About the Tablecloth Size Calculator
This calculator applies the standard "drop" method that linen suppliers, event planners, and home sewists use to size a tablecloth. The finished cloth needs to cover the tabletop itself plus a consistent overhang — the drop — hanging down on every side. Because the drop hangs on both the front and back (or both ends) of the table, it is added twice to each dimension.
The formula
- Rectangular, square, or oval tables: Tablecloth length = table length + (2 x drop); Tablecloth width = table width + (2 x drop).
- Round tables: Tablecloth diameter = table diameter + (2 x drop).
For example, a 72in x 30in banquet table with an 8in drop needs a cloth measuring 72 + 16 = 88in long by 30 + 16 = 46in wide. A 60in round table with a 15in drop needs a 60 + 30 = 90in diameter round cloth.
Choosing a drop length
There is no single "correct" drop — it is a style choice, but a few conventions are widely used: 6-8in is a casual drop that just clears the table edge; about 15in is a semi-formal "lap length" drop that reaches roughly to a seated guest's lap; and 29-30in is a floor-length, formal drop that covers the table legs entirely, since most dining and banquet tables stand about 29-30in tall.
Estimating fabric to sew a cloth
If you are sewing rather than buying a finished cloth, add a small hem allowance (this calculator uses 1in per edge) to the finished length and width for turning and stitching the hem. Fabric bolts are commonly 44-60in wide, so if the finished width exceeds the bolt width, you need multiple panels sewn together: panels needed = finished width (with hem) divided by fabric width, rounded up. Total fabric = panels x hemmed length, converted to yards (divide inches by 36) and rounded up to a size you can actually buy, such as the nearest quarter yard.