Table Height Chart 2026: Standard Heights in Inches & cm

What height is a table?

A table’s height is measured from the floor to the top of the table surface, not to the apron underneath. One inch is exactly 2.54 centimetres. A dining table stands 28–30 inches tall, so a chair seat at 17–19 inches leaves about 10–12 inches of legroom. A counter-height table stands 34–36 inches, with stools at 24–26 inches. A bar-height table stands 40–42 inches, with stools at 28–30 inches. A coffee table stands 16–18 inches — about the height of a sofa seat, so you can set a cup down without reaching. A console table stands 30–36 inches. A desk stands 28–30 inches, the same as a dining table, which is why a dining table doubles as a desk. A kids’ table stands 20–22 inches. A picnic table stands 28–30 inches. A workbench stands 34–38 inches — higher than a desk, so you can work standing. A pool table stands 29–31 inches. A folding or card table stands 28–30 inches.

Two things about the model are worth stating plainly. First, the height in centimetres is the height in inches times 2.54 — 30 × 2.54 = 76.20 cm. Second, the matching types are every table type whose height range contains your height — at 30 inches that is six types: dining table, console table, desk / writing table, picnic table, pool / billiard table and folding / card table; all listed in Accuracy & limitations.

The table height chart

Two height ranges appear more than once in the chart — 28–30 inches is shared by the dining table, the desk / writing table, the picnic table and the folding / card table, and 34–36 inches is shared by the counter-height table and the console table. The shortest standard height is the 16–18-inch coffee table at 40.64–45.72 cm, and the tallest is the 40–42-inch bar-height table at 101.60–106.68 cm.

The worked example, line by line

Setup: 30-inch height.

Line 1 — the height in centimetres. The height in centimetres is 30 × 2.54 = 76.20 cm.

Line 2 — the matching types. The table types whose height range contains 30 inches are the dining table, console table, desk / writing table, picnic table, pool / billiard table and folding / card table — six types.

Line 3 — the switch from dining to bar height. Switching from a 30-inch dining height to a 42-inch bar height raises the table by 12 inches — 30.48 cm.

Line 4 — the check. 30 × 2.54 = 76.20 cm, the height; and 42 − 30 = 12 inches, the rise.

Every branch, checked

Height 18 in: Height 18 in; 45.72 cm; matching types: Coffee table — At 18 inches the height is 45.72 cm and matches the coffee table.

Height 24 in: Height 24 in; 60.96 cm; matching types: Side / end table — At 24 inches the height is 60.96 cm and matches the side / end table.

Height 36 in: Height 36 in; 91.44 cm; matching types: Counter-height table, Console table, Workbench — At 36 inches the height is 91.44 cm and matches the counter-height table, the console table and the workbench.

Height 42 in: Height 42 in; 106.68 cm; matching types: Bar-height table — At 42 inches the height is 106.68 cm and matches the bar-height table.

Height 20 in: Height 20 in; 50.80 cm; matching types: Kids' table — At 20 inches the height is 50.80 cm and matches the kids’ table.

Height 34 in: Height 34 in; 86.36 cm; matching types: Counter-height table, Console table, Workbench — At 34 inches the height is 86.36 cm and matches the counter-height table, the console table and the workbench.

Height 16 in: Height 16 in; 40.64 cm; matching types: Coffee table — At 16 inches the height is 40.64 cm and matches the coffee table.

Height 40 in: Height 40 in; 101.60 cm; matching types: Bar-height table — At 40 inches the height is 101.60 cm and matches the bar-height table.

The reverses, worked backwards

Smallest height (to the hundredth) for the centimetre figure to reach 76.00 cm: At the displayed 29.92 in the figures are Height 29.92 in; 76.00 cm (unrounded 75.9968 cm); matching types: Dining table, Desk / writing table, Picnic table, Pool / billiard table, Folding / card table. At the displayed 29.92 in the height is 76.00 cm — the unrounded figure is 75.9968 cm, which rounds to 76.00 cm. At 29.91 in the height is 75.97 cm (unrounded 75.9714 cm) — below 76.00 — so 29.92 in is the smallest height (to the hundredth) for the centimetre figure to reach 76.00 cm.

Largest height (to the hundredth) for the centimetre figure to STAY at or below 91.00 cm: At the displayed 35.82 in the figures are Height 35.82 in; 90.98 cm (unrounded 90.9828 cm); matching types: Counter-height table, Console table, Workbench. At the displayed 35.82 in the height is 90.98 cm (unrounded 90.9828 cm). At 35.83 in the height is 91.01 cm (unrounded 91.0082 cm) — above 91.00 — so 35.82 in is the largest height (to the hundredth) for the centimetre figure to stay at or below 91.00 cm.

Smallest height (to the hundredth) for the centimetre figure to reach 100.00 cm: At the displayed 39.37 in the figures are Height 39.37 in; 100.00 cm (unrounded 99.9998 cm); matching types: no matching type. At the displayed 39.37 in the height is 100.00 cm — the unrounded figure is 99.9998 cm, which rounds to 100.00 cm. At 39.36 in the height is 99.97 cm (unrounded 99.9744 cm) — below 100.00 — so 39.37 in is the smallest height (to the hundredth) for the centimetre figure to reach 100.00 cm.

Smallest height (to the hundredth) matching the bar-height table: At the displayed 40.00 in the figures are Height 40 in; 101.60 cm; matching types: Bar-height table. At the displayed 40.00 in the height is 101.60 cm and matches the bar-height table. At 39.99 in the height is 101.57 cm — no match (above the 38-inch workbench top and below the 40-inch bar bottom) — so 40.00 in is the smallest height (to the hundredth) matching the bar-height table.

Largest height (to the hundredth) to still match the coffee table: At the displayed 18.00 in the figures are Height 18 in; 45.72 cm; matching types: Coffee table. At the displayed 18.00 in the height is 45.72 cm and matches the coffee table. At 18.01 in the height is 45.75 cm — no coffee-table match — so 18.00 in is the largest height (to the hundredth) to still match the coffee table.

Smallest height (to the hundredth) matching the counter-height table: At the displayed 34.00 in the figures are Height 34 in; 86.36 cm; matching types: Counter-height table, Console table, Workbench. At the displayed 34.00 in the height is 86.36 cm and matches the counter-height table, console table and workbench. At 33.99 in the height is 86.33 cm — matches the console table only — so 34.00 in is the smallest height (to the hundredth) matching the counter-height table.

What the defaults assume

The defaults are a 30-inch height — Height 30 in; 76.20 cm; matching types: Dining table, Console table, Desk / writing table, Picnic table, Pool / billiard table, Folding / card table. With Height 18 in, Height 18 in; 45.72 cm; matching types: Coffee table. With Height 24 in, Height 24 in; 60.96 cm; matching types: Side / end table. With Height 36 in, Height 36 in; 91.44 cm; matching types: Counter-height table, Console table, Workbench. With Height 42 in, Height 42 in; 106.68 cm; matching types: Bar-height table. With Height 20 in, Height 20 in; 50.80 cm; matching types: Kids' table. With Height 34 in, Height 34 in; 86.36 cm; matching types: Counter-height table, Console table, Workbench. With Height 16 in, Height 16 in; 40.64 cm; matching types: Coffee table. With Height 40 in, Height 40 in; 101.60 cm; matching types: Bar-height table. With Height 0 in, Height 0 in; 0.00 cm; matching types: no matching type. With Height 28 in, Height 28 in; 71.12 cm; matching types: Dining table, Desk / writing table, Picnic table, Folding / card table. With Height 42 in, Height 42 in; 106.68 cm; matching types: Bar-height table. With Height 48 in, Height 48 in; 121.92 cm; matching types: no matching type. With Height 12 in, Height 12 in; 30.48 cm; matching types: no matching type. With Height 29.92 in, Height 29.92 in; 76.00 cm (unrounded 75.9968 cm); matching types: Dining table, Desk / writing table, Picnic table, Pool / billiard table, Folding / card table. With Height 36 in, Height 36 in; 91.44 cm; matching types: Counter-height table, Console table, Workbench.

A note on the edges: a zero height means no table at all — a 0-inch height is 0.00 cm and there is no matching type. A 48-inch height is 121.92 cm and matches nothing — taller than any standard table. A 12-inch height is 30.48 cm and matches nothing — shorter than any standard table. A negative height input is floored at 0 — it shows 0.00 cm and no matching type, never a negative number.

Output · formula · meaning

Who uses this

• The homeowner buying a dining table: they learn a dining table stands 28–30 inches — 71.12–76.20 cm — and they check the 29.92 in reverse to see the smallest height that reaches 76.00 cm.
• The homeowner buying bar stools: they learn a bar-height table stands 40–42 inches — 101.60–106.68 cm — and they check the 40.00 in reverse to see the smallest height that matches the bar-height table.
• The homeowner with a 36-inch counter: they learn it is 91.44 cm and matches the counter-height table, the console table and the workbench — and they check the 34.00 in reverse to see the smallest height that matches the counter-height table.
• The homeowner with a 48-inch reading: they learn it is 121.92 cm and matches no standard table — and they check the 18.00 in reverse to see the largest height that still matches the coffee table.

Accuracy & limitations

The math is first-principles: the height in centimetres is the height in inches times 2.54, rounded to two decimals half-up; the matching types are the table types whose height range contains your height; the height in inches is floored at 0 — a negative height input shows 0.00 cm and no matching type, never a negative number. The reverses are judged on the UNROUNDED centimetre figure: at 29.92 in the height is 75.9968 cm unrounded, which rounds to 76.00 cm, so it reaches the 76.00 cm target; at 29.91 in the height is 75.9714 cm unrounded, which rounds to 75.97 cm, so it does not. What the model cannot do is set your table height: the heights in the table are the standard figures, not a rule for every table — always measure from the floor to the top of the table surface, not to the apron underneath, and check the chair or stool seat height against the table height, because a 10–12-inch gap between the seat and the table top is what leaves room for your legs. Use it to find the centimetre figure and the matching types for your height — then measure twice before you buy.

Frequently asked questions