How much space should be between tables at a restaurant?

Crow Works is your one-stop-shop for all of your commercial dining room needs. From chairs, stools, and tables of various styles and heights to booths and banquettes, we have durable products that help create an elevated experience.

 

When planning a commercial dining room, it's important to start with some basic questions:

• How many people do you need to seat?
• How much space do you need between tables?
• How will you be able to maximize seating capacity while keeping guests uncrowded and comfortable?

All of these questions can help you determine the best layout and furniture plan for your project.

Check our guidelines and tips below to make your space efficient and well-designed.

 

Table & Seating Height Standards

 

There's some flexibility with seating and table heights, but a good rule of thumb is that the tabletop should sit about 10"–12" above the top of the seat. This ensures there is enough leg room for diners and gives them a good sitting angle.

 

Historically, the standards for spacing out your tables are:

• 18 inches between each occupied chair

• 42-60 inches between each square table

• 24-30 inches between corners of diagonal tables

 

 

 

Table Capacity Guide

(seating available on all sides)

 

 

 

Table Capacity Guide

(no seating on the ends)

 

 

You typically want to allow 18"–24" for every diner at a table. See the diagrams above and to the right for our standard table sizes and the seating capacity we recommend.

 

Here's a quick look at recommended total square feet per diner:

• Fine Dining:

   

  18–20 Square Feet
• Full Service Restaurant Dining: 12–15 Square Feet
• Fast Casual: 18–20 Square Feet
• Fast Food Minimum: 11–14 Square Feet
• Table Service, Hotel/Club:  15–18 Square Feet

Table Capacity Guide

(round tables)

 

 

Booth Spacing Guide

 

 

Booths are an easy way to add comfort and privacy for your guests. They also help to maximize seating and allow for more aisle space.

 

 

 

ADA Clearance Guide

 

 

 

 

According to the ADA Guide for Small Businesses, "If tables are provided, such as in restaurants and snack bars, and the tables are attached to the wall or floor (fixed), then 5% of the tables or at least one (if less than 20 are provided) must be accessible, if doing so is readily achievable. Accessible seating must be provided, if doing so is readily achievable, at each accessible table to accommodate people using wheelchairs. Movable chairs can be used for these tables and the movable chairs can be removed when customers using wheelchairs use the table(s)."

 

ADA table clearances are as follows:

• Table height 34" maximum, 28" minimum

• Knee clearance 27" minimum (from floor to bottom of table surface)

• Clear floor area of 30" by 48" needed at each seating area

• Knee clearance extends at least 19" under the table

 

Whatever your furniture needs, we can help you plan and decide on the best options for your space. Contact us at sales@crowworks.com to get started!

All of these questions can help you determine the best layout and furniture plan for your project.

 

 

 

How much space should be between tables at a restaurant?

Tables and Seating Guide