---
title: "Tablecloth Size Calculator: Drop & Sizes | Neat Drape"
description: "What size tablecloth for your table? Rectangle, square, round or oval, casual to floor-length drop, in cm and inches, with standard sizes compared."
url: https://neatdrape.cfd/tablecloth-size-calculator/
---

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.

The cloth (dashed) around the tabletop, and the drop beside a table of your height.

## Standard US sizes for this table

| Cloth | Drop it gives | Verdict |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 52 × 70 in | Smaller than the table | Too short |
| 60 × 84 in | 17 cm ends, 31 cm sides | Too short |
| 60 × 104 in | 42 cm ends, 31 cm sides | Longer in places |
| 60 × 120 in | 62 cm ends, 31 cm sides | Longer 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.

## Drop guide

| Look | Drop |
| --- | --- |
| Casual (US guides) | 15–20 cm · 6–8 in |
| Everyday (European makers) | 20–30 cm · 8–12 in |
| Formal | 25–38 cm · 10–15 in |
| Floor length | table height, about 74–76 cm · 29–30 in |

Runners: Sur La Table suggests a runner about a third of the table's width that overhangs each end by 6–10 inches (15–25 cm).

## Sources

- Sur La Table, [Tablecloth buying guide](https://learn.surlatable.com/tablecloth-buying-guide/): 6–8 in casual and 10–15 in formal drops, about 29–30 in to the floor, the size formula, 1–2 in for shrinkage, the standard sizes in the table (70 and 90 in round; 52 and 70 in square; 52 × 70, 60 × 84, 60 × 104 and 60 × 120 in oblong) and the runner rule.
- Lenox, [How to size a tablecloth](https://www.lenox.com/blogs/buying-guide/how-to-size-a-tablecloth): 6–8 inches for casual settings, 15 inches or floor length for formal ones.
- Rune Jakobsen, [Tablecloth size measuring guide](https://rune-jakobsen.com/en-au/blogs/rune-jakobsen-design/tablecloth-size-table-measuring-guide): 20–30 cm of overhang as the starting point given by the European makers Curt Bauer and Beauvillé, and the corners of a square cloth on a round table.
- Linen House, [Choosing tablecloth sizes](https://www.linenhouse.com/blogs/news/choosing-tablecloth-sizes): a 25–30 cm drop for a casual look, and worked examples for rectangular and round tables.
- Manchester Collection, [What size tablecloth do I need?](https://www.manchestercollection.com.au/blog/home-decor/what-size-tablecloth-do-i-need/): checking a drop against knees, chair arms and walkways, and working out the drop of a stocked size.

## 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.