Cafe and restaurant table bases

A top is only half a table. Stainless steel, chrome, aluminum, steel, and cast iron all show up among these 49 bases, and three decisions sort them: height, footprint, and whether the base lives indoors or on the sidewalk. Settle those, then check the spread against the top you plan to put on it.

Height first

Dining height sits at 29 to 30 inches, bar height at 40 to 42, and the base supplies most of it. Standard table bases cover the first group with 22 listings. Bar-height table bases cover the second with 15. Add the thickness of your top, then check the total against your seating: a 17 to 19 inch seat wants 10 to 12 inches below the tabletop.

Footprint decides who gets legroom

Look from below. An X-prong base sends its feet out to the corners of a square top, a round base sits under the middle, and a square base echoes the top. The X-prong table bases page has 18 listings, round table bases has seven, and square bases have four. Another 18 are grouped as statement bases, for tables where the base is part of the look.

Under a round top, take the diameter, divide by three, and multiply by two. A 36 inch round therefore needs a spread of 24 inches or more. Then keep clear floor behind each chair, since a wide base is no help to the person sitting down.

Pair it with a top

Small tops and big tops need different feet. A base sized for a 24 inch square can look lost under a 36 inch square, which seats four, so compare the spread to the top before you add both to the basket. The table tops page lists each surface with its size and shape.

Materials and finish

Cast iron is on 15 listings, aluminum and steel on six each, chrome on three, and stainless steel on two. The cast iron table bases page is the largest single group. Finish lists change over time. If the room already exists and you're adding to it, order a new swatch at samples and confirm the color before you buy.

Nine bases are listed for patio use, and they sit on the outdoor table bases page. Even those need rinsing, drainage, and covering or storage at season end. Single bases range from $43 to $222, so a whole floor of two-tops adds up fast.