Table linens are available in every color of the rainbow and in just about every size and fabric you can imagine. And then, there are overlays, table runners and other accessories you can use to enhance your tables. Traditional sizes are rectangular used for Banquet tables and round for Round tables. Sizes are described in lengths and the most common lengths are:
Lap Length Linen
As the name implies, this length means the linen will fall at or about the lap of a person sitting at the table. They do not go to the floor. These are also more economical than floor length linens and typically are appropriate for guest tables and not recommended for buffet tables, cake tables or other tables used as a focal point in the room.
These are typically ordered by inches: A 90" Round Linen will cover a 60" Round Table with about a 15" drop falling to the lap. A 120" x 60" Banquet (rectangular) linen will cover a 6' or 8' Banquet table (rectangular) with about a drop at the lap of a guest sitting at the table.
Floor Length Linen
Floor length linen will cover the entire table and barely touch the ground. A person sitting at a table with linen to the floor will actually "push" the linen in when seated at the table. This is the size you should use for Buffet Tables, Cake Tables, Gift Tables, Award tables and any table that has a "purpose". Guest tables do not have be floor length.
These are typically ordered by inches like a 120" round linen will cover a 60" table to the floor. For Banquet tables, they're referred to by their dimensions. An 11' x 90" linen will cover a 6' Banquet table to the floor. These also cost more than lap length simply because there is more linen used to create the tablecloth but also more to maintain and clean.