Event linens.
Linens are the fabric items that dress an event room — tablecloths, overlays, napkins, runners, chair covers and table skirting. Most venues include a basic colour as standard and charge for upgrades such as specialty colours, premium fabrics or floor-length cloths.
Linen looks like decoration, but it is really an inventory job: every table needs the right size cloth, every guest needs a napkin, and every piece has to be counted out, counted back in and laundered.
What counts as event linen
The core items are tablecloths and napkins. Around them sit overlays laid on a base cloth, runners on long tables, chair covers and sashes, and skirting around buffet, head and registration tables. House linen is usually white, ivory or black polyester; satin, sequin, textured fabrics and custom colours are upgrades, from the venue's own stock or an outside rental company on the vendor list.
Sizing is where most orders go wrong. A cloth is chosen by table size and drop — how far it hangs. A lap-length cloth falls 12 to 15 inches; a floor-length cloth drops about 30 inches to hide the table legs, the standard for weddings and formal dinners.
| Table | Lap-length cloth | Floor-length cloth |
|---|---|---|
| 60" round (seats 8) | 90" round | 120" round |
| 72" round (seats 10) | 102" round | 132" round |
| 6 ft banquet (30" × 72") | 60" × 102" | 90" × 132" |
| 8 ft banquet (30" × 96") | 60" × 120" | 90" × 156" |
| 30" cocktail high-top | — | 120" round, often tied with a sash |
Typical US rental prices: a standard polyester tablecloth runs about $10–20, premium fabrics $25–60, napkins $0.75–2 each and chair covers $3–6 plus a sash.
How linen is planned and billed
The linen count comes from the floor plan, not the guest list. Count every guest table, then the ones nobody sits at — head table, cake, gifts, DJ, buffet and bar — which are the ones most often missed. Napkins follow the final guarantee plus about 10%, and most venues hold one or two spare cloths per colour.
House linen is normally included in the room or package price; upgrades are itemised per piece or bundled into a décor package. Linen is the first thing removed at strike, when it is counted and bagged for laundry. Stains, burns and candle wax that will not wash out are charged as damage — one reason venues take a damage deposit.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Ordering lap-length cloths for a room where the table legs and storage underneath should be hidden.
- Counting guest tables only and forgetting the cake, gift, buffet and registration tables.
- Ordering napkins for the exact guest count, with no spares for drops and spills.
- Not counting linen back in after the event, so losses only show up at the laundry or rental return.
Related terms
- Full banquet & catering glossary
- Event floor plan — where the table count for the linen order comes from
- Setup fee — the labour charge that often covers dressing tables
- Strike (teardown) — when linen is removed, counted and bagged
- Damage deposit — what covers stained or burned pieces
- Final guarantee — the guest count napkins are ordered against
Linens — common questions.
What size tablecloth do I need for a 60-inch round table?
Are linens included in the venue price?
How many napkins should I order per guest?
Who pays for stained or damaged linens?
Every cloth counted out and back in.
The LightCater rental inventory add-on shows linen and equipment availability by date, builds pack lists from confirmed events, checks items out and in by barcode, and records repairs and damage charges. Try it free for 14 days, no credit card to start.