Choosing a tablecloth: drop, fabric and keeping it tidy
Updated June 3, 2026 · about 6 minutes
A tablecloth is decided by two numbers and one fabric choice: how far it should hang, how big the table is, and what the cloth needs to survive. Get those right and the rest is colour and pattern.
Step one: measure the drop
Drop is how far the cloth hangs past the edge on each side. The common ranges are:
- Everyday drop: roughly 15–20 cm (6–8 in). Comfortable, stays clear of laps.
- Mid drop: about 25–30 cm (10–12 in). A dressed look for guests.
- Formal / floor-length: reaches the floor, used for buffet and display tables.
To size a cloth, add twice your chosen drop to each table dimension. A 150 × 90 cm table with a 20 cm everyday drop needs about 190 × 130 cm of cloth (150 + 40, 90 + 40).
Round table, 120 cm across, mid drop of 28 cm:
Step two: pick the fabric for the job
| Fabric | Feel & look | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Cotton | Soft, easy to wash, holds colour | Everyday and family meals |
| Linen | Crisp, textured, wrinkles readily | Holidays and dressed tables |
| Cotton-linen blend | Linen look with easier care | A flexible all-rounder |
| Coated / acrylic-treated cotton | Wipeable, water-resistant | Outdoor and high-traffic use |
For the long Canadian indoor season, a cotton or cotton-linen blend tends to be the practical middle: it presses well for Thanksgiving, then washes back to everyday duty. Coated cotton earns its place for summer meals outdoors where spills and weather are likely.
Step three: keep it tidy
Most cotton and blend cloths do well on a warm wash and a low-to-medium dry, removed while slightly damp so the surface stays smooth. Linen prefers a cooler wash and air drying, and a steam or warm iron while still a little damp restores its drape. Treat food stains before they set rather than relying on a hot wash afterward.
A cloth that is easy to launder gets used. The fanciest linen in the cupboard loses to a washable cotton you will actually put on the table.
Storage that prevents creases
- Roll larger cloths on a tube rather than folding to avoid hard fold lines.
- Store fully dry to prevent musty odours and mildew.
- Keep one everyday cloth and one dressed cloth rather than a large rotation.
Once the cloth is chosen, arrange the setting on top of it using the place setting guide, and finish with the napkin notes.
Further reading: Tablecloth on Wikipedia.