An end table should finish within about two inches of the top of your sofa arm, which on most sofas means a table 22 to 26 inches tall. Measure your own arm height rather than buying to a standard, because low-arm and armless sofas change the answer completely. The in-stock tables below run from $106.07 to $548.60 and span roughly 18 to 26 inches tall.
Measure the arm, then pick the height
Put a tape measure on the floor and read the height of the top of the sofa arm. A table level with that arm, or an inch or two below it, puts a drink where your hand already is. A table noticeably taller than the arm looks wrong and is awkward to reach into.
If the sofa has no arms, or very low ones, measure to the top of the seat cushion instead and aim a few inches above it. Lounge seating and mid-century frames often want a table around 18 to 20 inches tall, which is shorter than most people expect.
Width, depth and the gap beside the sofa
Measure the floor space you actually have between the sofa and the wall or the walkway. A table that fits the height and not the gap will be in the way every day. Narrow sculptural tables suit a tight gap; a wider top is only worth it if you will set more than a cup on it.
Round tops are easier to live with in a walkway because there is no corner to catch, which also makes them the safer pick in a room with small children.
Material, weight and where the table lives
Stone and marble tops are stable and feel substantial, but they are heavy to move for vacuuming and can mark if something acidic is spilled. Solid wood is the most forgiving indoors. Glass keeps a small room feeling open. A waterproof, scratch-resistant top is the one to choose if the table will spend time on a covered porch or in a sunroom.
Think about whether you want storage. A tier or a shelf underneath turns a side table into somewhere remotes and books can live, and that is usually worth more day to day than a larger top.
One table or a pair
A table at each end of the sofa reads as deliberate and gives everyone sitting down somewhere to put a drink, which is the practical argument for buying two. They do not have to match: two tables of the same height in different materials usually looks better than an identical pair, and it is easier to do when one of them has to fit a tighter gap.
If you are buying one, put it at the end people actually sit at, which is normally the end nearest the door or the television. And keep the height consistent with your coffee table rather than matching it exactly, so the room has one eye line across the seating.
In-stock picks at Nikki Casa
In stock now at the prices shown. The full side tables collection has more shapes and heights.
- End Table, Black — $106.07. A small sculptural table at about 11.75 inches across, for a narrow gap beside an armchair.
- Round Solid Wood End Table, Black — $132.26. Round, about 12 inches wide and 18 inches tall, which suits a low-seated sofa.
- Rubberwood End Table, Milk White — $185.64. A three-tier corner table, so it adds storage where a single top would not.
- Glass End Table, Beige — $257.61. Waterproof and scratch resistant, which makes it usable on a covered porch as well as indoors.
- Stone End Table, White and Multi — $548.60. A 15.7-inch marble hexagon; heavy, and the one here to choose on looks.
FAQ
How tall should an end table be next to a sofa?
Within about two inches of the top of the sofa arm, which is usually 22 to 26 inches. Measure your own arm height, because sofas vary widely.
What if my sofa has no arms?
Measure to the top of the seat cushion and choose a table a few inches above it, often around 18 to 20 inches tall.
Round or square end table?
Round is easier in a walkway and safer around children. Square or rectangular gives you more usable surface in the same footprint.
What does shipping and returns look like?
Standard shipping is free to the contiguous 48 states; oversized freight items may carry a fee. Items in original condition can be returned within 30 days, and the customer pays return shipping.