Communal restaurant tables

A communal table puts several parties along one length of wood, so the edge, the aisle and the seat all have to be measured. 12 are listed here, nearly all solid wood on cast iron or steel, at dining and bar height. Count the seats by the inch of edge before you count the tables.

Seats by the inch of edge

Count the seats from the edge, not the table. At 24 inches for each diner, a 72-inch side takes three guests, and at the tightest 18 inches it takes four. Sizes on the pages include 30 by 72 inches, 28 by 71 and 60 by 32, so the long sides run from five feet to six.

Pulling a chair out takes 18 to 24 inches behind it, and the service aisle beyond that stays near 36. A long table is only as good as the path around it, so trace the route to the nearest door before you settle on a length.

Dining height or bar height

Both heights are here. Some tops are listed at 30 inches and others at 42. A 30-inch table takes chairs with seats of 17 to 19 inches, and a 42-inch table takes stools of 29 to 31, so decide the height before the seating. The dining table set is a 30-inch listing, and the taller ones are gathered in bar-height restaurant tables.

Solid wood tops are on 10 of the 12 listings and other wood on two. Cast iron carries seven bases and steel four. Four listings are sold as sets, so read the unit before you set a quantity. Shapes include rectangular on 11, square on nine, round on four and drop leaf on four. All of them are listed for indoor use, and prices start around $189 and reach $515.

Weight, doorways and the plan

Where a page lists weight, two pinewood tables show 100 pounds and two steel-framed tops show 77 and 82. Freight arrives palletized, and carrying the pieces inside is the buyer's job, because stair carries are not part of the driver's work. Measure the door, the stairs and the turn before the table is bought. The delivery page lays out the extra services that can be booked with the order.

In a plan, keep the seats you expect apart from the number of tables ordered. Put the quantity of tables in the quantity field and the seats in the notes, so the two do not blur when the plan is reopened for the next room.

For a single party's table, see booth tables or table sets. The seats for a bar-height run are in upholstered bar stools. Open seating plans to keep it all in one place.