To seat four to six people, the table should be 36 to 40 inches wide and 60 inches long. To seat six to eight people, the table should be 36 to 40 inches wide and 78 inches long. Most dining tables are manufactured to standard sizes. The standard width is 36 to 40 inches, while the standard height is 29 to 31 inches.
When buying your dining table, you'll need to consider how the table will be used throughout the year. You can place a table with a length of 6 feet (or even a square or round table with the same diameter), giving you about 36 inches of mobile space on each side. It would be a perfect fit for width, since a table of that size would only leave about 23.5 inches to go out and enter the table from each side. You should consider the additional height provided by the arms and leave approximately 7 inches of space between the armrest and the apron, if your table has one, or the bottom of the table.
The size guides for dining tables are derived from the amount of space people need at a dining table. It makes sense, although you'll have just under the minimum space to get in and out of the table (30 inches on all sides), in some areas it will be more difficult to get into the table. For example, go to your living room space and draw, either on paper or on the floor, the shape of the dining table you would like to have and calculate that the minimum space between the edge of the table and any wall or furniture that is around it should be 30 inches, so that you can, at the same time, put a chair and also allow yourself to pass behind that chair when there is a person sitting. If you want more space to get in and out of the table (or have larger-style chairs or armrests), opt for the narrower table (42 inches).
That distance between the table and the wall is not ideal, but it is the minimum distance you will need and that will give you an adequate ratio between the table and the space available for your dining room. You don't want a round or square table that's more than 7 to 8 feet wide, as it creates sound problems, while 4 feet is an adequate width for a rectangular table. Whether you use a full plate often or want more space to place food in the center of the table, in any case, opt for a larger table width. The diameter of the table is the most important factor to consider when determining the best table size for you.
Round tables are fantastic for smaller groups, but as the size of the table increases, more surface area becomes impractical for serving. Some space can be wasted at the ends of the table, where guests can't sit so close together without bumping into each other, or if the table has pedestals that interfere with foot space. A 7-foot diameter round or square table could seat 12 people, but it only allows minimal space for guests to enter and leave the table.
