What size dining table do I need for 6 people?

Allow 60cm of edge space per person. For 6 seated, that is 180cm minimum on a rectangular table or a 140cm round. Round tables seat one or two more at a squeeze; rectangulars do not stretch as easily.

How much space do I need to walk round a dining table?

Leave 90 to 100cm between the table edge and the nearest wall or unit, so chairs pull out and someone walks behind without turning sideways. Below 70cm the room feels cramped every meal.

Round or rectangular dining table for a small room?

A 120cm round table seats 4 comfortably and reads less bulky than a 140cm rectangle in a square room. Rectangulars win on tighter long rooms where the table can sit close to one wall and still serve a family of 4 to 6.

What is the most durable dining table material for daily use?

Solid oak and solid walnut take the daily wear of dishes, hot pans and homework with the right finish. An oiled top can be re-oiled, a lacquered top scratches and shows it. Sintered stone and ceramic top tables resist heat and stains but chip at the edges if knocked.

How long does a dining table last?

A solid hardwood table with a tenoned or dowelled frame lasts 30 years plus, often longer than the home it is bought for. Veneered MDF tables start swelling at the edges within 5 to 8 years if water gets in through the join.

Should dining chairs match the table?

Matching sets read more formal and resell easier as a set. Mixed sets (two carvers at the ends, four side chairs) read more relaxed and let you reuse a chair you already own. Keep seat heights within 2cm of each other so people sit level.

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Dining Room

Updated 31 May 2026

The dining room ends up being where the household actually convenes, more reliably than the living room or the kitchen. We list tens of thousands here from The Range, Robert Dyas, Choice Furniture Superstore and other UK retailers. read more…