How to set a Christmas table: layout, crackers and a simple timing plan
Quick answer: Allow at least 20 inches (about 50 cm) of table edge for each person. Lay forks on the left, knives and spoons on the right, in the order they will be used from the outside in, with glasses above the knives. Put a cracker at each place, keep the centrepiece low enough to see over, and lay the table the day before.
Last updated: 12 November 2026
The Christmas table is the one meal of the year when most of us use every plate, glass and chair in the house. It does not have to be formal, but a little planning makes the day calmer. This guide follows Debrett's advice on layout, adds the story and the etiquette of the cracker, and ends with a timing plan that gets the table finished before the cooking starts.
How much space each person needs
Debrett's, the long-established guide to British etiquette, recommends leaving an even amount of space between places, ideally no less than 20 inches. That is about 50 cm for each person, measured along the edge of the table.
| People along one side | Table edge needed (at 50 cm each) |
|---|---|
| 2 | 100 cm |
| 3 | 150 cm |
| 4 | 200 cm |
| 5 | 250 cm |
A minimum, based on Debrett's figure of 20 inches a place. Chairs with arms and high chairs need more.
Count the chairs as well as the places. If you are borrowing chairs or adding a second table, try the arrangement a few days ahead so that there are no surprises. Tablecloths, runners and placemats in our Christmas Table & Kitchen department list their measurements, so measure the table before you order.
The place setting, in order
Debrett's sums up the principle in one line: the idea is always to work from the outside in. Cutlery for the first course lies furthest from the plate, and each course takes the next pieces inwards.
- Cloth or mats. Start with a tablecloth, a runner or placemats. Debrett's suggests positioning a table mat about an inch from the edge of the table.
- Forks on the left. Lay them in order of use, with the first-course fork on the outside.
- Knives and spoons on the right. Again in order of use from the outside in, with the knife blades facing the plate.
- Pudding spoon and fork. For a formal dinner, Debrett's lays these innermost, next to the plate; if space is short, bring them to the table when the pudding is served.
- Side plate and napkin. The side plate goes to the left. Debrett's advises that napkins should be simply folded or rolled and placed on the side plates.
- Glasses. Group them or line them up on the right, above the knives. A tumbler for water and two wine glasses, the larger for red wine, is usually enough.
For reference, Debrett's gives the traditional plate sizes as ten inches or a little more for dinner plates, eight inches for pudding plates and six inches for side plates. If your festive plates are larger than your everyday ones, check that they still fit side by side at 50 cm a place.
Crackers: where they go and where they came from
Put one cracker at each place, across the plate or above it. They are pulled at the start of the meal in many homes and with the pudding in others; there is no rule. The paper hat goes on straight away and, by long custom, stays on.
The cracker is a British invention. According to the Victoria and Albert Museum, Tom Smith, a London confectioner and baker, discovered the French "bon bon", a sugared almond wrapped in a twist of tissue paper, on a trip to Paris. He patented his first cracker device in 1847 and perfected the mechanism in the 1860s: two strips of paper with a chemical coating which, when pulled, create a small explosion by friction. His son Walter later added the paper hats and sourced the novelties and gifts.
That small snap is why crackers are regulated. Under the Pyrotechnic Articles (Safety) Regulations 2015, Christmas crackers must not be sold to anyone under 12. Children can of course join in at the table with an adult; keep the small novelties away from very young children.
The centrepiece
Debrett's advice on flowers applies to any centrepiece: arrangements should be low enough for guests to see over. A table where people have to lean round the decorations to talk is not a success. It also points out that you will need plenty of room for serving dishes, so leave space in the middle or plan to serve from a sideboard.
One of its suggestions works especially well: place a Christmas wreath in the centre of the table and stand candles inside the ring. A garland laid along a runner does the same job on a long table. On a small table, a single low bowl of baubles takes up less room than anything with height.
Candles on the table
Candlelight is flattering, and Debrett's notes that plenty of candles should be used so that everyone can see their food; the old rule, it says, was six candles, in pairs, for eight people. Safety comes first, though. London Fire Brigade advises keeping candles in heat-resistant holders on a stable surface, not close to anything that can catch fire, and out of the reach of children and pets, and never leaving them unattended. On a Christmas table that means:
- keep flames clear of greenery, paper napkins, crackers and paper hats;
- do not reach across a lit candle to pass dishes; move the dish round instead;
- put candles out when everyone leaves the table.
London Fire Brigade describes flameless LED candles as a much safer alternative to real candles and tea lights. They are a sensible choice where children are at the table. Candles and holders are in Indoor Christmas Decorations.
A simple timing plan
| When | What to do |
|---|---|
| Two to three weeks before | Count guests, chairs, plates, glasses and cutlery. Measure the table. Order anything missing, including crackers: one for each person. |
| The week before | Wash and iron the tablecloth and napkins. Polish glasses and cutlery. Decide on the centrepiece and try it on the table. |
| Two days before | Write place cards if you are using them. Check candles and holders. Clear the sideboard for serving dishes. |
| Christmas Eve | Lay the whole table: cloth, mats, cutlery, glasses, napkins, crackers and centrepiece. Turn glasses upside down or cover the table with a clean sheet overnight. |
| Christmas Day | Remove the cover, fill the water jugs, and light the candles just before everyone sits down. |
Laying the table the day before is the single most useful thing on the list. It takes a job out of the busiest morning of the year, and it shows up anything that is missing while there is still time to improvise.
If you need to order
Our Christmas delivery dates page gives the suggested order-by date and explains how long delivery takes, and the Christmas countdown lists the key dates of the season. Whether a piece of tableware can go in the dishwasher, microwave or oven is stated on its product page; if you cannot find the answer, the FAQ explains how to reach us.