Extendable Dining Tables

Extending dining tables give a household two settings in one piece: the everyday compact that fits the room without dominating, and the expanded format for dinner parties and family gatherings. Our collection spans centre-leaf oak classics, draw-leaf solid-timber builds and butterfly-mechanism contemporary tables, each engineered for years of confident extending.
  • Cross Extending Dining Table Oak Cross Extending Dining Table Black Stain
    3 Finish options
  • Nova Extending Dining Table Nova Extending Dining Table Natural Oiled Oak / 180cm
    6 Finish options
  • Dulwich Extending Dining Table Dulwich Extending Dining Table Oak / 158cm
    3 Colour options
  • Tara Extending Dining Table Tara Extending Dining Table 160cm + 1x 55cm extension / Oak
    2 Finish options
  • Anais Extending Dining Table Oak Anais Extending Dining Table Oak
  • Dulwich Round Extending Dining Table Dulwich Round Extending Dining Table Oak
    3 Colour options
  • Romana Extending Dining Table 8-10 Seater Romana Extending Dining Table 6-8 Seater
  • Teramo Extending Dining Table Teramo Extending Dining Table Small
  • Monza Extending Dining Table Monza Extending Dining Table Small
  • Lucca Table Lucca Table

    Most extending dining tables add 40 to 60cm of length per leaf, turning a 160cm four-seater into a 200cm six-seater. Larger tables with double-leaf extensions can grow from 180cm to 280cm, accommodating eight to ten diners. Check the extension mechanism and leaf storage location, as some tables store leaves under the top, others require separate storage.

    Quality extending mechanisms handle regular use without loosening, with metal runners and timber tongue-and-groove builds both rated for daily extending. For households that entertain monthly, a robust mechanism is essential. For occasional use, lighter mechanisms work fine. Ask about the mechanism type when ordering and avoid plastic components in the extension path.

    Well-built extending tables remain fully stable when extended, provided the central leaf engages properly and the mechanism is tightened. Light wobble when leaning on the extension edge is normal; significant movement indicates the leaf isn't fully seated. A solid-timber top and metal runner construction deliver the best long-term stability.

    Extending tables are designed to be extended and contracted regularly, but leaving one fully extended year-round won't damage the mechanism. The main consideration is room space: if the table occupies full floor space when extended, contracting it for everyday use returns the room to its breathing proportions without having to wait for a dinner party.

    • How To Choose A Dining Table
      Buying Guides
      How To Choose A Dining Table
      For many households, the dining table is the heart of the home. It brings family, friends and loved ones together over a delicious meal and offers the perfect place to catch up. However, picking the right table for your room can be a tricky task. To help, we’ve created this guide to cut through the jargon and show you how to choose the right dining table.
    • Design Your Own Dining Table
      Buying Guides
      Design Your Own Dining Table
      Want to design your own bespoke dining table? Well, thanks to the Heal’s Bespoke Dining collection, it’s never been easier to step into the role of designer. By choosing your own legs, wood, size and finish, you can create a table that suits your taste. There are over 2000 options available and coordinating benches to complete the look. We’ve created this useful guide to help you get started designing your own table. 1. Choose your leg style Find your perfect table legs with four different styles to choose from. The criss-crossed Oslo base offers a contemporary silhouette. Slim and splayed, Madrid is ideal for bringing a sleek and minimal look to your home. Harking back to the Arts and Crafts era, Lisbon features a refectory-style base. For more industrial homes, Prague is ideal thanks to its wide metal structure. 2. Choose your edge profile Now you’ve selected your legs, the next step is to choose the edge profile to suit you. Fans of clean lines and minimalist finished are likely to be drawn towards the straight edge profile. If you’re looking for a more contemporary design, a chamfered edge may be a good choice. This lends a touch of detailing to the table and streamlines the aesthetic. A natural edge follows the natural grain of the wood and lends the finished design a more organic aesthetic. 3. Choose your finish Now’s the time to select the ultimate surface. Each table top is crafted using solid wood and is available in six different finishes. These finishes include oiled oak in blonde, smoked, white, grey and natural finishes, as well as a natural walnut option. Each piece of wood boasts unique grains, knots and cracks that showcase the one-of-a-kind nature of your design. 5. Choose your size Next, grab your tape measure and figure out what size table you would like. The Designed By You collection offers seven lengths and two different widths. If you’d like a spot of guidance on choosing your table’s size, why not consult our dedicated buying guide?DINING TABLE BUYING GUIDE 6. Filled or not filled? This can be considered a baffling question, but really it’s quite simple. A filled table has a smooth surface with no holes for crumbs or dust. An unfilled table top showcases its grain in all its natural glory, with knots and cracks on display. Your choice will depend on your preference as well as how the table will be used. DESIGN YOUR OWN TABLE
    • Bring Back The Dining Table
      In People’s Homes
      Bring Back The Dining Table
      What does dinnertime look like in your house? Do you all sit around the table and chat about your day, or are you all on the sofa, plates perched on your laps, as you eat? If the second scenario sounds familiar, you’re not alone. More of us are living busier lives, largely thanks to smartphones increasing connectivity and many of us working longer hours. We believe the dining table is an important feature of any household. As well as providing a space for homework and crafts, families can also sit together and enjoy a meal or discussion around them. With so many of us distracted by technology these days, we believe meal times at the dining table are a good opportunity for the family to bond and share stories from the day. With many finding it difficult to come together as a family for dinner, Heal’s wanted to look at what’s happening at mealtimes and explore the significance of the dining table in the modern home. Does having a table make a difference to relationships? Can something so simple bring a family together? Here’s what we found. All Together Now It seems many of us think it’s important to share mealtimes together yet it is still a contentious topic within families. In fact, one-third of families are getting into disagreements about not sitting at the dining table each night. Women would prefer more time together with their partner at dinnertime, with 38% feeling unhappy if their partners opt to sit elsewhere, and those in the 35-to-44 age bracket are especially frustrated. The Blake Dining Table with Marble Top Attitudes to sharing mealtimes vary from city to city, too, with Mancunians being the most likely to be around the table for dinner. Manchester is one of the strictest cities when it comes to sitting down together, with over half of residents (51%) choosing to do so. Interestingly, London was second on the list (44%). As the busy capital where everything is fast-paced, it’s heartening to see so many families taking the time to share a meal. Well Connected While many of us are trying to get everyone to sit together at mealtimes, there’s one major factor that seems to be building barriers to helping families do this: the mobile phone. We seem to be a nation of phone addicts, with almost one-third of us (32%) using them at the table and over a quarter (28%) admitting to not switching off their mobile at mealtimes. Perhaps unsurprisingly, it’s younger people that find it the hardest to switch off during dinnertime, with 46% of 25 to 34-year-olds being the worst for using their phones at the table, closely followed by the 18 to 24-year-olds (44%). This drops significantly to 29% for the 35 to 44-year-olds, however, this is the age group who struggle the most with being away from their phone during dinner. Of those asked, more women than men find it harder to leave their mobile. Over half (54%) think it’s difficult to keep it away from the dining table. In addition, if you happen to be in Manchester and you can’t resist bringing your phone with you to the table, you’re not alone. This was the worst city (44%) for keeping the mobile next to the dinner plate at mealtimes. The Lisbon Dining Table, part of Heal's Bespoke Dining range It’s not all black and white As well as lots of us struggling to keep our mobiles away while we eat, there’s some deceptive behaviour among parents when it comes to who’s allowed their phones at the table. Of those asked, 11% admitted to checking their phones mid-bite, even though their children aren’t allowed to. Fathers are the biggest culprits, with 13% banning mobiles at mealtime but hanging on to their own anyway. Parents in the 25 to 34 age group are the most likely to do this, while those in the 55-to-64 age bracket are the strictest, imposing a blanket ban on phones at the dining table. Overall, however, almost a quarter (24%) allow children to keep their mobile with them. Should you be a child or young adult in Bristol, you’re least likely to be able to combine sending to your WhatsApp group with dinner as 72% of parents don’t allow it. And if you’re in Belfast, your parents are the biggest culprits. A quarter use their own phones while not allowing the kids to do the same. Get Together As more of our time is taken up by our phones, it seems we’re less likely to sit down together and enjoy a meal as a family. Perhaps it’s time to turn off our devices, enjoy each other’s company, and bring back the dinner table.