Choosing a dining table starts with three numbers: the size of the room, the number of people you seat on an ordinary day, and the number you seat a few times a year. Shape, base and top material follow from those. This guide gives the typical measurements used in planning, so you can check a model against your room before you ask for a quote.
Sitdesign makes every dining table by hand in its own factory in Büyükçekmece, Istanbul. The dining table collection has standard models, and custom dimensions are available on request, which helps when a room is a few centimetres short of a standard size.
Start with the room, not the table
A common rule is to leave about 90 cm between the table edge and a wall or another piece of furniture, so a chair can be pulled out and someone can still pass behind it. Where people walk past regularly, for example on the way to a kitchen or terrace, 100–120 cm is more comfortable. In a dining area 300 cm wide, 90 cm on each side leaves 120 cm, so a table 90–100 cm wide fits with room to spare. Our guide on how circulation patterns influence furniture placement covers walking routes in more detail.
Height matters as much as footprint. Dining tables are typically 74–76 cm high and dining chairs have a seat height of about 45–48 cm, which leaves 28–30 cm between seat and tabletop. Check this pair of numbers whenever you combine a table and chairs from different collections.
How many people each size seats
Allow about 60 cm of table edge per person, or 70 cm if the chairs have arms or you prefer generous spacing. Typical sizes and capacities:
- Rectangular 160 × 90 cm: 6 people
- Rectangular 200 × 100 cm: 6–8 people
- Rectangular 240 × 100–110 cm: 8–10 people
- Rectangular 280–300 × 110 cm: 10–12 people
- Round Ø 110–120 cm: 4–5 people
- Round Ø 140–150 cm: 6 people
- Round Ø 160–180 cm: 7–8 people
- Oval 200 × 110 cm: 6–8 people
If you want someone at each end of a rectangular table, it should be at least 90 cm wide; on narrower tops the person at the head knocks knees with the diners at the corners.
Round, oval or rectangular
Rectangular tables suit long, narrow rooms and open-plan spaces where the table lines up with a sideboard, a kitchen island or a window wall. They are the easiest shape to scale up for ten or more people.
Round tables let everyone see and talk to everyone, and having no corners helps in tight or square rooms. They suit four to six people. Above roughly 160 cm in diameter the person opposite is far away and the centre of the table is hard to reach, so an oval is usually the better choice for larger groups.
Oval tables give the seating capacity of a rectangle with softer ends, which eases circulation in rooms where people pass close to the table. Square tables seat four at 90–100 cm, but large squares leave a deep centre that nobody can reach.
Pedestal base or four legs
The base decides where chairs can go and how stable the top feels.
- Four corner legs: very stable and well suited to long tables, but the legs fix the chair positions. Measure the clear distance between the legs if you want three chairs on a long side.
- Central pedestal or sculptural base: no legs to work around, so an extra chair can be added. Common on round and oval tables. Check the base footprint: there should be enough knee room between the edge of the top and the base.
- Two panel or trestle bases: a good option for long tables, with open sides for chairs and the bases set in from the ends.
Whatever the base, look for at least 62–65 cm of clear height under the top or any frame rail, so legs and armrests slide underneath.
Wood veneer or marble top
Wood veneer is a thin layer of real wood on a stable core. It keeps the grain consistent across a large top and moves less with humidity than wide solid boards. It feels warm to the touch and is quiet when plates are set down. Use mats and coasters against heat and water rings.
Marble is heavy and cool, and every slab has its own veining. A polished finish can show etching from acidic liquids such as lemon juice or wine; a honed, matt finish hides it better. Weight is a practical point: a large marble top needs a base sized for it and careful planning for delivery to upper floors. You can compare the stones on our marble materials page.
Choosing chairs with the table
Dining chairs are typically 45–55 cm wide; chairs with arms need 60 cm or more of table edge each, which reduces capacity. Upholstered chairs are more comfortable for long dinners, and ours can be covered in genuine leather or fabric, with customer's own material (COM) accepted. As examples, the Prisma dining table is shown with upholstered chairs, and the Siena dining table pairs well with Rory dining chairs.
Before you contact us, measure the room, note how many people you seat daily and at most, and decide between a pedestal and legs. Send us the dimensions through our contact page, and we will suggest a model and size, prepare a quote and send leather samples for the chairs on request.
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