A coffee table should be level with the sofa’s seat height or 2 to 5 cm (1 to 2 in) below it. Because most sofas have a seat height of 40 to 45 cm (16 to 18 in), most coffee tables fall in the same range. For a side table the reference is not the seat but the sofa arm. The right table is one you can reach without leaning forward and that does not cut across your line of sight.

Measure the sofa first

Table height is chosen relative to the sofa, not on its own. You need two measurements:

• Seat height: from the floor to the top of the seat cushion, measured with a straight rule without pressing the cushion down.
• Arm height: from the floor to the top of the arm. You need this for a side table.

Low modern sofas can have a seat height as low as 38 cm (15 in); classic and high-cushioned sofas reach 45 cm (18 in). A “standard” coffee table height is only a starting point.

Coffee table: at or just below seat height

Sofa seat height	Recommended coffee table height
38 cm (15 in)	33 to 38 cm (13 to 15 in)
40 cm (16 in)	35 to 40 cm (14 to 16 in)
42 cm (16.5 in)	37 to 42 cm (14.5 to 16.5 in)
45 cm (18 in)	40 to 45 cm (16 to 18 in)

The rule is simple: subtract 0 to 5 cm from the seat height. If you eat or work at the table, go towards the top of the range; if it is mostly decorative, go towards the bottom.

Side table: close to arm height

A side table sits beside the sofa and you reach to it sideways, so the arm is the reference. When the top is level with the arm or a few centimetres below, you can slide a glass across without lifting your arm.

For sofas with no arms or very low arms, 10 to 20 cm (4 to 8 in) above seat height works well, roughly the height of a seated person’s elbow.

Cohoo’s Nuuo Side Table stands 45 cm (18 in) tall, which puts it between the two uses: a side table beside a sofa or a bedside table next to a bed. The inner shelf below the top holds a plant or books.

Nesting tables

Nesting tables are several tables of different heights that slide into each other. Choose the tallest one by the seat height and let the lower ones sit beneath it. Pulled apart, the tallest works as a coffee table and the lower ones as side tables. The Trio Nesting Table is designed for exactly this flexibility.

Bedside tables

A bedside table should be level with the top of the mattress or a few centimetres above it. Reaching from bed, your hand should travel sideways, not down.

Frequently asked questions

What is a standard coffee table height?
Usually 40 to 45 cm (16 to 18 in). The right height depends on your sofa: level with the seat or 2 to 5 cm below it.

What happens if the coffee table is higher than the sofa?
Reaching gets awkward, you lift your arm to pick up a glass, and the table becomes a visual barrier in front of the seating. Not exceeding seat height is a good rule.

How tall should a side table be?
Close to the sofa arm height or a few centimetres below. Without arms, 10 to 20 cm above seat height.

What coffee table suits a low sofa?
For a seat height around 38 cm (15 in), a table of 33 to 38 cm (13 to 15 in). A tall table looks out of proportion in front of a low sofa.