Standard Placemat Size: What Size Are Placemats? (9 Tips)
Placemats add a little extra something to every table they adorn. The key is not to have them too small and not to have them too large. The trick is to have that Goldilocks moment and make them just right.
What size are placemats? The nice aspect of placemats is that there is no real rule on what size they have to be. You can make them 12 by 16 inches in size, 11 by 17 inches or 12 by 18 inches. A lot will depend on the size of your table and how many people will be sitting at it when it is time to eat.
To learn more about making placemats the standard size, just continue to read our article. It is filled with the sewing information and tips you need to know about to make great placemats for your home.
Placemat Sizes 101
Tip #1: Because placemats are made from fabric, they may shrink when you wash them. Always pre-wash your fabric to avoid this problem.
Tip #2: The size of the plate you are going to place on the placemats will be a factor in the placemat’s size.
What is a Standard Placemat Size? (Average Size)
When making placemats there is a little leeway when wanting them to be the standard size. The rule of thumb suggests that standard placemats range between 12 to 14 inches wide by 16 to 20 inches long.
Any size in that range should cover your table and keep hot plates and bowls from ruining your nice dining room table. The key is you want to make sure your placemats keep the plates, bowls, and silverware from coming in contact with the table.
Also, when making your version, you should allow for a space of 4 inches between dinner settings. This space gives your guests some elbow room when they begin to eat.
Tip #3: Before you start sewing, you should lay out an old placemat on your table and put a full setting on top of it. This should give you some visual aid in constructing your new ones.
Other Common Placemat Dimensions
The above are not the only sizes standard placemats come in. You can find placemats measuring 12 by 16 inches in size and these should be good for smaller tables. Also, you can use 11 y 18 inches as proper dimensions for a good placemat setting.
Then there is the extra-long version which reaches up to 12 by 24 inches and these are good if no one is sitting really close to each other. The extra length makes sure your stemware, silverware and napkins all fit on the placemat and do not land on your table.
12 inches by 17 inches is also a good alternative size. So you really have a lot of range to work with when it comes to making placemats. The trick is to see which measurements fit your table the best.
If you have a larger dining room table then you may want larger placemats unless you have a lot of guests sitting around eating. One thing you need to remember is that if your dinner party is 10 people or larger, placemats are not recommended.
Tip #4: IF by chance the placemats you are are too large, then you can always round the corners off and get them to fit next to each other while keeping that 4-inch space.
Small Placemat Size
There are small placemat sizes available and they are as easy to make as the larger version. These are sometimes called kids’ placemats as the child’s place setting does not require as much room as adult place settings.
For example, a child’s size placemat can measure about 9 by 14 inches in size. Or they can go a little smaller and be 9 by 12 inches overall. A lot will depend on the size of the kids’ table and how much food your child will eat.
One thing to remember is that when making a placemat of any size, you should allow 1/2 inch extra for the seams. A standard 12 by 18-inch placemat should measure 13 by 19 inches to cover the seams on all four sides.
A smaller placemat should measure roughly 10 by 15 inches in size. Make sure to measure twice and cut once.
Tip #5: Small placemats should help highlight the beauty of the dining room table they are placed on. They should also provide more room for each person at a dinner table.
What Size Are Round Placemats
The round placemat size is fairly standard. The measurement has no range just a standard 12 inches in diameter. Their purpose is to hold only the dinner plate. Glasses, forks, and knives,etc., and napkins are all placed directly on the dining room table.
If your table is larger then you can use 15-inch diameter placemats to help cover your table and give your guests enough space to eat comfortably. There are also 14-inch decorative placemats that add a special touch to your table’s look.
When making round placemats your table size is going to be an influential factor. You need to make sure the table is covered without encroaching on that 4-inch rule. Also, the size of the plates you are using will have some impact on the size of your placemats. Smaller plates do not need large placemats underneath them.
Tip #6: Stitching corners can be a bit difficult especially when you want a continuous stitch. To overcome that difficulty, lift the presser foot with the needle still in the fabric. Turn the fabric 90 degrees and put the presser foot back down. Now sew the next side.
What Size Placemat for Round Table
You may think that finding or making placemats for a round table is going to be a difficult task to complete. But if you follow the right guidelines you shouldn’t have any problem.
Table size is your first clue. If it is large then go ahead and use larger placemats, for example, those can be 14 or 15 inches in diameter. If the table is medium-sized, then maybe only 12 inch in diameter placemats will do the job.
The trick to remember is that you are not trying to put the whole place setting on the placemat. Your glasses, flatware, and napkins will be placed on the table instead.
Tip #7: Lightweight fabrics should be avoided at all costs. These fabrics tend to move or shift a lot. To make good placemats a sturdy medium thickness fabric is the best option to use.
What Size Are Quilted Placemats?
One of the better sizes for a quilted placemat is 13 by 19 inches overall. The design doesn’t matter. They can be straight-edged or scallop edges and the size should work just fine.
Like normal table placemats, there is some flexibility when it comes to sizing. You are free to add an inch or remove one if that works best for you. Plus, you should be flexible as your table size may be an antique and a lot narrower than most modern made tables.
If that is the case, you won’t want 13 inch deep placemats. You need to tailor the placemat to fit your table while making them large enough to handle your good china.
Tip #8: when making placemats, it should be remembered that there are no sophisticated and complicated stitches to do. There are also no complex patterns to work with. Making placemats are a simple sewing project that provides you with a lot of practice in =sewing straight lines.
Sewing Size of Placemats
The trick to getting the right amount of fabric for your placemats is to determine how big you want them to be before you start cutting away. To help you make that determination, you need to look at the size of plates you are going to place on the placemats.
Then look at your table size and see what dimensions will fit best. Once this is done, and you come to the decision that you want 12 by 17-inch placemats, then you measure your fabric.
You are going to need 2 pieces of rectangle fabric to make the mats. To meet your size requirement, you need to cut those pieces 13 by 18 inches in size. That extra inch gives you your seam allowance which stands at 1/2 inch per side.
That is all there is to it. The tougher steps will be to sew the pieces together and make your seams.
Tip #9: the purpose of placemats is to protect your table from water and food stains as well as possible heat damage. So choose your fabric with that purpose in mind and make sure it is thick enough to absorb all of them.
What Size Binding for Placemats
Of course, your binding size will depend on the size of placemats you are trying to make. For this example, the size chosen will be 15 by 18 inches. To make 6 placemats this size you will need to have about 1 1/2 yards of binding fabric on hand.
After you gather your materials and cut the exterior fabric to size, then cut the binding or backing material to 18 by 21 inches. You may need to use a binding tool to help you get everything where it should be.
If not then turn to the traditional binding methods to get the fabric where it is supposed to go. Now you may have to trim the backing back about 1” on all four sides to create a 1/2 inch binding.
The trick is to make sure you bring enough fabric to your work station so you do not run out. Remember not to cut too short or you may end up with a few sewing issues and you have to start all over again.
How Many Yards of Fabric do I Need for a 6 Placemat?
Like any sewing project, the amount of fabric you will need will depend on the size of the item you are sewing. For 6 placemats, it may be a little difficult to calculate but it is not that hard. For a set of 6- 13 by 19-inch placemats you are looking at needing about 1 1/2 yards of fabric. Just for the exterior.
You will need the same amount of fabric for the backing and binding. So that is about 3 yards in total. This total is based on a small 36-inch yard. Larger yards like the 44, 54 and 60-inch width sizes may have you using fewer yards.
For 6- 15 by 18-inch placemats, there is not too much difference in size and the 1/2 yards measurement for both fabrics being used will work for this size as well.
Some Final Words
One thing about making placemats is that beginners get a lot of practice sewing straight lines. That is not a bad thing because practice makes perfect. Once you decide how big a placemat you want, then the rest just falls into place.
You can go with the standard sizes if you want but do not get stressed out if your table is not that large. The standard sizes are not set in stone and can be adjusted to meet your situation.
If you have a round table, then you are not looking to get the complete place setting on the placemat. You really only want it to be a little bit larger than the plate that is going to sit on top.
One of the aspects you should have picked up on is that placemats, and also napkins, is one of the easiest sewing projects you can undertake. You can use them to hone your sewing skills while making great looking gifts for family and friends.
