Choosing a boardroom table is mostly about one thing: getting the size right for your room and the number of people you need to seat. A table that is too big leaves no space to pull out chairs or walk around; one that is too small leaves people elbow to elbow. This guide gives you the measurements to plan your boardroom properly.
How Much Space Each Person Needs
- Minimum: about 600 mm of table edge per person.
- Comfortable: 700 to 760 mm per person, especially when people use laptops and documents.
- Table depth: 1000 to 1200 mm for a boardroom table, so people opposite each other have room for papers, laptops and cable ports. Smaller meeting tables are often 800 to 900 mm deep.
How Much Space to Leave Around the Table
The most common mistake is buying a table that is too big for the room. Leave at least 900 mm between the table edge and the nearest wall, cabinet or window sill so people can push back their chairs. 1200 mm is better, as it lets someone walk behind seated people. If a screen or presenter will stand at one end, leave extra space there.
Boardroom Table Size Chart
These are typical sizes for rectangular or boat-shaped tables, with recommended room sizes based on about 1.2 m of clearance on every side.
| Seats | Table size (L x W) | Recommended room size |
|---|---|---|
| 4 | 1200–1400 mm x 800–900 mm | about 3.8 m x 3.3 m |
| 6 | 1800 mm x 1000 mm | about 4.2 m x 3.4 m |
| 8 | 2400 mm x 1200 mm | about 4.8 m x 3.6 m |
| 10 | 3000 mm x 1200 mm | about 5.4 m x 3.6 m |
| 12 | 3600 mm x 1200–1400 mm | about 6.0 m x 3.8 m |
| 14–16 | 4200–4800 mm x 1400 mm | about 6.6–7.2 m x 3.8 m |
| 18–20 | about 6000 mm x 1500 mm (often modular) | about 8.4 m x 3.9 m |
If your room is tighter than the recommended size, you can still use the table with the minimum 900 mm clearance, or choose a narrower table and seat people only along the sides.
Choosing a Table Shape
- Rectangular: the most space-efficient option and the classic boardroom look.
- Boat-shaped: wider in the middle and narrower at the ends, so everyone can see each other and the screen more easily.
- Round and oval: great for smaller groups of four to eight, and for a less formal, more collaborative feel.
- Modular: several tables joined together that can be split up for training sessions, workshops or different layouts.
- U-shaped and V-shaped: useful for video conferencing and presentations, as everyone faces the screen.
Don’t Forget the Chairs
Most boardroom and meeting chairs are about 500 to 550 mm wide. Check that the number of chairs you want fits comfortably along each side of the table, with a little space between them. Mid-back or high-back chairs on castors are popular for boardrooms, as people can move in and out easily during long meetings.
Power, Cables and Screens
- Plan cable ports or power modules in the table so laptops can be charged without cords across the floor.
- Keep one end of the table clear if you will mount a TV or projector screen there.
- Think about where wall sockets and network points are before you position the table.
Finishes
Boardroom tables come in hard-wearing melamine, elegant wood veneers and glass tops. Melamine is practical and budget-friendly, veneer gives a premium executive look, and glass suits modern offices. Match the finish to your reception and office desks for a consistent look.
How to Measure Your Boardroom
- Measure the length and width of the room wall to wall.
- Note doors, windows, pillars, aircon units and plug points.
- Subtract at least 1.8 m (or ideally 2.4 m) from each dimension to get the maximum table size.
- Decide how many people you need to seat on a normal day, not just for the biggest meeting of the year.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much space does each person need at a boardroom table?
Allow at least 600 mm of table edge per person, and 700 to 760 mm for comfortable meetings with laptops and documents.
What size boardroom table seats 8 people?
A rectangular table of about 2400 mm x 1200 mm comfortably seats 8 people: three along each side and one at each end. You need a room of roughly 4.8 m x 3.6 m to fit it with comfortable clearance.
What size boardroom table seats 10 people?
Allow a table of about 3000 mm x 1200 mm for 10 people, in a room of roughly 5.4 m x 3.6 m.
How much space do you need around a boardroom table?
Leave at least 900 mm between the table edge and the nearest wall or furniture so people can push their chairs back. Around 1200 mm is better, so others can walk behind seated people.
Get the Right Boardroom Table for Your Office
Office Furniture Direct supplies boardroom tables, meeting tables and boardroom chairs to businesses across Gauteng, including Sandton, Rosebank, Johannesburg, Pretoria, Centurion and Midrand. Send us your room measurements and the number of people you need to seat, and we’ll recommend the right size and send you a free quote. View our boardroom furniture, call 011 827 2625 or email [email protected].
