Table linens help to convey the theme and level of service at your restaurant or event while protecting tables and creating inviting visual appeal. Our wide selection of table linens and accessories makes it easy to put together a dining area that meets your size, material, tonal, and budget requirements.
What to Consider When Purchasing Table Linens
Tablecloth linens covers have the power to make or break the image you’re trying to portray. From kid-friendly, disposable plastic table covers to upscale cloth linens for your five-star venue, the options out there are as endless as the establishments they will go in. Here are a few things you’ll want to consider.
- Size and Shape:A tablecloth’s size helps communicate the overall level of formality. For casual events, a 6-8″ drop is appropriate; for formal events, a 10-15″ drop is more fitting.
- Tone of Room or Event:Linens help set the mood for a meal – whether lighthearted and festive, elegant and romantic, or serious and professional.
- Material:Cloth table linens help create upscale settings and are designed to withstand daily use, while disposable covers are better for casual events and generally single-use only.
- Color:While white and ivory are common for formal settings, bold colors create dramatic backdrops and festive displays when coordinated with other tabletop elements.
- Cleanup Requirements:Larger facilities with storage space and laundering equipment can accommodate reusable tablecloths, while on-the-go services and casual events may prefer disposable covers.
- Price:With so many table linen options available, it’s possible to find table covers that meet all your requirements, including fitting into your budget!
Tablecloth Sizes
Not sure what size table linens to purchase? Our easy-to-use calculator will point you in the right direction. Just measure your table’s top and base, enter the info into our calculator, and we’ll do the math for you.
- Enter the shape and dimensions of your table.
- Determine how much of a drop you would like the table linens to have from the top of the table.
- The standard “drop” or overhang is 8″.
- A 10″ – 12″ overhang will reach lap level.
- For standard banquet tables, a 15″ drop is recommended.
- A 29″ – 30″ drop will reach to the floor.
Types of Reusable Table Covers and Skirting
Reusable table and chair linens offer a number of advantages over disposable options. Along with ensuring you’ll always have covers on hand, reusable linens create less waste, reduce costs over time, and are often made of materials that convey a higher level of service and quality.
Cloth Table Covers
- Convey a higher level of service
- Absorb background noise
- Create sanitary table tops
- Absorb spills better than bare surfaces
- Often machine washable
- Higher polyester content: more resistant to stains, wrinkling, pilling, and shrinking
- Higher cotton content: softer, more natural-looking, and more absorbent
Vinyl Table Covers
- Ideal for outdoor barbeques and casual catered events
- Strong, tear-resistant vinyl is more durable than disposable materials
- Often feature polyester flannel backings to protect tabletops and provide traction
- Make it easy to clean up spills and splatters
- Vinyl table cover rolls allow you to easily customize size
- Many feature a fun, gingham print
Spandex Table Covers
- Ideal for catered events, trade shows, receptions, and casino nights
- Stretch to snugly fit specific table sizes to eliminate wrinkling and the need for ironing
- Many feature reinforced, sewn-in plastic feet to keep the cover firmly in place and protect it from damage
- Available in bold, eye-catching colors
Table Skirting
- Perfect for elegant displays at banquet halls, buffets, and event venues
- Polyester blends resist wrinkles and stains, making it easy to maintain their professional appearance
- Easy installation and removal for quick turnaround at busy venues
- Many are flame retardant, making them safer for use with lit candles or chafer fuel cans
- Often attached to tables with Velcro® headers or clip hooks
How to Transport Tablecloths without Wrinkling
Whether storing or transporting, keep your table linens smooth and wrinkle-free by following these steps. The only additional supply you’ll need is a large tube, measuring at least the diameter or width of your largest table cover. Everyday items that will work include a wrapping-paper or cardboard mailing tube, a pool noodle, or a PVC pipe.
1. Launder all of your table linens.
2. Iron linens on both sides.
3. Stack linens one on top of another, staggering 1″ or more from the edge of the previous linen to avoid bunching.
4. Wrap the linens around the tube, smoothing out any potential creases as you go.
Arrived at the venue and noticed your tablecloths have faint creases?
If you’re without an iron but have time to spare, try this: Lay linens across tables, spritz with water, and smooth out the creases with your hands. Left overnight, many tablecloths will release wrinkles by morning.