Tablecloth size chart for round and rectangular tables

The drop

The drop is how far the cloth hangs over the edge. Magic Linen suggests about 6 to 8 in for a casual event and 15 in for a more formal one; Urquid Linen describes a halfway drop as about 15 in and a floor-length drop as about 30 in, because standard tables are about 30 in high — the same height Bright Event Rentals gives for its tables. Floor length is the usual choice for weddings and banquets because it hides folding legs and whatever is stored under a buffet.

round cloth = table diameter + 2 × drop
rectangular cloth = (width + 2 × drop) × (length + 2 × drop)

Round tables

The match people search for most: a 60 in round takes a 120 in round cloth to reach the floor — ASU’s linen guide and National Event Pros both list it — and a 132 in cloth pools a few inches on the floor. A 72 in round takes 132 in for floor length; a 120 in cloth stops about 6 in short. A 48 in round takes 108 in (Bright). More on choosing between them in what size tablecloth for a 60 inch round table.

Rectangular banquet tables

For a 6 ft banquet table, 90 × 132 in reaches the floor on all four sides and 60 × 120 in gives a halfway drop with longer ends — both are standard rental sizes; see what size tablecloth for a 6 ft table. An 8 ft table takes 90 × 156 in by Bright’s chart, or 90 × 154 in by National Event Pros.

Counting linens for an event

• One cloth per guest table — thirteen 120 in rounds for 100 guests at 60 in tables seating 8, as in how many tables for 100 guests.
• Buffet, cake, gift and bar tables usually get floor-length cloths too, often in a contrasting color.
• Spares: one or two extra cloths for spills or a table added at the last minute.
• Overlays and runners sit on top of the base cloth; size an overlay with the lap or halfway drop.
• Napkins are a separate count: see how many napkins for 100 guests.

Choosing a drop

Lap length is the practical choice for a family dinner or a picnic table: the cloth stays out of guests’ way and is easy to wash. A halfway drop looks tidy on a dessert or gift table and shows off the legs of a nice table. Floor length is the event look — it hides folding legs, cords and the boxes stored under a buffet, and it is what rental companies mean by a standard banquet or round linen. A cloth that pools on the floor catches chair legs and feet, so keep pooling cloths for tables nobody sits at, like the cake table.

Measuring your own table

Measure the tabletop, not the listing — “6 ft” tables vary by an inch or two, and some are 24 in wide rather than 30. Measure the height from the floor to the top too: a cafe or cocktail table at 42 in needs a much longer floor-length cloth. Then run the numbers in the calculator below.