Tablecloth Size Calculator

The short answer

Add twice the drop, how far the cloth hangs over the edge, to the table’s length and to its width, or to a round table’s diameter. The drop is 6 to 8 in for a casual look, 8 to 12 in for everyday meals and 10 to 15 in for a formal one, and to reach the floor it’s the table’s height. Then take the smallest standard size that hangs that far on every side, or the next one up when you’re between sizes.

A 40 × 72 in table with an everyday drop takes a 60 × 90 in cloth, which hangs 10 in at the sides and 9 in at the ends.

How to measure

1. The tabletop: measure it edge to edge, its length and its width, or a round table’s diameter through the center. Measure the top itself, not an old tablecloth.
2. The leaves: put in the leaves you’ll use with the cloth, or leave them out, before you measure.
3. A table pad: if you use one under the cloth, measure with it in place.
4. The height: for a cloth to the floor, measure from the floor to the tabletop.

How to use the calculator

1. Choose the table’s shape and enter its length and width, or its diameter. A table you sized in another tool carries over.
2. Choose the drop: casual, everyday, formal or to the floor. For the floor, enter the table’s height.
3. Read the result: the cloth size the table needs, the standard size to buy and how far it hangs on each side. The sizes around it are listed as Fits, Tight or Doesn’t fit.
4. Save or share it. Copy link keeps your numbers in the address.

How we calculate

The drops below decide how far the cloth hangs. Before you order, check the size chart for the cloth you buy.

• The size: the table’s length plus twice the drop, by its width plus twice the drop. A round table takes its diameter plus twice the drop, and an oval one the same size as a rectangle, in an oval or oblong cloth.
• The drop: casual is 6 to 8 in, everyday is 8 to 12 in and formal is 10 to 15 in. To the floor, the drop is the table’s height, or 1 in less to graze it.
• The standard size: the smallest size that hangs at least as far as you chose on every side Fits when it hangs no further than the top of the range. Up to 2 in longer is Tight. Between sizes, take the larger one, since an extra inch or two is better than too little. A shorter size doesn’t fit.
• The chairs: chair seats sit about 12 in below the tabletop, so a longer drop reaches past them. An everyday cloth stays above the laps of the people at the table, no lower than the chair seats.

Worked examples

Worked example

An everyday cloth for a 40 × 72 in table

What we know

• Table: 40 × 72 in
• Drop: everyday, 8 to 12 in on each side

How it works out

1. Cloth: 40 in + 2 × 8 to 12 in = 56 to 64 in, by 72 in + 2 × 8 to 12 in = 88 to 96 in.
2. Standard size: the smallest that hangs that far on every side is 60 × 90 in, 10 in at the sides and 9 in at the ends.

A 60 × 90 in tablecloth. A 40 × 72 in table with an everyday drop of 8 to 12 in needs a cloth 56 to 64 in by 88 to 96 in: the table plus twice the drop. A 60 × 90 in cloth hangs 10 in at the sides and 9 in at the ends. On an oval table, use an oval or oblong cloth of the same size.

Worked example

A formal cloth for a 60 in round table

What we know

• Table: 60 in round
• Drop: formal, 10 to 15 in on each side

How it works out

1. Cloth: 60 in + 2 × 10 to 15 in = 80 to 90 in across.
2. Standard size: the smallest that hangs that far on every side is 90 in round, 15 in all around.

A 90 in round tablecloth. A 60 in round table with a formal drop of 10 to 15 in needs a cloth 80 to 90 in across: the table plus twice the drop. A 90 in round cloth hangs 15 in all around. That reaches past the chair seats, about 12 in below the tabletop, so it rests on laps. For everyday meals, keep the cloth above them.

Worked example

A floor-length cloth for a 6 ft folding table

What we know

• Table: 30 × 72 in, 30 in high
• Drop: to the floor, 29 to 30 in on each side

How it works out

1. Cloth: 30 in + 2 × 29 to 30 in = 88 to 90 in, by 72 in + 2 × 29 to 30 in = 130 to 132 in.
2. Standard size: the smallest that hangs that far on every side is 90 × 132 in, 30 in all around.

A 90 × 132 in tablecloth. A 30 × 72 in table needs a cloth 88 to 90 in by 130 to 132 in to reach the floor: the table plus twice its height, or 1 in less on each side to graze it. A 90 × 132 in cloth hangs 30 in all around. On an oval table, use an oval or oblong cloth of the same size.

Tablecloth size chart

The tables each standard oblong tablecloth fits, width by length, for an everyday drop (8 to 12 in) and a formal one (10 to 15 in).

Square and round tablecloths

The same for square and round tablecloths, by the table’s width or diameter.

How far a tablecloth hangs

Floor-length cloths come mostly in banquet sizes, 90 × 132 in and 90 × 156 in, made for 6 and 8 foot folding tables. For a dining table, a floor-length cloth usually has to be made to measure.

Before you buy

• Shrinkage: cotton and linen can shrink in the wash, cotton by about 4 to 6 percent and linen by 5 to 7 percent the first time, so allow 1 to 2 in extra.
• A runner on top: choose one about a third as wide as the table, hanging 6 to 10 in over each end.
• Too long: a cloth that’s too long can trip people and gets tugged, spilling what’s on the table.
• Toddlers: take the tablecloth off while small children are around, since they can pull hot food and drinks down onto themselves.

Then size a rug for the table and chairs with the rug size calculator.