Table bases for hotel dining

A base works out of sight until somebody leans on the table. Here are 49 of them, at dining height and bar height, made of cast iron, chrome, aluminum, steel or stainless steel. Begin with the top that will sit on each one, since its size and shape decide the spread, and the spread decides whether the table stands steady.

Spread, column and the top above

A round top needs a base whose spread covers at least two thirds of its width. Beneath a 36-inch round that means about 24 inches; beneath a 48-inch round, about 32. For square and long tops, the X-prong table bases send their arms out toward the corners, and the round table bases sit naturally under a round.

Column height comes next. For dining, the finished surface belongs near 29 or 30 inches, the height meant for the standard table bases. A high top in the lobby bar finishes at about 40 to 42 inches and needs one of the bar-height table bases.

Material by room

Cast iron makes up the largest group with 15 bases. Six are aluminum, six steel, three chrome and two stainless steel. Cast iron table bases are the classic choice for a dining room where the tables stay in place from breakfast to dinner. Aluminum and chrome read lighter beside metal chairs.

Knees need room too. The 2010 ADA Standards for Accessible Design (section 306) set knee clearance at no less than 27 inches of height, 30 of width and 19 of depth, and section 226.1 asks for at least 5 percent of dining seats at accessible surfaces. Treat those as general guidance and check the current standard and the local code for your project.

Every base here is listed for indoor use, and 9 also carry a patio listing. Only those go out to the terrace. The outdoor table bases are the shorter route to them, though the usage line on each listing is still the one to read.

When the base is on show

Under a long cloth at a banquet, the guest never sees the base. In a lobby cafe or a breakfast room without cloths, it is in plain view all day, and the statement bases are made for those rooms.

Single bases start around $43 and reach $222. Note the top size beside each base on your property plan, so the two arrive as a matched pair and the setup crew is not left fitting parts that disagree.

Table bases carry a 1-year warranty period against defects in materials and workmanship at delivery, under normal commercial use.