Everything listed here is sold on Amazon UK. Prices checked on 3 October 2026.

The Christmas DreamTrees · lights · decorations · gifts

Christmas table runners

Table runners in polyester, linen and cotton, mostly 30 to 42 cm wide and 1.4 m to 3 m long, plus a 25 m roll you cut to size. Length is the first check: the table’s length plus about 40 cm leaves a 20 cm drop at each end. Red is by far the commonest colour. Most runners cost between £5 and £15.

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Prices checked on Amazon UK on 3 October 2026; they may have changed since. The price ranges and medians quoted in the text of this page come from the check of 29 September 2026. Ratings and review counts are those of Amazon shoppers. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.

Christmas table runners: length, width and drop

For a bare table, take the table’s length and add a drop of about 20 cm at each end. Over a cloth, the runner can hang over the ends by the same amount, as long as its drop is shorter than the cloth’s.

A runner is a strip down the middle of the table, not a cloth. Most runners in the listings are 30 to 42 cm wide, which is a third to nearly half of a 90 cm table. One sheer gauze runner is 70 cm wide, so it works as a drape rather than a strip. A 25 m roll in non-woven fabric is 30 cm wide and is cut to length.

Which length for which table

Table lengthRunner with a 20 cm drop at each endSizes in the listings
120 cm160 cm143 to 150 cm
150 cm190 cm176 to 183 cm
180 cm (6 ft)220 cm230 to 240 cm
240 cm280 cm274 to 300 cm

If the closest size is a little short, the runner hangs over by 10 to 15 cm instead of 20 cm, which still looks right. Keep the drop under about 30 cm, or the ends trail onto laps and chair backs.

Fabric and care

  • Polyester is the commonest, light and machine washable, and it creases less than linen.
  • Linen and linen-look runners are textured and drape well, but they crease. Machine wash gently and iron if the label allows.
  • Cotton and cotton blends wash easily. Embroidered ones, such as poinsettia and holly designs, often say gentle cycle, so read the label.
  • Sheer gauze with a glitter finish is listed as dry clean only, and the non-woven roll is cut to the length you need.

Using Christmas table runners with the rest of the table

Layering

Lay the runner over a plain cloth in white or cream, or use it alone on a wooden table with placemats. Put the centrepiece items on the centre line, keep real candles in holders away from the fabric edges, and use mats under hot dishes because fabric can scorch. A Christmas tablecloth underneath should be plain if the runner is patterned.

Instead of a runner

A short garland laid down the centre of the table does the same job. Christmas garlands of 1 m to 2 m suit a table run, with candles placed beside rather than inside the greenery.

Plates, napkins and the rest

Plates and place settings sit either side of the runner: see Christmas plates and tableware, and the full range under Christmas table decorations. For layouts, read Christmas table setting ideas for dinner, and for napkins how to fold Christmas napkins.

Frequently asked questions: Christmas Table Runners

What size Christmas table runner should I buy?

Most runners are 30 to 42 cm wide and 1.4 to 3 m long. Choose the length from your table: the table’s length plus about 40 cm leaves a 20 cm drop at each end. The width should be roughly a third of the table’s width, so 30 cm on a 90 cm table.

How long should a table runner be for a 6ft table?

A 6 ft table is about 183 cm long. A runner of 220 to 240 cm leaves a drop of about 20 to 30 cm at each end, while a 183 cm runner ends level with the table edges. Both 230 cm and 240 cm runners appear in the listings.

Should a table runner go over the ends of the table?

Yes, a drop of about 20 cm at each end is the usual look, and keeping it under 30 cm stops the ends trailing onto laps. Over a cloth, keep the runner’s drop shorter than the cloth’s so the two hang evenly. A runner that stops short of the ends also works on a small table.

What can I use instead of a table runner?

A short garland, a length of plain fabric or ribbon, or a roll of kraft paper marks the centre line of the table just as well. Garlands suit candles placed beside them, with a gap between flame and greenery.

Which colour of table runner should I choose for Christmas?

Red is by far the commonest colour in the listings, and green, gold and blue are also sold. On a white or cream cloth any of them works. On a red or patterned cloth, choose a plain runner in gold or cream.

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