A garden table is often the centrepiece of your patio. You have breakfast at it, you eat there with friends on summer evenings, and the kids do their homework there. But what size do you need, which shape suits your patio, and which table top can stay outside all year? In this guide we set it all out for you: from sizes per number of people to materials, shapes and the mistakes you're better off avoiding.
In brief: allow 60 cm of table edge per person and keep at least 70 cm of walking space all around. If you want low maintenance, choose an aluminium frame with a ceramic, Centostone or Vironwood top. Round is cosy for 4 people, rectangular or oval suits 6 or more better, and extendable is handy if you have guests now and then.
What size garden table do you need?
Start with two questions: how many people usually sit at the table, and how much space do you really have? As a rule of thumb, allow 60 cm of table edge per person. That way you sit comfortably and don't bump elbows with your neighbours. For a rectangular table, a width of 90 to 100 cm is pleasant, so there's still room for platters and plates in the middle.
| People | Rectangular / oval | Round |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | 80 to 120 cm | Ø 70 to 90 cm |
| 4 | 140 to 160 cm | Ø 110 to 125 cm |
| 6 | 180 to 230 cm | Ø 140 to 150 cm |
| 8 | 240 to 280 cm | Ø 160 cm or more |
Then look at the space around it. Keep at least 70 cm free between the table edge and a wall, border or railing, preferably 90 cm. That way you can push your chair back and still walk past. A 220x100 cm table quickly requires an area of just over 3.6 by 2.4 metres. You'll find more calculation examples in how much space do you need for a garden table.
Lay a few old sheets or cardboard on the ground in the size of the table you're considering, place your chairs around it and walk past once. Then you'll see straight away whether it fits.
Garden tables for 4 people
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Garden tables for 6 people
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Garden tables for 8 people
View tables →Round, oval, rectangular or extendable?
The shape determines how many people fit, but also how cosy it is at the table and how the table looks on your patio.
| Shape | Strong point | Choose it if |
|---|---|---|
| Round | Everyone can see each other | You eat with 2 to 6 people on a square patio |
| Oval | The space of a long table, without sharp corners | You eat with 6 to 8 people and want a softer shape |
| Rectangular | Most seats per square metre | You have a long, narrow patio or often eat with large groups |
| Extendable | Compact in daily use, large when needed | You usually sit with few people and have guests now and then |
A round table takes up more space than you might think: a 150 cm diameter table needs an area of roughly 3 by 3 metres once you include chairs and walking space. On a narrow patio or balcony, a rectangular table is therefore often more practical. An oval table is a good middle ground: you seat just as many people as at a rectangular table, but there are no corners to bump your hip against.
Round garden tables
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Extendable garden tables
View extendable tables →Materials: table top and frame
With a garden table you're really choosing two materials: the top and the frame. The frame of most modern garden tables is aluminium: light, strong and rust-free. The top mainly determines how the table looks and how much maintenance it needs.
| Table top | Pros | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|
| Ceramic | Scratch and heat resistant, doesn't absorb moisture | Heavy; the edges are more vulnerable to a hard knock |
| Centostone | Hard and compact, similar to ceramic | Also quite heavy, choose a sturdy base |
| Vironwood | Wood look without wood maintenance, colourfast | Don't leave glass baubles in strong sun |
| Teak | Warm, natural and inherently weather resistant | Greys over time; oil or teak protector if you want to keep the colour |
| Aluminium | Light, sleek and low maintenance | Gets hot in full sun |
| HPL | Thin, light and scratch resistant | Less natural appearance than stone or wood |
Ceramic and Centostone
A ceramic or Centostone top is the choice if you want to fuss over your table as little as possible. You can put a hot pan on it, a glass of red wine leaves no ring behind, and you wipe the surface clean with a cloth. According to the manufacturer, Centostone is more compact than ceramic, but in everyday use the two are very similar. You can compare tables with a ceramic top from Taste by 4 Seasons, such as the Denia and the Donato. You can read more about the pros and cons in pros and cons of a ceramic table top and what is a Centostone garden table.
Vironwood: wood look without maintenance
Vironwood is a low-maintenance composite material with a wood grain, often in a light teak colour. You get the warm appearance of wood, but you don't have to oil or sand it. One point to note from the product information from Garden Impressions: don't leave glass baubles in strong sun, as they can concentrate the light and leave a burn mark. Everything about this material is in what is Vironwood.
Teak and other wood
Teak is naturally rich in oil, which means it copes well with our climate. After a few months it takes on a silvery grey colour. If you like that, there's little you need to do. If you want to keep the honey-brown colour, you treat the wood once or twice a year. You can compare tables with teak from Hartman and 4 Seasons Outdoor, among others. Undecided between wood types? Then read which wood is best for a garden table.
Height and chairs: do they go together?
A dining garden table is usually 72 to 77 cm high. More important than the overall height is the height to the underside of the table top, because your legs and the armrests of your chairs need to fit under it. In the catalogue you'll see that this measurement can vary quite a lot: the Felini table of 160 cm has 66 cm of clearance, the round Lowland table 72 cm.
If you have chairs with armrests or thick cushions, measure the height of the armrest and compare it with the clearance under the table top. For a table with legs, also pay attention to the distance between the legs at the corners: your chairs need to fit between them. For the Scotland table, for example, that is 71 cm, and for the Latina 54 cm. Not sure about chairs? Buying garden chairs: what to look out for explains what to pay attention to, or go straight for a complete garden set where the table and chairs are already matched.
Prefer to lounge and eat?
An height-adjustable table such as the Cyprus garden table goes from a lounge height of 52 cm to a dining table height of 75 cm with a gas spring. Handy if your patio is too small for a lounge set and a dining table.
Which garden table suits you?
Below are a few tables from different categories, with specs from the product information. You can see current prices and shops on the map.
For 6 people, as little maintenance as possible
An oval table with a Centostone top on an aluminium frame. The top is scratch and heat resistant, and the table is all weather, so it can stay outside all year round.
Scotland garden table 230x115 cm Napoli Sand
For 4 people on a smaller patio
A round table with a Ø120 cm diameter and the same Centostone top. Cosy for four people and more compact than a long table.
Lowland round garden table Ø120 cm
Warm wood look without oil and sanding
An oval table with a Vironwood top in light teak colour. At almost 40 kg, it is considerably lighter than a table with a stone top.
Edison oval garden table 220x115 cm
Sometimes 4, sometimes 6
An extendable aluminium table that goes from 180 to 230 cm. You have more space day to day, and when guests come, you extend it.
Latina extendable garden table 180/230x100 cm
Large and sleek, with a ceramic glass top
A generous 240x115 cm table with a slate-look ceramic glass top. It weighs 77.4 kg, so place it in a fixed spot.
Albano garden table 240x115 cm
Why an aluminium frame is so often the best choice
- Doesn't rust and can stay outside all year
- Light, so easier to move than steel or hardwood
- Combines with any top: stone, ceramic, Vironwood or aluminium
- Maintenance is a cloth with a mild soapy solution
Need more choice? In best garden table 2026 we list our top 5. Or browse the categories directly:
Ceramic garden tables
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Aluminium garden tables
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Teak garden tables
View tables →How to choose in 4 steps
Base it on the number of people who usually sit at the table, not on that one birthday party. Do you sometimes have more people? Then an extendable table is the solution.
Subtract 140 to 180 cm from the length and width of your patio (70 to 90 cm on each side). What remains is the maximum size of your table.
Square patio and 4 people: round. Long, narrow patio or 6 people and more: rectangular or oval.
Want as little maintenance as possible: aluminium with ceramic, Centostone or Vironwood. Really want wood: teak, and accept that it will grey or plan a maintenance session.
5 common mistakes when buying a garden table
Only looking at the table, not the space around it
A table that fits exactly on your patio is too big. You need at least 70 cm all around to push your chair back.
Forgetting the clearance under the table top
If the armrest of your chair doesn't fit under the top, you'll always be sitting some distance from the table. Compare the height of the underside of the table top with the armrest height of your chairs.
A round table on a narrow patio
A round table needs walking space on all sides. On a narrow patio or balcony, a rectangular table with the same capacity often works much better.
Underestimating the weight
A table with a stone or ceramic top is quite heavy: the 240 cm Albano weighs 77.4 kg. Place it on a flat, sturdy surface and don't count on being able to shift it easily.
Buying table and chairs separately without measuring
Chairs that don't fit between the table legs or sit too high make an otherwise lovely table impractical. Check the distance between the legs, or choose a garden set.
Maintenance and winter
A garden table with an aluminium frame and a ceramic, Centostone or Vironwood top can stay outside all year. Clean it a few times a year with a cloth and a mild soapy solution, and avoid abrasive cleaners. If you're not using the table for a while, a protective cover keeps dirt, leaves and bird droppings off. Choose a breathable cover so no moisture gets trapped underneath.
A teak table can also stay outside, but don't stand it in a puddle and clean it in spring. You can read how to treat wood in treating teak wood for outdoor use. For winter, you'll find more tips in what to do with garden furniture in winter.
Leveling feet
Many garden tables, such as the Lowland and the 240 cm Centostone table, have adjustable foot caps. With these you can level the table on tiles or a decking that isn't completely flat, so it doesn't wobble.
Frequently asked questions
How big should a garden table be for 6 people?
Allow roughly 60 cm of table edge per person. For 6 people, that means a rectangular or oval table of 180 to 230 cm long and 90 to 115 cm wide, or a round table of around 150 cm in diameter.
How much space do you need around a garden table?
Keep at least 70 cm between the table edge and a wall, flower bed or railing, and preferably 90 cm. That way you can push your chair back and still walk past it. A 220 x 100 cm table quickly requires an area of over 360 x 240 cm.
What is the best material for a garden table that stays outside?
An aluminium frame with a Centostone, ceramic or Vironwood tabletop can stay outdoors all year round and needs little maintenance. Teak can also stay outside, but it greys over time and needs an occasional treatment if you want to keep its colour.
What is the difference between Centostone and ceramic?
Centostone is a hard, dense sheet material that looks similar to ceramic. Like ceramic, it is scratch and heat resistant and does not absorb moisture, so you won't get water rings. The difference lies mainly in the construction and appearance; in everyday use and maintenance, they are very similar.
What height is a garden table?
A garden dining table is usually 72 to 77 cm high. More important is the height to the underside of the tabletop, which is between 66 and 72 cm on most tables. Chairs with armrests need to fit underneath, otherwise you won't be able to pull up to the table.
Is an extendable garden table practical?
Yes, if you usually sit at the table with a small group but occasionally have guests. You then keep more room to move around on the patio day to day. The Latina garden table, for example, extends from 180 to 230 cm in length.
