Every December the dining table gets longer. The leaves come out of the cupboard, a second table is carried in from the kitchen, and for one evening ten or twelve people sit where six usually do. Then the tablecloth comes out of the drawer and stops a foot short of the end.
Many ready-made rectangular tablecloths stop at 120 inches, which covers eight guests and not much more. This guide gives you the sizes for a long Christmas table in inches and centimetres, explains the two numbers that decide everything, and shows the Christmas tablecloths we make to your exact length.
The two numbers that decide the size
A tablecloth is your table plus the drop, twice: once for each side. Measure the table top, length and width, then decide how far you want the cloth to hang over the edge.
- A drop of 8 to 10 inches (20 to 25 cm) clears the knees and suits a relaxed family dinner.
- A drop of 12 to 15 inches (30 to 38 cm) looks more formal: the classic dinner-party length.
- A drop to the floor is for buffets, or long tables where nobody sits at the ends.
So a table 120 inches long with a 12-inch drop needs a cloth 144 inches long (120 + 12 + 12). The width works the same way: a 40-inch table with a 12-inch drop needs a 64-inch cloth. Our measuring guide for tablecloths walks through it step by step, including round and oval tables.
Christmas tablecloth sizes for 8 to 14 guests
Allow about 24 inches (60 cm) of table for each person along the sides. These are typical table lengths for a Christmas dinner, with the tablecloth length for a 12-inch (30 cm) drop:
| Guests | Typical table length | Tablecloth length (12 in drop) |
|---|---|---|
| 8 | 96 in (244 cm) | 120 in (305 cm) |
| 10 | 120 in (305 cm) | 144 in (366 cm) |
| 12 | 144 in (366 cm) | 168 in (427 cm) |
| 14 | 168 in (427 cm) | 192 in (488 cm) |
For the width, a standard table of 36 to 42 inches (91 to 107 cm) needs a cloth of 60 to 66 inches (152 to 168 cm) for the same 12-inch drop. Measure your own table rather than trusting the chart: two tables of the same nominal size can differ by several inches, and that is the difference between a cloth that falls evenly and one that stops short at one end.
When the table is really two tables
The long Christmas table is often a dining table with a second one pushed against it. A few things to check before you measure:
- Measure the whole run, end to end, with both tables in place. One cloth over the join hides it far better than two cloths that overlap.
- Check the heights. If one table is lower, the cloth will dip over the step; a folded blanket or a felt pad under the cloth on the lower table evens it out.
- Check the widths. If the tables differ, measure the wider one and accept a slightly longer drop on the narrower table.
- If your table has extension leaves, measure it with every leaf you will use on the day, not at its everyday length.
Our Christmas tablecloths
Our Christmas tablecloths are printed in Italy on linen or cotton and made to the size of your table in our own workshop. You enter the length and the width, and the price appears straight away; there is no quote to request.
Etoile scatters red poinsettias, holly and autumn leaves over white linen. It is an all-over print, so it can be made in any length and any width up to 67 inches (170 cm), rectangular or round.
Four designs are border prints: Fairy Elf and Fairy Trees in linen, Pinoel and Rudy in cotton. The design runs along both long edges of the cloth, so they come in one width, 67 inches (170 cm), and in any length you need.
On a long table that fixed width works in your favour. On a standard 40-inch table, a 67-inch cloth gives a drop of 13.5 inches on each side, a generous formal length, and the printed border falls exactly where it is meant to be seen: along the edge of the table. On a 36-inch table the drop is 15.5 inches. If your table is wider than about 47 inches, the drop on the long sides falls below 10 inches; it still covers the table, but if you want a longer drop on a very wide table, get in touch before ordering. Border prints are made as rectangular cloths only, because the border would not work on a round table.
When to order for Christmas
Every tablecloth is cut and sewn to order, which takes 10 to 20 business days, plus delivery. To have it on the table by Christmas, order by the first week of December at the latest. Earlier is better: it leaves time to wash the cloth once before the day, which softens linen beautifully.
Questions people ask
What size tablecloth do I need for a table that seats 10?
Usually the table is about 120 inches (305 cm) long, so you need a cloth of about 144 inches (366 cm) for a 12-inch drop. Measure your own table to be sure.
Can I get a Christmas tablecloth longer than 120 inches?
Yes. Ours are made to the length you enter, so 144, 168 or 192 inches is no different to order than 90.
Why do some designs come in only one width?
Because the print has a border along both long edges. Making the cloth narrower would cut the border off, so those designs are made at the full width of the fabric, 67 inches (170 cm), in any length.
Can I have a round Christmas tablecloth?
Yes, in Etoile, which is an all-over print. The border designs are rectangular only.
Measure your table with the leaves in, decide on the drop, and enter your size on the product page: the price is calculated as you type. See all our Christmas tablecloths.
