6 Best Folding Tables, According to Food Network Kitchen

You’ll spot this table just about everywhere from tag sales to barbecues to church suppers. Its popularity is well-deserved. Not only is it very affordable, it’s easy to set up and has legs shaped like wishbones that give it stability. It automatically locks in the open position, so it won’t collapse. When it’s folded up, it has a slim profile, a latch that sandwiches the two halves together, and a handle make it easy to carry or stash in a closet. It weighs about 25 pounds. Depending on the width of your chairs and whether or not you seat people at the ends, it gives you room for another six to eight people. According to the manufacturer, it can hold 150 pounds which should be more than enough for your holiday feast as long as no one dances on the table.

The utilitarian hard plastic tabletop, which comes in black or white, is easy to wipe clean and will be fine if it’s serving as a prep station or craft table. However if you’re going to be using it at a company meal to seat guests or set up a buffet of platters and dishes, you can top it with a tablecloth and no one will know what’s underneath. Rubber tips on the bottom of the legs protect your floor from scratches.

If you need additional space, Walmart also sells an 8 foot size that can seat eight to 10.

Sure, this "card" table is ideal for gin rummy, Scrabble, or Monopoly game nights but it’s also a great choice if you’re just looking for a small table for an intimate dinner party, a kid’s table, or a drinks station. Made of solid wood with your choice of oak, cherry or fruitwood finish, it doesn’t need a table covering and is even attractive enough to keep out as an occasional table for a lamp or mail, and keys. However, as with all wood furniture, you will want to use coasters for glasses and a tray for beverages and wipe up any spills immediately. The legs fold down diagonally for storage. At 38 pounds, it’s manageable but heavy for its size.

This is a real problem solver if you live in a small apartment and can’t dedicate space to a dining room table but occasionally like to host a dinner party. With its walnut finish, it’s a lovely console to sit behind a sofa or in a hallway. Pull out the gate leg supports and the drop leaves on either side and it becomes a full-size dining room table that can seat six. Some assembly is required. You should be able to easily put it together in an hour or less but if you need if for Thanksgiving, don’t wait until the last minute when you’re concentrating on the turkey and the pies.

Round tables are more convivial. No one sits on an end and everyone can easily see and talk to everyone else. They’re also easy to maneuver around if you’re filling glasses or serving the sweet potatoes. At this table, you can comfortably seat six for dinner or a poker game. It would also be a good choice for setting up a cocktail or appetizer station. The table top is made of white plastic so for most uses, you’ll probably want to top it with a cloth. As Flash Furnitures claims it can hold 440 pounds, it should be able to withstand any load (within reason) that you’re likely to place on it. When it’s time to stash it away, it folds in half and the legs tuck under. It weighs 34 pounds, but a handle makes it easy to transport whether you’re carrying it up from the basement or to a tailgate.

Set up this model and you have enough room at the table for 10 additional guests. While the National Public may look very similar to less expensive tables, this is the Cadillac of the category because of its solid construction. It’s exceptionally durable and strong enough to hold 800 pounds. The extra-thick gray speckled plastic surface can withstand temperatures up to 212 degrees F, which means you don’t have to use trivets to protect it. Although the legs fold under for storage, the table itself doesn’t fold up, so it will take up a bit of room in a closet. It also weighs 50 pounds, which makes it heavy to maneuver and transport.

If you need extra room in the kitchen to hold all your ingredients or the servingware you’ll be using, this table is ideal. It’s also the perfect size to accommodate just a few guests, seat the kids, or use as a card table for games of Uno or doing jigsaw puzzles. It’s strong enough for 165 pounds of dishes and food or Lego pieces. The white plastic table top is easy to wipe clean, but is utilitarian looking so if you use it as a dinner table or even for a Trivial Pursuits party, you’ll want to cover it with a cloth. As it folds in half, weighs only 17 pounds, and has a handle, this table is very portable.