Updated Jun. 14, 2024
Even if your living space is a little cramped, there are plenty of beautiful dining tables for small spaces. Sit down to eat at our top picks for every style and budget.
Our editors and experts handpick every product we feature. We may earn a commission from your purchases.Learn more.
If you live in a smaller home or apartment, you might wonder if you have space for a dining table. Traditional dining table and chair sets can take up quite a bit of real estate. They also aren’t practical if you only have one or two people in your household. Instead, consider these best dining tables for small spaces.
In addition to usually being a little cheaper than big, behemoth sets, these compact tables typically seat two or four people, but a few offer expandable qualities for parties and holidays. They’re also small enough to tuck into your kitchen, living room, breakfast nook or dining room without taking up too much space. Some even offer concealed compartments for extra small space storage!
We contacted Taste of Home Shopping Editors to gather their insights and inform this piece. Four of the best dining tables for small spaces were tested right in their homes, and the others are from reputable stores and boast hundreds (if not thousands) of positive reviews. We looked for options that offer longevity, style and—of course—space-saving qualities.
Psst, check out these small kitchen ideas for even more space-saving solutions.
Pros:
Cons:
Topping our list of the best dining tables for small spaces, the Seb dining table is a classic choice for any small home. It’s crafted from solid wood and available with a choice of two or four chairs. The table top for the smaller version is a 51.2-inch rectangle, which comfortably seats up to four people with the included chairs and bench. Or, opt for the 71-inch option for additional seating space. There’s even an expandable version for additional seating during parties and holidays.
“My kitchen now feels complete,” says Senior Shopping Editor Katie Bandurski, who owns the table. She notes that despite arriving almost fully assembled, she’s impressed with the overall quality and doesn’t see herself having to replace any pieces for the foreseeable future. “I have been standing on the bench to get a bird’ s-eye view for product photos, and it doesn’t budge. This is so sturdy,” she says.
Dress up this table with your choice of dining chairs and some of our favorite kitchen decor, or opt for the matching benches and chairs. And, the heirloom-style materials that last a lifetime is the cherry on top of the cake.
Pros:
Cons:
According to Shopping Editor Emily Way, finding a four-person dining table that’s also compact isn’t always the easiest task. “After moving into my very small apartment, I had to find an attractive table that fit into the space — and fit more than two people,” she says. “We love to host, even though we may share a dedicated living room and dining area! The Gillham dining table was everything I needed. It’s pretty, durable and extremely affordable. The best part? It fits into my small apartment flawlessly!”
While she was nervous about ordering a glass table, the overall experience was painless. “Ordering a glass dining table online was a gamble, but the entire process from delivery to assembly went smoothly. The table arrived in a large flat box, carefully packaged in foam to prevent chips and cracks.”
According to Emily, assembly is easy and takes about 15 minutes. Each table leg has two pieces that screw together, then screw onto the tabletop. “The table is sturdy, gorgeous, and wipes up easily,” she says. “Because there’s no wood, there’s no need to worry about spills and stains penetrating the surface. Sure, it easily smudges since it’s glass, but it wipes down in seconds. It’s perfect for messy families like mine!”
Pros
Cons
Pros:
Cons:
Don’t have a designated dining room? Don’t worry — the small-yet-sleek Bethany dining set functions as a breakfast nook, easily sliding into the corner of a kitchen or apartment thanks to a small profile and included bench. An additional padded chair comes with the set, offering an extra seat for guests or a spot to set up your work-from-home station.
“It was delivered almost entirely assembled,” says Senior Shopping Editor Caroline Lubinsky, who owns the set. Despite a compact look, the set can also accommodate additional people. An easy-to-install expansion leaf nestles underneath the tabletop, so it’s always ready for extra company.
That said, Caroline does mention a few notable cons, like the interior of the table being particle board rather than solid wood and a few minor issues with construction. “My only gripe is that if you remove the extension leaf, you don’t have a way to lock the table back into place since the leaf has the locking mechanism,” she notes. Overall, given the size, she’s still happy with the set for the price.
Pros:
Cons:
If you like to host dinner parties in your small space, the Box Coffee to Dining Table is a worthwhile splurge. Its unique design is made from solid wood, and it comes with five removable panels that let you adjust its length between 17 and 106 inches, seating up to 12 people! The table has a blocky contemporary design that comes in four colors, and you can order it with a matching adjustable bench, too.
Despite its lofty price, the way it quite literally transforms into a long table for hosting and a small coffee table for everyday use makes it one of the best dining tables for small spaces with big hosting duties. “This table has wheels on one side of it for mobility,” notes Shopping Editor Sheri Kaz, who owns the table. “It was easy to move by myself.”
Apart from the clever coffee-to-dining table design, it’s also pretty simple to set up, despite a little elbow grease required when converting it from one state to another. “The manufacturer says that this function is hard to do at first until it loosens up,” says Sheri. “It raises very smoothly. Adding the leaves is easy; they are stored inside the felt-lined table. The folding chairs stack neatly and come with a wall mount for storage.”
Pros:
Cons:
At under $150, the International Concepts drop-leaf table is our best budget pick for dining tables for small spaces. It has two 9-inch drop leaves that can be folded down when they’re not in use to save space. With both leaves in the upright position, the table is 36 inches long and 22 inches wide, and the leaves can be used together or individually to suit your needs. This table comes in several finishes to match your space—there’s even an unfinished option that you can stain or paint yourself!
Looking for somewhere to store linens when not in use? Consider splurging on a matching storage cabinet.
Pros:
Cons:
The Winsome Suzanne space saver kitchen table is an extremely versatile piece of furniture for your home. (And multi-purpose furniture is a great way to make a small room feel bigger.) This kitchen table set is mounted on rolling caster wheels, and it has a large drop leaf that creates a 27.3 by 29.6-inch dining surface. There are even two stools that store right underneath the table top, allowing them to be tucked out of the way when it’s not in use. That’s not all, either! The table also has two drawers for storage, as well as a towel holder on the side.
Pros:
Cons:
If you prefer a round dining table, the Wade Logan Arayana table is a compact option for your kitchen. It has a solid wood base with a light natural finish, and the white table top is made from manufactured wood. The table is 39.5 inches in diameter, and the whole thing weighs just 41 pounds, making it easy to move around your home as needed.
Pros:
Cons:
For a compact bar-style dining table, consider the Haskall breakfast bar, which includes two matching stools. The breakfast nook table is just over 47 inches long and 19-1/2 inches wide, and it features a mango wood top and black metal legs for an industrial appearance. What’s really cool about this set are the built-in brackets underneath the table top, allowing you to hang the stools out of the way when they’re not in use. You’ll thank yourself for investing in this small dining table when guests are in town. Speaking of, these buffet tables make hosting a breeze.
Pros:
Cons:
The Sand & Sable Bonas pedestal dining table has an attractive distressed base that will fit right in with your farmhouse-style decor. The table is crafted from solid wood, and it has a stained top that shows off the natural wood grain. The pedestal-style bottom is supported by four legs, and the table top is 36 inches in diameter, providing seating for two or three people. Plus, the brand also sells matching chairs if you want to complete the look.
Pros:
Cons:
You can give your kitchen a contemporary vibe with the Nathan James Lucy dining table. It has a bistro-style design with a round table top that’s 31.5 inches in diameter. The table is supported by a pedestal base made from sturdy metal, and the top is a faux marble laminate that looks more expensive than it is. The pedestal is available in two colors—all black or black and gold—and it’s able to seat two or three people comfortably. It’s one of our favorite pretty Amazon kitchen finds that doubles as one of the best dining tables for small spaces.
I’m a freelance lifestyle writer and product tester with eight years of experience testing hundreds of kitchen, home, garden and pet products. As a graduate of the University of Rhode Island with a bachelor’s in textiles, merchandising and design, I bring my hands-on insight to the Taste of Home team. My specialty lies in testing kitchen appliances, grills, home organization tools and furniture, including dining tables.
There are several factors to look at as you compare different dining tables for small spaces:
To find the best small space dining tables, we first browsed through top shopping sites—including Walmart, Wayfair, Amazon and Target—for top-rated finds. From there, we narrowed down our finds to those which include a majority of positive reviews, uncomplicated assembly and few complaints. Then, we whittled our list down further, focusing on picks that offer a range of styles and budgets to fit every need. Finally, we compiled each pick in the list above so it’s easy for shoppers to find the best dining tables for small spaces in the exact style they’re looking for.
We recommend either a small table or a larger table that compacts. A big table in a too-small space will quickly become a nuisance and interrupt the flow of your home. Not to mention, bumping into a table can hurt!
Before purchasing, use painters tape or a piece of cardboard to outline the shape and size of your new dining table to get a feel for how it will look in your home. Consider the added space of seating, too. If you can’t comfortable maneuver around the outline, the table is too big for your kitchen.
It depends where you want to put it! A square or rectangular table can easily be pushed against a wall or into a corner, while a rounded table is best for putting in the middle of your space.
One of the best ways to fit a table in a small kitchen is to give it a practical use beyond dining. Use the table’s surface as a meal prep station or as a staging area for clean dishes that are ready to be put away. Just make sure you’re protecting the table’s surface with linens or an ample size cutting board.
Originally Published: June 26, 2021
