Restaurant furniture takes more abuse than almost anything else in a dining room. Chairs get dragged, tipped back and stacked; tables get leaned on, wiped down dozens of times a shift and moved for large parties. Contract Seating For Less carries restaurant furniture in stock – chairs, bar stools, table tops and table bases – built for that daily use and sold for commercial projects in the U.S. and Canada. This page walks through what to buy for a full-service or fast-casual room, how to plan layout and quantities, and which pieces to start with.
What a restaurant dining room needs
Most dining rooms are assembled from four building blocks, and it helps to plan them separately:
- Restaurant chairs for the main floor, in wood frame, metal frame or upholstered styles.
- Bar stools for the bar, rail seating and high-top tables.
- Table tops in laminate, solid wood or stone, sold separately from bases so you can mix sizes and finishes.
- Table bases in dining and bar height, sized to the top they carry.
All seating is tested to 400 lbs and built to meet ANSI/BIFMA standards. Most wood pieces use mortise-and-tenon joinery, and metal frames are welded rather than bolted, which matters when a chair is pulled out and pushed in hundreds of times a week. Seating ships fully assembled, so it can go straight onto the floor.
Full-service vs. fast-casual furniture
In a full-service room, guests sit longer, so comfort and finish carry more weight. Upholstered seats, wood frames in a stained finish and heavier stone or solid wood tops are common choices. The Mercer Side Chair pairs a solid European beechwood frame with an upholstered seat (seat height 19.25″), and the Rockwell Side Chair uses a “wood grain” metal frame with a faux leather seat that wipes clean between turns.
Fast-casual rooms turn tables quickly and get cleaned constantly, so durable, easy-to-wipe surfaces lead. The Cortland Side Chair combines a metal frame with a solid European beechwood seat and back, and the Ashford Side Chair offers an upholstered seat and back on a “wood grain” metal frame. For tops, the Metro 2″ Laminate Table Top is a 2″ thick commercial laminate top in sizes from 24″ x 24″ up to 36″ x 72″, plus rounds.
Planning layout and spacing
A reliable starting point is about 24″ of table edge per seat. That rule of thumb lets you size tables to the party mix you expect:
- Two-tops: 24″ x 30″ or 30″ x 30″ tops seat two comfortably.
- Four-tops: a 30″ x 48″ top gives two seats per long side; a 36″ x 36″ square seats one per side.
- Six-tops: 30″ x 72″ allows three seats per long side.
- Rounds: a 36″ round works for four; larger rounds such as 48″ or 54″ suit bigger groups.
Many operators lean on square two-tops that can be pushed together for larger parties, which keeps the floor flexible. Leave room for chairs to pull out and for staff to pass with trays, and check local code and accessibility requirements for aisle widths before you finalize a plan.
Working out quantities
Once the floor plan is set, count seats by type: dining chairs, bar stools at the bar, and stools at any high-tops. Then count tops by size and match a base to each. A few practical points:
- Most seating has a minimum order of 4 pieces per item, and finishes or options of the same item can be mixed within that order.
- Tops and bases have no minimum, so you can order a single replacement.
- Pricing drops automatically as quantity rises. Seating tiers run 1–5, 6–19, 20–59, 60–99 and 100+; tops run 1–9, 10–19, 20–49 and 50+.
- Consider a few spare chairs of the same model so a damaged piece can be swapped without a mismatch.
Bar and high-top seating
Bar height stools, with a seat of about 29–31″, go with 40–42″ bar-height tables and bar tops. The Fletcher Bar Stool has an upholstered seat and back on a metal frame (seat height 31.25″), and the Crestwood Bar Stool uses a black metal frame with a walnut or oak HPL seat and back (seat height 30.25″). Browse all metal frame bar stools and wood frame bar stools for more options.
Choosing tops and bases
Tops and bases are sold separately, so choose the top first and then size the base. The Glacier Quartz Table Top is a quartz top rated for indoor and outdoor use, in square, rectangle and round sizes up to 54″ round; it ships in 2–3 weeks from order and payment. Laminate and solid wood tops ship in 1–2 weeks.
For bases, match the spread to the top. The Anvil Cast Iron Table Base comes in a 20″ size for tops up to 30×30, 24″ for tops up to 30×48 and 30″ for tops up to 54″ round, in dining or bar height. The Axis Cast Iron Table Base covers a wider range, including a 2-prong option used in pairs for tops up to 36×96. Bases ship unassembled; the column, base and top plate bolt together, and hardware is included.
Timing an opening or remodel
In-stock seating and bases typically ship in 2–3 days from order and payment. Some wood-frame models are stained to order in the finish you choose and ship in 2–3 weeks; stained-to-order and custom-upholstered pieces can’t be cancelled or returned, so confirm finishes before ordering. Everything ships anywhere in the U.S. and Canada, with live freight rates at checkout, and larger orders ship palletized by LTL freight. See quick ship restaurant furniture for more on timing.
Frequently asked questions
How many chairs do I need per table?
Plan on about 24" of table edge per seat. A 30" x 30" top seats two, a 30" x 48" top seats four and a 30" x 72" top seats six. Count seats from your floor plan, then add a few spares of the same model.
Is your restaurant furniture in stock?
Yes. In-stock seating and table bases typically ship in 2–3 days from order and payment. Stained-to-order wood frames ship in 2–3 weeks, and table tops ship in 1–2 weeks (laminate and wood) or 2–3 weeks (quartz, granite and sintered stone).
Are table tops and bases sold together?
No. Tops and bases are sold separately so you can pair any top size and material with the right base. Each base lists the top sizes it supports.
Is there a minimum order?
Most seating has a minimum of 4 pieces per item, and you can mix finishes or options of the same item. Table tops and bases have no minimum.
Does the furniture come assembled?
All seating ships fully assembled. Table bases ship unassembled: the column, base and top plate bolt together, and hardware is included.
Ready to furnish your dining room? Shop restaurant furniture with automatic volume pricing, or contact us for a volume quote on 100+ chairs, stools or bases, or 50+ table tops.