What Size Outdoor Table Do You Need? cm Seating Guide
Guide / Outdoor Tables
What Size Outdoor Table Do You Need? Seats, Dimensions and Clearance (cm Guide)
Real dimensions by seat count, round versus rectangular, and the clearance most people forget until the chairs will not pull out.
Outdoor Furniture Ideas · 5 min read
The right size is the one that seats everyone comfortably and still lets the chairs move. Both come down to a few numbers.
Working out what size outdoor table you need comes down to two numbers: how much table each person needs to eat comfortably, and how much floor space you need around it to actually use the chairs. Get both right and the setting feels generous. Get them wrong and you either crowd your guests or block the walkway. Here are the real dimensions in centimetres, by seat count.
No. 01
How much table each person needs
Every size below comes from one figure: a comfortable place setting is about 60cm wide and 40cm deep. That gives each person room for a plate, glass and cutlery without elbowing the person beside them. Add a shared strip of around 20cm down the centre for serving dishes, and you have the width and depth any table needs to seat a given number.
You can squeeze to 55cm per person for casual use, but 60cm is the number to design around. Everything that follows is built on it.
No. 02
Outdoor table size by seat count
Use this as the starting point. Rectangular widths assume 90 to 100cm so two people can sit opposite each other with the serving strip between them.
| Seats | Round (diameter) | Rectangular (L x W) | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 60 to 70cm | 70 x 70cm | Balconies, coffee, bistro |
| 4 | 90 to 110cm | 120 to 150 x 90cm | Couples, small families |
| 6 | 125 to 140cm | 180 to 200 x 90 to 100cm | The everyday family standard |
| 8 | 150 to 180cm | 220 to 250 x 100cm | Regular entertainers |
| 10+ | Not practical past 8 | 280 to 320 x 100cm | Big gatherings, extendable |
If you are close to a size boundary, go up rather than down. A slightly larger table rarely feels wrong; a tight one does every meal. Browse by the numbers on our 4 seater outdoor tables and 6 seater outdoor tables pages.
No. 03
Round, rectangular or extendable at each size
Shape changes how a table seats and fits, not just how it looks:
- Round seats people evenly and suits conversation, and a round table tucks into a square or tight corner better than a rectangle. It works well up to six; past that the diameter gets too wide to reach across. See the range of round outdoor tables.
- Rectangular is the most space-efficient for six or more and can sit against a wall or rail when not in full use. It is the default for larger alfresco settings.
- Extendable covers both. It runs small for weeknight dinners and opens out for a crowd, which is the right call if your seat count swings between everyday and Christmas. Look at extendable outdoor tables if your numbers are not fixed.
No. 04
Clearance: the space around the table
The table dimension is only half the footprint. You need room to pull a chair out and stand:
- Allow 90cm from the table edge to the nearest wall, rail or planter. That is enough to slide a chair back and stand without hitting anything. 70cm is the bare minimum and feels tight.
- Add 100cm if people walk behind seated diners. A 90cm pull-out plus a walkway needs about a metre so someone can pass without anyone tucking in.
- Total floor space is the tabletop plus roughly 90cm on every side you seat. A 200 x 90cm six-seater wants an area of about 380 x 270cm to work properly.
Measure the clear area first, subtract the clearance, and the space that is left is the largest tabletop your area can take.
Leave about 90cm around every seated side. It is the number most people find out they were short on after the table arrives.
No. 05
Umbrella hole and base sizing
If your table has a centre hole for a through-table umbrella, the pole and base need to match the canopy so it stays up in a breeze. The base sits under the table and does the anchoring, and the size you need scales with the canopy, not the table. We have the full breakdown in what size umbrella base do I need, and the range on our outdoor umbrella bases page.
“Size the table to the people, then size the space to the chairs. Skip the second step and the table never sits right.”
Small Spaces
Balcony and small-space sizing
Where a full setting will not fit, the rules bend:
- A 60 to 70cm round bistro table seats two and needs far less pull-out room than a dining chair, so it suits a balcony where 90cm of clearance is not on offer.
- Push a small rectangular table against the rail and seat from one or two sides only. You lose seats but reclaim the walkway.
- Bench seating tucks fully under the table when not in use, which frees the floor on a tight patio in a way individual chairs cannot.
Found Your Size?
Browse outdoor tables by seat count
Shop the full range by size, or go extendable if your table has to do both weeknight dinners and Christmas.
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