Food ServiceResources

WebstaurantStore / Food Service Resources / Choosing the Best Table Linens

Choosing the Best Table Linens

Table linens help to convey the theme and level of service at your restaurant or event while protecting tables and creating inviting visual appeal. Our wide selection of table linens and accessories makes it easy to put together a dining area that meets your size, material, tonal, and budget requirements.

What to Consider When Purchasing Table Linens

Table covers have the power to make or break the image you're trying to portray. From kid-friendly, disposable plastic table covers to upscale cloth linens for your five-star venue, the options out there are as endless as the establishments they will go in. Here are a few things you'll want to consider.

  • Size and shape. A tablecloth's size helps communicate the overall level of formality. For casual events, a 6-8" drop is appropriate; for formal events, a 10-15" drop is more fitting.
  • Tone of Room or Event. Linens help set the mood for a meal - whether lighthearted and festive, elegant and romantic, or serious and professional.
  • Material. Cloth table linens help create upscale settings and are designed to withstand daily use, while disposable covers are better for casual events and generally single-use only.
  • Color. While white and ivory are common for formal settings, bold colors create dramatic backdrops and festive displays when coordinated with other tabletop elements.
  • Cleanup Requirements. Larger facilities with storage space and laundering equipment can accommodate reusable tablecloths, while on-the-go services and casual events may prefer disposable covers.
  • Price. With so many table linen options available, it's possible to find table covers that meet all your requirements, including fitting into your budget!

Tablecloth Sizes

Not sure what size table linens to purchase? Our easy-to-use calculator will point you in the right direction. Just measure your table's top and base, enter the info into our calculator, and we'll do the math for you.

  1. Enter the shape and dimensions of your table.
  2. Determine how much of a drop you would like the table linens to have from the top of the table.
    • The standard "drop" or overhang is 8".
    • A 10" - 12" overhang will reach lap level.
    • For standard banquet tables, a 15" drop is recommended.
    • A 29" - 30" drop will reach to the floor.

Table Linen Size Calculator


Table Linen Calculator
1 Select Your Table Shape
2 Enter Your Table Dimensions
in. in.
3 Your Linen Size
in. in.

Types of Reusable Table Covers and Skirting

Reusable table and chair linens offer a number of advantages over disposable options. Along with ensuring you'll always have covers on hand, reusable linens create less waste, reduce costs over time, and are often made of materials that convey a higher level of service and quality.

Restaurant Equipment
  • Convey a higher level of service
  • Absorb background noise
  • Create sanitary table tops
  • Absorb spills better than bare surfaces
  • Often machine washable
  • Higher polyester content: more resistant to stains, wrinkling, pilling, and shrinking
  • Higher cotton content: softer, more natural-looking, and more absorbent

 

Restaurant Equipment
  • Ideal for outdoor barbeques and casual catered events
  • Strong, tear-resistant vinyl is more durable than disposable materials
  • Often feature polyester flannel backings to protect tabletops and provide traction
  • Make it easy to clean up spills and splatters
  • Vinyl table cover rolls allow you to easily customize size
  • Many feature a fun, gingham print

 

Restaurant Equipment
  • Ideal for catered events, trade shows, receptions, and casino nights
  • Stretch to snugly fit specific table sizes to eliminate wrinkling and the need for ironing
  • Many feature reinforced, sewn-in plastic feet to keep the cover firmly in place and protect it from damage
  • Available in bold, eye-catching colors

 

Restaurant Equipment
  • Perfect for elegant displays at banquet halls, buffets, and event venues
  • Polyester blends resist wrinkles and stains, making it easy to maintain their professional appearance
  • Easy installation and removal for quick turnaround at busy venues
  • Many are flame retardant, making them safer for use with lit candles or chafer fuel cans
  • Often attached to tables with Velcro® headers or clip hooks

 

How to Transport Tablecloths without Wrinkling

Round Red Hemmed Table Cover
Whether storing or transporting, keep your table linens smooth and wrinkle-free by following these steps. The only additional supply you'll need is a large tube, measuring at least the diameter or width of your largest table cover. Everyday items that will work include a wrapping-paper or cardboard mailing tube, a pool noodle, or a PVC pipe.

1. Launder all of your table linens.
2. Iron linens on both sides.
3. Stack linens one on top of another, staggering 1" or more from the edge of the previous linen to avoid bunching.
4. Wrap the linens around the tube, smoothing out any potential creases as you go.

Arrived at the venue and noticed your tablecloths have faint creases?
If you're without an iron but have time to spare, try this: Lay linens across tables, spritz with water, and smooth out the creases with your hands. Left overnight, many tablecloths will release wrinkles by morning.

Types of Disposable Table Covers

Disposable linens cut down on cleanup and table changeover time at restaurants, banquet halls, and catered events. Pre-sized disposable covers are great when planning ahead, while paper rolls are a flexible option for varied table sizes. In the short-term, they are a cost-efficient alternative to reusable linens.

Disposable party supplies, including sports table covers, make it easy to quickly put together and clean up a themed celebration.

Restaurant Equipment

Many disposable table covers are made of plastic and repel water, while others feature a tissue-poly blend that offers greater absorption for spills.

Restaurant Equipment

Disposable runners add visual flair to table settings. Use them to frame your presentation, or place widthwise across a table as a unique, 2-person placemat.

Restaurant Equipment

Table roll covers offer all the advantages of disposable tablecloths with the added benefit of being able to be cut to any desired length.

Table Cover Accessories

Every element of a setting contributes to the table's overall appearance. Consider adding accessories like cloth napkins, skirting clips, placemats, table padding, table runners, and drink coasters for an inviting presentation.

Restaurant Equipment

Cloth napkins are one of the quickest ways to dress up a table. Creatively folded napkins serve as a guest's first impression of a memorable meal.

Restaurant Equipment

Skirting clips keep tablecloths and table skirting securely in place. They are often clear to avoid detracting from a table's overall presentation.

Restaurant Equipment

Placemats are a quick way to add color and texture to settings. They also protect linens and bare tabletops from extreme temperatures, stains, and spills.

Restaurant Equipment

When placed beneath linens, table padding provides a cushioned feel, minimizes accidental breakage, and reduces noise caused by dinnerware, flatware, and glassware.

Restaurant Equipment

Add chair covers to complement your table linens and dress up a room. Often made of a polyester/spandex blend, they fit snugly over a variety of chair styles and sizes.

The information provided on this website does not, and is not intended to, constitute legal advice. Please refer to our Content Policy for more details.

Related Resources

Types of Table Tops and Bases

Set the stage for each and every dining experience by selecting the perfect table tops and bases for your establishment. From upscale eateries and bars to fast casual restaurants and cafeteria service, the tables you use not only provide a place for dining, but also contribute to your establishment's overall atmosphere.

Casual Dining vs. Fine Dining

There are two major factors that customers consider when choosing a restaurant: ambiance and price. Those factors are also the key difference between fine dining and casual dining experiences. Knowing what your customer base is looking for can play an important part in your establishment's success. If you're thinking about starting a restaurant, selecting the right path is crucial. We're here to compare the differences, key details, and history of both casual and fine dining to help you determine the identity of your future restaurant! You may use the following links to navigate to a particular portion of the article that you're interested in: Fine Dining vs. Casual Dining Starting a Fine Dining Restaurant Starting a Casual Dining Restauran

Designing Your Restaurant's Dining Room Layout

Your restaurant floor plan is a major component of your restaurant concept . It sets the scene for your guests' dining experience and separates you from competitors, but it's not just about aesthetics. Restaurant seating layouts must meet government regulations, accommodate the proper capacity, and work with your floor plan. Consider the following four important factors before opening or renovating your venue. 1. Understanding Business Regulations and Seating Capacity Before considering potential restaurant dining room design ideas, you need to determine whether you'll be using one or multiple rooms and then allocate all available space. Local code requirements could determine how much square footage you need per customer, as well as aisle

Join Our Mailing List

Receive coupon codes and more right to your inbox.

Recipe converter
WebstaurantStore blog
Videos of demonstrations, how-tos and more