Fold Away Dining Table and Chairs: Size and Storage

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Quick answer

A fold away dining table and chairs lets a small room serve as a dining room only when needed. Before buying, check four things: the open size and the closed size (they differ a lot), how many people the open table seats, how thick the folded chairs are and where they will be stored, and whether table and chairs are sold together, because most of these tables are sold without chairs.

We read three Amazon listings on 2026-09-30: an expandable solid wood table that grows from 23.6 to 47.2 inches long, a 47 inch transformable table that folds to 35 inches and a set of four wooden folding chairs that fold to 2.16 inches thick. They are examples of what to compare, not a ranking. We have not tested or used any of them. All numbers come from the listings.

For related guides, see small dining table for 2 with chairs, table with chair set, small kitchen table and chairs and standing desk vs fixed desk small room.

What “fold away” covers

Sellers use the phrase for several designs. A drop-leaf table has hinged side panels that fold down. An expandable table slides or unfolds to a longer size. A transformable table folds in half, like a book. The chairs can be folding chairs that collapse flat, or stools that stack.

The two tables we read are an expandable table with a leaf and a fold-in-half table. Both need chairs bought separately. The chairs we read fold flat.

Open and closed sizes

Always read both sizes. The DONGMUWUJEE table is 23.6 inches long and 31.5 inches wide closed, and expands to 47.2 inches long by 31.5 inches wide, which the listing says doubles the usable area. The Rukulin table is 47 inches long by 31.5 inches wide by 30 inches high open and, per the listing, measures 35 inches long when folded.

A folded table still has to live somewhere. A table 23.6 inches long fits beside a wall, while one that folds only to 35 inches is a bigger object to store.

Seats

The DONGMUWUJEE listing says the expanded table seats up to 6 people, and the Rukulin listing says 4 to 6 people. As our own planning estimate, not a standard, allow about 24 inches of table edge per adult. A 47.2 inch side holds 47.2 ÷ 24 ≈ 1.97, so two per long side, four in total, and a person at each end makes six.

That is a full table. For a relaxed meal for four, a 47 inch table is comfortable, and six is tight.

Folding chairs

The GTNSAFP chairs give a seat height of 17 inches, a seat depth of 14.17 inches and an overall size of 17.5 by 14.17 by 30.9 inches. The listing says they fold to 35 by 17.52 by 2.16 inches and have a cushioned seat, and it gives a 300 pound rating and a weight of 22 pounds for the set.

A seat depth of 14.17 inches is shallow. As our own rough estimate, leave about 2 inches between the seat front and the back of your knee. A person with a hip-to-knee length of 18 inches has 18 − 14.17 = 3.83 inches, which is comfortable, while a tall person with 22 inches has 7.83 inches and will feel unsupported.

Stacking thickness and storage

Four of these folding chairs stack to 4 × 2.16 = 8.64 inches thick, which fits behind a door or in a closet. That is the kind of number to look for. If a listing says only “folds flat,” ask for the folded thickness.

The folded length of 35 inches is the height they stand when stored upright, so check the closet height and depth before you rely on it.

Materials and weight

The DONGMUWUJEE table uses FAS-grade rubberwood with a top 1.57 inches thick, a reinforced base and a concealed storage compartment under the top, at a listed 52 pounds, with a 350 pound maximum recommendation. The Rukulin table lists iron and rubber in its specification and weighs 41.8 pounds. The GTNSAFP chairs use a wooden frame with a lacquered finish and foam seat.

A heavy table is steadier but harder to move. A light folding chair is easy to carry but may feel less solid.

Assembly

The DONGMUWUJEE listing says assembly is required with instructions included. The Rukulin listing describes it as easy, with no expert skills needed. The GTNSAFP chairs need no assembly and no tools to fold or unfold.

The three listings we read

DONGMUWUJEE Solid Wood Small Dining Table for 2 to 6, 23.6 inch to 47.2 inch expandable (model CZ068). The listing gives 23.6 by 31.5 by 29.5 inches closed and 47.2 by 31.5 by 29.5 inches open, a listed weight of 52 pounds, a rubberwood top and frame, a 1.57 inch thick top, a 350 pound maximum recommendation, one leaf and a concealed storage compartment. It says the chairs shown are not included. Good for: a room where the table is used by two most days. Keep in mind: it is a table only. The page showed an Add to Cart button and an In Stock message.

Rukulin 47 inch Wooden Foldable Kitchen Table, rotating, for 4 to 6 people. The listing gives 47 by 31.5 by 30 inches open, 35 inches long folded, a listed weight of 41.8 pounds and a white finish, with iron and rubber in the material field. Good for: a kitchen where a fold-in-half table should tuck against a wall. Keep in mind: no chairs are included, and the top’s material is given only as “rubber,” so ask what it is. The page showed an Add to Cart button and an In Stock message.

GTNSAFP Wooden Folding Chair, classic fruit wood color, set of 4. The listing gives 14.17 by 17.5 by 30.9 inches (D by W by H), a seat height of 17 inches, a seat depth of 14.17 inches, a listed weight of 22 pounds for the set, a 300 pound maximum recommendation, a cushioned seat, no assembly and a folded size of 35 by 17.52 by 2.16 inches. Good for: storing four chairs in a thin stack. Keep in mind: the seat is shallow, and the listing’s weight of 22 pounds for four chairs looks like the set. The page showed an Add to Cart button and an In Stock message.

A worked example

These numbers are invented. A studio has a dining corner 96 inches (8 feet) across. You want the expandable table in the middle when open and stored when closed.

Closed. The DONGMUWUJEE table is 31.5 inches wide along the pull-out axis, so the floor needed with a chair on each side is 31.5 + 48 = 79.5 inches (using 24 inches per pull-out zone, our estimate). That leaves 96 − 79.5 = 16.5 inches, too little to walk by. With the table against a wall, it is 31.5 + 24 = 55.5 inches, leaving 40.5 inches, which clears the U.S. Access Board’s 36 inch route yardstick. That is a public-building reference, only a guide for a home.

Length. Closed, the table is 23.6 inches long, which takes little wall. Open it is 47.2 inches long, leaving 96 − 47.2 = 48.8 inches if the table runs along a wall and you still want chairs at the end.

Chairs. Four folding chairs stack to 8.64 inches, as above. Unfolded, each is 17.5 inches wide, so four take 70 inches if lined up side by side.

Seats. Open, the 47.2 inch table seats four with two per long side, per our estimate.

Red flags in listings

A table sold with photos showing chairs that are not included, an open size with no closed size, a material field that says “rubber” for a tabletop and a folded chair with no folded thickness are signs to ask. Also check the weight capacity when the leaf is open, because a leaf can be the weak point.

Who should skip a fold away set

If you use the table daily for four people, a fixed table is sturdier. If you need a large table often, the open size may feel small. If stairs or narrow doors are a concern, check the folded width. For a bench option instead of chairs, see dining room table with bench.

Frequently asked questions

How much space does a fold away table save?

It depends on the closed size. One listing we read goes from 47.2 to 23.6 inches long. Another folds from 47 to 35 inches.

Do fold away tables include chairs?

Not usually. The two tables we read are sold without chairs.

How thick are folding chairs?

One listing we read folds to 2.16 inches thick, so four stack to about 8.64 inches.

Are folding dining chairs comfortable?

A padded seat helps, but the seat can be shallow. One we read is 14.17 inches deep.

How many people sit at a 47 inch table?

Four comfortably and six tightly, by our estimate of 24 inches each.

Bottom line

Choose a fold away dining table and chairs by open and closed size, folded chair thickness and seats. Of the three listings above, the DONGMUWUJEE is the expandable solid wood table that shrinks to 23.6 inches, the Rukulin is the fold-in-half table that stays at 35 inches long and the GTNSAFP chairs are the thin-stacking folding chairs. Mark both sizes on the floor, and plan where the folded pieces live.

Products worth checking

We have not tested these products. Sizes and features come from the Amazon listings, checked on September 30, 2026; where a listing does not say, we say so.

Sources checked

• Guide to the ADA Accessibility Standards, Chapter 4: Accessible Routes
• DONGMUWUJEE Solid Wood Small Dining Table 23.6 to 47.2 inch Expandable
• Rukulin 47 inch Wooden Foldable Kitchen Table
• GTNSAFP Wooden Folding Chair, Set of 4

Specifications checked on September 30, 2026. Product details and availability can change, so confirm on the product page before you buy.