How thick should a dining table top be?

When you realize, it is time changing the dining table, certain parameters in your mind will influence the buying decision. Usually, it revolves around the looks, the quality, and user reviews. Undoubtedly, these are pertinent factors, be mindful, the thickness of the dining tabletop is equally a significant feature. This guide will introduce you to it.

A robust dining table top will last for ages. Additionally, the thickness of the tabletop, define how good the table appears overall. Based on the thickness, the style, dimension, and the width of the legs of the table will vary. Let us delve deeper and enhance your knowledge in this aspect.

For your convenience, we are covering both the wooden tabletops and glass tabletops. As you know, the glass tabletops are fast becoming a unanimous choice for homeowners.

The thickness of the tabletop will differ depending on the style

Furniture styles tend to change. Over the years, you must have witnessed some styles remain evergreen, while some randomly come and go. The vintage style, for example, remains a top favorite to date. Accordingly, we can classify them into three categories, traditional, contemporary, and transitional.

Even before thinking about the right thickness, you should have a clear idea of which of the above styles you prefer. We take a detailed look below.

Traditional

Traditional furniture, be it a dining table or any other is known for elaborate detailing and a classy look. The roots of these tabletops take us back to the 18th century, and the specialty of the furniture was a striking contrast of thickness and thinness.

During that era, the rooms were usually smaller and the tables were lighter for ensuring portability. Therefore, these dining table tops are not more than 1-inch thick.

Over the years, there have been exceptional changes, and the initiation began with the tavern and pub tables. Gradually, the thickness of the tabletops for traditional tables has increased. If you are a fan of such tabletops, you can proudly go for it. Remember, checking the table legs, as they need to be sturdy for sustaining the weight of the thick tabletop.

Contemporary

The contemporary dining tables are the ones most people tend to purchase. You have a wide array of choices in terms of its style and design. You have the liberty of selecting from simple, smooth, and sleek versions of such tabletops.

Here again, the thickness of the tabletop will differ depending on your preferences. Some of the available products are renowned for their added thickness which is around 1 ¾ -inch thick. Often, some people like to go for slimmer tabletops in the range of 3//4 inch tabletops.

Transitional

As the name suggests, the transitional style furniture blends the best feature of both the traditional and contemporary counterparts. Usually, it requires a lot of perseverance and skills for designing such tabletops. Like the above two varieties, transitional tabletops can also vary significantly.

Thus, you can expect tabletops to be anywhere in the range of ¼- inch to 1-inch thick. Transitional tabletops are neither very thick nor very thin; ideally, they maintain an accurate proportion for complementing the décor of the dining room.

The usage will determine the thickness

A lot depends on how you plan using the dining table. The thickness of the tabletop will be based on this aspect. If you are intending a larger dining table that fits many people, you ought to go for a thicker tabletop. Likewise, for a small family, you can do without much thickness, as the table would be accommodating very few people.

Though it might seem a trifling change on paper, changing the thickness by mere ¼ inch can make a substantial difference to the thickness of the tabletop. The other furniture at your home should give you a good idea of this factor, and help you decide on the appropriate thickness of the table.

The leg width is also important

You need not be an expert for identifying the proportionate table thickness and leg width. You will realize something is not right by spotting a ¾-inch tabletop sporting a vast leg width. Thus, the table thickness must match with the leg width, not only for visual delight but to handle the pressure of the tabletop as well.

Measurement is the key to success

Providing accurate specifications on the thickness of wooden tabletops is impossible. Since tables of all the three styles are available in abundant variations. The onus is on you for measuring the tables that attract your attention. Accordingly, you can decide on the best thickness of the tabletop based on its usage and the number of people who will sit around it.

Choosing the glass thickness for your tabletop

Glass tabletops are now giving their wooden counterparts a run for their money. These tabletops can ideally grace events and occasions. The choice of glass thickness should be as such, it can support its own weight, and can also sustain all the objects put over it.

The glass thickness will depend on the base of the table. For instance, if your intentions are putting a glass as a covering on top of another tabletop, ¼ inch thickness should do the job. However, if you desire using the glass as a tabletop, the glass thickness has to be more.

Understandably, if you are planning for a table that has a dimension of more than 24 inches,  you will tax it by putting a lot of loads. Such glasses must be thicker than a quarter-inch. Usually, the preferable thicknesses for such tabletops are 3/8, ½, or ¼ inches. Such tabletops will not only support the load efficiently, but it will also look elegant.

Tempered Glass tabletop

Ultimately, you are dealing with glass. Thus, it is always vulnerable to breaking. You would never want to witness the unfortunate event of the glass top breaking in the middle of a party. Tempered glass can solve the problem. If you do not know this already, tempered glasses are many times stronger than the regular glasses. Therefore, tempered glasses are mainly used for increasing safety in vehicles. By using a tempered glass over the tabletop you can avert the unthinkable.

Various thicknesses of glasses

Glass tabletops are becoming common and are used as patio tables, smaller tables, or as protective glass covers. As mentioned previously, such tables will serve the purpose if they are ¼ inches thick. For bigger tabletops or an unsupported tabletop, the thickness should be more than 3/8 inches. Moreover, you can expect to get a robust, yet good-looking glass tabletop that has ½ inch thickness.

Various types of glass tops

Presently, you can choose from various shapes and sizes. The glass table tops of modern times can be colored, tempered, beveled, flat-polished, and so on. They can serve various purposes, and you have the freedom of using them regularly or for events.

Conclusion

So, this is all about the proper thickness of both wooden and glass tabletops. You should remember checking the same while looking at the specifications of the table you intend buying, Rest assured, when you have got all the boxes ticked and have a table with adequate thickness, it will serve you for years.