What is the objective of the foldable table?

When you shop for folding tables, they can all start to look alike. And if you’re buying them in bulk, that uniform look is a feature you want—but you shouldn’t choose folding tables based on appearances alone.

The materials used to construct a folding table have a big impact on durability and the life of a table.

Here are the important things to look at before buying folding tables in bulk.

• Table size & weight limits
• Tabletop materials & finish
• Tabletop edge construction
• Weight of the table
• Leg style
• Ease of maintenance
• Reliability
• Lifetime & warranty
• Customization options
• Cart options
• Folding table cost

Table Size & Weight Limits

As you shop for a set of folding tables, size is paramount. You need tables that will serve the spaces where you’ll be using them, be it a reception hall, a multi-purpose room, or anywhere else. Read this ultimate folding tables buying guide if you need tables for a specific space.

A few size questions come up for every folding table buyer.

1. How big is a folding table?

Folding tables come in many sizes! Rectangular folding tables are usually 18 or 24 inches (1.5 to 2 feet) wide and 60 to 96 inches (5-8 feet) long (but they can be larger or smaller). The diameter of a round folding table indicates its size; standard sizes range from 36 inches to 72 inches across (3-6 feet wide).

2. What is a card table?

Square folding tables are known as card tables, even when they’re used for meetings or banquets. Popular tabletop sizes for card tables are 30 inches by 30 inches (76 cm) square and 36 inches by 36 inches (91 cm) square. Either of these will seat four guests.

3. How long is a folding table?

For planning purposes, it helps to know how long a typical rectangular folding table is. But again, the answer is “it varies.” MityLite sells folding tables that are 30 inches (2.5 feet) long up to 96 inches (8 feet) long.

4. How tall is a folding table?

A standard folding table usually stands about 29 to 30 inches high. Bar height folding tables are 42–46 inches high. However, higher end folding tables are available with adjustable heights so you can make them taller or shorter for different functions. If you opt for these features, you can use the same tables for a preschool craft project one day and a fundraising dinner the next night.

5. How much weight can a folding table hold?

Just like size, folding table weight limits vary widely. High-quality folding tables are made to have a high weight capacity—often up to 2,000 pounds. Lower quality plastic tables might only be able to hold 250-300 pounds, which indicates the lower overall strength of their materials and a susceptibility to breaking.

Tabletop Materials & Finish

A tabletop made using particleboard won’t hold up to hard use, and the table will likely only last one year before it needs to be replaced. On the other hand, a table made using ABS plastic or a strong plywood table with a laminate surface will last 10 to 15 times longer.

The finish used on the table is also important. For example, a tabletop with a commercial-grade, high-pressure decorative laminate (HPDL) surface is extremely durable, scratch-resistant, and easy to clean.

Tabletop Edge & Corner Construction

A heavy-duty tabletop edge will help preserve the life of the table. Corner construction of rectangular tables should be impact-resistant to prevent damage from being dropped accidentally. Vinyl edging on laminate tables and an extruded aluminum edge for plastic tables will provide added strength and impact resistance. These table edges are perfect for rough setup crews and high-use/high-turnover environments.

Leg style

Look for tables with a sturdy leg design that includes a mechanism that bolts into the underside of the table rather than being attached with wooden screws. The purpose of a folding table is that it is easy to set up and take down, and you want table legs that can withstand constant folding and unfolding.

Look for powder coated steel or aluminum legs that will be scratch resistant. The legs should fold compactly to the table frame for easy storage. Another good feature to look for is a snap-lock folding design which will provide stability without the use of extra clips or parts.

Table weight

Seek out table manufacturers that clearly state the weight for each table model and size so you can choose the best tables for your facility. Safety and liability can become an issue if tables are too heavy to be easily set up and moved. Finding tables with a corresponding table cart that is easy to load and move can go a long way.

Ease of Maintenance

Purchase tables with a strong surface that resists stains and scratches. It should also be capable, to some degree, of withstanding contact with hot objects. Most important of all, the surface should be easy to clean and disinfect.

High-quality linenless tables can be wiped down between uses with common disinfecting sprays and wipes between uses. Look for tables that have a seamless tabletop as these are easy to maintain and keep clean.

Reliability & Testing

A good table will be put through rigorous protocols to test durability in various scenarios. These include the ability to withstand being repeatedly dropped on the tabletop edge and rolled over rough surfaces. These tests are designed to ensure durability and lower the cost of ownership over time.

Lifetime & Warranty

Reputable manufacturers back up their product with a solid warranty. Durable folding tables will be warrantied for at least 3 to 15 years, or more depending on the table style.

Cheaper blow-molded plastic tables and particleboard tables will likely need to be replaced every year.

Customization Options

Look for tables that offer a wide variety of shapes and sizes to fit your unique needs. Having the option for adjustable heights, varying widths, and different lengths are ideal. Also, look for various color and material options for the tabletops and legs.

Cart Options

You may require unique storage and cart needs. Consider the width of your doorways, elevators, and storage areas and look at a supplier with a variety of cart options to help you get the most efficient use out of your facility.

Look for carts that are easy to load and unload as well as being easy to maneuver around corners when loaded.

Folding Table Cost

Of course, you also have to consider the overall price when buying folding tables in bulk. Just how much does a folding table cost? There’s no one answer to this question, but the adage remains true: you get what you pay for. Cheap folding tables are usually made from low-quality materials and won’t last long with near-daily use in a busy environment like a party venue, a religious multi-purpose space, a healthcare facility, or a school.

Fortunately, when you buy folding tables in bulk, you may qualify for a discount based on the quantity you purchase, and financing options are usually available.

MityLite Folding Table Options

When it comes to folding tables, you may find it’s worth the investment to purchase higher-quality tables that are a bit more expensive and hence more durable. Having to replace tables year over year will add up over time—not to mention the amount you can save in labor costs and liability by having tables that are safe and easy to set up and take down.

MityLite folding tables are constructed to provide durability and ease of use. Our tables support up to 2,000 pounds, depending on the model.

Tables featuring the MityEdge are 3 times more durable than other tables on the market. In fact, during testing, the tables were shown to withstand 60,000 1-inch drops without failing or showing damage.

All MityLite tables are GREENGUARD® Certified and backed by a solid warranty of up to 15 years.

MityLite folding tables are constructed to provide durability and ease of use. Our tables support up to 2,000 pounds, depending on the model.

Features include a lightweight leg design with a powder-coated finish and patented locking mechanism that holds folded legs flat when not in use. Whether the tabletop is constructed of ABS plastic or wood laminate, the surface is resistant to scratches and stains. We offer a variety of sizes and styles in addition to numerous color options for tabletops and legs.

Browse our folding table selection today.

Portable furniture

A folding table is a type of folding furniture, a table with legs that fold up against the table top. This is intended to make storage more convenient and to make the table more portable. Many folding tables are made of lightweight materials to further increase portability.

Description

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Folding tables are produced in many sizes, configurations, and designs. They can be made from plastic, metal, wood, and other materials. Some manufacturers use specialist materials such as engineered wood when producing tables.

Folding mechanism

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There are two main types of folding table. Those that have leaves that fold down such as a Pembroke table, drop-leaf table or gateleg table, and those that fold by having legs that bend on a hinge located at the connection point between the table top and the leg. The leg is designed to fold and fit securely against the underside of the table top, while remaining attached. Because the hinge requires a stable material such as metal for dexterity, some producers use lightweight materials such as aluminium for an increased degree of portability in the folding mechanism.

Uses

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Folding tables are used in homes, schools, churches, and other buildings that have rooms intended for various functions. Folding tables can be used for sit-down activities, and then easily removed and stored out of the way when open space is needed. Wooden folding tables are also sometimes used as weapons in professional wrestling.

History

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The history of the folding table may date back as far as ancient Egypt. By the Colonial and Victorian eras, the tables were common.[1]

During the 20th century, folding tables became an inexpensive item manufactured and sold in large quantities.

In the 1940s, Durham Manufacturing Company was marketing a basic model.[2] In 1951, Boris Cohen and Joseph Pucci patented the first table that could be easily carried around.[3] It was widely used by paper-hangers and handymen, and is fairly indistinguishable from present day aluminum folding tables. In the 1950s and 1960s, Falco[4] and Samsonite[5] tables were popular.[6]

In the 1990s and 2000s, American manufacturer Lifetime Products became the world's largest producer of folding tables.[7]

Styles

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Card table

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A card table is a square table with legs that fold up individually, with one leg lining each edge. Card tables are traditionally used for playing card games, board games, and other tabletop games. Due to their low cost and small storage size, in the United States they are frequently found in college apartments, or as auxiliary seating for family meals such as Thanksgiving. Many folding card tables are used for specialist games such as contract bridge, Mahjong or poker, as a result there are some folding tables with fabric surfaces such as felt. In the UK, card tables are purpose-designed for cards with a green baize surface and foldaway leaves or legs.

General-use table

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Rectangle, square, and round folding tables are designed for general home and office uses.

Banquet table

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Banquet tables are traditionally used by restaurants and caterers for setting up temporary buffets. They are also popular among retailers and vendors at trade shows for displaying products, and for use as temporary desks.

Personal table

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A personal table, also called a TV tray, is a small table designed to be used by only one person at a time. They are popular for dining while watching television, or for working on small projects. Students often use personal tables for doing homework.[8]

Folding picnic table

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A folding picnic table has built-in seats that fold up along with the legs. They are used commonly in school cafeterias and in the backyards of homes.

Tailgate folding table

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A camping or recreational table specifically designed for the tailgate of pickup trucks. Its patent pending low profile folding mechanism conveniently can be folded up, to use the tailgate as a bench with a picnic table attached. When not in use, it can be folded down and is not in the way. It is useable for outdoor recreational purposes, e.g. camping, hiking, fishing, hunting, sports events, barbecues, tailgating, picnic or in professional environments as outdoor computer desk, meeting table and the like.

Ironing board

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An ironing board is a small, portable, folding table with a heat-resistant top that is used for ironing clothes.

Wallpaper table

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A wallpaper table (or paste or pasting table) is a long, light folding table used by interior decorators. The decorator lays out a strip of wallpaper flat on the table to apply paste so that the wallpaper can then be fixed onto the wall. The table needs to be long to accommodate wallpaper, so other tables typically found in rooms are insufficient, and needs to be light and foldable so that they can be easily transported. Their ease of transportation and assembly means wallpaper tables are sometimes used for other informal purposes such as car boot sales and camping.[9]

Gallery

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• A 1950s folding table

• Personal table or TV tray

• Folding ironing board

• Modern folding table

• Tailgate folding table (open)

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  This ca. 1700–1720 table, designed for coach travel, folds out to accommodate six for dinner (with utensil drawer and fiddle rails) and offers felt and leather surfaces for playing cards and writing, respectively.

• Folding table from Cairo, Egypt, 1915

• Legs of same table, folded; damascene tray tabletop lifts off

See also

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References

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