The Best Folding Tables
Folding tables are often an afterthought—bought last-minute for birthday parties, holiday dinners, or messy projects. But many are poorly made, wobbly, and more trouble than they’re worth. We tested 12 contenders, and the Office Star 6′ Resin Center Fold Multipurpose Table is the one we’d buy. It is easy to use and has a generous size but stores compactly, and its solid build can take a hearty beating.
Because of a unique exterior latch, one person can set up and break down the Office Star Center Fold Multipurpose Table faster than any other table we tried. It folds in half for easy storage. Its legs are set wide and sturdier than those on many other models, so the table is less likely to wobble or tip. The gray, lightly speckled tabletop repels and hides scratches and stains much better than other tables we tested.
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Budget pick Plastic Dev Group Banquet Table Sturdy but less durable This sturdy folding table is cheaper than many we found, and it’s available at most Target stores, but it’s harder to set up than others we tested, and the tabletop shows scratches. Buying Options $47 from Target
If the price of the Office Star is more than you want to spend, shipping is too inconvenient, or you need a table for a party right now, the Plastic Dev Group Banquet Table is a great alternative that’s conveniently sold in-store at Target (but isn’t available for shipping). Like the Office Star, it folds in half for easy storage and is plenty sturdy. It doesn’t hide scratches quite as well and requires a little more time and energy to set up, but it beat out tables almost twice the price.
If you want to buy the sturdiest table we could find—and you have the space to store a full 6-foot table that doesn’t fold in half—consider the National Public Seating BT3000. It’s easy to set up, uses a flexible chain design to lock the legs (which helps keep the locks from getting stuck—a problem on other tables), has a long warranty, and can hold many times more than any other table we tried.
If you’re looking for something smaller than 6 feet long, we like the 4-foot Lifetime 80160 Commercial Height Adjustable Folding Utility Table. Unlike bigger tables, it adjusts by height, which makes it a great kids table or food-prep area. Though it’s very flimsy at its maximum height of 36 inches (the other tables we recommend are all 30 inches tall), it’s sturdy at its middle and lowest heights. It’s easier to set up than the other adjustable table we tried, and the compact size makes it useful for a variety of tasks. Its tabletop is just as durable and scratch resistant as its 6-foot counterparts.