Choosing Strong & Stable Table Legs

Ensuring your project has a strong, safe, and stable base is crucial, particularly if it's designed for work or dining.

Strength vs. Stability

• Strength refers to the maximum loading legs can take prior to failure, and is absolutely critical to ensure a safe build.

• Stability ensures a high-quality feel. Although legs may be strong enough to support a weight, the overall outcome might not meet expectations.

Achieving a Rock-Solid, High-Quality Feel

A set of table legs might easily support a heavy top, but have poor lateral support, resulting in a wobbly and low quality feeling table. These are the main things to consider to achieve a rock-solid table.

Length of Legs

The longer the legs, the more flexible they will be. To this end, short legs are usually rock solid for even the heaviest of project, while taller legs need more consideration.

Stiffness of Table Top

If the table top is flexible over its length, the table will wobble from side-to-side, no matter how stiff or strong the legs are. Thin tops made of flexible material, or especially long tops tend to suffer the most. To ensure a stiff top, we suggest:

• 18mm plywood, or equivalent : Up to 1.2m leg span

• 24mm plywood, or equivalent : Up to 1.8m leg span

• 32mm plywood, or equivalent : Up to 2.4m leg span

For flexible tops, choose a Full Frame Leg or make the table-top stiffer.

pageHow to Improve Stiffness of a Table ToppageBuilding Long TablespageWhen to Choose a Full Frame Leg Base

Weight Guidance

At The Hairpin Leg Co., we do not specify absolute weight ratings for our products. This approach is deliberate; the capacity for weight support significantly varies depending on the design and construction of your overall project, and the weight an individual table leg can support is mostly irrelevant.

Furthermore, we believe in prioritising the stability and quality-feel of your project.

Tall Legs (86cm - 102cm)

pageStrength & Stability: Tall Legs (86 - 102cm)

Desk & Dining Table Height Legs (71cm)

pageStrength & Stability: Table Legs (71cm)

Bench Legs (40cm)

pageStrength & Stability: Bench Legs (40cm)

Short Legs (Under 40cm)

Shorter legs are inherently stroger and stiffer than their taller counterparts. You will be hard pushed to build something on small legs where weight is an issue. If you have any specific concerns on this, do get in touch.