In a restaurant, the tablecloth is the first thing a customer touches when they sit down. Before the menu, before the bread, and before the waiter. And yet, it's one of the few equipment decisions that is often made quickly, focusing on price and little else.
The problem is that tablecloths are not chosen; they are calculated. A poorly chosen size is noticeable every day — a short tablecloth that exposes the table, or one that is too long and gets caught on customers' knees — and an incorrectly calculated quantity costs money every week at the laundry.
This guide answers the three questions that truly matter: what size each table needs, how many pieces are necessary, and what fabric withstands professional use.
1. The Size Chart: Which Tablecloth for Each Table
The tablecloth size is calculated by adding the drop on both sides to the table's dimensions. In restaurants, the usual drop is between 20 and 25 cm per side: enough for the tablecloth to have a good presence, without bothering the seated diner.
Square Tables
| Table Size | Recommended Tablecloth | Approx. Drop |
|---|---|---|
| 60 × 60 cm | 100 × 100 | 20 cm |
| 70 × 70 cm | 120 × 120 | 25 cm |
| 80 × 80 cm | 120 × 120 | 20 cm |
| 90 × 90 cm | 130 × 130 | 20 cm |
| 100 × 100 cm | 150 × 150 | 25 cm |
| 120 × 120 cm | 180 × 180 | 30 cm |
| 160 × 160 cm | 220 × 220 | 30 cm |
| 190 × 190 cm | 250 × 250 | 30 cm |
Round Tables
For round tables, a square tablecloth is used, and the calculation is based on the diameter.
| Table Diameter | Recommended Tablecloth | Approx. Drop |
|---|---|---|
| ø 80 cm | 120 × 120 | 20 cm |
| ø 90 cm | 130 × 130 | 20 cm |
| ø 110 cm | 150 × 150 | 20 cm |
| ø 120 cm | 180 × 180 | 30 cm |
| ø 160 cm | 220 × 220 | 30 cm |
Rectangular Tables
| Table Size | Recommended Tablecloth |
|---|---|
| 120 × 80 cm | 160 × 120 |
| 140 × 80 cm | 180 × 120 (or 180 × 180 for a greater drop) |
Table Runners and Narrow Tables
The 55 × 135 size works as a table runner on exposed wood, and as a tablecloth for high bars and narrow outdoor tables. It is available within our 50/50 satin tablecloths, along with the other sizes.
Quick Rule: Table size + 40 cm = restaurant tablecloth. Table size + 150 cm = floor-length tablecloth, for banquets and events.
2. Napkins: 50 × 50 or 55 × 55
These are the two professional sizes, and the difference is not aesthetic.
50 × 50 cm — midday service, daily menu, cafeteria. Folds well, takes up little space in the wash, and is the most frequently used size.
55 × 55 cm — evening service, à la carte, banquet. Provides better coverage and allows for elaborate folds. This is the size expected with a tablecloth of 150 × 150 and up.
A common mistake: using the same napkin for both services. It's cheaper to buy but more expensive in terms of image. Both sizes are in the same satin tablecloth range, with the same fabric and finish as the tablecloths.
3. Which Fabric Truly Lasts
In restaurants, fabric is chosen not for its feel but for how it performs after a hundred washes at 90 °C.
50% Cotton – 50% Polyester Satin is the industry standard, and for good reasons:
- Shrinks little. Pure cotton shrinks in the first industrial wash, and a shrunken size no longer fits the table.
- Dries faster. Less dryer time means lower energy costs per service.
- Easy to iron, or doesn't need ironing at all if folded while warm.
- Withstands bleaching without yellowing as quickly as 100% cotton.
Two technical details that make a difference and should be asked of any supplier:
Anti-pilling finish. Prevents the small balls that appear on the fabric after repeated washes. Without it, a tablecloth can remain functional but look old in three months.
2 cm Capet. This is the perimeter hem. A wide, well-finished capet withstands the stress of industrial washing; a narrow hem is the first thing to fray.
100% cotton has its place — it provides a better drape and feel — but requires more ironing and shrinks more. It makes sense for à la carte restaurants with their own laundry; less so for high-volume establishments with external laundry services.
4. How Many Pieces Does a Restaurant Really Need?
This is where money is lost, in both directions: those who buy too little end up paying for urgent washes, and those who buy too much tie up capital in a cupboard.
The industry rule is three sets:
- One in use, on the tables.
- One in the laundry.
- One in reserve, for immediate replacement due to a stain or a second shift.
Real Example: 40-Seat Restaurant
Let's assume 10 tables of 80 × 80 cm, two shifts per day.
| Item | Calculation | Units |
|---|---|---|
| Tablecloth 120 × 120 | 10 tables × 3 sets | 30 |
| Napkin 55 × 55 | 40 diners × 2 shifts × 3 | 240 |
| Kitchen towels | depending on kitchen, minimum | 24 |
That seems like a lot of napkins. It's not: 80 are used per day across two shifts, and without the triple set, you end up washing daily instead of in batches — which is exactly where laundry becomes expensive.
Adjust downwards if you have your own laundry and can wash on the same day. Adjust upwards if you work weekends with three shifts or host events.
5. Kitchen Towels, Which No One Budgets For
They are bought when they have already run out, always in a hurry and always expensive.
70% cotton – 30% polyester, 55 × 55 cm — the work towel. Dries quickly, withstands aggressive washes, easily replaced without fuss.
100% cotton, 50 × 50 cm — more absorbent, available in colors, useful when coded by zone (one for dishes, another for surfaces, another for glassware). Color coding is a simple hygiene practice that prevents cross-contamination. Both are available in our professional kitchen towel range.
An operational tip: buy towels in packs, not individually. It's the item with the highest turnover and least stock control in the entire kitchen — which is why we offer kitchen packs of 24 units, in 70/30, 100% cotton, or mixed.
6. Before Ordering: The Checklist
- Have I measured the tables, or am I assuming the size?
- Do I have tables of more than one size? (almost all restaurants do)
- Are the same napkins used for lunch and dinner?
- Is my laundry in-house or external? This changes the number of sets.
- Am I accounting for real weekend shifts or just Tuesday shifts?
- Have I budgeted for kitchen towels?
Frequently Asked Questions
What size tablecloth do I need for an 80 × 80 table?
A 120 × 120 cm tablecloth, which provides a 20 cm drop on each side. If you want more presence for evening service, 130 × 130 gives a 25 cm drop.
How many tablecloths does a 40-seat restaurant need?
For 10 tables, about 30 tablecloths: three complete sets — one in use, one in laundry, and one in reserve. For napkins, calculate diners × shifts × 3.
What is the difference between a tablecloth and a table runner?
A tablecloth covers the entire table surface with a drop on the sides. A table runner (size 55 × 135) is a narrow strip placed on an exposed table, common in establishments that want to showcase the wood.
Which tablecloth fabric best withstands industrial washing?
50% cotton – 50% polyester satin with an anti-pilling finish. It shrinks little, dries faster than pure cotton, and resists bleaching. 100% cotton offers a better drape but requires more ironing and shrinks more in the first washes.
Is cloth linen worth it compared to paper?
It depends on the average check. For a daily menu with high turnover, paper is defensible. Above a certain menu level, cloth is one of the cheapest quality indicators available: the customer perceives it before trying the first dish.
Equip Your Restaurant with Professional Tablecloths
At Lenora Hostelería, we work with 50/50 satin tablecloths with an anti-pilling finish and 2 cm capet, in eleven sizes — from 50 × 50 napkins to 250 × 250 banquet tablecloths — in addition to kitchen towel packs.
Want the complete price list with all sizes and prices? Write to us, and we will send it to you the same day, without obligation.
📱 WhatsApp: 665 62 36 46
✉️ info@lenorahosteleria.com