Table Linen Sizing Guide: What Size Tablecloth Do You Need?

Almost every table linen listing in Dubai quotes a single dimension and leaves you to guess. The guess is usually wrong by 20 centimetres in each direction, which is the difference between linen that drapes and linen that looks like a fitted sheet.

There is a calculation, it takes ten seconds, and it works for every table shape. This guide gives you that, plus the napkin and runner sizes that go with it, and the pieces to buy once you know your number.

The drop calculation

"Drop" is how far the cloth hangs below the table edge. Everything follows from choosing one.

Then the formula, which is the same for rectangular, square and oval tables:

The two numbers. Cloth length = table length + (2 × drop). Cloth width = table width + (2 × drop). For a round table there is one number: cloth diameter = table diameter + (2 × drop). Nothing else is needed.

Worked through, for a 25 cm drop:

If a listed cloth falls between two of your numbers, size up. A cloth that is slightly too generous drapes; one that is slightly short exposes the table edge and looks like an error.

Napkin sizes

Napkin dimensions are less forgiving than they look, because the fold has to survive being picked up.

Buy dinner napkins in sets of four minimum, and in even numbers - unlike cushions, napkins are counted per person and an odd set means someone gets the spare.

Runners, placemats and when to use which

These three do different jobs and are frequently bought as though they were interchangeable.

• Tablecloth: protects the whole surface and sets the colour of the room. Use when the table itself is not the feature.

• Runner: a stripe down the centre, leaving the table visible on both sides. Use on wood you want to show. Standard length is table length plus 30 cm total overhang, or flush with the ends - never in between.

• Placemats: define each setting and protect only where it matters. Best on stone or glass. Allow 45–60 cm per person across the table so mats do not touch.

• Layered: cloth plus runner, or cloth plus placemats. Runner plus placemats together is the one combination that reads as cluttered.

Block-printed linen and colour. Hand block-printed cloth is dyed in batches, so two orders of the same design will not be identical. That is a property of the process rather than a defect - but it does mean you should buy the tablecloth and its matching napkins in a single order rather than adding to the set later.

Shop the table linen edit

Sets first, then open stock to build out.

Browse all table linen, the block-print collection, napkin ties and home textiles.

Care

1. Wash block-printed and dyed linen cold and separately for the first three washes. The excess dye that lifts is surface dye, not colour loss.

2. Skip fabric softener on linen. It coats the fibre and kills the absorbency that makes a linen napkin worth owning.

3. Iron damp, on the reverse, on the linen setting. Dry linen resists the crease and takes twice as long.

4. Store rolled rather than folded for anything you use fewer than four times a year. Fold creases set permanently in linen.

5. Treat oil marks before washing - a hot wash sets them.

Frequently asked questions

What size tablecloth for a 6-seater table?

A standard 6-seater is roughly 160 × 90 cm. With a 25 cm drop that needs a 210 × 140 cm cloth. If your table is longer, add twice the difference to the length.

How much should a tablecloth hang over the edge?

25–30 cm for normal dining. Less than 20 cm looks undersized; more than 40 cm gets caught on chairs unless the table is being used as a buffet.

What size are dinner napkins?

45–55 cm square, with 50 cm the most common. Lunch napkins are 30–40 cm and cocktail napkins 15–20 cm.

Can I use a runner and placemats together?

You can, but it rarely looks good - the two elements compete for the same space. Pick one, and layer over a cloth instead if you want depth.Do you supply table linen in bulk for hotels or restaurants?