How to Set a Table: Basic, Informal and Formal Place Settings (With Diagram)

Last Updated on November 6, 2026

Learning how to set a table comes down to one idea: everything is placed in the order you will use it, working from the outside in. Forks go on the left, the knife and spoons on the right, glasses above the knife and the bread plate above the forks. Below you will find the basic, informal and formal versions, a labeled diagram, and the sizing rules for tablecloths, runners and placemats.

Quick answer: fork left of the plate, knife right with the blade facing the plate, spoon right of the knife, water glass above the knife, napkin to the left of the fork or on the plate.

How to set a table: the basic setting

For an everyday meal with one main course you only need a plate, a fork, a knife, a glass and a napkin. The Emily Post Institute describes it this way:

Item	Where it goes
Dinner plate	Centered in front of the chair, about an inch from the table edge
Fork	Left of the plate
Knife	Right of the plate, blade facing the plate
Spoon (if needed)	Right of the knife
Water glass	Above the knife, or at a slight angle to the right of it
Napkin	Left of the fork, with the fork on top or beside it
Bread and butter (optional)	To the left of the setting

Still unsure which side the fork goes on? We answer it in detail in what side of the plate does the fork go on.

Informal place setting (three courses)

This is the setting most people use for a dinner party or a holiday meal: a starter or salad, a main course and dessert. The extra pieces simply line up in the order the courses arrive.

• Forks: dinner fork next to the plate; salad fork to its left if salad is served first, or to its right if salad comes after the main course.
• Knife and spoons: knife right of the plate with the blade in, then the teaspoon, then the soup spoon on the outside because soup is eaten first.
• Dessert spoon and fork: either above the plate (spoon on top with its handle to the right, fork below with its handle to the left) or brought out with dessert.
• Glasses: water glass above the knife, wine glass to its right.
• Bread plate: above the forks, with the butter knife laid across it, blade down.
• Cup and saucer: above and to the right of the spoons, or brought out with dessert.

Source: Emily Post Institute, informal place setting.

Formal place setting

A formal dinner follows the same logic with more pieces. Two rules keep it manageable: no more than three of any one utensil on the table (the oyster fork is the exception), and any extra utensils arrive with their course.

Item	Formal position
Charger (service plate)	Under the first-course plates, removed before the entrée
Forks	Left of the plate in order of use: fish fork, dinner fork, then salad fork nearest the plate if salad follows the entrée
Knives	Right of the plate, blades facing the plate, in order of use from the outside in
Soup spoon	Right of the knives
Oyster fork	Far right, the only fork placed on the right
Glasses	Above the knives in order of use: water goblet, then wine glasses, then sherry or champagne to the right
Butter plate	Above the forks, butter knife across it
Dessert spoon and fork	Above the plate, or brought in on the dessert plate

Source: Emily Post Institute, formal place setting. For more on which pieces belong in a formal set, see table setting silverware.

Tablecloth, runner and placemat sizes

The linens frame the setting, and the wrong size is the most common mistake we see.

Linen	Rule of thumb	Full guide
Tablecloth	Table size plus a 6 to 8 inch drop on every side for everyday meals; 10 to 15 inches for formal dinners	Tablecloth sizes, oval tablecloths
Table runner	About one third of the table width, with 6 to 10 inches hanging over each end	Table runner size chart
Placemat	Most are about 12 x 18 or 13 x 19 inches; leave room between settings so they do not overlap	Placemat measurements

Glassware: which glass goes where

At a basic setting you need one glass per person. Add a wine glass to the right of the water glass for an informal dinner. The shapes differ more than people expect; our guides to types of drinking glasses and glassware sizes explain what each one is for, and highball vs Collins glasses settles a common mix-up. For breakfast settings, small juice glasses (4 oz or 6 oz) sit in the same spot above the knife.

Flatware and silverware

“Flatware” is every eating utensil; “silverware” strictly means pieces made from or plated with silver. We explain the difference in flatware vs silverware. If you have inherited a set, learn to read sterling flatware marks and American silversmith marks, check how to tell if silverware is real silver, and find out whether sterling silver is worth anything or is silver plate.

Dinnerware

Plates set the tone for the table. Bone china is the most chip-resistant fine option, porcelain is a close second, and stoneware suits everyday use; see bone china vs porcelain and stoneware vs ceramic. For a seasonal table, browse our Christmas dinnerware picks, and for a modern everyday set, our Made In dinnerware review.

Napkins

A cloth napkin goes to the left of the forks, under them if space is tight, or folded on the center of the plate. A simple rectangle or triangle fold is always correct; for something more decorative, follow our step-by-step guide on how to fold a napkin.

What you need to set a table for eight

If you are building your table from scratch, these four sets cover a full informal setting. We chose them for size, material and practicality; prices change, so check the current listing.

Flatware: KIKCOIN 40-piece set, service for 8

Five pieces per person (dinner fork, salad fork, knife, dinner spoon and teaspoon) is exactly what an informal three-course setting needs. Stainless steel, dishwasher safe, with a mirror finish.

Napkins: Cotton Craft dinner napkins, set of 12

Plain white cotton works for every level of formality and survives hot washes. Twelve napkins cover eight guests with spares for spills.

Placemats: Sweet Home Collection cotton placemats

At about 13 x 19 inches, these fit the standard size above with room for a full informal setting, and the woven cotton is machine washable.

Glasses: Libbey stemmed water goblets, set of 6

A stemmed goblet is the traditional water glass for a dinner setting, sitting directly above the knife. Libbey glass is dishwasher safe and easy to replace if one breaks.

Frequently asked questions

Which side does the knife go on?

The right side of the plate, with the cutting edge facing the plate.

Where does the napkin go?

To the left of the forks, under the forks, or folded on the plate. In restaurants it is often on the plate; at home, any of the three is correct.

Where does the water glass go?

Directly above the knife. Wine glasses go to its right.

Where do dessert utensils go?

Horizontally above the plate, spoon on top with the handle pointing right and fork below with the handle pointing left, or they come out with dessert.

What is the difference between a place setting and a table setting?

A place setting is everything in front of one diner; a table setting is the whole table, including linens, serving dishes and decorations.

Placement rules follow the Emily Post Institute guides to basic, informal and formal place settings. Browse more guides in Table & Dining.