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What’s the Perfect Entry Table Height? A Complete Guide

What’s the Perfect Entry Table Height? A Complete Guide

The entryway or foyer to your home sets the stage for the rest of the house.

The right entry table sets the tone for the entryway or foyer. That means it has to be the right height to fit the rest of the room.

What Is the Perfect Entry Table Height?

Image of the standard entry table height

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An entry table sets up the foyer and is the first exposure any visitor has to your home. The perfect entry table height is 2 1/2 to 3 feet high. A size in that range puts the tabletop level with an average person’s hand.

The purpose of the height limit is to make it easy for someone to lay something on the table as they enter a house. Putting keys down on the table, for instance, should be a natural process of laying the keys on the table without much straining or stretching.

Does the Height of an Entry Table Matter?

There are several reasons why entry table height matters:

  • Balance and mood
  • Setting the mood of the house
  • As a place to lay things down
  • As a place to organize
  • As long-term storage

Balance and Mood

The entry table is one of the first introductions a person has to your house. If it’s too small, the foyer or entryway will look cavernous. If it’s too large, it can dominate the entry and make the room feel crowded.

A table that dominates the entryway affects how someone perceives the rest of the home. A crowded foyer will make the rest of the house seem crowded or cavernous, depending on the other furniture you have in your home.

On the flip side, a table that’s too small makes a room seem unbalanced and sets the stage for the rest of the home to feel unbalanced. 

Ideally, you want the entry table to look like it belongs in the entryway and to set the flow so that when someone enters the house, they notice the table, but it also starts the atmosphere of the rest of the house.

A Place to Lay Things Down

If you’ve ever entered a home and had items you wanted to lay down for a minute and no place to put them, you know how awkward juggling items can be.

This is particularly true if you need to remove shoes, coats, or gloves. Having a place to set packages, a briefcase, or other items is helpful.

A Place to Organize

If you use your entryway to organize yourself and your family when you enter the home or leave, a table at the right height can be invaluable.

A place to set groceries you’re bringing in or items you’re taking out can save strain on the back and make it easier to inspect what you have. At the right height, an entryway table is a great aid in getting in or out of the door.

A Place for Long-Term Storage

The entry table is more than a mood setter or a platform to store things temporarily. It also serves as part of your overall house plan to have a place to put everything in your home.

A table with drawers lets you store keys, mail, outerwear, and so on. You should plan the type of table you want and the various storage areas in the table based on what you think you’ll use it for throughout the year.

For example, if your foyer or entryway does not have a closet, you may want a table that can store winter clothing like gloves and hats. Another suggestion is to have a space or a drawer for mail.

Things to Consider

Standard height entryway table next to a teal door

Dariusz Jarzabek/Shutterstock

Consider these points before you choose an entryway or foyer table:

  • Foyer or entryway size
  • Table depth
  • Lighting
  • Seating
  • Types of flooring
  • Table vs. desk
  • Cleaning 
  • Cost

Foyer or Entryway Size

The size of your entry table must fit the relative size of your foyer or entryway. If the table is too small, it will get lost in the area. If it’s too large, it’ll seem to dominate the space.

The best size for your entryway table depends on what you feel fits comfortably. To get a sense of how big a table is, mark off different dimensions on a piece of cardboard, and then place the cardboard piece where you’ll likely set your entry table.

This will give you a sense of how big the table is as well as how much the room can handle without the table seeming overbearing. 

Table Depth

Entry tables can have varying widths. The general rule is that entry tables should be 10 to 18 inches deep. If you have the room, though, a deeper table works.

Going less than 10 inches may present a stability issue, especially if people place things on top of the table. Another thing to think about is whether the table will be top-heavy, especially if people are putting items on top of it.

Lighting

Adding light is a good idea. The light should fit in the space on the entry table without touching any walls or intruding on anyone’s personal space if they’re standing near the table.

You also want to make sure that the table size puts the light at an angle that won’t blind people when it’s turned on. Finally, you want the light to be warm, so going with a soft color is best.

Seating

Some entry tables are made for chairs, stools, or even benches. If your table has any of those three, make sure you account for it in your measurements. If it’s too crowded, it could make using the entry awkward.

Of all the considerations, this one shouldn’t top your list. It’s a great addition to an entryway if you have the space, but you need to think it through fully before you commit. 

Types of Flooring

The type of flooring is important because some flooring will make the entry table seem shorter than other flooring.

Additionally, some flooring leaves scratches easier than others, so you want to make sure your table has leg caps and that those do not add too much to the overall height.

Porcelain or ceramic tiles are pretty safe from scratching, so you don’t need to worry about them as much. On the other hand, if you have laminated flooring, you may need to narrow down your entry table options.

All that said, don’t break your teeth over this one! You can always add a strip of fabric to the bottom of your entry table’s legs, and that should prevent most scratching opportunities. 

Table vs. Desk

One great idea that falls within the height requirements for the perfect entry table is to use a desk. A desk will have drawers and possibly storage sleeves above the desk platform.

Rolltop desks often have places to store mail, paperwork, pens, paper, and the like. The right desk can function as an entryway table, a place to do bills, or whatever you need it for!

Cleaning Considerations

The entry or foyer to your home is your first line of defense against mud and dirt. It’s also a collector of both and requires regular cleaning to keep it in good shape.

Because of that, you want an easy table to clean under and around. As you’re sizing your table, keep moving it out of its space, or maneuvering around it, in mind when it comes time to clean the entry.

Cost

Cost is also something that should be a factor. Finding an off-sized table might be a little less expensive. It also might be too short, large, bulky, or tall. Don’t sacrifice the optimum height to save a few dollars. 

Frequently Asked Questions

Featured image of a piece titled Entry Table Height

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The following are some frequently asked questions about entry or foyer tables and their size, design, and functionality:

Does the height of the entry table matter?

It does if you plan on using the table for storage, placing things on it, or having a light and décor on it. If not, you can go with any size you want.

However, if you do, you want it to be a size that requires very little bending to use. That means you must consider the size of the average person coming through your entry.

What style of entry table works best?

The right style depends on how you plan on using your table. If you plan on your entry being more formal, you want to select a table that fits the mood.

If your entry is going to be more casual or country, you might want to consider tables that fit that décor. What you do not want is a formal table and a perpetually messy entry. One suggestion is to go with a desk.

This will ensure you have an appropriate height, space for a lamp and decorations, and room to place stuff like keys or sit down and do work.

Also, if you get a table with space underneath, you can use it as storage. You can take care of out-of-season clothes and shoes without sacrificing closet space.

What is the standard height of an entry table?

The standard height of an entry or foyer is 2 1/2 to 3 feet high. If you plan on using the table for understorage or as a desk, you’ll want something on the taller end.

If your only plan is to have a light and maybe one or two other smaller things, you can go towards the shorter end. The other consideration is that you want a table that everyone can comfortably reach.

Does entry table height affect lighting?

If you want to include lighting on your table, you need to consider the table height plus the height of any lamp. You don’t want the light to blind taller people, but you also don’t want a lamp so tall that it’s intimidating.

One suggestion is to use a lamp with an adjustable neck. That way, whether you want indirect or direct light, you can maneuver the lamp the way you want it.

Just remember, you want to be able to reach the light to maneuver it, which means you want a table short enough to allow you to reach and adjust the lighting.

What color works best with an entry table?

That depends on the rest of your entry’s décor. If the walls and panels are dark, you may want something lighter.

The opposite is also true. You don’t want a table that clashes with the rest of the décor or a table that’s so similar to the rest of the décor that it gets lost. 

So, What Is the Perfect Height of an Entry Table?

So there you have it—how to determine the perfect entry table height. The entry table sets the mood for your home and provides a place to set down keys, gloves, or smaller packages that someone brings into your home.

The perfect height is approximately the level of an average-sized person’s hand, so if they drop something onto the table, they can easily reach and retrieve it.