What a conference table has to do

A conference table has one job an ordinary table does not: it has to work from every seat. That means clear legroom all the way round rather than a modesty panel or a drawer box on one side, a base that does not put a leg where a chair needs to go, and a surface everyone can reach across. Those constraints are why a conference table is a distinct product rather than a large desk, and why substituting a desk into a meeting room rarely works.

Size, and how many it seats

The tables in this range are compact, measuring 27.6 to 34.6 inches across, which suits a two to four person huddle space, a small meeting room or a breakout corner rather than a boardroom. As a rule of thumb each seated person needs about 24 inches of table edge, so a table of this size is a genuine four-seater at most and a comfortable two. For a larger room a dining table at the same 30 inch height is the more practical answer.

Height, and why it matches a dining table

Conference tables in this range stand 30 to 30.5 inches, which is standard table height and the same as a dining table. That is deliberate: it means ordinary chairs fit, including the office chairs elsewhere in this range, and nobody needs a specialist seat. It also means the table works for something other than meetings, which matters in a small office where a single room has to be a meeting space, a lunch table and an overflow desk.

Materials

Tables in this range use engineered board panels and, on one model, a glass top. Construction is stated as a plain line next to the dimensions on each product page. A glass top reads lighter in a small room and shows every mark; a board top is more forgiving of daily use and takes a laptop and a coffee cup without ceremony. Neither is better; they suit different rooms.

A short range, honestly

This is a small and compact selection rather than a boardroom range. A conference table is a distinct purchase for a distinct room, which is why it has its own page, but the products behind it today are small meeting tables. If you need to seat six or more, a dining table at the same 30 inch height will do the job better, and the desk and chair ranges are linked below.

Where to look next

Office Desks · Office Chairs · Executive Desk · Office