runners

Placemats must be large enough to accommodate the plate, side plate, cutlery and glasses for each place setting. Typically each place setting at a table is allocated 24 inches. Leaving 4 or 5 inches between placemats is standard; therefore, a placemat should be 19 to 20 inches wide. Set a "test" place setting, measure the width and depth of the setting and buy the placemat based on these measurements. The width of a runner is typically equal to 1/3 the width of the table with a drop of no more than 10 inches.