Banquet and event linen buyer guide
Banquet and event linen: sizes, fabrics and colour lots
Banquet linen is a numbers game: hundreds of covers, a few table sizes, and colour that has to match across every piece in the room. This guide covers the floor-length sizes, the overlays and chair covers that go with them, and how to keep a whole ballroom one colour.
We're adding this line to our panel of partner mills. We quote it against your spec: MOQ, price and lead time come with the quote, after a sample. The figures on this page are typical industry specifications, not a promise of ours, and we confirm each one against a mill sample before you order.
Floor-length banquet sizes
| Table | Seats | Floor-length cloth | Overlay (topper) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 152 cm (60 in) round | 8–10 | 305 cm (120 in) round | 183×183 cm (72 in) square |
| 183 cm (72 in) round | 10–12 | 335 cm (132 in) round | 213×213 cm (84 in) square |
| 122 cm (48 in) round | 4–6 | 274 cm (108 in) round | 137×137 cm (54 in) square |
| 6 ft rectangle, 183×76 cm | 6–8 | 229×335 cm (90×132 in) | 137×244 cm (54×96 in) |
| 8 ft rectangle, 244×76 cm | 8–10 | 229×396 cm (90×156 in) | 137×305 cm (54×120 in) |
| Cocktail round, 76 cm (30 in), 107 cm high | Standing | 305 cm (120 in) round | None |
Typical industry sizes for a 76 cm (30 in) table height.
Fabric for events
| Fabric | Strengths | Watch for | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spun polyester | Holds colour, low wrinkle, fast drying | Less natural drape than cotton | Floor-length cloths in colour |
| Poly-cotton | White and ivory that launder well | Creases more than polyester | White banquet cloths and napkins |
| Satin or polyester satin | Sheen for overlays and runners | Snags, shows water marks | Toppers, runners, sashes |
| Stretch (spandex blend) | Fitted, no ironing | Fits one table or chair shape only | Chair covers, cocktail tables |
Tap to enlargeKeeping a ballroom one colour
- Order every piece for one room from one dye lot, and say so on the PO.
- Keep a sealed shade sample from each lot. Reorders are matched to it.
- Colour shifts under different lighting. Approve the lab dip under the light the room uses.
- Polyester holds colour far better than cotton through repeated washing.
Storage and handling
- Hang floor-length cloths or roll them on tubes; folding sets hard creases.
- Store clean and fully dry, away from light, to avoid yellowing and fading.
OEKO-TEX is available only through a certified partner mill. We show you the certificate number and scope before you order. We make no other certificate claim for this line.
Write your RFQ
What to put in your enquiry
- Table shapes and sizes, with table height
- Cloth sizes, overlays, napkins, chair covers and sashes
- Fabric for each item
- Colours with Pantone references; one dye lot per room
- Quantity per item and colour
- Packing: rolled or folded, per-room bundles
Missing a detail? Send what you have. We ask for the rest before we quote.
Request a sample and quote
Inside the sheet
Fill in one sheet per restaurant, bar or banquet room. Measure the tables, choose the drop, and write the quantities you hold today. It works for any supplier. Send it with your enquiry and the quote comes back against your exact spec.
Free buyer kit
F&B Linen Spec Sheet
One page per outlet: tables, cloths, napkins, aprons and kitchen towels, ready to send as an RFQ to any supplier.
- Outlet (3 checks)
- Tables and tablecloths (5 checks)
- Napkins, runners, placemats (3 checks)
- Aprons and kitchen linen (3 checks)
- Before you send (3 checks)
No sign-up. Works for any supplier, not just us.
Questions buyers ask
What size tablecloth for a 60 inch round table?
A 120 inch (305 cm) round cloth falls to the floor on a standard 30 inch high table. For a shorter drop, a 90 inch round gives about 15 inches each side.
What size tablecloth for a 6 ft banquet table?
90×132 inches (229×335 cm) reaches the floor on all sides. 60×120 inches covers the top with a shorter drop.
Why is banquet linen usually polyester?
Spun polyester holds colour through repeated washing, resists creasing and dries fast, which matters when hundreds of pieces turn over between events.