Picking the Perfect Tablecloth
Your perfect guide for calculating the right size tablecloth for every table shape and size.
Amanda’s love of tablecloths originated in her early childhood with her mother at an ancient sewing machine and with yards and yards of printed cotton fabrics brought home from the local Calico Corners. Amanda’s mother liked to “whip up” a tablecloth or cloths for all kinds of occasions throughout the year. Amanda’s first memory is a Liberty of London-themed birthday party with not only the table covered in the magical tiny legendary prints but also a hand sewn tent over the table with hand-cut and stitched scalloped edges.
Amanda knows that her mother’s era has passed, and making a variety of well-priced and colorful printed cloths to enjoy for our collection is a bit easier. Wonderful memories in any case!
If you’re on the hunt for new linens to add to your own collection, the most important step to picking the perfect tablecloth is knowing which size to purchase, and that of course depends on the size and shape of the table it will be used atop.
How to Know What Size Tablecloth You Need
Depending on the size and shape of your table, there are some simple calculations to guide you to the properly sized tablecloth (more on that below). The other factor to consider before you start measuring is the length of “drop” you want your tablecloth to have. The drop is the part of the tablecloth that hangs over the sides of your table. This can range from around 8 inches of fabric hanging off the edge of the table to a floor-length drop.
Why might you want a certain drop length for your tablecloth? There are a few reasons. Too short and your tablecloth will look out of proportion to your table (however, in a pinch, layering two tablecloths is a perfectly suitable option). A too-short tablecloth might also show table legs that need not be seen. Plastic folding tables are a seasoned hostess’s secret weapon, but you’ll immediately be outed if their less-than-charming metal legs are exposed. Alternatively, you may actually prefer your table legs to be seen, with a tablecloth stopping right at guests’ laps when they’re seated, which also makes tucking chairs in easier when they’re not. Whatever the length of drop you find suitable, you’ll complete the equation for your perfect tablecloth by measuring your table.
Tablecloth Size Calculator
For a rectangular, oval or square table, you’ll double the length of the drop and add that number to the width of the table (that’s your tablecloth width) and then add the same number to the length of the table (that’s your tablecloth length). For example, to cover an 8-foot table (36 inches x 96 inches) with a 12-inch drop, you would add 24 (12 multiplied by 2) to 36 for your width: 60 inches. And then add 24 to 96 for your length: 120.
Round tables use a similar measurement, but instead add the diameter of the table and double the drop length for the ideal tablecloth size. If your table’s measurements fall in between standard tablecloth sizes, you can round up or down — just know the drop length is what will be affected. In case you have multiple tables around the same size or a table with a leaf, opt for the tablecloth that will surely fit the larger size to have all your bases covered.
Your Guide to Amanda Lindroth Tablecloth Shapes and Sizes
We believe even routine weeknight dinners deserve a cheery and sophisticated table setting, so our block-printed cotton placemats, napkins, and tablecloths are designed to be mixed, matched, and used as often as you like.
To that end, our newest collection of tablecloths are available in even more sizes, befitting any surface you might entertain on, from a formal dining table to a high-top cocktail table, and everything in between. Reference the guide below for a breakdown of all our available tablecloth sizes, and the coordinating table sizes they can accommodate.
SIZE GUIDE
Rectangular & Square Tables
| Tablecloth Dimensions | Table Sizes & Drop Length | Table Sizes & Drop Length | Table Sizes & Drop Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 60" x 90" | Narrow 6-foot table (72” long x 30” wide) • 9” drop on ends, 15” drop on sides | Average 6-foot table (72” long x 36” wide) • 9” drop on ends, 12” drop on sides | |
| 60" x 120" | Standard 6-foot table (72” long x 30 - 36” wide) • 24” drop on ends, 12 - 15” drop on sides | Standard 7-foot table (84” long x 30 - 36” wide) • 18” drop on ends, 12 - 15” drop on sides | Large 8-foot table (96” long x 40” wide) • 12” drop on ends, 10” drop on sides |
| 70" x 108" | Standard 6-foot table (72” long x 30 - 36” wide) • 18” drop on ends, 17 - 20” drop on sides | Standard 7-foot table (84” long x 30 - 36” wide) • 12” drop on ends, 17 - 20” drop on sides | Large 8-foot table (96” long x 40” wide) • 6” drop on ends, 15” drop on sides |
| 64" x 64" | Standard square card table (34” square x 30” high) • 15” drop |
SIZE GUIDE
Round Tables
| Tablecloth Dimensions | Table Sizes & Drop Length | Table Sizes & Drop Length | Table Sizes & Drop Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 86" Round | 5-foot round table (60” diameter x 30” high) • 13” drop | 4-foot round table (48” diameter x 30” high) • 19” drop | 4-foot round table (48” diameter x 30” high) • 19” drop |
| 108" Round | Standard high-top cocktail table (30” round x 42” high) • Full-drape (39”) drop | 4-foot round table (48” diameter x 30” high) • Floor-length (30”) drop | 5-foot round table (60” diameter x 30” high) • 24” drop |