Office Tables: The Complete Buyer's Guide for Australian Workplaces

An office table has to do more than fill a room. Whether it is anchoring a boardroom, supporting a training session, or giving staff somewhere to eat lunch, the table needs to suit the space, hold up to daily use, and work for the number of people who will actually sit at it.

This guide is intended for business owners, office managers and those responsible for fitting out a workspace. It covers the practical considerations involved in selecting boardroom and meeting tables, mobile and folding formats, and the breakout and lunchroom tables that round out a fitout, including sizing, materials and what to expect from commercial-grade furniture.

What Are the Different Types of Office Tables?

Office tables are not a single product category. A table built for a fixed boardroom setting is engineered differently to one that needs to fold flat and roll into a storeroom at the end of a training day. Working out which format suits the room is the first decision, and it shapes every choice that follows, including size, frame construction and price.

Boardroom Tables

Boardroom tables are large fixed tables designed for executive meeting environments. They are available in rectangular, boat-shaped and racetrack profiles, generally from around 2400 mm up to 6000 mm or longer for custom configurations. Commercial-grade boardroom tables are built for sustained use and are available with integrated cable management and power module options, which matter once the room is used for video conferencing or laptop-based presentations as a matter of course.

Boardroom tables are almost always specified alongside a matched set of boardroom chairs and, in many rooms, a credenza or storage unit to complete the space.

Meeting Room Tables

Meeting room tables serve the same broad purpose as boardroom tables but are specified for shared conference and collaboration spaces rather than a single formal executive room. They come in rectangular, round, oval and boat-shaped profiles, typically from around 1200 mm up to 4800 mm in length, and are commonly available with cable ports or power modules built into the surface for teams that need to plug in during a meeting.

Because meeting rooms tend to be used more often and by a wider range of staff than a boardroom, durability and ease of reconfiguration usually carry more weight in the selection than finish or formality.

Mobile and Folding Tables

Mobile tables are fitted with integrated castors so they can be repositioned quickly between room configurations, while folding tables use a flip-top or hinged frame that lets the worktop fold flat for compact storage. Many models combine both features, rolling into position and then flip-folding away when the room needs to be cleared.

This format is suited to training rooms, multi-purpose spaces and any environment that alternates between classroom, boardroom and open floor layouts across a working week. It is a practical way to get more use out of the same floor area without holding separate furniture in storage for every possible layout.

Bar Tables and Coffee Tables

Bar tables, sometimes called bar leaners, are tall tables used standing rather than seated, and are common in breakout areas, staff functions and casual collaboration zones where a quick standing conversation suits the space better than a formal meeting setting. Coffee tables sit at the opposite end of the format, low profile pieces used in reception areas, waiting rooms and lounge settings where the table supports informal seating rather than work tasks.

Lunchroom and School Tables

Lunchroom tables are built for staff dining, break rooms and shared eating areas, available in rectangular, round and square formats with fixed or folding legs depending on whether the room needs a permanent layout or the flexibility to clear space. Surfaces are selected for durability and easy cleaning under daily food use rather than for the finish quality expected in a boardroom.

School tables are designed for classrooms, libraries and shared education spaces, built for sustained daily use by students and available in fixed and height-adjustable configurations to suit different year levels. Common formats include rectangular individual tables, collaborative group tables, and trapezoidal or geometric tables that can be arranged into multiple room layouts as needed.

How Do You Size a Table for the Right Seating Capacity?

Getting the size right matters more for tables than almost any other piece of office furniture, because an undersized table creates a room that cannot seat the people who need to use it, while an oversized one wastes floor space and can make a room feel unbalanced.

Length Per Person

A general planning guide is to allow 600 mm to 700 mm of table length per person for comfortable seating. This applies across boardroom, meeting and lunchroom tables, though rooms that expect laptops, paperwork or catering on the table at the same time should sit towards the higher end of that range.

As a rough guide for rectangular tables:

1800 mm to 2400 mm: Typically seats 6 to 8 people, suited to smaller meeting rooms or huddle spaces.

3000 mm to 3600 mm: Typically seats 10 to 12 people, a common size for mid-sized boardrooms.

4200 mm and above: Seats 14 or more, generally reserved for larger executive boardrooms or purpose-built conference rooms.

Shape and Room Fit

Rectangular tables are the most space-efficient shape and suit most meeting and boardroom layouts. Boat-shaped and racetrack profiles curve the ends of the table inward, which improves sightlines for presentations and video conferencing without reducing the overall seating capacity significantly. Round and oval tables work well in smaller rooms or informal settings where the shape encourages a more collaborative dynamic, but they generally seat fewer people per metre of room length than a rectangular equivalent.

Room Clearance

Beyond the table footprint itself, allow at least 900 mm to 1200 mm of clearance around the perimeter for chairs to be pulled out and for people to move behind seated occupants without disrupting the meeting. This clearance requirement is often the real constraint on table size in smaller rooms, rather than the table itself.

What Materials and Construction Are Best for Office Tables?

As with desks, the worktop and the frame are separate elements that need to perform together both structurally and visually. The right combination depends on how the table will be used day to day, not on appearance alone.

Worktop Materials

Laminate is the standard worktop material for commercial tables because it balances durability, cost and ease of maintenance. It copes with daily use, cleaning and the movement of laptops and equipment without deteriorating. Woodgrain finishes such as Oak or Beech are common where a timber look is wanted without the cost or upkeep of solid timber, while plain colours suit more understated fitouts.

Edge banding is the protective strip sealing the exposed edge of the worktop. Commercial-grade tables use a thicker PVC edge, generally around 2 mm, designed to withstand knocks from chairs and general contact without chipping. This matters more on tables than desks, since boardroom and meeting tables see constant contact from chairs being pushed in and out around the full perimeter.

Timber veneer and solid timber are used in higher-end boardroom settings where the table is intended as a feature of the room, though these finishes are generally softer than laminate and show wear more readily under sustained use.

Frame Construction

Most commercial table frames are manufactured from steel and finished with a powdercoat, chosen for rigidity and resistance to chips and scratches from everyday contact. Base styles vary by table type: disc and drum bases are common on round bar and lunchroom tables, twin post or panel legs are typical on larger boardroom tables where a stable footprint is needed under a long worktop, and four-leg or A-frame styles are standard on meeting and training tables.

On mobile and folding tables, the frame also needs to support the folding or castor mechanism without compromising stability once the table is unfolded and in use. Locking castors are worth specifying on any mobile table used in a room where the table needs to stay put during use, rather than shift under light contact.

What Features Should You Look for in an Office Table?

Beyond the core table itself, a number of features affect how well the table performs once it is in daily use, particularly in meeting and boardroom settings where technology and reconfiguration are part of the room's normal operation.

Power and Cable Management

Integrated power modules let users plug in laptops, screens and video conferencing equipment directly at the table rather than running leads across the floor. These are typically fitted as recessed units within the worktop, often paired with data ports for wired network connections. Cable management trays beneath the table carry leads from the power module to the room's connection points, keeping cabling contained and reducing trip hazards in shared meeting spaces.

For rooms used regularly for video conferencing or client presentations, specifying power at the table during the initial fitout avoids the need for extension leads or after-the-fact retrofitting once the room is in use.

Mobility and Folding Mechanisms

Where a room needs to be reconfigured between layouts, castors and flip-top frames are the two features that make this practical. Locking castors allow a table to be rolled into position and then held firmly in place during use, while a flip-top mechanism lets the worktop fold vertically so tables can be nested together for compact storage. Some ranges combine both, giving a table that rolls into position, gets used flat, and then folds away at the end of the day without needing to be lifted or carried.

This combination is worth prioritising in training rooms and multi-purpose spaces that see several different layouts across a single week, since it removes the need to store separate furniture for each configuration.

Height Adjustment

Some mobile and training tables are available with height adjustable frames, either through a crank handle or telescopic legs, allowing the same table to be set at different heights for different uses or user groups. This is particularly relevant in school and training environments, where the same table stock may need to suit different age groups or task types over its working life.

How Much Do Office Tables Cost?

Table pricing varies significantly by format, size and specification. A compact folding table and a large executive boardroom table sit at very different points on the price scale, and the difference reflects size, materials and the complexity of the frame rather than brand alone.

Typical Pricing by Table Type

While specifications vary by manufacturer and size, the following ranges are broadly representative across OFC's current range.

Larger boardroom tables sit at the top of this range once length, timber veneer finishes and integrated power modules are factored in. Entry-level meeting and folding tables in laminate finishes with steel frames sit well within most fitout budgets, particularly where the room does not require built-in technology.

What Makes a Commercial-Grade Office Table?

Commercial-grade is not a marketing label. It refers to furniture built and tested for continuous workplace use over a longer service life, and the distinction matters more for tables than most furniture categories because tables in meeting rooms, lunchrooms and training spaces are typically used by a rotating group of people rather than one dedicated user.

Built for Rotating, Daily Use

A boardroom or lunchroom table is used by different people every day, cleaned regularly, and subject to constant contact from chairs, laptops and general activity. Commercial tables are built with this level of use in mind, with frame construction and edge treatments selected to perform consistently rather than cope with occasional use in a single-user setting.

Quality Certifications

Commercial furniture is often tested against recognised standards to confirm strength, stability and durability. In Australia this may include AFRDI certification, while international benchmarks such as BIFMA are also used as a reference point. These provide an independent way to assess whether a table is suited to long-term commercial use rather than lighter residential conditions.

Warranty and Support

Commercial tables commonly carry warranties covering structural components for a number of years, reflecting the expectation that the table will remain in service well beyond a typical residential warranty period. Commercial supply also often includes planning assistance, coordinated delivery and professional installation, which matters for boardroom tables in particular given their size and weight.

How Do You Choose the Right Office Table for Your Space?

Selecting the right office table starts with the room's purpose, not its appearance. A boardroom needs a different table to a training room, and a lunchroom needs a different table again to a reception area, even though all three might sit under the same broad category.

Start with how the room is used day to day, then work through seating capacity using the 600 mm to 700 mm per person guide, the shape that best fits the room's proportions, and whether the room needs mobility, folding, or built-in power to function properly. Getting these decisions right at the specification stage avoids replacement cycles, mismatched additions, or a room that cannot actually seat the number of people it was designed for.

By understanding how tables are constructed, sized and specified for commercial environments, businesses can make informed decisions that balance cost, durability and the practical requirements of the room, resulting in furniture that continues to perform for years of daily use.

Office Tables for Australian Workplaces

Office Furniture Company (OFC) is an Australian-owned commercial furniture supplier providing boardroom, meeting, mobile, folding, bar, coffee, lunchroom and school tables to businesses, government departments, schools and healthcare providers Australia-wide. OFC dispatches from warehouses in Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide and Perth (stock availability varies by warehouse and product), with professional delivery, installation and project support available nationwide.