About the Tablecloth Size Calculator
This tablecloth size calculator tells you what size cloth fits your table. Enter the table shape and its measurements, choose how far you want the cloth to hang over the edge (the drop) and it returns the exact cloth size you need plus the nearest standard size sold in stores and by linen rental companies, with the drop that size will actually give you.
It covers round, square, rectangular and oval tables. A short 6-inch drop suits casual everyday use, about 10 inches is the usual dining drop that reaches just above the lap, 15 inches is a half drop for formal dinners, and a floor-length cloth drops the full table height — 30 inches on a standard dining or banquet table — which is the look used at weddings and events.
Measure the tabletop itself, not including any overhang from a leaf or apron. For oval tables use the longest length and the widest width and buy an oval cloth; a rectangular cloth of the same size will hang lower at the corners.
How to use the tablecloth size calculator
- 1Choose your table shape.
- 2Measure the tabletop length and width, diameter or side in inches.
- 3Pick a drop: casual, standard dining, formal, floor length or custom.
- 4For floor length, confirm the table height (30" is standard).
- 5Buy the standard size shown, or have a custom cloth made to the exact size.
Formula and method
A tablecloth must cover the tabletop and then hang down by the drop on every side, so each dimension of the cloth is the table dimension plus twice the drop. Floor-length cloths use the table height as the drop, which is 30 inches on a standard dining or banquet table.
Stock tablecloths come in a limited set of sizes, so the calculator picks the smallest common size that is no more than 2 inches short of ideal in each direction (a 1-inch shorter drop is hard to notice) and reports the drop that size actually gives on the shortest side. For rectangles and ovals it compares both the width and the length.
- drop
- How far the cloth hangs below the tabletop edge
- length, width
- Tabletop dimensions (or diameter for round tables)
Worked examples
6 ft banquet table, standard drop
A 72 × 30 inch table with a 10-inch drop needs 30 + 20 = 50 by 72 + 20 = 92 inches. The smallest common size that covers it is 60 × 102 inches, which gives a 15-inch drop on every side.
60" round table, floor length
A floor-length cloth on a 30-inch-high table drops 30 inches each side, so a 60-inch round needs 60 + 60 = 120 inches — a standard 120-inch round tablecloth (about 305 cm).
36" square card table, standard drop
The ideal cloth is 36 + 20 = 56 inches square. A stock 54-inch square cloth is only 2 inches short, giving a 9-inch drop, which is close enough for everyday use.
Frequently asked questions
What size tablecloth do I need for a 6-foot table?+
A 6-foot (72 × 30 inch) table needs a 60 × 102 inch cloth for a dining-height drop of about 15 inches, or 90 × 132 inches for a floor-length cloth on a standard 30-inch-high table.
How much should a tablecloth hang over the edge?+
Casual tablecloths usually drop 6 to 8 inches, standard dining cloths 10 to 12 inches, formal cloths about 15 inches, and floor-length cloths the full 30-inch height of the table.
What size tablecloth fits an 8-foot table?+
An 8-foot banquet table (96 × 30 inches) takes a 60 × 120 inch cloth for a 12–15 inch drop (60 × 126 gives an even 15 inches), or a 90 × 156 inch cloth to reach the floor on all sides.
What size round tablecloth do I need for a 60-inch table?+
For a 60-inch round table, a 90-inch round cloth gives a 15-inch drop and a 120-inch round cloth reaches the floor. An 84-inch round gives a 12-inch drop for everyday dining.
Can I use a rectangular tablecloth on an oval table?+
Yes, if it is the right size, but the corners will hang lower than the sides. An oval tablecloth of the same dimensions gives an even drop all the way around.