Outdoor table bases

When a table rocks on brick, the base is the first place to look. These 21 bases come in aluminum, chrome and stainless steel. Each is listed for indoor use, and six also for patio use. Start with the height you need, then check the spread against the top.

Height first, spread second

Dining height means a tabletop 29 to 30 inches off the floor. Counter height runs 34 to 36 inches and bar height about 40 to 42. The base decides which of those you get, so settle the height before you look at finishes. A standard-height X-prong chrome base is a different part from a bar-height one, even when the two look alike on a screen.

Spread comes next. Under a round top, the base wants to spread across two thirds of the diameter, or more, or the table feels tippy when someone leans on an edge. Square tops need the same thought. Measure the top you own, or the one you are buying, before you commit to a base.

The numbers are simple. For a 36-inch round that works out to 24 inches, for a 42-inch round 28, and for a 48-inch round 32. Hold a tape against the pavement where the table will sit and picture a guest leaning on one edge with a full glass.

Finish does not tell you where it can go

Five bases are aluminum, three are chrome and one is stainless steel. Every base is listed for indoor use, and six are also listed for patio use. The finish does not tell you which six. Read the usage line on each product page instead of guessing from the metal.

Decks and sidewalks seldom lie flat. If a table rocks on brick, the foot of the base is where the fix starts, so ask a specialist about leveling before you order: talk to a specialist books a callback.

Tops, prices and the next shelf

Bases here start around $87. A top is a separate line, and every finish of a base is its own line too, so the order grows quickly. Get the pairing right the first time. Custom sizes take longer, and a confirmed custom line cannot be cancelled or returned.

An aluminum table support at $93 is one example, and its page lists various dimensions. For tops, try resin table tops or table tops. If the table must take an umbrella, patio tables with umbrella holes shows complete tables, and the whole layout can live in patio plans.