Foldable High Top Table: Sizes and Storage Checks

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A foldable high top table is a bar-height table whose legs detach or fold so the top can be stored flat. The three models compared here are all round, between 28 in and 32 in across, and about 43 in tall. Two of the three titles say 2-pack, so confirm the pack size before you order. Check how much floor the round top covers, how thin it folds, and whether your guests will stand or sit on tall stools. The table suits small spaces because you set it up only when you need it. Measure the floor and your storage gap first.

Quick compare: the products in this guide

Sizes come from the Amazon listings as we read them; check the product page for the current details before you buy.

Product	Listed details	Link
32″ Round Folding Cocktail Table – HDPE Material Top with Steel Frame, High…	31.5 x 31.5 x 43.31 in; folds to 2.36 in thick per the listing	See details on Amazon Affiliate link
Lakhow 28in Folding Cocktail Table, Plastic Round Bar Height Table, White…	28 x 28 x 43.3 in; 24.7 lb for the 2-pack	See details on Amazon Affiliate link
32″ Round Folding Table, Portable Bar Height Folding Table with Detachable…	31.4 x 31.4 x 43.3 in; listing says the top accommodates 3 people	See details on Amazon Affiliate link

What “high top” means

A high top table, also called a bar-height or cocktail table, is built for standing or for tall stools. The three tables in our list are all about 43 in tall. As a general comparison, a normal dining table is lower, and a counter or bar is higher than a dining table. We keep those comparisons loose here because exact heights vary by maker, so check the listing.

At this height you stand and lean. That changes how a small room feels. Standing guests use less floor than seated ones, and a tall tabletop sits above the line of sight of low sofas. It also means you cannot use a standard dining chair at the table. If anyone will sit, you need stools made for that height.

Why a folding version helps in a small home

Most people in a small apartment do not need a bar table every day. They need one for a party, a game night, a balcony meal in good weather or a craft project. A fixed bar table then takes up floor space all year for a few evenings of use.

A foldable table solves that by packing down. In the listings we read:

• One states that it folds down to 2.36 in thick, and says it fits in cabinets, tight spaces or a car trunk.
• One lists its folded size as 28 in by 28 in, and says the tables can be stacked for storage.
• One says the lower leg sections detach so the table packs to a slim 32 in by 32 in shape.

These three claims describe the same idea in different words. The footprint when folded is the same as the round top, and the thickness is small. So the question is not whether it fits on the floor, it is whether you have a flat place to lean or slide it: behind a door, under a bed, or between a wall and a wardrobe.

Sizes: why 28 in versus 32 in matters

The three tables we read are listed as follows (diameter by height):

• 31.5 in by 43.31 in, titled as a 2-pack, from Ortus Collective.
• 28 in by 43.3 in, titled as a 2-pack, from Lakhow.
• 31.4 in by 43.3 in, from GlowitLian; its title does not say 2-pack, so check the pack size.

A 3.5 in difference in diameter looks small, but a round top grows in both directions, so the circle takes more space. The area of a circle is pi times the radius squared. For a 28 in round: radius 14 in, 14 times 14 equals 196, and 196 times 3.14 equals about 615 sq in. For a 32 in round: radius 16 in, 16 times 16 equals 256, and 256 times 3.14 equals about 804 sq in. That is 804 minus 615, which equals 189 sq in more tabletop, or about 31 percent more. It also takes the same amount of extra floor.

The GlowitLian listing states that its 32 in top accommodates 3 people. That is the maker’s claim, and a 28 in top will be tighter for three.

Round or rectangular

All three tables are round, and that suits a small room for a simple reason: a round top has no corners to bump when you pass. The trade-off is that a round top wastes the corners of a square space. If you are fitting a table against a wall, a round top leaves a triangular gap behind it, and a rectangular table would use that wall better. Rectangular folding bar tables exist, but they were outside the three we read, so we cannot give you their sizes here.

Weight and what to check on the listing

The listings give different weights and different load limits, and some of them conflict. The Lakhow listing gives a 2-pack weight of 24.7 lb (12.35 lb per table). We do not have a comparable weight for the other two, so we do not compare weights. Before you buy, read these four things on the listing itself:

• Whether the weight shown is for one table or for the pack
• Whether a maximum load is stated, and whether that is per table
• Whether the legs lock, and how
• Whether the feet are adjustable, which helps on an uneven balcony floor

One of the listings mentions adjustable non-slip foot pads, which is a useful feature if your floor is not level.

Worked example: two tables along one living-room wall

This is our own planning example, with the arithmetic shown. Say your living room has a wall that is 12 ft long, which is 144 in. You want two folding high tops side by side along that wall for a gathering, with a walking path between them. The US Access Board gives 36 in as the minimum clear width of an accessible route, which we borrow as a yardstick for a comfortable path. All the measuring runs along the wall, in one direction.

• Two tables. Each table is 31.5 in across, so the two together are 31.5 in plus 31.5 in, which equals 63 in.
• Add the path. 63 in plus 36 in equals 99 in.
• Space left on the wall. 144 in minus 99 in equals 45 in.

So the layout fits with 45 in to spare. If you used the 28 in tables, the two would take 28 in plus 28 in, which equals 56 in, and the layout would take 56 in plus 36 in, which equals 92 in. Then 144 in minus 92 in equals 52 in left. If the wall were only 8 ft, which is 96 in, the larger tables would need 99 in, which is 3 in more than the wall (99 in minus 96 in equals 3 in), so they would not fit with a 36 in path. The smaller tables need 92 in, and 96 in minus 92 in equals 4 in to spare. On a short wall the smaller diameter decides the layout.

Storage next. A folded table is thin. If one listing is right that the table folds to 2.36 in thick, two folded tables measure 2.36 in plus 2.36 in, which equals 4.72 in. Say there is a 6 in gap between the back of a wardrobe and a wall (our estimate). Then 6 in minus 4.72 in equals 1.28 in of spare room, so they would slide in. Check that on your own gap, and check the listing, because it is not clear whether 2.36 in is one table or the pair.

Where to use one

• Balcony. A round 28 in table fits a narrow balcony where a dining table would not. Check that the balcony allows furniture and that the feet will not scratch the surface.
• Studio dining. Set it up for meals, fold it away after.
• Home office overflow. A standing-height work surface for a laptop or crafts.
• Parties. Set up a pair as drink tables, then store them.

Who should skip one

• People who want to sit comfortably for long meals. A tall table needs tall stools, and those take space too.
• Anyone with a small child or someone who needs a lower surface. The height can be awkward.
• Anyone who needs a large work surface. A 28 in to 32 in round top is small.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Forgetting that a listing may be a 2-pack. Two of the three titles say 2-pack. If you only want one table, look for a single.
• Measuring only the tabletop. The legs can stick out past the edge of the top. Check the listing’s dimensions for the whole table.
• Not planning the storage spot. A thin table still needs a flat, dry place.
• Putting it on a slope. Look for adjustable feet.
• Ignoring the stool height. If you want seats, you need ones made for bar height.

Keep reading

These guides cover related picks and sizing checks for a small space.

• Coffee Table With Storage: What to Check
• Foldable Bar Table: 3 Folding High Tops Compared
• Circular High Top Table: Three Round Sizes Compared

Frequently asked questions

How tall is a foldable high top table?

The three tables we read are about 43 in tall. Heights differ by maker, so check the listing.

How many people can stand at a 32 in round table?

One listing states that its 32 in top accommodates 3 people. That is the seller’s claim. For comfortable room, treat it as a limit rather than a target.

Do foldable high top tables come as a single table?

Two of the three titles say 2-pack, and the third does not state the pack size, so check it. Single tables exist, but they are outside this list.

Can I use a foldable high top table outdoors?

The listings in the listing data do not give a weather rating, so check that the top material and the frame finish are described as weather resistant, and keep any table out of long exposure to rain if the listing does not say it is made for that.

How do I store it?

Detach or fold the legs, then slide the top flat or stack it. One listing states a folded thickness of 2.36 in, so a narrow gap behind a wardrobe or door can work.

Products worth checking

We have not tested these products. Sizes and features come from the Amazon listings as we read them; where a listing does not say, we say so.

Sources checked

• US Access Board, Chapter 4: Accessible Routes

Specifications come from the Amazon listings as we read them for this guide. Product details and availability can change, so confirm on the product page before you buy.

How we research our guides