The right dining table fits your room, your chairs and the way you use the space. Before comparing finishes, measure the room and plan where people will sit, pull out their chairs and walk. Explore our dining tables alongside this checklist.
Measure the space you can actually use
Record the length and width of the dining area, then mark doors, radiators, cupboards and the main route through the room. Mark your proposed tabletop on the floor with removable tape. Add your chair footprints and pull a chair back as you would when sitting down. In an open-plan kitchen, check appliance and cupboard doors too.
Keep the measurements of the table, chairs and access route together. A tabletop may fit the room while the chairs or delivery packaging do not.
Round, rectangular or extendable?
- Round: compare the diameter with the available floor area. Check the shape of the base and how it affects foot space and chair placement.
- Rectangular: measure the clear distance between the legs, as well as the overall length. End seats need their own knee space.
- Extendable: plan both the closed and fully extended layout. Confirm the extended dimensions, mechanism and where any separate leaves are stored before ordering.
Do not infer seating capacity from length or diameter alone. Wide chairs, arms and pedestal shapes can change how many people sit comfortably.
Match the table to your dining chairs
Measure the chair's seat height, overall width and depth. If it has arms, compare their height with the lowest part of the table edge or apron. Check the space between table legs at the point where the chair will sit.
A seat around 45–48 cm is common alongside a table around 75 cm high, but comfort and clearance depend on the individual combination. Test against a table and chair you already find comfortable. Read our dining-chair buying guide for a measurement checklist.
Read the material specification separately from the colour
A walnut finish describes an appearance; it does not establish the timber species. Compare the listed frame material, tabletop material, finish and care instructions. For a ceramic-topped table, confirm the full top construction and edge thickness rather than assuming all models are built alike.
If the product information leaves a measurement or material unclear, ask our team to confirm it for the exact size you want before ordering. This is particularly important for bespoke sizes and extendable designs.
Plan delivery and assembly
Check whether the table arrives assembled or in parts, and measure doorways, stairs, landings and lifts. Request packaged dimensions where access is tight. Standard large-furniture delivery is to the ground-floor entrance or first communal door; any room-of-choice or assembly service must be agreed in writing before dispatch.
Product production estimates and transit time are separate. See our delivery information, confirm the selected size and postcode, and tell us about any fixed deadline before placing an order.
Your dining-table checklist
- Table dimensions in every position, including the fully extended size where applicable.
- Chair width, arm height, knee space and leg positions.
- Space to pull out chairs and use the main walkway.
- Exact materials, finish and care requirements.
- Packaged dimensions, assembly and the agreed delivery service.
Compare dining tables and dining chairs to plan your room.