Round or oval: it is the question we hear most often. Neither shape has corners and both feel soft in an interior. The difference lies in your room and in the way you sit at the table.
4 min read · Updated 8 November 2026
What a round table does well
At a round table nobody sits at the head. Everyone faces each other and the conversation stays at the table. That makes round ideal for a family or a small group.
Our round tables stand on one central leg. So there are no legs in the way, and an extra chair always fits. A table of Ø 120 cm seats four in a kitchen, one of Ø 180 cm seats eight in a dining room.
A round table does have a limit. Beyond Ø 180 cm the centre becomes hard to reach and you sit far from the person opposite. For more than nine people, an oval is usually more pleasant.
What an oval table does well
An oval table is long like a rectangle, but softer. It seats many people, and without sharp corners you walk around it easily. Lovely in a narrow dining room and with children.
Oval is not a single shape. A classic oval is a pure ellipse, narrowest at the ends. A Finnish oval has straight sides with semicircular ends, and so more room at the ends. A Swedish oval is a rectangle with large, soft corners. And the Danish oval sits between an oval and a rectangle. The differences are explained in Danish, Finnish or Swedish oval: the difference.
How many people: round versus oval
Allow 60 to 70 cm of table edge per person. In the curves of an oval you lose a little space, and the base must leave enough legroom. That gives these numbers:
Table
Seats
Round Ø 120 cm
4 to 6 people
Round Ø 140 cm
6 to 7 people
Round Ø 160 cm
7 to 8 people
Round Ø 180 cm
8 to 9 people
Oval 200 x 100 cm
4 people
Oval 260 x 120 cm
6 people
Oval 300 x 130 cm
8 people
Finnish oval 240 x 110 cm
6 to 8 people
A round top seats more people than you might expect. A classic oval mainly gives you length and calm in a long room. If you want many seats in an oval shape, a Finnish oval makes the most of it.
Which shape fits your room?
The shape of your room often decides. In a square room or an open kitchen, a round table feels the most natural. In a long dining room, an oval follows the line of the space.
Leave 80 to 90 cm free around the table, so chairs can slide back and you can still walk around. With 80 cm on every side, you need roughly this much room:
Mark the outline of both shapes on the floor with masking tape and place your chairs around them. After a day you usually know which one feels right. Think about how you dine as well: round for long conversations with a few people, oval for parties and a large family.
A round table of Ø 140 cm has a guide price of €2,799, an oval one of 260 x 120 cm €3,349, VAT included. After your quote we make the technical drawing for free, with the chairs drawn in. So you see in black and white how your table sits in your room. For eight guests, also read A table for 8 people.
A table in your shape, size and colour? After your quote, we draw it up for free.
