Over armchair table sizing comes down to five numbers: three from your chair and two on the product spec sheet. Get those right and the table will fit. Get them wrong and you end up with a table that won't slide under the armrests, or sits at a height you can't adjust far enough to fix.
Here's how to measure your chair properly, read a spec sheet, and troubleshoot when a table still won't cooperate.
In this article
- How to Measure Your Chair
- Matching Your Measurements to the Spec Sheet
- When the Table Still Won't Fit
How to Measure Your Chair
All you need is a tape measure and about five minutes. Measure while the chair is in the position you'll use most — upright for standard chairs, or reclined if you'll be using the table while kicked back.
Armrest height from the floor
Measure from the floor to the top surface of the armrest. Not the seat height — the armrest. Write it down. The table's minimum height needs to be at or above this number so the tabletop clears the armrest and sits at a usable level.
Most armchairs have armrests between 60 cm and 75 cm from the floor. Recliners in the fully upright position usually sit between 55 cm and 68 cm.
Gap between the armrests (internal width)
Measure the clear space between the inner edges of both armrests, not the outer edges of the chair. This is the internal width. The table's legs need to slide into this space from the side to straddle the chair correctly.
Most standard armchairs have an internal armrest gap of 48 cm to 60 cm. Wide or bariatric chairs can run wider. Write this down too.
Chair depth and overall width
Measure the chair's overall outer width (armrest tip to armrest tip) and the seat depth from front to back. The table's legs need clearance around the chair's base, particularly if the chair has a wide skirt or a pedestal base. For recliners, also check whether the footrest extends out when reclined, as this affects where the table legs can sit.
Matching Your Measurements to the Spec Sheet
Once you have your three chair measurements, open the product spec sheet and look for two specific numbers. Everything else matters less for fit.
Internal leg width: the clearance number that matters
Look for the spec called "internal leg width", "leg span", or "length between legs". This is the gap between the two upright legs of the table frame. It needs to be larger than your chair's internal armrest gap, with at least 2 to 3 cm to spare on each side so the table slides in and out without catching.
The most common over armchair table on the Australian market, the Homecraft tilting model, has an internal leg width of approximately 90 cm. That fits most standard armchairs and many recliners comfortably.
Height adjustment range and over chair table for recliner fit
The spec sheet will list a height adjustment range, for example 75 cm to 91.5 cm. Compare this to your armrest height. The table's minimum height needs to be higher than your armrest, otherwise the tabletop can't clear it.
For a recliner, check the minimum height against the armrest in its reclined position. Armrests often drop when the backrest goes back. If you want to use the table while reclined, the table needs to reach down to match. Some over chair tables for recliners have a lower minimum height specifically for this. Check the range carefully before buying.
Standard chair dimensions vs typical over armchair table ranges
| Measurement | Typical armchair range | Typical recliner range | Standard over armchair table spec |
|---|---|---|---|
| Armrest height from floor | 60–75 cm | 55–68 cm (upright) | Height range 75–91.5 cm |
| Internal armrest gap | 48–60 cm | 50–65 cm | Internal leg width ~90 cm |
| Overall chair width | 70–90 cm | 80–100 cm | Overall frame width ~131 cm |
| Tabletop width | N/A | N/A | 41 cm wide x 109 cm long |
The standard Homecraft-style table fits most armchairs in Australia. Wide-bodied recliners and bariatric chairs may need a wider-frame model. Measure first rather than assuming.
When the Table Still Won't Fit
Even with careful measuring, problems come up. Here are the three most common ones and what to do about each.
Legs won't slide under the armrests
This usually means the internal leg width of the table is narrower than your chair's internal armrest gap. Check the spec sheet again. Some tables list their overall width (including the frame) rather than the internal clearance, which causes confusion.
If the numbers looked fine but the legs still catch, check whether your armrests have padding that overhangs the inner edge. That overhang can narrow the effective clearance by a few centimetres. A table with a wider internal leg span will solve it.
Table sits too low or too high
If the table can't go high enough to clear your armrests, the table's minimum height is too low for your chair. Or, more likely, the minimum height is fine but the tabletop is catching the armrests on the way in. Try approaching from the side rather than straight on, tilting the tabletop if the model allows it.
If the table at its highest setting still sits below a comfortable working height, the maximum height is too short for your chair. This happens most often with very high-backed chairs or for taller users. Look for a model with a higher top-end adjustment.
Quick sizing checklist before you buy or return
Screenshot or print this before ordering, or use it to troubleshoot a table you already have.
- Measured armrest height from the floor: ______ cm
- Table minimum height is higher than armrest height: Yes / No
- Measured internal armrest gap: ______ cm
- Table internal leg width is at least 4 cm wider than armrest gap: Yes / No
- Measured overall chair outer width: ______ cm
- Table overall frame width is wider than outer chair width: Yes / No
- If a recliner: checked height range in reclined position: Yes / No
- Armrest padding overhang accounted for: Yes / No
If you answered yes to all of these, the table should fit. Any no is the problem to solve before buying, or before deciding to return.
Not sure which model is right for your chair? Browse our over chair tables for recliners collection, or read our full best over armchair tables in Australia guide for a side-by-side comparison of the top models.