Outdoor Dining Tables

You have people coming over, the weather is finally good, and the one thing missing is a table everyone can gather around outside. Early Settler's outdoor dining tables are built for exactly that. As a design-led retailer, we make considered pieces attainable, so yours looks good and lasts through real use.

The right material comes down to the look you love and how much upkeep you want. Our design team chooses and sources each one with intention rather than importing off the shelf, so it holds up outside.

Each material brings its own charm and ages in its own way outdoors:

• Powder-coated aluminium is light and rust-resistant, and white aluminium keeps a space feeling fresh.
• Timber brings natural warmth and suits a relaxed, lived-in setting.
• Reclaimed teak has real character and ages to a soft silvery grey.
• Glass fibre reinforced concrete, cement and polystone give you a solid stone-look top with a grounded, permanent feel.

The right size depends on how many you usually seat. Leave about a metre around the table for chairs.

Match your usual guest numbers to the length that fits your space:

• 4 seats – A table under 140cm seats four and suits a small courtyard or balcony.
• 4 to 6 seats – A table from 140 to 170cm seats four to six for everyday meals.
• 6 to 8 seats – A table from 180 to 220cm seats six to eight, where most of our range sits.
• 8 to 10 seats – A table from 230 to 250cm seats eight to ten with room to spare.
• 10 to 12 seats – A table from 260 to 300cm seats ten to twelve for a full house.
• 12+ seats – A table with over 300cm seats twelve or more.

Extendable tables stretch from around 200 to 300cm as your numbers change. Not sure what fits? Our showroom team sizes these up daily, so bring your measurements to your nearest store.

The best shape depends on your space and how your household gathers. Round outdoor dining tables are a good place to start, because they have no corners, so talk flows, and everyone can see each other. That easy feel makes them work well in a tighter spot, and if you like the look but want a bit more length, an oval does the same job.

When you are regularly feeding a crowd, rectangular tables make more sense, since the straight sides seat more people and suit longer decks. Square tables take the opposite approach, sitting four close together in a way that feels balanced and intimate in a compact courtyard.

If your numbers change week to week, an extendable outdoor dining table bridges both, giving you an everyday size that opens up when guests arrive.

Most of our outdoor furniture is made to stay outside, though how it copes depends on the material. Powder-coated aluminium and other metal tables handle sun and rain well, and they suit coastal air where salt is a factor.

Timber and reclaimed teak cope with the weather too, but left out year-round, they will ask more of you than a metal table. Expect a bit more upkeep, and a spot of shade in peak summer helps them hold their colour for longer.

The stone-look tops are heavy and steady through all seasons. Every material still needs some care to last, and how much varies from piece to piece.

If your table won't be used for a while, cover it with something waterproof yet breathable, or store it. That keeps it ready for alfresco dining whenever you like.

A quick clean now and then keeps every table looking good, and the routine changes a little with each material:

• Powder-coated aluminium – Wipe metal frames down with warm, soapy water and a soft cloth, then rinse and dry.
• Timber – Clean timber with a damp cloth, and treat it regularly to keep the grain looking its best.
• Reclaimed teak – Wash reclaimed teak down, then oil it to hold the warm tone or let it settle to grey.
• Concrete and stone-look tops – Wipe glass fibre reinforced concrete, cement and polystone tops with a damp cloth, and skip harsh chemicals.

Once the table is sorted, the rest of the setting falls into place. Pair it with a set of outdoor dining chairs. Or mix your outdoor chairs with a bench along one side to seat more people.

A few outdoor barstools nearby give friends somewhere to perch, and an outdoor side table keeps drinks and platters within reach. Add an umbrella for shade over long lunches.

A good table is where everyone ends up, and the rest of your setup grows from there. There's more in our outdoor dining range, including bar tables, coffee tables and complete outdoor dining table sets.

Set up a gazebo or pergola for shade, and a few outdoor accessories finish an easy poolside lunch.

Early Settler has designed and sourced furniture since 1985. We are Australian-owned, and over 40 years of helping families find the right pieces means a made-to-last approach sits behind every table.

You feel that difference years later, with patio furniture still going strong.

A standard outdoor dining table sits about 74 to 76cm high. That height suits most dining chairs and leaves room for your knees. If you already have chairs, check their seat height so they tuck under neatly.

Most outdoor dining tables are 90 to 100cm wide. That gives each person enough room to eat, with space down the middle for platters and drinks. A narrower top suits a tight balcony, while a wider one feels generous for long meals.

You do not need a rug under an outdoor dining table, but an outdoor rug adds warmth and pulls the setting together. Choose one rated for outdoor use so it copes with sun and rain. Check that chairs still slide out over the edge.

Yes, you can use an outdoor dining table indoors. Materials like timber and aluminium look just as good in a kitchen or dining room. It is a smart choice for a small home, since one table can move between the deck and inside.

To steady an outdoor dining table on uneven ground, adjust the feet if it has levellers, or wedge the short leg. On soft grass, place a paver or flat board under each foot so it stops sinking and rocking.