Round dining table for 6: which diameter to choose and the sizes of the store's round tables

“A round table for six” is the request I hear most from people with a square or compact dining room who host the family on weekends. The good answer is not a model, it is a diameter, and the diameter comes from a simple count I do at the showroom with a tape measure in hand. In this guide I show the count, the table diameter by diameter, the space the table needs around it and the round tables Lucy Home carries, with the spec-sheet measurements.

A round table seen from above, in the Lucy Home showroom: the whole edge is seating, and that is what goes into the count.

The 60 cm per person count

The reference I use comes from a UK decor guide (Kin Store): about 60 cm of table edge per person for everyday use, more for wide armchairs. The same guide says a table of about 160 cm usually seats six and one of about 200 cm can seat eight, without separating by shape.

On a round table, the edge is the perimeter, and the perimeter is 3.14 times the diameter. A 1.20 m table has 3.77 m of edge; divided by 0.60, that is 6.3: six seats. It is the store’s own count from the guide’s reference, not a standard or a factory figure, and I would rather make that clear before the table.

Diameter and seats, in a table

Diameter	Perimeter	Seats by the 60 cm count
1.00 m	3.14 m	5
1.10 m	3.46 m	5 to 6
1.20 m	3.77 m	6
1.30 m	4.08 m	6 to 7
1.40 m	4.40 m	7
1.50 m	4.71 m	7 to 8
1.58 m	4.96 m	8
1.80 m	5.65 m	9

Three things change the result:

1. The base. A central pedestal frees the whole edge; four legs at the corners steal space from whoever sits near them.
2. The chair. The guide warns that wide armchairs need more than 60 cm. An armless chair closes the count; a dining armchair does not.
3. The reach. The guide notes that the larger the diameter, the harder it is to reach the center of the table. Above 1.40 m, I only recommend it in a large room and for people who serve in dishes passed from hand to hand.

The space around it: 90 cm on every side

The guide suggests at least 90 cm between the table edge and the nearest wall or piece of furniture, to pull out a chair and walk behind. On a round table, that becomes a circle: the diameter plus 1.80 m. A 1.00 m table needs a clear circle of 2.80 m; a 1.20 m one, 3.00 m; a 1.40 m one, 3.20 m; a 1.58 m one, 3.38 m; a 1.80 m one, 3.60 m. If the circle touches the kitchen door or the TV unit, the diameter is too big for the room, however many seats the count promises. The guide round or rectangular dining table compares it with oval and rectangular when the room is long.

Lucy Home’s round tables

Table	Spec-sheet diameters	Spec-sheet height
Cone	1.00, 1.10, 1.20, 1.30 and 1.40 m	the spec sheet gives only the diameters
Sottile round	1.35, 1.50 and 1.80 m	77.6 cm
Âncora round	1.10, 1.20, 1.30, 1.40, 1.50 and 1.58 m	70 or 78 cm

None of their spec sheets gives a number of seats; use the count table as a ruler and come sit down. The Cone table is the one for the compact room, from a 1.00 m diameter. The Âncora, which also comes in rectangular, reaches 1.58 m in the round version, with two top heights. The Sottile round is the store’s largest diameter, 1.80 m, for the large room that hosts many people. On made-to-order pieces, ask the team what each one allows you to customize.

Chairs: armless, the count closes

The 60 cm is for a regular-size chair. On a round table, the armless chair is the one that helps most, because it does not steal edge from the chair beside it; the dining armchair, with arms, needs more and costs a seat on a table up to 1.20 m. Also look at the seat height relative to the top: the Sottile is 77.6 cm high and the Âncora round, 70 or 78 cm, and legs need to fit without bumping. The guide chairs for the dining table helps you choose, and a living room for hosting the family in summer shows how to add seats without squeezing the walkway.

How to test at home: string and masking tape

1. Cut a string half the diameter of the table you are thinking of buying.
2. Pin one end at the center of the room and trace the circle with masking tape on the floor.
3. Put the chairs you own around it, touching the tape.
4. Pull one chair back as if you were getting up and measure to the wall or the furniture: 90 cm is the ruler.
5. Take a photo from above, from a stepladder or the mezzanine, and send it on WhatsApp: I like to see the layout before you choose.

Come sit at the round table set up

The Lucy Home showroom is at Av. Presidente Kennedy, 3870, Aviação, Praia Grande, with round tables set up with chairs for you to sit, pull out a chair and measure. Bring the diameter the count gave you and the room measurement, or send them on WhatsApp; the team knows each table and room planning is at no cost. See also the tables page.

Frequently asked questions

What size is a round dining table for 6?

By the reference of about 60 cm of table edge per person, from a UK decor guide, six seats need about 3.60 m of perimeter, which gives a diameter of about 1.15 to 1.20 m. It is the store's own count from that reference, not a standard: armchairs and the table base change the result.

What size is a round dining table for 8?

Eight seats at 60 cm each need about 4.80 m of perimeter, that is, a diameter of about 1.50 to 1.55 m, by the same count. The guide notes that, on a round table, the larger the diameter, the harder it is to reach the center.

How many people fit at a 1.20 m round table?

The perimeter of a 1.20 m table is 3.77 m; divided by 60 cm per person, it gives six tight seats. With armless chairs and a central base, it usually works; with wide chairs, five are more comfortable. At the store, we check by sitting down.

How much space should I leave around a round table?

The guide suggests at least 90 cm between the table edge and the nearest wall or piece of furniture. On a round table, add 1.80 m to the diameter: a 1.20 m table needs a clear circle of about 3.00 m.

Sources

• Kin Store, What size dining table do I need (60 cm per person, 90 cm clearance, 160 cm for six and 200 cm for eight)