Getting the right tablecloth size, colour, and quantity for your event takes some planning. This guide covers what to order and how to work out quantities.
Getting the right tablecloth size, colour, and quantity for your event takes some planning. This guide covers what to order and how to work out quantities.
Booking linen hire involves selecting tablecloths, napkins, table runners, and poseur covers. Getting the right cloth size, colour, and quantity takes planning. This guide details the exact specifications to order and the methods to calculate quantities.
Tablecloths come in round and rectangular sizes to match your table hire order. The standard rule dictates that the cloth must overhang the edge of the table by 30 to 45cm on all sides. A full floor-length drop looks formal and hides table legs. A 30cm drop suits casual buffet tables, allowing catering staff access to the shelf underneath.
Covering a 5ft (60-inch) round table requires a 120-inch (305cm) round tablecloth to achieve a mid-length drop on all sides. Dressing a 6ft (72-inch) round table takes a 132-inch round cloth to get the same result. Achieving a complete drop to the floor on a 5ft round means ordering a 132-inch cloth.
Dressing an 8ft x 2ft 6in trestle table requires a 90x156-inch rectangular cloth to produce an even mid-length drop around the edges. A 90x132-inch cloth works well when accepting a shorter drop at the ends, common for buffet setups.
Fitted poseur covers wrap around a poseur table and fasten underneath, creating a clean, snug appearance. We stock these in black and white. They suit cocktail receptions and corporate events requiring the underside of the table to remain hidden.
White and ivory remain the standard choices for weddings and formal dinners. White reads as crisper and more modern. Ivory feels softer and pairs well with warm lighting and floral centrepieces.
Black linen suits corporate events, awards evenings, and branded dinners demanding a dark base. It pairs well with coloured napkins or runners to add an accent without switching the base cloth colour.
Coloured tablecloths suit themed events. Matching a specific colour scheme requires checking live stock levels on our website.
Napkins come in white as standard. Catering teams fold them flat, or roll and tie them with a napkin ring for a formal look. Order one napkin per guest as a minimum and add 5% to the total to cover guests dropping or soiling a napkin during the meal.
A table runner forms a strip of fabric running down the centre of a rectangular table or across the middle of a round table. It adds a colour accent or texture over the base tablecloth. Runners work well on long trestle tables where a plain white cloth looks sparse, and on round tables as a decorative layer between the cloth and the centrepiece.
Calculate one tablecloth per table. Add one napkin per guest, plus 5% spare. Count one runner per table when using them. Assign one poseur cover per poseur table.
Running a buffet alongside a seated dinner means the buffet trestle tables also need covering. Budget for one cloth per buffet table in addition to your dining table count.
Booking table dressing works best when ordering alongside the rest of your event equipment. We supply crockery, cutlery, and glassware as part of the same package. A complete place setting features a dinner plate, cutlery set, and wine glass per guest resting on a dressed table. Ordering everything together means one delivery, one collection, and a confirmed quantity match across all items. Returning these items requires zero washing up, as our "Send It Back Dirty" service covers all crockery, glassware, and cutlery.
Enter your guest numbers, table types, and colour requirements into our website to see live pricing. We deliver to events from our 11 regional depots, with delivery starting from £40 ex-VAT based on road distance. Every order includes a free minor damage waiver, and we require no security deposit. View our linen hire range or request a quote. Stock levels update in real time, so select your hire dates to check availability and confirm your order online.
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