Tablecloth Size Calculator (rectangular, square, oval & round tables)

Understanding the tablecloth size calculator — concept and principle

This calculator finds the finished size of a tablecloth for a rectangular, square, oval or round table, the cut size including hems, and how much fabric to buy. Use it when sewing your own cloth or when choosing a ready-made size.

The drop is added on both sides, once for each edge.

How it is calculated

Finished length = table length + 2 × drop

Finished width = table width + 2 × drop (round table: diameter + 2 × drop)

Cut size = finished size + 2 × hem allowance, in each direction

Fabric widths = cut width ÷ fabric width, rounded up

Fabric to buy = fabric widths × cut length

The drop is how far the cloth hangs down on each side.
Sizes are in centimetres; the finished size is also shown in inches (1 in = 2.54 cm).

The principle

The cloth has to cover the top and then hang over every edge, so the drop is added twice in each direction, once for each side. A hem is folded under along every edge, so its allowance is also added twice. If the cut width is wider than the fabric roll, you sew strips together, and each strip costs a full cut length. For a round table you cut a square of the finished diameter and trim it to a circle. Common drops are short, around 15–30 cm, to clear the lap, while a floor-length cloth has a drop equal to the table height.

Worked example

Default inputs: rectangular table 160 × 90 cm, drop 25 cm, hem 2 cm per edge, fabric 150 cm wide.

Finished length = 160 + 2 × 25 = 210 cm; finished width = 90 + 2 × 25 = 140 cm.
In inches: 210 ÷ 2.54 = 82.7 and 140 ÷ 2.54 = 55.1, shown as 83 × 55.
Cut size = (210 + 4) × (140 + 4) = 214 × 144 cm.
Fabric widths = 144 ÷ 150 = 0.96, rounded up to 1.
Fabric to buy = 1 × 214 cm = 2.14 m.

Each point is the calculator re-run with only “Drop: overhang on each side (cm)” changed; the gold point is the default example. Change the inputs above and this chart follows your numbers.

Drop: overhang on each side (cm)	Finished tablecloth length (cm)
6.25	173
12.5	185
18.8	198
25	210
31.2	223
37.5	235
50	260

How to read the result

If one fabric width is enough, buy the cut length plus a little extra for straightening the ends and for shrinkage if the fabric is washable cotton or linen. If you need two widths, avoid a seam down the middle: use one full width in the centre and split the second into two side strips, adding seam allowances. For a ready-made cloth, choose the nearest listed size that is at least as large as the finished size.

Common mistakes

Adding the drop only once per direction.
Forgetting hem allowance, so the cloth ends up short.
Ignoring shrinkage of natural fabrics after the first wash.
Choosing a drop so long that chairs catch the cloth.

Keep in mind: The drop, hem and fabric width on the page are example values. Measure your own table and check the fabric's usable width between the selvedges.

Frequently asked questions

What size tablecloth fits a 6-seat table?

Measure the table and add twice your drop. A 160 × 90 cm table with a 25 cm drop needs about 210 × 140 cm.

How much drop should a tablecloth have?

A short drop of about 15–30 cm is common for everyday use; formal settings may hang lower.

How do I make a round tablecloth?

Cut a square of the finished diameter plus hems, fold it in quarters and mark an arc from the folded corner with a string.

Sources: 1 in = 2.54 cm exactly (international yard and pound agreement, 1959; NIST SP 811)

Checked 9 Nov 2026. Geometry: finished size = table size + 2 × drop, cut size = finished size + 2 × hem; the drop, hem and fabric width shown are example values. 1 in = 2.54 cm exactly.

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