How Long Should a Dining Table Be to Seat 8?

Seating eight comfortably means a table of roughly 200cm to 240cm long, with 220cm the length that suits most homes. This guide works through the numbers for rectangular, round and oval tables, including the different length needed if you seat four along each side rather than using the ends. It sets out the room dimensions required once clearance is added, explains why extending tables are usually the practical answer in UK homes, and shows how leg placement and apron depth can quietly cost you two places. There is also guidance on chair width, benches, and lighting and serving arrangements that work across a long table....