Hotel table linen buyer guide
Hotel table linen: sizes, fabrics and specifications
Table linen is bought by the table, not by the piece. Get the drop wrong and every cloth looks wrong; get the fabric wrong and the laundry fights it every day. This guide gives the sizing rule, the standard sizes and the fabric choice for each kind of outlet.
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.
Drop length by setting
| Setting | Drop each side | Look |
|---|---|---|
| Casual dining, café | 15–25 cm (6–10 in) | Cloth just covers the table edge |
| Hotel restaurant, fine dining | 25–38 cm (10–15 in) | Formal, hides the table frame, clears guests' laps |
| Banquet, buffet, events | To the floor, about 76 cm (30 in) | Covers the legs completely |
Standard tablecloth sizes
Common finished sizes. Pick the nearest size at or above your calculated cloth.
| Table | Table size | Restaurant drop (about 30 cm) | Floor length |
|---|---|---|---|
| Square, 2 seats | 76×76 cm (30 in) | 137×137 cm (54 in) | 229×229 cm (90 in) |
| Square, 4 seats | 91×91 cm (36 in) | 152×152 cm (60 in) | 244×244 cm (96 in) |
| Round, 4–6 seats | 122 cm (48 in) | 183 cm (72 in) round | 274 cm (108 in) round |
| Round, 8–10 seats | 152 cm (60 in) | 213 cm (84 in) round | 305 cm (120 in) round |
| Round, 10–12 seats | 183 cm (72 in) | 244 cm (96 in) round | 335 cm (132 in) round |
| Rectangle, 6 ft banquet | 183×76 cm (72×30 in) | 137×244 cm (54×96 in) | 229×335 cm (90×132 in) |
| Rectangle, 8 ft banquet | 244×76 cm (96×30 in) | 137×305 cm (54×120 in) | 229×396 cm (90×156 in) |
Use the tablecloth size calculator for any other table.
Fabric by outlet
| Fabric | Typical GSM | Strengths | Trade-offs | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 100% cotton damask | 200–260 | Self-pattern woven in, crisp drape, takes starch | Creases, needs ironing; colour fades with bleach | Fine dining, hotel signature restaurants |
| Cotton satin band | 200–240 | Woven border frames the table | As cotton damask | Hotel restaurants, private dining |
| Poly-cotton (for example 65/35) | 180–220 | Fewer creases, stronger in laundry | Less absorbent napkins | All-day dining, breakfast service |
| Spun polyester | 190–230 | Holds colour, low wrinkle, fast drying | Not for white fine dining; less absorbent | Coloured banquet and event linen |
Napkins, runners and placemats
| Item | Typical size | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Dinner napkin | 51×51 cm (20 in) | Fine dining and banquets |
| Lunch napkin | 45×45 cm (18 in) | All-day dining |
| Cocktail napkin | 25×25 cm (10 in) | Bars and receptions |
| Table runner | 30–40 cm wide | Length = table length + 30–60 cm overhang in total |
| Placemat | 33×48 cm (13×19 in) | Breakfast and casual service |
Tap to enlargeWhat separates good table linen from poor
- Mitred corners and even hems, so the cloth lies flat after ironing.
- Shrinkage stated from a wash test. Cotton needs a size allowance; polyester barely moves.
- A soil-release finish on poly-cotton and polyester, so food stains wash out in the laundry.
- Colour fastness to washing and to chlorine for whites, tested on the sample.
- One dye lot per order. Reorders need the shade matched to a kept sample, not to memory.
How much to order
- Hotels commonly hold 3 to 4 sets per table (one in use, one in the laundry, one on the shelf, one spare).
- Napkins turn over fastest. Count covers per day, not tables, and allow for loss.
- Use the par level calculator to turn rooms and covers into piece counts.
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
- Each item with finished size (table shape, table size, drop)
- Fabric and GSM; damask pattern or satin band if any
- Colour: white, ivory or Pantone
- Finish: soil release, mercerised, none
- Hem and corner style
- Logo: woven jacquard, embroidery or none
- Quantity per size and colour
- Packing and carton marks
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
How do I work out tablecloth size?
Add twice the drop to the table length and to the table width. A 76×76 cm table with a 30 cm drop needs a 136×136 cm cloth, so you order the standard 137×137 cm. For a round table, add twice the drop to the diameter.
What drop should a restaurant tablecloth have?
Fine dining and hotel restaurants usually use 25–38 cm. Casual dining uses 15–25 cm. Banquet cloths fall to the floor, about 76 cm.
What fabric is best for restaurant tablecloths?
Cotton damask for fine dining, because it drapes and takes starch. Poly-cotton for daily service, because it creases less and lasts longer in commercial laundry. Spun polyester for coloured banquet linen, because it holds colour.
What size is a dinner napkin?
51×51 cm (20 inches) is the standard dinner napkin. Lunch napkins are about 45×45 cm and cocktail napkins about 25×25 cm.
Do you supply hotel table linen now?
We're adding table linen to our panel of partner mills. Send your sizes, fabric and quantities and we arrange a sample, then confirm MOQ, price and lead time with the quote.