A garden set for 8 people is the heart of a terrace where family and friends like to sit for hours. But eight people at one table asks for more than a bigger version of a set for four. You need to choose a layout (with or without end seats), a table shape that suits your terrace, chairs that fit side by side, and enough room to stand up. Complete sets for eight are also not always available, so many people put their set together themselves. In this guide you'll read how to go about that, with examples from our range, all of whose measurements come from the product information.
In short: as a guide, allow 60 to 70 cm of table edge per person. For eight people that is roughly 200 to 240 cm long if someone sits at each end, or 240 to 280 cm without end seats. An oval table of 280 x 140 cm needs at least 4.2 by 2.8 metres of floor space. There are three routes: a large table with separate chairs, a picnic set, or a lounge dining set for 8.
Three routes to a dining area for eight
For a set for four or six you usually buy a complete set: table and chairs in one box. For eight people it's different. Complete nine-piece sets are scarce and not always available. Fortunately there are three routes, all of which work well:
| Route | How you sit | Suits |
|---|---|---|
| Large table + separate chairs | Each person has their own chair | Long dinners, a fixed group |
| Picnic set | On benches, one piece of furniture | Families with children |
| Lounge dining set | Corner sofa, lower and more relaxed | Eating and lounging in one |
Putting your own set together has a big advantage: you choose the table for your terrace and the chairs for your comfort. Do make sure you choose chairs that fit side by side. You can read more about this under choosing chairs.
What table size do you need for 8 people?
As a guide, allow 60 to 70 cm of table edge per person. At 60 cm you sit close together, at 70 cm you have plenty of room. How large the table becomes depends on the layout: do you seat someone at each end, or only people along the long sides?
| Layout for 8 | Table (guide) | Note |
|---|---|---|
| 3 + 3, one at each end | approx. 200 to 240 x 100 cm | End seats at least 90 cm wide |
| 4 + 4, no end seats | approx. 240 to 280 cm long | Choose narrower chairs |
| Oval, with end seats | approx. 260 to 280 x 140 cm | Ends are rounded |
| Round | approx. Ø160 cm or more | Middle is far away |
This is how those measurements come about: three chairs along one long side need 180 to 210 cm of table edge, four chairs 240 to 280 cm. If you seat someone at each end, the table needs to be wide enough there for people to eat comfortably with their elbows. For a round table, you work out the circumference: Ø160 cm gives just over 5 metres of edge, so just over 60 cm per person. You can read more about table sizes and tops in buying a garden table: what to look out for.
Lay out eight plates with cutlery on your current table or on the ground, marking out the size of the new table. You'll see straight away whether eight people will sit comfortably, or whether it's a table for six that you'll have to squeeze eight around.
Rectangular, oval or round?
The shape determines how the group sits at the table and how the table fits on your terrace.
| Shape | Strong point | Less handy |
|---|---|---|
| Rectangular | Follows an elongated terrace | Corners in the walking route |
| Oval | Long, but without corners | Ends slightly tighter |
| Round | Everyone can see each other | Large surface, middle far away |
For eight people, most people choose rectangular or oval. An oval table gives you the length of a rectangle, but you don't bump your hip on a corner when you walk past. A round table for eight becomes so large that you can barely reach the serving dish in the middle. Have a look at the oval garden tables and the large garden tables to compare shapes.
Extending table: clever or cramped?
An extending table seems the ideal solution: small day to day, large when the family comes over. For eight people, it's worth doing the sums. The Latina extending garden table goes from 180 to 230 cm with a width of 100 cm, and the specifications list it for 6 seats. Extended, it can fit a 3 + 3 layout with someone at each end according to the guide, but you'll be sitting more snugly than you would with six.
The rule of thumb: if you eat with eight a few times a summer and with four to six the rest of the time, an extending table is a smart choice. If you eat with eight every week, choose a fixed large table. You can find all models under extending garden tables.
Choosing chairs for eight
At a table for eight, the chairs stand close together. That's why the width of a chair matters more than with a small set. Add up the width of the chairs along one long side and compare it with the straight part of the table edge:
- Three per side: three chairs 59.5 cm wide, such as the Toledo, take up about 1.8 metres together.
- Four per side: four of those chairs need almost 2.4 metres. Narrower chairs help: the Nantes is 52 cm wide, so four side by side come to about 2.1 metres.
- Oval table: the ends are rounded, so only measure the straight part of the long side.
Also look at the height under the top. Chairs with armrests only slide under the table if the armrests are lower than that clearance. If you buy chairs in sets of four, two sets give you exactly eight. If you want to know which chair material suits you, read buying garden chairs: what to look out for, or browse all dining garden chairs.
Two extra chairs stored separately
Do you usually eat with six? Then put six chairs at the table and store two in the shed or garage. That way you keep more space around the table day to day, and the extra seats are quick to set up.
How much space do you need?
A chair must be able to move back so you can stand up. So keep at least 70 cm clear from the table edge, and preferably 90 cm if someone has to pass behind a seated chair. With a large table, this adds up quickly:
- Minimum: (table length + 140 cm) x (table width + 140 cm)
- Comfortable: (table length + 180 cm) x (table width + 180 cm)
For an oval table of 280 x 140 cm, that gives a minimum of 4.2 by 2.8 metres and a comfortable 4.6 by 3.2 metres. A 230 x 100 cm table needs at least 3.7 by 2.4 metres. The full table of sets for 2 to 10 people is in how much space you need for a garden set. You can read how to measure your terrace and mark out the walking route in how much space you need for a garden table.
Examples from our range
Below you'll find one example per route. All measurements come from the product information. You can see current prices and retailers on the cards.
Large table + separate chairs: Edison oval 280 x 140 cm
The Edison is an oval garden table measuring 280 x 140 cm, with a top in Vironwood in light teak and an aluminium frame in taupe with a powder-coated finish. It stands 75 cm high and, according to the description, offers 70 cm of legroom under the top. With the guide of 60 to 70 cm per person, three people easily fit along each long side and one at each end. Vironwood doesn't need oiling or sanding: a mild soapy solution is enough.
Edison oval garden table 280x140 cm taupe
Note: the table weighs 49.3 kg and is not extending. Choose a fixed spot in advance. The Edison 280 x 140 cm is also available with a frame in carbon black.
No chairs are included, so you'll need to choose those yourself. Two sets of four Toledo chairs give you eight chairs in the same taupe colour:
Toledo garden chairs set of 4 taupe
Good to know: according to the specifications, cushions are included. Prefer narrower chairs? The Nantes set of four is 52 cm per chair, with a seat height of 46 cm.
Picnic set: Bell 280 x 178 cm
A picnic set combines table and benches in one piece of furniture. The Bell is 280 cm long and 178 cm wide, with 8 seats according to the specifications. The frame is aluminium in dark grey, and the top is Vironwood in light teak. The height to the underside of the top is 70 cm, and each seat is rated for up to 100 kg.
Bell picnic set 280x178 cm carbon black
Note: on a bench you have to swing your leg over the seat to sit down. For children that's no problem, but for older guests it sometimes is. The product information advises storing the set dry during long spells of bad weather or in winter, preferably with a protective cover. You can read more about this type in buying a picnic table: what to look out for.
Lounge dining: Sergio lounge dining set for 8 people
Want to eat and lounge in one spot? Then a lounge dining set is the alternative. According to the title and specifications, the Sergio seats 8 people, on a corner sofa with a table in the middle. The frame is aluminium, the set measures 262 x 195 cm and the seat height is 42 cm. It comes with 16 cushions.
Sergio lounge dining set for 8 people, left
Note: this is the left-hand version. Check the product photo to see which side the long edge is on before you order. A seat height of 42 cm sits lower and more relaxed than an ordinary dining chair. For what to expect from this type, read buying a dining lounge set.
Also worth a look:
Nantes chairs, 52 cm wide
View set →Garden tables for 8 people
View tables →All dining lounge sets
View range →Or browse the picnic sets and all garden sets for 8 people. You'll find more tables for different situations in best garden table 2026, and complete sets in the best garden sets of 2026.
Test: which route suits you?
Torn between a large table, a picnic set, a lounge dining set or an extending table? Answer three questions.
Dining table, picnic set or lounge dining: what's your situation with eight?
How often do you really sit outside with eight at the table?
- Every week, it's our regular group
- Mostly at birthdays and summer parties with children
- Often, but we prefer to linger after eating rather than sit at the table
- A few times a summer, usually we're four to six
Who usually joins you for a dinner of eight?
- Parents or grandparents who like having their own chair too
- Mainly children and young people who step easily over a bench
- Friends who stay sitting until late in the evening
- It varies: two one weekend, eight the next
What happens to the dining area once the plates are cleared?
- Nothing, the table has a fixed place and I slide the chairs in
- Everything stays in place as one piece of furniture, without loose chairs
- It's also our lounge corner, there's no room for two seating areas
- On weekdays I want a smaller table and more open terrace
A large dining table with separate chairs This way everyone sits on their own chair and you choose the comfort yourself. For example, the oval Edison of 280 x 140 cm with two sets of four Toledo chairs. Allow at least 4.2 by 2.8 metres.
A picnic set Table and benches in one piece of furniture, with 8 seats according to the specifications for the Bell at 280 x 178 cm. Handy with children and without chairs scattered everywhere.
A lounge dining set for 8 Eating and lounging in one place, with a corner sofa and a table. The Sergio lounge dining set is listed for 8 people according to the title and specifications.
An extending table Small day to day, larger when guests arrive. The Latina goes from 180 to 230 cm, but the specifications list it for 6 seats: with eight you'll be sitting a little tighter.
Still undecided between a garden set and a lounge set in general? Then use the selection tool or read lounge set or garden set: what suits you.
Common mistakes
Squeezing eight around a table for six
A 180 cm table with an extra chair at each end may seem enough, but then you'll be sitting shoulder to shoulder with eight. Allow 60 to 70 cm per person and check which layout you'll actually use.
Choosing chairs that are too wide
Four wide armchairs side by side don't fit every table. Add up the chair widths and compare them with the straight part of the table edge, especially with an oval table.
Only measuring the table
A 280 cm table may look like it fits on paper, but with chairs and room to move you need at least 4.2 metres. Always allow 70 cm, or preferably 90 cm, all around.
Forgetting about shade
A table nearly 3 metres long won't simply fit under one small parasol. Check which size you need in which size parasol do I need.
Cover and cushions
A large set stays cleaner under a breathable protective cover. Measure the outside dimensions of the table and chairs together and choose a cover that's slightly larger. Store the cushions dry when you're not using them.
Checklist before you order
- Layout chosen: 3 + 3 with end seats or 4 + 4 without end seats
- Table size checked against 60 to 70 cm per person
- Terrace measured: table plus 140 cm, or 180 cm for comfortable
- Chair widths added up along one long side
- Height under the top compared with the armrests
- Checked whether the chairs come with cushions
- Space for shade and a parasol base considered
How to choose quickly
- If you eat with eight every week, choose a fixed large table rather than an extending one
- Oval is the easiest shape for eight: long, but without corners
- With children and little loose furniture, a picnic set is handy
- If you also want to lounge, a lounge dining set for 8 is the alternative
Frequently asked questions
How big should a garden table for 8 people be?
As a guide, allow 60 to 70 cm of table edge per person. If three people sit on each long side and one at each end, you end up with a table roughly 200 to 240 cm long and at least 90 to 100 cm wide. Without end seats, with four on each long side, it becomes more like 240 to 280 cm. An oval table measuring 280 x 140 cm, such as the Edison, offers plenty of room in that layout.
How much space do you need for a garden set for 8 people?
Add twice 70 cm to the length and width of the table, or twice 90 cm if you want to be able to walk behind seated chairs. For a 280 x 140 cm table, that gives a minimum of 4.2 x 2.8 metres and a comfortable 4.6 x 3.2 metres. The Bell picnic set, measuring 280 x 178 cm, needs roughly 4.2 x 3.2 metres with 70 cm all round.
Is a round table suitable for 8 people?
It can be, but as a guide you'll need a diameter of around 160 cm or more so the edge is long enough for eight chairs. The centre of such a table is quite far away, and with 70 cm all round it quickly requires 3 x 3 metres. For eight, most people therefore choose a rectangular or oval table.
Is an extendable table a smart choice for 8 people?
Only if you usually eat with fewer people. The Latina extends from 180 to 230 cm at 100 cm wide and is listed in the specifications for 6 seats. Using the guide of 60 to 70 cm per person, two more people can be seated when it's extended at the ends, but it will be a tighter fit. If you often eat with eight, choose a fixed large table.
How wide can the chairs be at a table for 8?
Add up the widths of the chairs placed side by side along one long side and compare the total with the straight section of the table edge. Three Toledo chairs at 59.5 cm wide take up roughly 1.8 metres together, four around 2.4 metres. The Nantes chairs are 52 cm wide, so four side by side will fit even at a shorter table.
Is a lounge dining set a good alternative for 8 people?
Yes, if you want to eat and lounge in one place. The Sergio lounge dining set is, according to its title and specifications, suited to 8 people, with a corner sofa, a table, a seat height of 42 cm and 16 cushions. You sit a little lower and more relaxed than at a standard dining table, so for long meals with lots of dishes, a dining table with chairs is more comfortable.
