Determining Bench or Chair Size for Your Dining Table
When choosing a dining bench or chairs for dining tables, taking the chair tuck into consideration ensures a comfortable fit under the table while providing adequate legroom for diners. Here are a few things to remember when determining the appropriate size:
Table Size & Skirt Clearance
Height: Standard dining tables are usually 28”–30” tall.
Length: This will determine how many seats can fit on each side.
Width: Our standard table widths are 42” and 48”. (We recommend 48” W when possible, to accommodate seating for two people on each end.)
Skirt clearance: Most of our barnwood dining tables have a skirt -the horizontal support under the tabletop. The distance from the bottom of the skirt to the floor is the maximum seat height of your barnwood bench or chair.
Seat Height of Bench or Chair
The ideal seat height for a dining bench or chair is usually 10”– 12” below the table height.
For a 30” tall table, the seat height should be 18”–20”H.
If the table has a skirt, subtract its thickness from the available height to be sure there’s ample legroom.
Chair Width & Bench Length
Dining Chairs: Our dining chair width is generally 20”- 24” for side and armchairs. For comfortable seating, allow at least 22”–26” of width per person.
With narrower chairs, you may be able to fit more people but we recommend not going below 20” W per seat.
Dining Bench: For good tuck when not being used, a dining bench should be slightly shorter than the table length.
Plan for 6”–12” of clearance on each side of the table to allow easier bench movement.
Chair & Bench Depth
The standard seat depth for our chairs is 17”- 22”.
Consider the backrest angle and overall depth of the chair.
To ensure the dining chairs don’t protrude far beyond the table edge when tucked in, plan to have 2”–4” of clearance between the edge of the table and the chair’s back.
Ample Legroom
For ideal comfort and freedom of movement for guests, 12” of legroom should be considered between the seat and the underside of the table or skirt.
We're Ready to Help!
We hope these guidelines help you determine the maximum functionality and aesthetics for your seating. If you need assistance calculating the best size options for a dining table and/or seating, our knowledgeable design specialists are happy to connect with you when you follow the link to the Customization Inquiry Form below.
