Choosing the right table bases

Depending on your type of establishment, you might need a mixture of table base types: coffee, dining and poseur (typically used for people to drink at).  If you have a garden or paved area, you might also need bases that are suitable for use outside.  So, which base should you order?

Table bases for indoor use

Consider your interior decor.

Will you be using table cloths or not? If you will be using, it’s worth noting that the cloth and your restaurant chars will hide the view of the table base, so an unobtrusive, black powder coated pedestal base might be the best choice.

If you’re not using table cloths, perhaps bases in a chrome or aluminium finish would be the way to go, as this type of base can really make ‘a design statement’ and work well in any establishment that’s going for an upmarket and contemporary look.

Next you need to consider a number of points that are more to do with practicality than aesthetics:

How big / heavy will your table tops be?

For starters, think about the size of your table tops – for example, will your bases need to support the weight of a 2-seater top or a 4-seater top? or something larger?

Will they be moved?

Do your tables need to be moved around a lot?  It’s surprising how many times they need to be shifted around, such as when they have to be placed together to accommodate large groups of customers.  The bases that are best suited to this have a cross or ‘cruciform‘ base, as they’re relatively light, yet stable.

Bases with a large stepped or pyramid shape are usually made from cast iron so they’re heavy, harder to move around but are very stable.  That makes them ideal for supporting heavy and weighty large table tops.  Of this pyramid style or ‘step design’ , there are two types, square  to support square table tops for 2-seater tables and rectangle to support… yep you guessed it, rectangle tops for 4-seater tables.

 

Table bases for outdoor use

If you’re leaving tables outside, choose bases that won’t rust if they get wet on a regular basis, such as aluminium or stainless steel.  Another advantage is that unlike cast iron, aluminium table bases are fairly light, so they’re easy to move under cover if the weather turns rough, or if you need change things around.  Just note that because these bases are light, they aren’t suitable for supporting heavy table tops, such as those made from granite, as they’re likely to topple over.

Bases made from aluminium just need cleaning down occasionaly, especially if your establishment’s near the sea or in an area prone to rain or humidity.  And never leave them in standing water.

Some people are tempted to use table bases that are intended for indoor use.  But bases with a black powder coat finish can run the risk of rusting, especially if the paint becomes chipped or scratched.

 

Table base Q&As

Here are the answers to some commonly asked questions we get about our table bases:

Why are some table bases for indoor use heavier than others?

For some, this is purely just a design choice, but heavier bases, such as the step design also provide extra stability with their weight.  

 

Why are 3 legged bases used with circular tops?

3 legs are much more stable for supporting circular tops due to the way weight is distributed when the table top is lent on.

 

Why are 4 legged bases used on square tops?

4 legged bases are more stable for square tops as there as a table base leg for each corner or the table top so when the table top is lent on weight is well distributed.

 

Don’t worry: you don’t need to become an expert

If after reading this guide you still find ordering table tops and bases a bit daunting, don’t worry.  Just take a look at our ‘Complete Tables‘ section of our website – we’ve put our most popular combinations together in one place – and made them as easy as possible to order.