The right coffee table sits one-third the length of your sofa and 2-5cm lower than the sofa cushion. Get either of those wrong and the room looks unbalanced no matter how expensive the table is. We hold over 530 coffee tables in stock across our Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane warehouses, from $35 small side tables to $600 marble statement pieces. Most dispatch within 1-2 business days.
What size coffee table do I need?
The coffee table length should be roughly two-thirds of your sofa length, and never more than three-quarters. A 220cm 3-seater sofa pairs with a 110-160cm coffee table. A 180cm 2-seater pairs with an 80-120cm table. Square or round tables under 80cm suit single armchairs or small apartments.
| Sofa length |
Coffee table length |
Best shape |
| 140-180cm (2-seater) |
80-110cm |
Square or small rectangle |
| 180-220cm (3-seater) |
110-150cm |
Rectangle or oval |
| 220-260cm (4-seater) |
140-170cm |
Rectangle |
| L-shaped sectional |
90-110cm |
Round or square — fits inside the L |
Leave at least 35-40cm of walking space between the table edge and the sofa, and 75cm between the table and TV unit for foot traffic.
What height should a coffee table be?
The coffee table top should sit between 2cm below and 5cm below your sofa cushion height. Most modern sofas have 40-45cm cushion heights, which means a 38-42cm coffee table top. Too tall and you can't reach over without leaning; too short and drinks balance awkwardly when seated.
Lift-top coffee tables (the kind that raise to laptop height) are the exception — they're 40-43cm closed and 55-65cm open. Useful if you work or eat from the couch.
Glass top, timber or stone — which holds up to real life?
Glass tops chip at the corners and crack from point impacts (a phone dropped from sofa height, a heavy candle holder). Tempered glass under 8mm thickness is the most likely to break. If you have kids under 10 or pets, skip glass entirely or choose 10mm+ tempered with rounded edges.
Timber tops mark from heat, water rings and acidic spills (red wine, citrus). Solid timber can be sanded back and re-finished; veneer cannot. Stone tops (marble, travertine, sintered stone) are the most durable but the heaviest — a 120cm marble coffee table weighs 40-60kg and needs two people to move.
| Material |
Best for |
Watch out for |
Price range |
| Solid timber |
Long-term, can refinish |
Water rings, heat marks |
$200-$700 |
| Timber veneer over MDF |
Mid-budget, dry homes |
Edge chipping after 2-3 years |
$80-$300 |
| Tempered glass top |
Modern, open feel |
Chips, cracks from kids and pets |
$100-$400 |
| Marble or travertine |
Statement piece, family use |
Staining from wine, acidic drinks |
$300-$800 |
| Concrete or cement |
Industrial look, durable |
Heavy (40kg+), cracks if dropped |
$200-$500 |
| Rattan or bamboo |
Coastal, light rooms |
Splits in dry indoor heating |
$80-$250 |
What about coffee table storage?
Coffee tables with storage save the most space in apartments and small living rooms. Three real options: drawers (formal look, fits remotes and coasters), open shelf below (casual, fits books and baskets), and lift-top with hollow interior (laptop work + hidden storage). Open shelves get dusty fast — closed drawers don't.
Quick buyer's checklist
- Length: two-thirds of your sofa length, never more than three-quarters
- Height: 2-5cm below your sofa cushion
- Walking clearance: 35-40cm between table edge and sofa
- Material match: glass for modern, timber for warm, stone for statement
- Kid-test: avoid sharp corners, thin glass, marble that stains
- Storage: drawers stay cleaner than open shelves
Frequently asked questions
What's the right coffee table size for a 3-seater sofa?
110-150cm length for a typical 200-220cm 3-seater sofa. The table should be roughly two-thirds the sofa length and one-third its depth, with at least 35cm walking space between them.
How tall should a coffee table be?
Between 38-45cm tall for most modern sofas. The top should sit 2-5cm below your sofa cushion height. Lift-top coffee tables raise to 55-65cm for laptop or dining use.
How long does delivery take?
We dispatch within 1-2 business days from our Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane warehouses. Capital city addresses arrive in 3-5 business days. Perth and Adelaide take 5-8 days. Regional and Tasmanian addresses take 5-12 days.
Can I pay with Afterpay or Zip?
Yes. We accept Afterpay, Zip, Klarna and PayPal Pay in 4. A $200 coffee table works out to four fortnightly payments of $50 with Afterpay. A $400 marble coffee table is $100 a fortnight.
What's your returns policy?
We offer 15-day returns on unassembled coffee tables in original packaging. Every table comes with a 12-month manufacturer warranty. See our return policy for full details.
Complete your living room
A coffee table sits at the centre of the room but doesn't furnish it alone. Add a sofa sized to give the table the right proportions, a rug that extends 30cm past the table edges on all sides, and a TV unit roughly the same length as your sofa.
Why buy your coffee table from Simple Deals
We're a family-run Australian business, trading since 2018. We hold coffee table stock in our Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane warehouses, dispatch in 1-2 business days, and back every table with a 12-month warranty and 15-day returns. Real people answer the phone on 1300 456 786, Monday to Friday. Over 50,000 Australian customers; 4.66★ from 5,363 verified reviews.
