Amish Coffee Tables and End Tables: Sizes, Heights and Spacing
By Michael King, Owner
Most coffee tables on our site are 18 inches tall, and most end tables are 24 inches tall. To fit your room, pick a coffee table level with your sofa seat or 1 to 2 inches lower, leave about 14 to 18 inches between it and the sofa, and choose an end table close to the height of the sofa arm.
Key takeaways
- Of the 137 coffee tables on our site that list a height, 111 are 18 inches tall and 135 fall between 17 and 21 inches.
- Of the 169 end and chairside tables that list a height, 132 are 24 inches tall.
- Our 15 lift-top coffee tables sit at 18 inches and, on the 13 pages that list sizes, lift to 28½ inches for eating or working from the sofa.
- Measure three things before you shop: your sofa length, the seat height and the arm height.
- Most of our furniture is made to order, so you usually choose the wood, stain and hardware when you order.
What are occasional tables?
"Occasional tables" is the furniture word for the smaller tables in a living room: coffee tables, end tables, chairside tables and sofa tables. They hold the lamp, the remote and the coffee mug. In our occasional tables collection there are 394 of them, and the coffee tables alone come from nine different builders.
If you're shopping for Amish coffee tables and end tables, this guide uses the real sizes from our catalog. Kings Amish Furniture is a family business that began in Raymond King's woodshop in 1986, and today we work with more than 40 Amish builders.
The names are simple once you see them side by side. Merriam-Webster defines a coffee table as "a low table customarily placed in front of a sofa," also called a cocktail table. An end table is "a small table usually about the height of the arm of a chair that is used beside a larger piece of furniture (such as a sofa)." A chairside table is a narrow end table, built for the gap next to a recliner or armchair. A sofa table is long and slim and usually stands behind a sofa or against a wall.
Coffee table and end table sizes in one line
The easiest way to see how these tables relate is to line up one collection. The Woodbury line includes almost every type; sizes come from its product pages.
| Piece | Size (W x D x H) | Good for |
|---|---|---|
| Woodbury Coffee Table | 42" x 22" x 18" | A standard sofa, with a drawer for remotes |
| Woodbury Lift Top Coffee Table | 42" x 22" x 18", lifts to 28½" | Eating, laptop work or games from the sofa |
| Woodbury Oval Coffee Table | 48" x 26" x 18" | Longer sofas and walkways with no corners to bump |
| Woodbury Square Coffee Table | 36" x 36" x 18" | Sectionals and seating on several sides |
| Woodbury Round Coffee Table | 36" round x 18" | Small rooms and chair groupings |
| Woodbury End Table | 22" x 24" x 24" | A lamp and a drink next to the sofa arm |
| Woodbury Round End Table | 24" round x 24" | Softening a room full of straight lines |
| Woodbury Chairside Table | 13" x 22" x 24" | Tight spots beside a recliner or armchair |
| Woodbury Hall Table | 48" x 16" x 30" | Behind a sofa or along a wall |
The coffee tables stay at 18 inches tall in every shape, the end tables are 24 inches, and the hall table is 30 inches. Most of our catalog follows the same pattern.
What is the standard coffee table height?
On our site, 18 inches is the clear standard. Of the 137 coffee tables that list a height, 111 are exactly 18 inches, and all but two fall between 17 and 21 inches. The two exceptions are taller.
Better Homes & Gardens advises a coffee table height that is "1 to 2 inches below or level with your sofa's seat cushions." To check, measure from the floor to the top of the seat cushion. If your sofa seat is 19 inches, an 18-inch table sits about an inch lower, right in that range. If your sofa is low and modern, look for a table under 18 inches. If it's tall and firm, a 19 or 20½-inch table may feel better.
How big should a coffee table be?
Better Homes & Gardens suggests a table about two-thirds the length of your sofa. On our site, coffee table widths cluster at three sizes: 36 inches (19 tables), 42 inches (43 tables) and 48 inches (46 tables). Here's how that works out:
- A 60-inch loveseat works with a 36 to 42-inch table.
- A 72-inch sofa pairs well with a 48-inch table.
- An 84-inch sofa or a long sectional calls for a table close to 56 inches. Our widest are about 50 inches, so a 48-inch table or two square tables side by side are good options.
Round, oval, square or rectangular?
Rectangular tables suit a straight sofa. Square tables (18 on our site) suit sectionals. Round and oval tables (11 and 9) have no corners, which helps in a tight walkway or a room where children play.
How tall should an end table be?
Merriam-Webster's definition already gives the rule: an end table is "usually about the height of the arm of a chair." Match the table top to your sofa or chair arm, a little above or below, so you can set down a cup without reaching up or down.
Our catalog follows that idea. Of the 169 end and chairside tables that list a height, 132 are 24 inches tall, and nearly all are between 22 and 26 inches. Measure the arm of your sofa or recliner from the floor. Around 24 inches? A standard end table lines up. Lower or higher arms suit the 22 and 26-inch tables.
End table or chairside table?
The difference is width. Our end tables are mostly 22 to 24 inches wide, with room for a lamp, a coaster and a book. Our chairside tables are narrow, most often 13 inches wide, and are made for the gap between a recliner and a wall or between two chairs. Both are usually 22 to 24 inches deep, so they line up with the side of the seat.
Drawers, shelves and doors
Of 114 end tables on our site, 79 list a dovetailed drawer, and a few have a door instead of an open shelf. Of 131 standard coffee tables, 77 list dovetailed drawers, and 24 of those list more than one drawer.
How far should a coffee table be from the couch?
Better Homes & Gardens recommends placing coffee tables 14 to 18 inches from sofas "to keep beverages within easy reach," and about 18 inches in its coffee table guide "for comfortable legroom and easy access."
Leave room to walk around the group as well. The same source suggests 30 inches of clearance for walking around furniture. If someone in your home uses a walker or wheelchair, plan for more: the ADA Standards for Accessible Design set 36 inches as the minimum clear width for an accessible route.
Are lift-top coffee tables worth it?
A lift-top coffee table has a top that rises and moves toward you. We carry 15 of them, all from one builder, and the 13 pages that list sizes show the same frame: 42 inches wide, 22 inches deep and 18 inches tall, lifting to 28½ inches. The pages describe it as a lift-top "for serving or working area."
That raised height puts a plate or laptop close to your lap while you sit on the sofa. If you mostly set down a drink and a book, a standard table with a drawer is simpler.
What is a sofa table used for?
Britannica traces the sofa table to about the 1790s, when it was a drop-leaf table "drawn up to a sofa" with a flap at each end. Today's sofa table is long and narrow and stands behind a sofa that floats in the room, or against a wall. It holds lamps, photos and books.
On our site, most sofa tables are 29 to 30 inches tall and 14 to 18 inches deep. Measure the back of your sofa before you choose, and keep the table no longer than the sofa.
Should coffee and end tables match?
They don't have to. A set from one line gives you the same edge, legs and hardware. Mixing works too, as long as the heights are right and the woods look good together. Because nearly every table in our collection (393 of 394) lists a wood choice, you can match a new end table to a coffee table you already own, or pick a contrast on purpose. Our guide to Amish stain colors shows how stains look on different woods.
Our bookcase depth and shelf spacing guide covers the storage side, and how custom ordering works explains the steps if you need a size that isn't listed.
Tables from the Woodbury line
Woodbury Lift Top Coffee Table
Woodbury End Table
Woodbury Chairside Table
Woodbury Hall TableWhere can I see Amish coffee tables in person?
Our showrooms in Intercourse, Lancaster and Murrells Inlet are open Monday to Friday 10 to 5 and Saturday 9 to 5. Here's what to expect when you visit. Once your tables are home, our wood furniture care guide covers coasters, cleaning and water rings.
Frequently asked questions
What is the standard height of a coffee table?
On our site, 18 inches. Of the 137 coffee tables that list a height, 111 are 18 inches tall and nearly all are between 17 and 21 inches. Pick one level with your sofa seat or 1 to 2 inches lower.
How tall should an end table be next to a sofa?
About the height of the sofa arm, a little above or below. Most end tables on our site are 24 inches tall, with a few at 22 or 26 inches for lower or taller arms.
How far should a coffee table be from the sofa?
Better Homes & Gardens recommends 14 to 18 inches. That's close enough to reach a drink and far enough for your knees and legs.
What is the difference between an end table and a chairside table?
Width. End tables on our site are mostly 22 to 24 inches wide. Chairside tables are narrow, most often 13 inches wide, for tight spots beside a recliner or chair.
Can I order a coffee table or sofa table in a custom size?
Ask us. Most of our furniture is made to order, and our team can take a size request to the builder, as we do for longer sofa tables. See how custom ordering works.
Sources
- Merriam-Webster: coffee table
- Merriam-Webster: end table
- Britannica: sofa table
- Better Homes & Gardens: How to Choose the Perfect Coffee Table for Your Living Room
- Better Homes & Gardens: Expert Tips to Help You Arrange Furniture in Every Room
- U.S. Access Board: ADA Standards, Chapter 4, Accessible Routes (403.5.1 Clear Width)
- Product pages on kingsamishfurniture.com (sizes and features as listed in November 2026)
How we made this guide: we counted the heights, widths, depths and drawer details listed on the 394 occasional tables on our site, compared one full line side by side, read the dictionary, encyclopedia and design sources above, and reviewed questions customers ask our team. Every fact was checked against our product pages.
See it in person
Visit our showrooms in Intercourse and Lancaster, PA, and Murrells Inlet, SC. Open Monday to Friday 10 to 5, Saturday 9 to 5.
