How Wide is a Table Runner (Average Length for Your Size)
Table runners make a decorative difference. When you adorn your table with one, you almost immediately upgrade the look of your table and your dining room. These runners are not that difficult to make unless you go for some very sophisticated designs and stitch work.
How wide is a table runner? The rule of thumb is that a table runner is to be between 10 and 15 inches wide. Then it should be no wider than 1/3 the width of your table. The average length is between 36 and 108 inches including the 6-inch overhang on either end.
To learn more about making and the size of a table runner, just continue to read our article. It has the information you need so you know what to do when you start to make table runners for you and your family members.
Table Runner Width and Length 101
Should Table Runner Hang Over Edge Table?
It has been recommended that you allow the table runner to hang about 6 inches over both ends of your table. This little extra fabric is supposed to complete the look and make your table dazzling.
However, that thinking is not set in stone for one main reason. If you have cats or kittens in the house, then you may want to rethink hanging the table runner over the end of the table.
Dangling fabric is a great temptation to cats and kittens and their sharp claws can make alterations in your table runner that you would rather not see. Then if the cat or kittens get lucky, they may be able to grab onto the table runner and pull it and those items you do not wish to see broken, onto the floor.
The other reason keeping table runners short is if you have small kids that like to play with dangling objects.
Can a Table Runner be Shorter Than the Table?
There is no problem having your table runner shorter than your dining room table length. You can also have the former the same length as the latter. The one exception to this thinking is if the table runner has tassels attached to it.
If it does, then those tassels should hang over the edge. The table runner should be long enough for those tassels to hang naturally and without interference from the top of the table.
How you decorate your dining room table with a table runner is really up to your design preferences. A good reason for having a shorter table runner is so you can show off your table’s good looks.
How do You Measure for a Table Runner
The first thing to consider when making a table runner is what size it is going to be. You have to make a decision here because your dining room table may have leaves in it. If it does then you are going to have to decide if the table runner is going to be shorter than the table with leaves, or long enough to hang over 6 inches.
If it is the latter, then you will have limited use of that table runner. Next, you will need to measure your table and make allowances for seams and the 6-inch overhang. That 6 inches doubles into 12 because you want the same overhang on both ends.
After that, you will need to measure the width of your table and then divide that result into thirds. Your runner should only be as wide as 1/3 the width of your table. Make sure to add a fabric allowance for your seams.
When that is done, the width of your table runner should fall somewhere between 10 and 15 inches wide although some sewers say it should be between 14 and 17 inches wide.
After you get your measurements, cut your fabric and sew.
How Long Should a Table Runner Be For a 6-Foot Table?
Following the recommended rule of thumb, a 6-foot table should have a table runner measuring about 84 inches long. That measurement is meeting the 6-inch overhang on both ends rule.
But you are not restricted to that length. You can go the same length as your 6-foot table and make your table runner 72 inches. Or you can cut that length down any further and make them somewhere in between 42 and 70 inches long.
Your length will depend on how you are going to decorate your table if people are going to be seated at the ends and so no. You have a lot of flexibility here in decorating your dining room table.
Table Runner Dimensions for 8-Foot Table
Much of the above reasoning applies to a table that is 8 feet in length. You may want to have the table runner extend the 12 inches past the ends of the table so you are looking at making it about 108 inches long. That is 96 inches + 12 for the overhang.
Of course, you will need to add a little extra length to the fabric in order to accommodate your seams. These are not that large so be a little conservative and do not factor in too much extra fabric.
Your seam measurement will depend on how big you want to make them. The thing about having smaller table runners, around the 40 to 50-inch length, is that they may get hidden from view if you display different keepsakes on your dining room table.
If you want your shorter table runners to be seen by non eating guests, then you will have to move those keepsakes or reduce the number you place on top of the fabric.
What Size Table Runner do I Need for a 60 Inch Round Table?
Before we give you the measurement for this situation, it should be said that your table runner should not hang further than your tablecloth. If you are using a tablecloth and it hangs 2 - 4 inches over the edge of a round, square or rectangle table, then your table runner should hang only 2 - 4 inches over your table edge.
Now for a 60 inch round table, the length should be about 72 inches in total. For the width, you are looking at having a 20-inch wide table runner. The width is always 1/3 the size of the table width. But not everyone agrees with that standard as they think that much width interferes with dining.
They recommend that the width of the table runner be cut down to about 1/4 the size of the width of the table. 1/4 of a 60 inch round table would be 15 inches.
Table Runner Size for 72 Inch Round
A 72 inch round table is equal to a 6-foot size. With the 6 inch rule in mind, then you should have an 84-inch table runner on top of it. If you do not want to have an overhang, then you can go to the table size and make it 72 inches.
Then the width of the table runner should run you about 24 inches or 2 feet. That is following the 1/3 rule. But that may need some adjusting as that is above the rule of thumb standard of 10 to 15 inches wide.
In any case, how wide you have it will be up to you. It is your table and your decision.
90 Inch
The good thing about the rule of thumb standards is that they cannot be applied equally to all table sizes. When you go larger than an average-sized table, you are going to run into some width difficulties and the table runner may interfere with dish settings.
For length, you are looking at 102 inches or less, if you follow the standard rules. But if your tablecloth only hangs about 3 inches over then the table runner should only have a 3-inch overhang at most.
Width is another issue and you shouldn’t break the rule of 10 to 15 inches wide as the 1/3 rule says your runner should be 30 inches wide. Play this by ear.
48 Inch
From the examples that we have seen, there is some leeway in that 6-inch rule when it comes to smaller round tables. The table runners on those hang over 6 inches down on either side.
Some look like they go about 1 foot over each edge so you are going to have some flexibility when matching a table runner to a 48 inch round table. The rules state it should be 60 inches in length with about a 16-inch width.
You can play around with those figures and see what looks best on your table.
Some Final Words
There are rules to govern how wide and long your table runner should be length. But those rules are more of a guiding hand and cannot be applied literally to all table sizes or shapes.
As long as your table looks good you should be fine. Just remember that table runners can be shorter or as long as the table. It's your decision to make.
