How to Choose a Furniture Leg
There is a wide variety of furniture legs to choose from - wooden, curvy, metallic and more. We've looked at all of the choices you have to make and whittled them down into this guide that will help you find the right table leg for you.
Here are the main factors to consider when choosing a table leg.
Main Factors
1. Height
Furniture legs are between 3" and 10".
If you need a table leg that is a custom size, Table Legs Online can custom cut your table leg. Just make sure the height is shorter than the original height - we can't make a table leg longer but can shorten it with a custom cut.
2. Size
This measurement refers to the diameter for round legs and to the width and depth for rectangular or square legs.
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Width and Depth |
Diameter |
3. Material
Table legs will be made from several different materials. The most common aluminum, metal / steel, plastic, stainless steel, wood and zinc.
Aluminum is a great choice for a base if you would like a lighter leg, as aluminum is not a very heavy metal but is still extremely durable. Plastic furniture legs are less expensive and can be made to look like metal. Stainless steel legs are great for restaurants, kitchens and outdoor tables. This is because stainless steel is rust resistant and easy to sanitize. Wood legs bring personality and can often be painted easily to further customize.
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Aluminum |
Metal / Steel |
Plastic |
Stainless Steel |
Wood |
Zinc |
4. Finish
Finish is the coating on the outside of the leg. There are dozens of finishes available, not to mention if you wanted to add a custom finish yourself, such as painting the leg. We do not recommend painting your leg as most legs are usually metal and they are finished with a special powder-coating. You can however paint your base if you desire, just make sure you use a paint that is designed for metal applications. Wood legs present a good opportunity to custom paint, especially if they aren't finished with any coating.
The most common finishes are black, chrome and brushed steel. Custom finishes come in a wide array, ranging from white to brass to even champagne. There are also wood-metal combination finishes as well as stainless steel finishes. These two should really be listed under "Material", but some people list them under finishes.
5. Shape
Furniture legs come in a variety of shapes.
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Angled |
Curves |
Rectangle |
Round |
Square |
Tapered |
6. Height Adjustment
If you’re looking to adjust the height of your desk, counter or bar, you should opt for height adjustable table legs. Check to see how much adjustment it allows before selecting your choice. For many applications this isn’t necessary. But it could come in handy if you want to adjust between desk height and standing height or if you want to change from sitting height to bar height at a restaurant. Height adjustment can also help with making your furniture ADA compliant.
Secondary Factors
In general, these are not main factors to most consumers, but are important to keep in mind and may be applicable to you.
Load Capacity Per Leg
The load capacity per table leg tells you the maximum weight that each leg can hold up. Take into account how much weight will be placed on top of the furniture too.
Load Capacity Per Leg
Style
Style is all up to your aesthetic preference. Here are some table base styles below to choose from.
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Classic / Traditional |
Contemporary |
Modern / Contemporary |
Commercial |
Turned |
Mobile vs. Fixed
If you want your table to easily move around, you’ll want it to be mobile. Otherwise, a fixed furniture leg will work for your purposes. A fixed leg is not necessarily bolted into the ground, rather it is not equipped with wheels to create more mobility. Fixed legs can be moved, but not with the ease of a mobile leg that comes with wheels.
Attachment Method
Some furniture legs come with mounting plates to attach them to the furniture. Make sure that whatever attachment method will work for your application.
Feel free to contact us if you need help choosing a furniture leg. We'd be happy to help you out.