Our Favorite Online Linens Sources + Linen Size Guide

Let’s talk event linens! The canvas for your food stuffs, the center of your dinner conversations, and a must-have item unless you’ve splurged on solid wood tables. Table linens will come in and out of vogue on occasion, but we believe a well-placed linen never goes out of style. With a thoughtful mood board and resources in hand, your linens can bring the room and theme of your event together with very little effort.

A decorated table with a green linen and a large floral centerpiece.

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT ORDERING LINENS.

You need to have a floor plan handy.

Without knowing how many pieces of furniture go where, you will have a hard time listing how many linens you will need for your event. Create your floor plan with your estimated headcount first, then write down your list of linen needs.

Plan for overage.

Napkins will hit the floor. Drinks will be spilled. So when it comes to linens, plan for a little extra. We recommend ordering 5% extra on table linens and 10% extra on napkins. Worries about waste? No problem--caterers will often use linen overage to wrap pitchers, fold around bread or buffet items, and frame displays.

Know that you can adjust.

Most rental companies will ask for a deposit, credit card, and pick-up or delivery information. From there, most companies allow you to make as many adjustments as you need up until a week or two before your celebration. So estimate high with your rentals to reserve what you need, then reduce and amend as you go.

Expect local sources to be less expensive than non-local options.

Getting married in a remote location? Chances are there is a rental vendor out there who carries linens in house or has a third party connection that can cover the basics. Getting married in a metropolitan or suburban area? Chances are a linen company in your local city that has a solid inventory to choose from. As a general rule: the more local you go, the less expensive your linens will be (with a bonus of more eco-friendly practices!).

Not every rental company carries specialty items.

There are a few ways to think about local rental companies and their offerings.

There are larger rental companies in urban and suburban areas that carry a larger inventory of linens. They may have both basic items in a lot of colors and specialty items and finishes. Often, they do not carry bespoke or trendy items, but instead carry the more popular and frequently used items for large events.
There are smaller local rental companies in suburban or rural areas that carry a limited inventory of basic items to cover local wedding needs. This might look like a single type of linen in a limited palette of colors, as well as a single plate or silverware line, etc. Often, these companies are the greatest value for the dollar if you aren’t picky about style or averse to more neutral linen options.
There are bespoke or boutique rental companies in urban and suburban areas that carry of-the-moment items. They may have hard-to-find linen types in more trendy colors. Often, these companies have curated inventories with limited selection, so finding them and locking them in is important if you have a specific aesthetic in mind.

A styled table for a wedding with cookies, cocktails, and floral arrangements.

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT LINEN SIZES (from our friends at Creative Coverings):

Table Cloths for Cocktail Tables

    Cocktail Tables
    Sashed
    Floor Length Linen
  


    30″ Round Low Table
    No
    90″ Round
  

    30″ Round Low Table
    Yes
    108″ Round
  

    30″ Round High Table
    No
    120″ Round
  

    30″ Round High Table
    Yes
    132″ Round
  

Cocktail Tables	Sashed	Floor Length Linen
30″ Round Low Table	No	90″ Round
30″ Round Low Table	Yes	108″ Round
30″ Round High Table	No	120″ Round
30″ Round High Table	Yes	132″ Round

Runners for Standard Tables

    Runners
    Size
  
    Standard Runner
    14″ x 120″
  
    Wide Runner
    24″ x 120″
  
    Table View
    60″ x 186″

Runners	Size
Standard Runner	14″ x 120″
Wide Runner	24″ x 120″
Table View	60″ x 186″

Table Cloths for Standard Tables

    Table Size
    Seats
    Floor Length Linen
  


    6ft Banquet : 30″ x 72″
    6-8
    6ft Banquet Linen : 90″ x 132″
  

    8ft Banquet : 30″ x 96″
    8-10
    8ft Banquet Linen : 90″ x 156″
  

    King Table : 48″ x 96″
    8-12
    King Drape : 108″ x 156″
  

    48″ Round
    6
    108″ Round
  

    60″ Round
    8
    120″ Round
  

    72″ Round
    10
    132″ Round
  

Table Size	Seats	Floor Length Linen
6ft Banquet : 30″ x 72″	6-8	6ft Banquet Linen : 90″ x 132″
8ft Banquet : 30″ x 96″	8-10	8ft Banquet Linen : 90″ x 156″
King Table : 48″ x 96″	8-12	King Drape : 108″ x 156″
48″ Round	6	108″ Round
60″ Round	8	120″ Round
72″ Round	10	132″ Round