Tablecloths come in a variety of different sizes and shapes to suit different tables. Getting the right size of tablecloth can make all the difference to your table setting. Here, we explore how to measure for a tablecloth and look at standard sizes of tablecloths.
How to Measure for a Tablecloth
Measuring for a tablecloth is easy once you know which method to use. Here we look at the best method for measuring a tablecloth depending on the shape of the table.
Measuring for a square table
If you have a square table, then you can find out what size of tablecloth you need by measuring the tabletop surface and carrying out a simple equation. With a square table, the tabletop’s length and width measurements will be exactly the same, so you just need to take one of these measurements.
Once you have the measurement of the tabletop, you should deduct it from the measurement of the tablecloth. For example, if you have a table that measures 36 inches, then you might be considering tablecloths that measure 45 inches and 52 inches. Either of these will cover the whole surface of your table so technically, either will work, but if you want to get exactly the right look, then you’ll need to know how much overhand you will have at the sides of your table.
Take the measurement of the tablecloth, and then deduct the measurement of your table, and divide your answer by two. This will give you the drop measurement of the tablecloth over the edge of the table.
For example, if the tablecloth measures 52 by 52 inches, and your table is 36 inches, then you will first need to work out 52 minus 36. The answer is 16, and this then needs to be divided by 2, giving you the answer of 8. This means that the 52-inch tablecloth on a 36-inch table will have a drop of 8 inches all the way around.
Measuring for a rectangular table
To measure for a rectangular table, you will need to follow the same method as measuring for a square table, but you will have to perform the equation twice: once for the length of the tabletop and once for the width. You can work out how many drops each size of the tablecloth will give you by deducting the length of the tabletop from the length of the tablecloth and dividing the answer by two.
This can then be repeated for the width measurements. For example, if you are considering a tablecloth that measures 52 inches by 90 inches and your tabletop measures 24 inches by 48 inches, you will need to carry out the following equations:
Width:
52 minus 24 equals 28. 28 divided by 2 equals 14. This means with a tablecloth of this size, there will be a drop of 14 inches at the sides of your table.
Length:
90 minus 48 equals 42. 42 divided by 2 equals 21. This means with a tablecloth of this size, there will be a drop of 21 inches at the ends of your table.
You can continue to complete these equations for different sizes of tablecloth until your find one which gives you a drop measurement you are happy with.
Measuring for a round table
Measuring a tablecloth for a round table is typically easier than measuring for a rectangular or square table. What you need to do is measure the diameter of your table, which is taken right across the center of the tabletop. You then need to decide how much of a drop you want over the sides of the table.
You can use these figures to determine what size of tablecloth you need. First, multiply your ideal drop length by two, then add this figure to your diameter tabletop size. For example, if you want a drop of 20 inches, you will need to formulate 20 multiplied by 2, which is 40.
Now add this figure to the diameter measurement, so if your table measures 60 inches across, then you will be adding 60 to 40, which gives you 100. This means the ideal tablecloth size for your table is 100 inches.
Round Tablecloth Dimensions
Round tables come in a number of standard sizes, and as such, there are a number of standard tablecloth sizes to suit round tables. When the size of a round table is discussed in reference to a tablecloth, we are talking about the diameter measurement of the tabletop surface.
A 24-inch table will work with a 60-inch or 70-inch tablecloth. The 60-inch tablecloth will allow a drop of 18 inches, and the 70-inch tablecloth will allow a drop of 23 inches.
The next standard round tablecloth size is 88 inches, but this will be too big for a 24-inch size table because the ends of the tablecloth will be dragging on the floor.
Other standard tablecloth sizes for round tables are 108 inches, 118 inches, and 130 inches. These will accommodate round tables from 48 inches in diameter up to 72 inches in diameter.
Rectangular Tablecloth Dimensions
The standard sizes for rectangular tablecloths are 52 inches by 70 inches, 52 inches by 90 inches, 70 inches by 90 inches, 70 inches by 108 inches, 70 inches by 144 inches, and 83 inches by 126 inches.
These can work with a wide range of rectangular table sizes, starting at 24 by 30 inches all the way to large tables measuring 48 by 96 inches. The size you need will be dictated by both your tabletop size and your ideal drop length.
Square Tablecloth Dimensions
Square tablecloths come in six standard sizes, but you can also find non-standard size tablecloths and custom tablecloths that can be made to measure.
The standard square tablecloth sizes are 35 inches by 35 inches, 45 inches by 45 inches, 52 inches by 52 inches, 63 inches by 63 inches, 70 inches by 70 inches, and 90 inches by 90 inches.
