What Size Tables Do I Need for My Restaurant?

Opening a restaurant is a monumental endeavor and there are many steps to take before opening day. From the menu and ordering food to training the staff and choosing décor, it can become a whirlwind of hustle and bustle to get every detail ironed out. One of the more basic, yet still crucial, questions owners find themselves wondering is, “What size tables do I need for my restaurant?” This is an important question to ask, and there are several factors to take into consideration when figuring out the right answer. The right sized tables affect your seating capacity and overall profits, as well helping to decrease wait times for guests.

What Size Tables

Restaurant furniture

When deciding what size tables you may need, you should first consider your dining space.Seating capacity is usually defined by a set of laws and regulations set forth by local code enforcement and the ADA guidelines. Knowing what your seating capacity is will aid you in selecting the right sized tables for your space. With this helpful information, you can start considering how much table space you will need.

When considering table space, think of it regarding what your guest will see when sitting down to eat. Are you a restaurant that will be mostly serving burgers and baskets of fries or a casual dining location with a need for more table space for cutlery and cloth napkins? Are you a high-end steakhouse with the full layout of serval forks and knives for each course of the meal? Your menu and service methods dictate the amount of table top space your guests will need.

Once you have tailored table space to dining style, start looking for how much floor space you intend to have for your customers and staff to easily navigate. Also, consider having several small tables you can push together for large parties instead of bigger tables where you may never seat guests. When choosing floor plans and seating arraignments, it is better safe than sorry in the restaurant business.

With these basic suggestions, the next time you ask, “What size tables do I need for my restaurant?”, you will have a solid answer ready to go!