Quick Sizing Guide for Metal Table Legs and Bases
Width
A quick, general rule of thumb is to take the overall width of your tabletop and subtract 24″ to get the width of your table base. Make sure the legs do not go below these minimum widths:
- Dining height – 20″ width minimum
- Counter height – 24″ width minimum
- Bar height – 28″ width minimum
For any metal table base designs that taper in at the floor, add 6-8″ to the above minimums for the minimum base width since the width is measured at the widest point of the base, at the top, and they taper in 6″ to 8″ at the floor.
Length (if applicable)
Some of our metal trestle bases are intended for use with square or round tops, so the “width” of the base is a measure of the overall diameter of the base and length is not an option. For base styles that specify both width and length, the length of the base will depend on how much overhang your tabletop can support. As a general rule of thumb, follow the below max overhang recommendations for the below top materials:
- Wood Top – Top length minus 36″
- Stone Top – Top length minus 24″
- Glass Top – Top length minus 24″
Top thicknesses and strengths vary, so it is ALWAYS best to get a recommendation from the fabricator of your tabletop for overhang allowances. Also make sure the length of the base does not drop below the above width minimums for stability.
Height
- Dining height is finished at 30″, so subtract the thickness of your tabletop from 30″ to get the height of the table base. Round down to the nearest inch to account for the included leveling feet.
- For counter height, subtract the thickness of the tabletop from 36″.
- For bar height, subtract the thickness of the top from 42″.
Coffee tables, side tables, and bench bases
- You typically want the width of the base for smaller sized builds to be just a couple inches smaller than the top.
- Benches typically have a finished height that is 12″ less than the table height. So subtract the thickness of the top from this measurement to get the height of the base.
- Coffee tables typically have a finished height equal to, or a couple inches below the surrounding seating height. Usually around 18″ to 20″ tall.
- Side tables typically have a finished height equal to, or slightly below the surrounding arm rest height of nearby seating.
Tubing Size
- 1″ tube – Reserved for small, lightweight tables, such as side tables or coffee tables
- 1.5″ or 1×2 rectangular tube – Suitable for smaller tables, dining tables with a minimalistic style, or bench bases
- 2″ or 1×3 rectangular tube – Most common size material, suitable for most applications
- 3″ or 2×3 rectangular tube – Suitable for heavier or larger tabletops, or where a more prominent look is desired for the metal table base
- 4″ or 2×4 rectangular tube – Gives a massive look to the table base, suitable for the heaviest and largest of tabletops.
For a more complete guide, see our Base Sizing Guide for more information or feel free to Contact Us for more our recommendation.
