Room measurements for an extending table
The calculator uses 2 room measurements, length and width. Both are measured at chair height, to the nearest fixed object, with the reach of any door swing taken off.
- Measurements
- Room length and room width
- Measuring height
- About 20 in above the floor
- End point
- Wall or nearest fixed object
- Door swings
- Taken off the side the door reaches
- Out-of-square rooms
- Smaller of the 2 measurements each way
Measuring height
Chair backs meet the wall about 20 in above the floor. Baseboards, heaters and window sills sit at that height and take 1 to 3 in that a measurement at ceiling level misses.
Fixed objects
The measurement stops at the nearest object that does not move, such as a kitchen counter, a built-in bench, a radiator or a column. A sofa or sideboard that stays in place counts the same way and is measured to its face. The calculator treats the room size as walls.
Door swings
A door that swings into the dining area takes floor space. The reach of the open door comes off the side it touches, unless the chairs sit clear of it.
Rooms that are not square
Older rooms are rarely square. Length is measured at both ends and width at both ends, and the smaller of each pair is the room size.
Floor marking
Painter's tape on the floor at the extended size, with a chair pulled out at each seat, shows a radiator under a chair or a door that hits a seat back. The comparison page lists every length to mark.
Delivery path
A long one-piece top has to turn through hallways and stair landings. Most product pages list the package size, which can be compared with the tightest turn on the way in.