Choosing the Right Table Legs for Your Project

Whether you’re selecting furniture for your home or working on a DIY project, determining the right height for your table legs can be a bother. As with most pieces of furniture around the house or work, if you fail to get things right, the final product may not look so hot. 

A lot often depends on your table legs. How much weight the table can carry, how comfortable people will be using it and whether the table will achieve that tasteful look everybody loves. 

We get a lot of questions here at Bear Hollow Supply about the proper height for table legs that people should purchase for their projects. And after sharing several answers on this with our customers, we decided to put it all in one nice, comfortable spot. 

So, in this article, we’ll be addressing how to make a decision on what height of table legs you should order, and things you should look out for. 

The perfect height for the perfect table

The first thing we should get clear is there is no exact industry standard for table height. Although most companies produce tables with average heights, these are usually dependent on three things: 

• Their practical experience of what the optimal height should be;
• The average table and chair heights that are usually sold in their country; or 
• The practice that has been followed in the particular company

Due to this, there is no absolute height that your table must get to. But just like several other companies around the world, we’ve discovered that the best tables are the most functional. They do what you want them to do well, and still manage to look good while doing it. 

And from what we’ve learned, a large part of doing that job well, is being just the right height for use and aesthetics. So, from our own practical experience, we’ll share what we think are great heights for different kinds of tables. 

That said, in calculating your optimal table height, you need to keep two things in mind. 

• If you’re trying to get an idea from a measurement, make sure you’re doing it right. Standard table measurements are taken from the floor to the top of the table. This means if you have a 2” table top and are aiming for 30”, you might have to take 2” out of your table legs. 
• You also need to consider chair height. Standard chair heights are taken from the chair legs to the top of the seating surface, not the back or arm rests (unless you plan to slide the chairs fully under the table). If you have a table with a thick top or overhanging counter, you may need to consider a lower chair height. It’s a good idea to leave about 7” between the arm rest or chair seat and the underside of the table. 

These are the table leg heights we consider optimal for the following kinds of tables and counters: 

Dining tables 

The standard height for dining tables is between 26” – 30”. But this should be measured from the ground to the table top. If you’re looking for some variety, you should keep in mind that formal dining tables are usually around 30” and informal table heights will be around 26” – 29”. 

For tables with lounge-style or low seating, a table height of around 25” – 27” can work for you. Just make sure your seats will be below 16”, top to bottom. 

Bar tables 

Bar tables can often have a wide range in height, depending on custom preferences. That said, the standard height for these tables is between 34” – 40”, taking into consideration a bar stool height of 26” – 32”. 

If you’re pushing for a higher bar table to go for a modern look, you can comfortably customize up to 44” – 47”. But you should also consider a higher bar stool height as well. A good rule of thumb is to allow 8” – 9” of space between your stool and the bar table. This gives you that slight slant when sitting, as opposed to a straight 90-degree angle. 

Coffee tables 

Coffee tables usually come in around 18”, give or take an inch or two. This allows for a comfortable balance between standard sofa and chair heights. If you don’t have a standard sofa, a good rule is to keep your coffee table about the same height as the cushions of your sofa. You may have a leeway of about 1” – 2” lower. 

Apart from this, other considerations to keep in mind are to leave a walkway between 12” – 18” between your coffee table and sofa. You should consider the top of the table when doing this. Also, your coffee table should be about 2/3 the length of your sofa. 

Bench height 

Bench seating is usually measured around 16”. It gives you a nice sitting posture with both legs bent at a 90% angle and resting on the ground. If the bench will not be seating people of regular height, you might want to make adjustments in this regard, give or take 1” – 2”. 

Kitchen counters 

Kitchen counters, islands and tables are usually about the same as dining table heights, 28” – 30”. But if you’re planning to have seating at the island or counter, you should consider going with a taller height. 

Kitchen counter stools are usually higher than normal sitting, so you should go for a height between 34” – 39”. 

Side tables 

Side tables are great for lounge seating or settling a cold drink on or even putting your feet up while you watch TV. The standard practice for these tables is to match their height to that of sofa arm rests, although this usually varies widely. 

The standard height for these tables would be between 22” – 26”. A good rule is to keep the table height within 1” or 2” of your sofa arm rest. It’s often best to aim for shorter rather than taller in these cases. 

Console 

There are different types of console tables, and these have many uses. This often affects the standard height, based on their use case. TV consoles, for instance, are typically higher than others. The measurement for these however depends on how big your TV is. 

It’s a good rule to measure about 42” from the floor to the approximate area of your TV’s center and then calculate your optimal console height. This way, you allow for a sofa seat height of 18” and leave room for 24” which is around the general eye-level of an adult relaxing on a sofa. 

Conclusion 

With these tips, you have more than enough to figure out what height of table legs you should be ordering up for your table. Ensure you check supplied dimensions properly before buying online so you’re sure you have the right fit. 

You can also take your own measurements or contact your contractor to take measurements of your space and offer recommendations on the best height for your project. 

You can browse through our collection of elegantly worked cast aluminum table legs to see if they fit your requirements. We’re sure you’ll find something you love.