How to Choose a Custom Dining Table: Size, Shape, Base and Wood
A dining table is the one piece of furniture that gathers everyone. Getting it right comes down to a few measurements, a shape that suits the room, a base that leaves room for knees, and a wood you'll love for decades. Here's how we walk clients through it.
Start With the Room
Clearance: leave at least 36 inches between the table edge and the nearest wall or furniture, and 42 to 48 inches where people walk behind seated guests.
Width: most rectangular tables are 36 to 42 inches wide. Narrower feels tight once plates and serving dishes are down; wider makes it hard to talk across.
Height: standard dining height is about 30 inches, with 12 inches between the seat and the underside of the top.
How Many Will It Seat?
Allow about 24 inches of edge per person, and more for armchairs. Typical rectangular sizes:
6 feet (72 inches): seats 6
7 feet (84 inches): seats 6 to 8
8 feet (96 inches): seats 8
9 to 10 feet: seats 8 to 10
11 to 12 feet: seats 10 to 12
For round tables, a 48-inch top seats 4 comfortably, 60 inches seats 6, and 72 inches seats 8.
Choosing a Shape
Rectangle: the most seating for the floor space, and the natural fit for long rooms.
Round: everyone can see and talk to everyone. Best for square rooms and smaller groups.
Oval: the seating of a rectangle with softer corners that are easier to walk around.
The Base Matters More Than You Think
Four legs: classic and stable. Keep the legs inset enough that end chairs fit comfortably.
Trestle: frees up the length of the table, so chairs can slide in anywhere along the sides.
Angled or splayed legs: a contemporary look with a strong presence, such as legs set at 45 degrees.
Pedestal: the best choice for round tables, with no legs to bump into.
Joinery is what keeps a table solid for generations. Traditional mortise and tenon joints, and tops attached so they can move with the seasons, are signs of a table built to last.
Edges and Details
Edge profile: a square edge looks crisp and modern, while an eased or bevelled edge is softer to the touch and hides daily wear.
Breadboard ends: a traditional detail that keeps a long top flat while letting it move.
Bowtie inlays: contrasting butterfly keys across a natural crack in the timber.
Choosing the Wood
White oak, walnut, maple, alder and pine each give a table a different colour, hardness and character. Our guide to choosing wood for a dining table compares them side by side.
Every table we build is solid wood, never veneer over particleboard. Read solid wood vs veneer to see why that matters, and how to care for a solid wood table once it's home.
How a Custom Table Comes Together
Conversation: we talk through the room, how many you seat, and the look you're after.
Design: size, shape, base, edge and wood are settled, and you receive a clear quote.
Build: the table is made by hand in our Chilliwack, BC workshop.
Delivery: we deliver across BC, including Vancouver, the North Shore, Whistler and Kelowna.
Start Your Table
Browse our dining tables, see the Chehalis dining table, or request a free estimate.
Frequently Asked Questions
What size dining table do I need for 8 people?
About 8 feet (96 inches) long and 36 to 42 inches wide for a rectangular table, or a 72-inch round table.
How much space do I need around a dining table?
At least 36 inches between the table and walls or furniture, and 42 to 48 inches where people need to walk behind seated guests.
What is the best base for a dining table?
A trestle base gives the most legroom along the sides, four legs are the classic and most stable choice, and a pedestal base suits round tables.
How tall should a dining table be?
About 30 inches, which leaves roughly 12 inches between the chair seat and the underside of the table.
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