Buying a tablecloth should be simple, and then you open a size chart and see forty options. This guide gets you to the right size in three steps, tells you exactly which size to pick from our product pages — and what to do when your table is bigger than any chart.
How do you measure for a tablecloth?
You need two numbers: the size of your table, and how far you want the cloth to hang down the sides (the drop).
- Measure the tabletop. Length and width for rectangles and ovals, diameter for round tables, one side for squares. Measure the top surface only — ignore the legs and any apron underneath.
- Choose your drop. This is the part most guides skip, and it changes everything.
- Add the drop twice. Tablecloth length = table length + (2 × drop). Same for the width.
How much should a tablecloth hang over?
- 6–8 inches (15–20 cm) — everyday and casual. The cloth ends above the seat of the chairs, nobody sits on it, kids can't pull it.
- 10–12 inches (25–30 cm) — dinner parties, Thanksgiving, most weddings. Reaches roughly to lap height.
- Floor length — usually 29–30 inches (about 75 cm), for buffet, cake and display tables where no one sits.
Example: a 40 × 72 inch table with an 8-inch drop needs a 56 × 88 inch tablecloth. Our closest ready size is 53 × 88" (or 54 × 88" in cotton and velvet) — an inch of width is invisible on a table. If you want a longer drop, you have it made.
Which StarLux size fits my table?
Every product page lists our sizes in inches and centimetres. This chart tells you which one to pick for the most common US tables, assuming a 7–12 inch drop. Ready sizes differ a little by fabric, so where it matters we say which.
| Your table | Seats | Pick this size on the product page | Drop you'll get |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rectangle 36 × 48" | 4 | 52 × 70" (132 × 178 cm) — all fabrics | 8" / 11" |
| Rectangle 36 × 60" | 6 | 53 × 79" (135 × 200 cm) — linen, cotton-linen, prints; 55 × 79" in cotton and velvet | 8–9" / 9–10" |
| Rectangle 40 × 72" | 6–8 | 53 × 88" (135 × 224 cm) — linen, cotton-linen, prints; 54 × 88" in cotton and velvet; 60 × 90" velvet for a longer drop | 7" / 8" — or 10" / 9" |
| Rectangle 40 × 96" | 8–10 | 53 × 118" (135 × 300 cm) — most fabrics; 60 × 120" velvet for a longer drop | 6–7" / 11" — or 10" / 12" |
| Rectangle 40 × 120" | 10–12 | 55 × 138" (140 × 350 cm) — printed range; other fabrics: order custom | 7–8" / 9" |
| Oval 40 × 72" | 6–8 | Oval 55 × 87" in the printed range; other fabrics use rectangle 53 × 88" or order a custom oval | 7–8" |
| Square 36" | 4 | Square 52–53" (132–135 cm) — all fabrics | 8–9" |
| Round 36" | 4 | Round 52–53" (132–135 cm) — all fabrics | 8–9" |
| Square 48" | 4–8 | Square 60" in cotton and cotton-linen; Square 70–72" in velvet; linen and prints: order custom | 6" — or 11–12" |
| Round 48" | 4–6 | Round 60" in cotton and cotton-linen; Round 69–71" in velvet; linen and prints: order custom | 6" — or 10–12" |
| Round 60" | 6–8 | Round 79–80" in velvet; other fabrics: order custom (e.g. 78–84") | 10" |
| Round 72" | 8–10 | Round 90–95" in velvet; other fabrics: order custom (e.g. 90–96") | 9–12" |
| Banquet / folding table 30 × 96" | 8–10 | 50 × 120" (127 × 304 cm) — all fabrics | 10" / 12" |
How big do our ready sizes go?
| Fabric | Widest rectangle | Largest round / square |
|---|---|---|
| 100% linen · printed (William Morris, Halloween) | 53" wide, up to 118–138" long | 53–55" |
| Cotton (gingham, striped, stain-resistant) | 57 × 118" | 60" |
| Cotton-linen | 59 × 118" — plus a 68 × 188" banquet size | 60" |
| Velvet | up to 106 × 162" | up to 116" |
Anything between two sizes, or beyond the last one, is a custom order — see below. When in doubt, check the dropdown on the product you like: the logic is always the same, table measurement plus your drop, twice.
What if my table isn't on the chart?
Then it's a custom order, and that's not a compromise — it's the normal way we work. Farmhouse tables, tables with the leaf in, big round tables, a 40-inch-wide table you want a 12-inch drop on: you send us the measurements from step 1, tell us the drop you want, and we cut and sew the cloth to those numbers — round, square, oval or any rectangle, in any of our fabrics. It takes 2–4 business days to make, and shipping to the US and UK is free.
To order a custom size, use the contact form with your table dimensions and preferred shape, or pick the closest size on any product page and leave your exact measurements in the order note at checkout — we'll make it to your note, not the dropdown.
Which fabric should I choose?
Size is half the decision. A quick guide to the fabrics we work with:
- 100% linen — the classic. Natural texture, gets softer with every wash, 26 colors. Best for everyday dining and anyone who loves the relaxed, slightly rumpled look.
- Cotton-linen — the practical one. Wipe-clean and spill-resistant, 60 colors. Best for families, outdoor tables and anyone who wants linen looks with less laundry.
- Stain-resistant cotton — 58 solid colors, water and stain repellent. Best for kitchen tables that see three meals a day.
- Printed, stain-resistant — William Morris botanicals and seasonal prints on an easy-care fabric. Best when the tablecloth is the centerpiece.
- Velvet — the one for big tables and big occasions. Rich metallic sheen, easy-care, and the widest range of ready sizes we make: up to 116" round and 106 × 162" rectangles for weddings, banquets and long holiday tables.
Quick answers
Should a tablecloth touch the floor? Only on tables no one sits at — buffets, dessert tables, wedding cake tables. For a dining table, 7–12 inches of drop is right.
Can I use a rectangular tablecloth on an oval table? Yes. The corners will hang a little lower than the sides, which many people like. For a cleaner look, order the oval shape — we cut it to the curve.
How do I measure a table with leaves? Measure it the way you use it most. If you host holidays with the leaf in, order for the extended size and use a runner the rest of the year.
Do you make tablecloths in inches or centimeters? Both. Send whichever you measured in.
Still unsure? Send us a photo of the table and its measurements and we'll tell you exactly what to order. Browse all tablecloths.