Square Table Tablecloth Size: 36, 42, 48 and 60 in Tables

Drop for each standard square tablecloth

Common square tablecloths are 54, 60, 70, 72 and 90 in. Read across to see how far each one hangs at the middle of each side of the table.

Table	54 in	60 in	70 in	72 in	90 in
30 × 30 in	12 in	15 in	20 in	21 in	30 in
36 × 36 in	9 in	12 in	17 in	18 in	27 in
42 × 42 in	6 in	9 in	14 in	15 in	24 in
48 × 48 in	3 in	6 in	11 in	12 in	21 in
54 × 54 in	—	3 in	8 in	9 in	18 in
60 × 60 in	—	—	5 in	6 in	15 in

A dash means the cloth is too small to cover the edge, or so large it piles up on a 30 in high table.

Which square tablecloth to buy

Table	Short drop, about 8 in	Half drop, about 15 in	To the floor, 30 in
36 in square	54 in square (9 in drop)	70 in square (17 in drop)	90 in square (27 in drop)
42 in square	60 in square (9 in drop)	72 in square (15 in drop)	102 in, custom size
48 in square	60 in square (6 in drop)	72 in square (12 in drop)	108 in, custom size
60 in square	72 in square (6 in drop)	90 in square (15 in drop)	120 in, custom size

Floor-length cloths for square tables are rarely sold as squares bigger than 90 in, so for a 48 in or 60 in table to the floor, either order a custom size or use a round cloth, as below.

Why the corners hang lower

On a square table, the corners of a square cloth sit farther from the table than the middle of each side. The corner points hang about 40 percent longer than the sides: a 72 in cloth on a 42 in table drops 15 in at the sides and about 21 in at the corner points. That is normal and part of the look. If you want an even hem all round, choose a fitted square cover instead.

A round tablecloth on a square table

A round cloth on a square table does the opposite: it hangs longest at the middle of each side and shortest at the corners.

Table	Tablecloth	Drop at the sides	Drop at the corners
36 in square	70 in round	17 in	9.5 in
36 in square	90 in round	27 in	19.5 in
36 in square	108 in round	36 in	28.5 in
42 in square	70 in round	14 in	5.3 in
42 in square	90 in round	24 in	15.3 in
42 in square	108 in round	33 in	24.3 in
48 in square	90 in round	21 in	11.1 in
48 in square	108 in round	30 in	20.1 in

This is a good way to cover a square table to the floor at the sides with a standard round, for example a 108 in round on a 48 in square table.

How many people a square table seats

Table	Comfortable, 24 in each	Snug, 22 in each
36 × 36 in	4	4
42 × 42 in	4	4
48 × 48 in	8	8
54 × 54 in	8	8
60 × 60 in	8	8

Small square tables seat one guest per side. From 48 in up, two guests fit on each side, although the corner seats feel tight with wide chairs.

A note from the cutting table

Cotton and linen tablecloths can shrink a few percent in their first hot wash. On a floor-length cloth that lifts the hem an inch or more off the floor, so wash natural fibers cold or buy them slightly long. Polyester banquet cloths barely shrink and hold their size wash after wash, which is why event rentals use them.