What size
tablecloth?
Measure the tabletop, pick how far the cloth should hang, add that drop twice. Three numbers and a tape measure — the whole method fits in one line.
Drop is measured from the edge of the tabletop downwards — not up from the floor. Your table’s height never enters the formula. A 30 in drop reaches the floor on a dining table and stops a foot short on a bar table.
Measure the tabletop
Do this: measure the tabletop · Write down: round → diameter. Any other shape → length and width.
Measure the table itself, never an old cloth — cloths shrink, stretch and lose their shape, so they lie to you.
- Round. The diameter, straight across the centre at the widest point.
- Rectangular. Length and width, both measured. Do not assume the table is symmetrical.
- Square. One side, then check the others match.
- Oval. The longest length and the widest width — then treat it as a rectangle.
Do not round your numbers. If the table is 59½ in, write 59½ in. On round tables especially, half an inch shows.
Choose the drop
Do this: pick one drop · Write down: 6 in, 15 in or 30 in.
Drop is how far the cloth hangs below the tabletop edge. It sets both the formality and whether people can sit comfortably.
Add the drop twice
Do this: add the drop to each dimension twice · That answer is the cloth size.
The cloth hangs on both sides, so every dimension gains the drop twice — once for the left, once for the right.
| Shape | Cloth size |
|---|---|
| Round | diameter + (drop × 2) |
| Rectangular, square, oval | length + (drop × 2) width + (drop × 2) |
One table, start to finish
- A dining table. The tape says 30 in wide × 60 in long.
- Everyday meals, so the short drop: 6 in.
- Add it twice to each side: 30 + 6 + 6 and 60 + 6 + 6.
Cloth size: 42 × 72 in
That answer is the size we make. Not the nearest one on a list — that number. The same table with a lap-length 15 in drop comes out at 60 × 90 in instead, and that is equally fine. Whatever the arithmetic gives you, send us that. The reference table below is there if you want to sanity-check the number first.
Going the other way: (cloth − table) ÷ 2 tells you the drop of a cloth you already own.
Every cloth is cut to your table
There is no size list to squeeze your table into. You give us the tabletop and the drop you want, and that is the cloth we make — round, square, rectangular or oval. The table below is here for a different reason: it shows what a given cloth width lands on, so you can sanity-check a number before you send it.
| Your table width | 42 in cloth | 48 in cloth | 53 in cloth |
|---|---|---|---|
| 28 in | 7 | 10 | 12.5 |
| 30 in — the common one | 6 | 9 | 11.5 |
| 36 in | 3 | 6 | 8.5 |
| 40 in | 1 | 4 | 6.5 |
| 44 in | — | 2 | 4.5 |
Read it as a feel for the numbers, not as a menu. A 30 in table with a 53 in cloth lands at 11.5 in of drop — past short, just under lap length, which is where most dining tables look right. Want a true 15 in lap drop on that table instead? That is a 60 in cloth, and we make it to your measurements.
Bigger than that
Floor-length cloths, banquet tables and big rounds all run wide, and none of them is a problem — they are made to your measurements like everything else. Send us the table: shape, the tabletop measurements and the drop you want. We confirm the size with you before anything is printed, because after printing the cloth exists and cannot be unmade.
| Table | Short 6 in | Lap 15 in | Floor 30 in |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 ft table (72 × 30) | 42 × 84 | 60 × 102 | 90 × 132 |
| 8 ft table (96 × 30) | 42 × 108 | 60 × 126 | 90 × 156 |
| 4 ft round (48 in) | 60 round | 78 round | 108 round |
| 5 ft round (60 in) | 72 round | 90 round | 120 round |
These are the sizes the event-linen trade stocks — useful if you want to compare your number against a familiar one. We are not limited to them.
The awkward ones
- Bar and cocktail tables. They stand about 42 in tall, not 30. A 30 in drop leaves a foot of leg showing — you need a 42 in drop to reach the floor.
- Square tables. Fabric has further to travel at the corners than along the sides, so a square cloth reads slightly shorter at the corners. Size up if you want the corners to hang level.
- Oval tables. Use the rectangular formula on the longest and widest points. The curve takes care of itself.
- Outdoors. Short or lap length, every time. Floor length picks up damp grass, catches wind and never hangs straight on uneven ground.
- Extending tables. Measure with the leaf in if that is how it will be used, and check the cloth still works closed.
What goes wrong
How ours are made
Worth knowing before you order, because two of these change what number you should send us.
Now do the arithmetic here
Put in the tabletop and the drop you chose, and this gives you the cloth size — the three steps above turned into numbers. Add a row for each table. Nothing is sent anywhere: it stays in your browser and it is still here when you come back.
Between two sizes? Take the larger one. A cloth that hangs an inch long reads as a choice; one that hangs an inch short reads as a mistake.
Questions
What size tablecloth fits a 6 ft table?
A 6 ft dining table is usually 72 by 30 inches. With a short drop that is a 42 by 84 inch cloth; with a lap-length drop, 60 by 102. Floor length would be 90 by 132 — wider than a single 53 inch width, and cut to your measurements like the rest. Send us the table.
What size fits a 60 inch round table?
72 inches round for a short drop, 90 for lap length, 120 for floor length. All three are wider than a single 53 inch width, so a round cloth that size is cut to your measurements. Send us the table and we will tell you what is possible.
How do I work out the drop of a cloth I already own?
Subtract the table measurement from the cloth measurement and halve it. A 60 inch cloth on a 30 inch wide table gives a 15 inch drop on each side.
Should the tablecloth touch the floor?
For a dining table where people sit for a while, no. Lap length keeps the fabric off knees. Floor length belongs on tables nobody sits at: cake tables, display tables, head tables.
Can I order a size that is not on the list?
Yes. Everything is made after you order, so a size that is not listed is not a special favour, it is just a different number. Tell us the table and the drop you want.
Why does my finished cloth measure slightly differently?
The fabric has some give, so finished sizes can vary by up to an inch. On a drop of six inches or more it is invisible, which is another reason to size up rather than down.
Can I wash it?
Yes, at 30°C, and you can wipe it between courses without washing at all. No bleach, and iron on the reverse at a low temperature if it needs it.
Can you print my own pattern or logo?
Yes. We print custom artwork on cloths for parties, restaurants and events, and there are better prices on larger runs. Send us the artwork and the table size together.