Here’s our table runner size guide including what it is, what size to use, and different table runner sizes to match your dining room’s interior design.
A way to decorate easily for your next dinner party is to choose the appropriate table runner for your dining table relevant to your theme, of course.
You can easily dress up your dining table with the right table runner’s design to match the interior design or even the holiday you are currently celebrating as you read this guide. But before that, how do you measure for one suitable for your particular dining table size?
This article will talk to you through measuring and help you choose a table runner for your dining room. Let’s get to it!
What is a Table Runner?
Table runners are an added decorative element to your table. They are narrow pieces of cloth that run the length of your dinner table and can be made from a variety of thick or thin materials like organza, linen, casement, crochet, and many others. Some table runners have tapered edges and even fun tassels that hang over the edge of your table.
Table runners can mimic the interior style of your dining room. Still, it can also be switched out occasionally with holiday-themed ones, or whatever you might like the design of your table runner to be.
Standard Table Runner Size
If you are shopping for a table runner, it helps to know the width of your dining table first. Before we go there, let’s talk about the standard table runner size. So what is the standard size?
Table runners range from the shorter size of 36 inches or 91 centimeters to the longer 108 inches or 274 centimeters. The widths of different table runners are between 10 to 15 inches or 25 to 38 centimeters.
Although, this could be even bigger depending on your dinner table’s width because the general rule in measuring for a table runner is that it should be a third of the total width of the table. Read more about dining table dimensions here.
Popular Table Runner Dimensions
Table Runner Size for 5ft Round Table
Although most table runners in stores and online are generally made for square or rectangular tables, making sure that you are using the right size of table runners could make it versatile enough to be used on a round table. With that already out of the way, let us look at a table runner for a 5 foot round table.
The dimensions of a round table are 60 inches or 152 centimeters all over. Choosing a table runner for this size is pretty straightforward. Just adding 12 inches or 30 centimeters to the length of the table would give you an overhang of 6 inches or 15 centimeters on each side, which is the ideal overhang size.
For the thickness of the table runner, simply divide 60 inches or 152 centimeters by 3, and you will get 20. Anything a little over or under 20 inches in thickness would be perfect.
Table Runner Size for 6ft Table
A 6-foot dining table has a length of 60 inches or 152 centimeters and a width of 30 inches or 76 centimeters. Like choosing a table runner for a round table, choosing one for a rectangular is pretty easy, and essentially you will only measure for the table runner width. The ideal width for a table runner for this table size is 10 inches or 25 centimeters.
The length can vary depending on what you are looking to achieve. You can have a table runner that only runs the entire 60 inches of your dining table, or you can have an overhang of 12 inches or 30 centimeters on both sides.
Table Runner Size for 7ft Table
A 7-foot rectangular dining table has a length that runs 84 inches or 213 centimeters. At the same time, it has a width of 3 feet and 3 inches, 39 inches or 99 centimeters when converted. The ideal table runner size for this length is close to the one needed for a 6-foot table.
The width of the table runner is 39 inches divided by 3, and you get the quotient of 13, alternatively 11 inches or 28 centimeters.
Anything close to this number will be an ideal centerpiece for your 7-foot dining table. While the length is pretty much flexible to however way you want your dining table to look.
Table Runner Size for 8ft Table
An 8-foot rectangular dining table would sit 8 family and friends comfortably with enough space to account even with a complete fine dining table setting. If you want a table runner to add as a decorative element to your table, measuring for one is easy as pie.
An 8-foot has 96 inches or 244 centimeters in length and width of 42 inches or 107 centimeters. The size of a table runner for this long table will depend solely on your decisions, however long you want it to be. For the width, that is 42 inches divided by 3, and you get the quotient of 14 inches or 36 centimeters.
So, anything a little over or less than 14 inches for the width of your table runner will be perfect for your 8-foot table.
Table Runner Size for 6ft Round Table
A 6-foot round dining table has a length of 72 inches or 183 centimeters all over. Just like choosing a table runner for a 5 feet table as discussed, simply take the length of 183 centimeters, add 6 inches or 12 inches on each side, and you have a table runner perfect for this size.
At the same time, for the width, all you need to do is divide 72 inches by 3, and you will get the quotient of 24 inches or 61 centimeters.
How Long Should a Table Runner Be?
There is no perfect number when deciding on an ideal table runner length. Choosing one is pretty flexible.
Although to be a table runner, it needs at least a minimum of 6 inches or 15 centimeters, and the rule is it shouldn’t hang more than your tablecloth.
To illustrate, for an 80 inches dining table, a table runner should at least be 92 inches long to get that overhang of 6 inches 15 centimeters for each side.
How Wide Should a Table Runner Be?
There are widely available table runners that are 10 to 13 inches or 25 to 33 centimeters wide— making this size the standard for the width of a table runner.
However, this size would not work for every table. The rule of thumb when deciding how thick a table runner should be is to take the width of your dining or banquet table and divide it by three.
For example, for 4 seater square dining table that is 5 feet all over, convert 5 feet to inches, and you get 60 inches which, when cut in thirds, would give you a value of 20 inches— giving you the ideal width of 20 inches or 51 centimeters for the table runner.
What Size Table Runner Do I Need?
Many sizes are available for a table runner, ideal for your dining table. It would help if you remembered the rule of the thirds, which would dictate the mid-range where the perfect width of table runner will be an ideal fit for your table.
Should a Table Runner Hang Off The Table?
Ideally, yes. For a table runner to look presentable and aesthetically pleasing, it should run more the length of your table. Just make sure that it is not hanging more than the length of your tablecloth (if you have them) to keep everything looking proportionate and perfect.
For more related content visit our guide to staging a kitchen table here.