What round table size seats 10, and what cloth do I order?

What round table size seats 10 people?

A 1.8m round table is the usual size for 10 guests at a gala dinner or conference. Australian venues and event hire companies commonly list round tables in three sizes:

• 1.8m round: seats 10 (8 to 10 for comfort)
• 1.5m round: seats 8
• 1.2m round: seats 6

For example, one Victorian council arts centre sets its flat floor with 10 round tables of 10 seats each. A Queensland council events centre lists a round table that seats 8 to 10. Sydney Town Hall's banquet rounds are 1.8m.

Why does the number of guests per table matter?

Every extra chair takes elbow room from the guests either side. Divide the table's circumference by the number of guests to see how much edge each person gets:

• 1.8m table, 10 guests: about 565mm each
• 1.5m table, 8 guests: about 590mm each
• 1.2m table, 6 guests: about 630mm each

A banquet chair at Sydney Town Hall is 650mm wide overall, so even 10 at a 1.8m table is snug. If guests have a lot on the table, or you're seating for a long formal dinner, drop one chair per table.

How much floor space do round tables need?

More than the table itself. A seated guest pushes their chair back from the edge, and staff need a path between chairs to serve. Ask the venue for its banquet capacity rather than working it out from floor area. Sydney Town Hall's Centennial Hall, for example, lists up to 800 for a banquet on its ground floor, or 740 with the stage extension. Your guest count should fit within the venue's own figure.

What about cocktail or bar rounds?

Bar rounds are much smaller. Sydney Town Hall's are 0.9m across. Guests stand at them, so there's no seat count. If you want them clothed, measure the height as well as the diameter, because bar tables stand taller than dining tables.

Use the following steps to choose the table size and the cloth

1. Count your guests and decide how many per table. Divide the guest number by the seats per table and round up. For 150 guests at 10 per table, that's 15 tables.

2. Confirm the table size with the venue. Ask for the diameter and the height, in millimetres. Venues use different makers, so a "1.5m" table can be 1500 or 1520mm.

3. Decide how far the cloth should drop. For a cloth that hides the table legs, use the same rule as our printed throw tablecloths: a 680mm drop all round, which leaves a 60mm gap at the floor on a 740mm high table.

IMPORTANT: Measure the table height. If the venue's tables are lower, shorten the drop so the cloth doesn't drag on the floor.

4. Work out the cloth diameter. Add the drop to both sides of the table:

• 1.8m table: 1800 + 680 + 680 = 3160mm
• 1.5m table: 1500 + 680 + 680 = 2860mm
• 1.2m table: 1200 + 680 + 680 = 2560mm

5. Decide where your branding goes. On a round cloth, the top is mostly covered by plates and centrepieces, so put your logo on the drop, where it faces the room. Guests sit all the way round, so repeat it two or three times around the drop rather than once.

6. Finally, order the cloth. Our standard Branded Table Cloths are made for 1.8m and 2.4m rectangular tables. For round tables, send us the diameter, height and drop from steps 2 to 4 through the enquiry form on the same page and ask about a custom size. Set up your artwork to our artwork specifications, and you're done!

Note: Standard production for our branded tablecloths is two weeks from your order and print-ready artwork. Ask about timing when you enquire about a custom size, and allow extra time for delivery before the event.