Sizing

Side table height: how tall, and how far from the sofa

A round travertine side table beside a sofa, its top level with the sofa arm

Start with the arm of your sofa

Measure from the floor to the top of the sofa arm. Your side table should be at that height or slightly lower, ideally within about 5 cm. Higher than the arm, and you reach up to put a glass down; much lower, and you reach down.

Sofa arm height Side table height Our pieces to buy online
About 45 cm (low sofa) 40–45 cm Cubic Cream Rose, 40 cm high; Fluted Pedestal, 44 cm
About 50–55 cm 48–52 cm Faceted Sintered Stone, 48 cm; Round Drum, 50 cm; C-Frame, 52 cm
About 55–60 cm 54–56 cm Round Dark-Pedestal, 54 cm; Square Plinth Sintered Stone, 56 cm; Smooth Drum Travertine, 56 cm

Wayfair gives a standard range of about 46 to 71 cm (18 to 28 inches) for end tables. Ours sit in the lower half of that range.

Key point Measure the arm, not the seat. A coffee table follows the seat height; a side table follows the arm.

How far from the sofa?

Leave a few centimetres between the table and the arm of the sofa: enough to clean and to avoid knocking the stone, close enough to reach without leaning. If the table sits in front of the arm rather than beside it, keep the way to the seat clear.

Choose the top for what goes on it

Shape and base

  • Round: no corners to catch a knee, easy in a narrow gap.
  • Square: sits neatly against the sofa arm and a wall.
  • Pedestal or open frame: looks lighter and shows the floor underneath.
  • Solid block or drum: the most stone on show, and the most visual weight.

Our side tables by height

Of the 53 side tables with a listed height, 36 are between 45 and 54 cm, 9 between 55 and 64 cm, 5 below 45 cm and 3 above 65 cm. The middle value is 50 cm.

22 can be bought online, from S$599 to S$1,349 on 27 September 2026, in marble, travertine and sintered stone. The others are made to order, with a free quote.

Which side table for your sofa?

Questions

How tall should a side table be next to a sofa?

At the height of the sofa arm or slightly below, ideally within about 5 cm.

What is the standard side table height?

Wayfair gives about 46 to 71 cm. Most of ours are 45 to 54 cm high.

How far should a side table be from the sofa?

A few centimetres from the arm: close enough to reach, far enough to avoid knocking the stone.

Can a side table be higher than the sofa arm?

It can, but you will reach up to put things down. A few centimetres lower is more comfortable.

Can I use a stone side table as a bedside table?

Yes. Check its height against your mattress, and that the top is large enough for a lamp and what you keep there.

Sources

Pieces to compare

All side tables →