4.7 
For an oval dining table: 160 by 90 cm for four to six people, 180 by 100 cm for six, 200 by 100 cm for six to eight, and 220 to 240 cm for eight to ten. An oval table offers slightly fewer seats than a rectangular one of the same length, because the ends taper. On the other hand, it is easier to walk past the table.
Oval sits between round and rectangular. You get the length of a rectangular table, but without the sharp corners. That makes choosing the size a little trickier, because the nominal length does not tell you everything about the number of usable places.
How many people fit at an oval dining table?
Along the long sides, allow sixty centimetres per person, just as with a rectangular table. One person can usually sit at each end, provided the table is at least ninety centimetres wide there.
With a 200 by 100 cm table, that means three people on each long side and one at each end, eight in total. For everyday use, six to seven is more comfortable.
Pay attention to the shape of the end. With a Danish oval top, where the short sides taper quite strongly, the place at the head is tighter than with an evenly oval top.
Which size goes with how many people?
| Dimensions | Comfortable | Maximum |
|---|---|---|
| 140 x 80 cm | 4 people | 4 people |
| 160 x 90 cm | 4 people | 6 people |
| 180 x 90 cm | 6 people | 6 people |
| 180 x 100 cm | 6 people | 8 people |
| 200 x 100 cm | 6 people | 8 people |
| 220 x 100 cm | 8 people | 8 people |
| 240 x 110 cm | 8 people | 10 people |
The width determines whether the places at the ends are usable. Below ninety centimetres wide, it is better not to seat anyone at the ends.
How much space do you need around an oval table?
Allow eighty centimetres between the edge of the table and a wall or cabinet, and a hundred centimetres where people have to walk behind a seated guest.
For a 200 by 100 cm table, that gives you a free floor area of about 360 by 260 cm. That is the size you need to check in the room, not the table size itself.
With an oval table, the walking space is often less of an issue in practice. Because there are no corners, you cut the walking route short and need less space at the short sides than with a rectangular top.
What is a Danish oval table?
A Danish oval top is more strongly curved at the short sides than at the long sides, giving the table something of a spindle shape. It is the shape you know from Scandinavian furniture design of the fifties and sixties.
The difference from a regular oval is subtle but noticeable. A Danish oval looks slimmer and tapers more at the ends, which makes the seat at the head tighter.
We make this shape in solid oak, oak veneer and melamine. The full collection can be found under Danish oval dining tables.
Which sizes and prices do we offer?
| Model | Dimensions | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Melamine walnut, Matrix base | 180 x 90 cm | € 714,60 |
| Melamine walnut, Matrix base | 200 x 100 cm | € 831,60 |
| Oak veneer Walnut Brown 2x, VV black | 180 x 100 cm | € 1.169,00 |
| Solid oak Natural, Maan base | 200 x 100 cm | € 1.564,00 |
| Solid oak Natural, Maan base | 240 x 110 cm | € 1.794,00 |
The difference between melamine and solid oak lies in material and delivery time, not in the available sizes. Melamine is delivered quickly; solid oak is made to order.
Key points
- 180 by 100 cm is the standard size for six people, 220 cm for eight.
- Allow sixty centimetres per person along the long sides.
- The place at the head is only usable from a table width of ninety centimetres.
- Keep eighty to a hundred centimetres of free space all around.
- A Danish oval tapers more strongly at the ends than a regular oval.
Frequently asked questions
How many people fit at a 180 cm oval table?
Six people fit comfortably at a 180-centimetre oval table: two on each long side and one at each end. If the table is 100 centimetres wide or more, you can occasionally seat eight.
Is an oval table better than a rectangular one?
An oval table is not better, but it is more practical in a space where you often walk past the table. Because there are no corners, you bump into it less and the table looks lighter. A rectangular table of the same length usually offers one or two more seats.
Which base suits an oval table best?
For an oval table, a base set inwards works best, because then you can sit at the ends without hitting a leg. A central base or a double leg placed inwards gives the most legroom. Four legs at the corners, by contrast, limit the places at the ends.
Does an oval table fit in a narrow room?
An oval table fits well in a narrow room, often better than a rectangular one. The tapering ends give you a few extra centimetres of space at the passage. Do allow at least eighty centimetres between the edge of the table and the wall.
How wide should an oval dining table be?
An oval dining table is usually ninety to a hundred and ten centimetres wide. Below ninety centimetres, people opposite each other sit too close together and there is no room for dishes in the middle. Above a hundred and ten centimetres, you can no longer pass anything to each other across the table.
Finally
Choose the size based on the daily number of diners, not on Christmas Eve. A table that is too big for the room all year round causes more irritation than two extra chairs you miss a few times a year.
Do you know the size you want, but it is not in the collection? We produce in our own factory and make tops to measure. Take a look at made-to-measure table or visit one of our showrooms.
