Neat Drape

Curtain, tablecloth & bedding size calculators

Table linen

Tablecloth size calculator

Measure the tabletop, pick how far the cloth should hang over the edge, and see the cloth size in centimetres and inches, how standard sizes would hang, and whether a cloth you already have will do.

Units
Table shape

Drop (how far it hangs over the edge)

For floor length; most dining tables are 72–76 cm (28–30 in)

Check a cloth you have

Type the size on the label of a cloth you have, or one you have seen in a shop.

230 cm140 cmTop view25 cmSide view
The cloth (dashed) around the tabletop, and the drop beside a table of your height.
Ideal tablecloth
140 × 230 cm (55 × 90½ in)25 cm drop all round (everyday, as European makers suggest)
Sizes that work
130–150 cm × 220–240 cmfor a drop of 20–30 cm

Standard US sizes for this table

ClothDrop it givesVerdict
52 × 70 inSmaller than the tableToo short
60 × 84 in17 cm ends, 31 cm sidesToo short
60 × 104 in42 cm ends, 31 cm sidesLonger in places
60 × 120 in62 cm ends, 31 cm sidesLonger in places

Metric sizes differ from shop to shop: check one you have found with the drop checker below.

How the size is worked out

Measure the tabletop: length and width for a rectangle or oval, one side for a square, the diameter for a round table. If the table extends, measure it the way you will use the cloth. The cloth is the table plus twice the drop in each direction, because the drop hangs on both sides.

Drop is the distance the cloth hangs below the edge. US guides call 6–8 inches (15–20 cm) normal for everyday meals and 10–15 inches for formal ones; European makers start from 20–30 cm. A floor-length cloth drops the full table height, less a small gap so it does not drag. Before deciding, hold a tape beside a chair: a long drop can rest on knees and chair arms.

Ready-made sizes rarely match exactly, so the table shows how each common US size would hang on your table. Pick the next size up when in doubt, and allow an inch or two for cotton or linen that may shrink in the wash. A square cloth on a round table, or a rectangular one on an oval table, hangs lower at the corners.

Example: a 180 × 90 cm table with a 25 cm drop needs a cloth of 230 × 140 cm; anything from 220 × 130 to 240 × 150 cm keeps the drop within 20–30 cm.

Sources

Questions

How much should a tablecloth hang over the edge?

For everyday meals, about 15 to 30 cm (6 to 12 inches) on every side; US guides lean to the short end, European makers to the long end. Formal dinners often use 25 to 38 cm (10 to 15 inches), and banquet tables are often dressed to the floor.

What size tablecloth fits a six-seater table?

It depends on the table, not the number of chairs. A common 180 × 90 cm (about 72 × 36 inch) table needs roughly 220 × 130 to 240 × 150 cm for an everyday drop. Sur La Table points owners of 6-foot tables to its 60 × 84 inch cloth, which gives a 6 inch drop at the ends and a deeper one at the sides of a narrow table.

Can I use a square tablecloth on a round table?

Yes. Size it so the middle of each side gives the drop you want; the four corners then hang lower, by about a fifth of the cloth's width. Set the corners over the table legs or between the chairs, and make sure they stay clear of the floor.

Should I allow for shrinkage?

For cotton and linen that is not pre-shrunk, adding 1 to 2 inches (about 3 to 5 cm) is a sensible margin. Check the care label and the product description: many cloths are sold already washed or pre-shrunk.