There is a particular kind of disappointment in unwrapping beautiful linen and finding it does not fit. The tablecloth that stops short of the edge. The placemat that crowds the plate. The napkin that looks lost beside the glass.
Sizing table linen is not complicated, but it is specific, and almost nobody explains it properly. So here is how we do it in our atelier, with the measurements we work to and the reasoning behind them. For our full range of standard dimensions, see the Size Guide.
Start with the table, not the linen
Measure the top of your table: length and width for a rectangle or square, diameter for a round one. Write those numbers down. Everything else follows from them.
If your table extends, measure it both ways. Most households dress the table in its everyday form and only extend it for occasions, which usually means two different tablecloths rather than one compromise.
The Art of the Drop
The drop is how far the cloth hangs over the edge of the table. It is the single choice that changes how a table reads.
Choose the drape that defines the silhouette of your table. Our signature drop lengths:
-
30 cm / 11.8 in — Signature
Our signature drop. Effortlessly elegant. -
45 cm / 17.7 in — Formal
A generous drape with a refined, formal presence. -
60 cm / 23.6 in — Ceremonial
A sweeping drape designed for grander occasions. -
75 cm / 29.5 in — Floor-Kissing
A graceful drape that softly meets the floor. -
90 cm / 35.4 in — Full-Length
A sumptuous, floor-length drape for maximum impact. -
Bespoke — Made to Measure
Specify your desired drop.
The perfect drop is more than a measurement — it is what gives your table its presence.
When you land between two standard sizes, take the larger. A more generous drop looks intentional; one that falls short rarely does. And when the proportions of the table call for something more precise, that is what Made to Measure is for.
How to calculate your tablecloth size
Once you have chosen your drop, the calculation is simple:
Tablecloth dimension = table dimension + (2 × desired drop)
For a rectangular or square table, add twice the chosen drop to both the length and the width.
For a round table, add twice the chosen drop to the diameter.
For example, a table measuring 180 × 90 cm requires:
- Signature — 30 cm drop: 240 × 150 cm
- Formal — 45 cm drop: 270 × 180 cm
- Ceremonial — 60 cm drop: 300 × 210 cm
- Floor-Kissing — 75 cm drop: 330 × 240 cm
- Full-Length — 90 cm drop: 360 × 270 cm
Tablecloth size chart
Rectangular and oval tables — Signature 30 cm / 11.8 in drop
| Table | Seats | Tablecloth |
|---|---|---|
| 120 × 80 cm | 4 | 180 × 140 cm |
| 150 × 90 cm | 6 | 210 × 150 cm |
| 180 × 90 cm | 6 to 8 | 240 × 150 cm |
| 220 × 100 cm | 8 to 10 | 280 × 160 cm |
| 260 × 110 cm | 10 to 12 | 320 × 170 cm |
Round tables — Signature 30 cm / 11.8 in drop
| Table diameter | Seats | Tablecloth diameter |
|---|---|---|
| 100 cm | 4 | 160 cm |
| 120 cm | 4 to 6 | 180 cm |
| 150 cm | 6 to 8 | 210 cm |
| 180 cm | 8 to 10 | 240 cm |
These charts use our Signature 30 cm / 11.8 in drop as their starting point.
To create a more generous drape from the tablecloth dimensions shown above:
- Formal — 45 cm drop: add 30 cm to each overall tablecloth dimension
- Ceremonial — 60 cm drop: add 60 cm
- Floor-Kissing — 75 cm drop: add 90 cm
- Full-Length — 90 cm drop: add 120 cm
For a round table, add the same amount to the tablecloth diameter.
Placemats: 40 by 50 centimetres, and why
Our placemats are 40 cm wide by 50 cm deep. That is not an arbitrary number. It is the width a place setting occupies when a guest can move their elbows, and the depth that holds a dinner plate, a bread plate and a glass without anything hanging off the edge.
Allow 60 cm of table edge per person. It is the figure that separates a dinner from a queue. On a 180 cm table, that gives you three settings comfortably along each side.
Leave at least 5 cm between placemats. If they touch, the table reads as crowded no matter how beautiful the embroidery. A placemat should sit about 2 cm in from the edge of the table, not flush with it.
Shop hand-embroidered linen placemats
Napkins: the size tells you the occasion
50 × 50 cm is the dinner napkin. Large enough to fold with authority, large enough to cover a lap. This is the size we make to match every placemat, and it is the size you want for a seated meal.
40 × 40 cm is the lunch napkin. Lighter, less ceremonial, right for daytime and for smaller plates.
15 × 26 cm is the cocktail napkin. It is not a small dinner napkin; it is a different object: made for a glass in one hand and something to eat in the other. We sell ours in sets of six with a matching pouch, because they travel between rooms.
If you are unsure, buy the 50 × 50 cm. A large napkin at a casual lunch looks generous. A small one at dinner looks like an oversight.
Shop embroidered linen cocktail napkins
Runners
A runner should overhang each end by 20 to 30 cm, or stop cleanly at the table edge. What it should never do is finish somewhere in between, which reads as an accident.
For width, a third of the table's width is the classic proportion. On a 90 cm table, that means a runner of about 30 cm.
Runners work across the table rather than along it, too, one under each place setting. It is an underused idea and it looks considered.
When the standard size is wrong
Old tables, marble tables, round tables that were never a standard diameter, the long table in a house that was built before anybody agreed on furniture dimensions. Plenty of tables do not correspond to any size on any chart.
That is what our atelier is for. Every piece we make can be made to your measurements, in the size, the shape and the colour you need, with the embroidery of your choosing. Bespoke pieces take six to eight weeks, because they are drawn, approved and then embroidered by hand in Tuscany.
Send us the dimensions of your table and we will tell you what it needs.
The short version
- Measure the table top.
- Choose your drop:
- 30 cm / 11.8 in — Signature
- 45 cm / 17.7 in — Formal
- 60 cm / 23.6 in — Ceremonial
- 75 cm / 29.5 in — Floor-Kissing
- 90 cm / 35.4 in — Full-Length
- Bespoke — Made to Measure
- Add twice the chosen drop to each table dimension.
- Allow 60 cm of table edge per guest.
- When choosing between standard sizes, favour the more generous drape.
- If no standard size gives you the proportion you want, have it made to measure.
Frequently asked questions
What size tablecloth do I need for a 180 cm table?
For a table measuring 180 × 90 cm, the correct tablecloth size depends on the drop you want:
- Signature 30 cm → 240 × 150 cm
- Formal 45 cm → 270 × 180 cm
- Ceremonial 60 cm → 300 × 210 cm
- Floor-Kissing 75 cm → 330 × 240 cm
- Full-Length 90 cm → 360 × 270 cm
If your table or preferred drape falls outside a standard size, our Atelier can make the cloth to your measurements.
How much should a tablecloth hang over the edge?
At Maison Alia, we define the drape through five signature drop lengths: 30 cm Signature, 45 cm Formal, 60 cm Ceremonial, 75 cm Floor-Kissing and 90 cm Full-Length.
The right choice depends on the silhouette and presence you want to give the table. For dimensions outside the standard offering, choose Made to Measure.
How do I calculate the correct tablecloth size?
Measure the tabletop and add twice your chosen drop to each dimension.
For example, for a 180 × 90 cm table with our Signature 30 cm drop:
180 + 60 = 240 cm
90 + 60 = 150 cm
The resulting tablecloth is 240 × 150 cm.
What is the standard placemat size?
Ours are 40 × 50 cm, which holds a full place setting without crowding. Allow 60 cm of table edge per guest and leave at least 5 cm between mats.
What is the difference between a dinner napkin and a cocktail napkin?
A dinner napkin is 50 × 50 cm and covers the lap. A cocktail napkin is 15 × 26 cm and is made to be held with a glass. They are not interchangeable.
Can I order table linen in a custom size?
Yes. Every piece we make can be produced to your measurements, in any size, shape and colour, with the embroidery you choose. Bespoke orders take six to eight weeks.
