Coffee table: which size and height to choose for your sofa

The coffee table is the piece people most often get wrong on proportions: one that is too tall cuts the living room in two, one that is too small looks forgotten in front of the sofa. Below are the rules for height, length and distance, applied to the real dimensions of the sofas and tables in our coffee tables and sofas and corner sofas collections.

How tall should a coffee table be?

The table top should sit 2.5–5 cm below the sofa seat; with a typical sofa, that means a coffee table of roughly 40–46 cm.

The Bob Vila guide (updated 6 May 2019) recommends a top 1–2 inches lower than the seat cushion and a height of 16–18 inches for most sofas. Converted to centimetres (1 inch = 2.54 cm), that means 2.5–5 cm below the seat, or a coffee table of 40.6–45.7 cm.

In our catalogue, 148 coffee tables have their height listed on the spec sheet, ranging from 28.5 to 51 cm: 92 are under 40 cm, 53 between 40 and 46 cm, and 3 over 46 cm. Sofa seats range from 39 to 48 cm, so there is no “standard height” that works for every living room: you start from your own sofa.

Estimate, with the calculation: seat height − 2.5…5 cm = the right range for the coffee table. Below, applied to sofas and tables from our catalogue:

Heights are taken from the product spec sheets and measured with nobody sitting on the sofa; the cushion sinks when you sit on it. If you already have the sofa, measure from the floor to the top of the seat cushion.

A 40, 45 or 50 cm coffee table? Estimate, using the same rule: a 40 cm table suits sofas with a 42.5–45 cm seat (York, Amelia), a 45 cm one suits a 47–48 cm seat (Kelly S, Firenze; a 2–3 cm difference), while a 50 cm one would call for a 52.5–55 cm seat, higher than any sofa in our catalogue. Our practical advice: only choose a 50 cm table if you often eat in front of the sofa.

How long should the coffee table be compared with the sofa?

Roughly two thirds of the sofa's length, according to the same Bob Vila guide.

Estimate, with the calculation: sofa length × 2/3.

• York sofa, 230 cm: 230 × 2/3 ≈ 153 cm. Good matches are Rubicon and Ironville (140 cm, 13 cm under the rule) or Bloomstone (160 cm, 7 cm over).
• Jameson sofa, 241 cm: 241 × 2/3 ≈ 161 cm. The 160 cm Bloomstone is almost an exact fit.
• Kelly XS sofa, 194 cm: 194 × 2/3 ≈ 129 cm. The 130 cm Riva fits.

With corner sofas, use the length of the side you sit on facing the TV or the room, not the total length. The distance from the sofa, again according to Bob Vila, is 12–18 inches, i.e. 30–45 cm. Estimate for the depth taken up: York is 97 cm deep, so York + 30–45 cm + Ironville (80 cm wide) = 207–222 cm from the wall to the front edge of the coffee table.

Round or rectangular coffee table?

A rectangular table follows the shape of a straight sofa and covers its length better; a round one is easier to walk around and suits small sofas, corner sofas or narrow living rooms.

• Rectangular: choose it for sofas over 220 cm, where the two-thirds rule calls for 140–160 cm. Examples: Rubicon, Ironville, Bloomstone, Ashbury (120 × 75 cm).
• Round: no corners to bump into and a freer walkway. The Eichholtz models with a diameter listed on the spec sheet measure between 72 and 124 cm, for example Fiorentino (Ø 101 cm) or Tortugo (Ø 110 cm). Our practical advice: in front of a long sofa, a round table looks small; a set of two works better there.

Richmond InteriorsIronville coffee tableGold €1.650,95 Richmond InteriorsBloomstone coffee tableWhite, 160 x 80 cm €1.126,95 −43% EichholtzTortugo coffee tableBlack finish €1.440,95€2.571,95 −30% EichholtzNuova coffee tableVintage brass finish €1.078,95€1.541,95 −29% EichholtzSorrento coffee tableAntiqued brass finish €1.439,95€2.056,95 −43% EichholtzFiorentino coffee tableVintage brass finish €2.017,95€3.602,95 −29% EichholtzBravon coffee tableAbalone oak veneer €1.295,95€1.850,95 −29% EichholtzKenton coffee tableClassic black finish, clear glass €2.161,95€3.087,95

Is a set of 2 coffee tables worth it?

Yes, if you have a long sofa or a corner sofa: two tables of different heights cover more space than a single round one and can be moved separately.

• Zachary (Eichholtz, 7,874 lei) is described on its spec sheet as two nesting tables, with a round top and a frosted glass base.
• Bolder (4,245 lei): the large table is 80 × 80 cm and 46 cm high, the small one 60 × 60 cm and 39 cm high.
• Tulum (4,435 lei): 46 cm and 40 cm high.
• Jazz (3,295 lei): here the small table is the taller one (47 cm, compared with 40 cm), so it also works as a side table next to the sofa arm.

Prices are as of 18 October 2026. If you only need a spot for your mug next to the sofa, also take a look at our side tables.

−29% EichholtzZachary coffee tableGunmetal finish, set of 2 €1.439,95€2.056,95 Richmond InteriorsBolder coffee tableBlack (set of 2) €810,95 Richmond InteriorsTulum coffee tableBrushed gold (set of 2) €846,95 Richmond InteriorsJazz coffee tableBlack (set of 2) €629,95 Richmond InteriorsLexington coffee tableWhite (set of 2) €1.326,95 −29% EichholtzUrbino coffee tableVintage brass finish, set of 2 €2.161,95€3.087,95

Marble, glass, wood or metal: what does it mean in practice?

The material changes how heavy the table is, how often you wipe it and how easily you move it; check the material, weight and maximum load on the spec sheet.

• Marble and travertine: for Eichholtz, the spec sheet states that marble is a natural material and every piece differs in colour and veining. They are heavy: Sartoria, in travertine, weighs 76 kg. For white, Lexington has a Carrara marble top.
• Glass: makes the table look lighter in the room, but shows fingerprints sooner. Kenton has a clear glass top on black solid wood, and Collada has a maximum load of 200 kg, according to its spec sheet.
• Wood and veneer: warmth and a surface that doesn't feel cold to the touch. Riva is made of oak, Rubicon and Bravon of oak veneer.
• Metal and rattan: metal or rattan coffee tables can be much lighter: Drew, in iron, weighs 10.1 kg, and Saba, in natural rattan, 17.9 kg.

All the Eichholtz models above are marked “Indoor use only / dry areas” on their spec sheets. For black, there are Tortugo, Kenton, Bolder and Jazz; for white, Bloomstone or Lexington.

−29% EichholtzRubicon coffee tableOak veneer €2.161,95€3.087,95 Richmond InteriorsRiva coffee tableNatural oak €1.495,95 −30% EichholtzSartoria coffee tableTravertine €1.583,95€2.262,95 Richmond InteriorsCollada coffee tableBrushed gold, with glass top €1.197,95 Richmond InteriorsAlexander Jones coffee tableBeige, round (biltmore) €1.309,95

For Black Friday, from 6 to 16 November, you get −25% on Eichholtz and −20% on Richmond Interiors; details on the Black Friday page and in our Black Friday furniture guide. If you are furnishing the whole living room, our interior design team can help you with proportions, and at our showroom in Satu Mare you can see the pieces in person.