Restaurant dining tables

88 tables sit here, from solid wood dining tops to aluminum and synthetic teak pieces listed for the patio. The first decision is party size, because the top you pick sets how many guests fit. Shape, height and base follow, and complete sets offer a shortcut.

Party size sets the top

Two guests fit a 24 inch square, though plates want the 30 inch. Four fit a 36 inch square or a 42 inch round, and a 48 inch round takes five or six. Table edge is the scarce thing: figure on two feet per guest, 18 inches in a squeeze, and let your busiest night choose the sizes. Pushing a chair back takes 18 to 24 inches of floor, and service aisles want about 36. A table that fits the party can still choke a room if the aisle disappears.

Square tops lead on this page, then rectangular, then round, with a few drop leaf. Squares butt up against each other when a larger group arrives.

Tops, bases and the patio

Solid wood tops lead, found on 20 tables. Aluminum comes next at 18, synthetic teak at 15, and resin and steel share 9 apiece, with 7 listed simply as wood. Underneath, steel bases hold up 31 tables and cast iron 22; aluminum accounts for 16, resin 6 and wood 3. Indoor use is listed for 73 tables and patio use for 55. Only the patio-listed tables belong outside, and even those want a rinse, a spot to drain and a cover when the season closes. For the open air, go straight to patio tables.

Single tables start around $67 and run to $515. Want to mix your own pairing? Shop the table tops and the table bases separately, and give each one its own line.

Height and the next shelf

Dining tables stand about 29 to 30 inches. A rail asks for more, so look at bar-height tables when stools are in the room. Complete table sets arrive as one listing, and the listing says exactly what is in it, so open it and count the parts before you multiply by tables. For long shared seating, see communal tables. For the back room or an extra Saturday crowd, folding tables are a short shelf.

Save the sizes you like to Patio plans, and you can lay out next season's tables before the first warm weekend.