12 best extendable dining tables to make the most of small spaces

The Romsey is a classic beauty. Its sturdy build and warm oak tones exude a timeless charm that blends seamlessly into any dining space. The table is compact enough for everyday family meals, but its extending feature means you can easily accommodate extra guests – with no elbow jostling.

The table feels like a proper investment, crafted from solid oak, meaning it’s built to last. Its simple, fuss-free design ensures it won’t date, either. Perfect for a cosy dinner or a lively feast, this table has both style and function covered. Plus, it’s easy to extend and shrink back. This one’s a great shout for everyday dining and occasional entertaining.

We loved this round-to-oval dining table, with its classic butterfly-style extension mechanism in the centre – ideal if you don’t have the space (or inclination) to store any extra pieces. It’s made from solid wood and will look as smart in the kitchen as it will in the dining room.

The Banbury is on the smaller side – it will comfortably seat four adults but, in reality, six is rather cosy. What it lacks in size, however, it makes up for in affordability. Simple and stylish with smooth, user-friendly functionality, it’s a steal at less than £200.

With mid-century modern design roots, the Lockley blends sleek lines with a sophisticated natural finish. The dining table’s warm saman wood tones and tapered legs give it a retro charm that’s effortlessly stylish. We loved this one for its textured chevron top, making it a great fit for both modern and vintage-inspired interiors.

Beyond that, its extendable feature proves highly practical. With the table’s cleverly concealed built-in butterfly leaf extension, it’s ideal for hosting larger gatherings, without losing the Lockley’s elegant proportions. Crafted from high-quality materials, the table feels solid and durable. If you’re after a furniture piece that combines mid-century flair with everyday practicality, this design ticks all the boxes.

The Jimi boasts a slinky mechanism that allows the table to go from a space-saving two-seater up to a generous six-seater in a matter of moments: simply slide, twist, and unfold the top. It proves an impressive party piece. Thanks to its invisible platform locking system, its clean, contemporary lines stay uninterrupted, in whichever configuration you have it.

The table boasts a distinctive Scandi aesthetic, with its smooth white top (think lacquered MDF in a polyurethane varnish finish) contrasted with its pale natural wood frame in solid birch. In short, we loved this stylishly modern and compact table. 

Getting top marks for versatility, this handsome furniture piece can transform from a cosy four-seater right up to an impressive 10-person table – ideal for large family gatherings. The clever design allows for three configurations – add one or two extension leaves in the centre, to suit your dining needs.

It boasts smooth veneers with an attractive grain, giving it a sleek, contemporary finish, while its fuss-free boxy shaping is one for minimalists who appreciate a clean line. We found the table to be solid and sturdy – it takes two people to extend it.

This may look like a humble furniture piece but, true to form from Ikea, it boasts an ingenious design that maximises legroom, putting guests’ comfort at the fore. Where most extendable tables comprise a fixed base and add-on leaves, these legs come with you when you pull out the table to its full extension. With one simple pull, the side leaf is then revealed and placed on top, leaving you with a larger dining table that – like magic – still has a leg in each corner.

Further to the clever design, the white-painted wooden table offers an understated elegance, with a clean-lined top. This is a stylish space-saver with seriously shrewd functionality.

With its folding two-leaf concealed mechanism, this (already substantial) country kitchen table reaches its full extension at an impressive 230cm – ideal for large family gatherings when you need space for extra guests. Part of the brand’s wider Foxmoor range, which borrows heavily from traditional Shaker styles, the table is crafted from a responsibly sourced, FSC-certified acacia wood, and boasts a contrasting painted frame in cream or sage green. True to form for John Lewis, this is a top-quality furniture piece, and while it is hefty, extending it is simple and easy to do. Conservatively speaking, this one sits up to eight, but with dining benches, it’ll easily stretch to 10.

Taking a cue from mid-century modern designs is this sleek extendable dining table from Next. It boasts a warm walnut effect finish, making it appear much more expensive than it is – real walnut furniture pieces can come with eye-watering price tags. The table boasts a classic integrated extendable leaf system, meaning all you have to do is pull it apart, unfold the hidden section in the centre, and push it back in place. This one will go from a six-seater to a comfortable eight-seater, without upsetting the clean silhouette. We loved the detailing on this one: think smooth rounded edges and subtly curved joints that marry the legs to the tabletop.

Our luxury pick comes courtesy of Cox & Cox, a brand that always delivers on style and quality. The Astoria is a statement piece, with its barrel-like plinth and rustic wood finish. It’s fashioned from reclaimed wood, scoring sustainability points, and comes complete with characterful knots and nail marks, making each table unique. As a round four-seater it is a beauty, but stretch it out to its full oval shape and it is really striking – cleverly, the extension piece is hidden neatly within the base. Thanks to its leg-free design, this one can accommodate luxurious armchair-like dining chairs, for extra comfort.

This is a real game changer for anyone who loves to host, as the table extends from a cosy six-seater to a spacious 10-seater in a flash. It’s ideal for dinner parties or spontaneous family gatherings, with plenty of room for everyone to spread out in style. With its concealed leaf in the centre, the extension mechanism is smooth and simple, so it’s no hassle at all when you need to pull up extra seats. Sturdy yet elegant, this furniture piece promises longevity, without compromising on style. Whether it’s a casual meal or a grander affair, we found this one adapted beautifully to our needs. We loved the table’s sculptural criss-cross base design, and, true to form, from Dusk, it’s also relatively affordable.

The Abrey extendable table combines versatility with elegance, offering a range of finishes that elevate its stylish design. Available in a luxurious ceramic marble effect, a sleek glass top, or classic wood, it caters to a range of tastes and interior schemes.

The extendable feature is the real showstopper, effortlessly extending to seat up to 10 guests without compromising on its clean, minimalist look or its curvy shape. We loved the way the leaves perfectly matched the curvature of the tabletop. The extension mechanism itself is seamless, despite the table’s heft, ensuring smooth transitions. This is one highly sophisticated dining table to fill a larger space, but it’s also perfectly practical.

This dining table brings a beautiful blend of rustic charm and modern practicality. Crafted from solid oak, the light, natural finish adds warmth to any dining space, while the clean lines keep it contemporary. The standout feature is its extendable function via a concealed butterfly leaf in the centre, taking it to an impressive size for hosting.

The extension mechanism proves smooth and easy to use, while its robust construction promises durability, but the design remains elegant, balancing sturdiness with style. The natural grain of the oak adds organic character, too, making each table unique. This is a solid investment piece in more ways than one.