Warm colors that flatter the food, the size that fits with the leaves in, and the cotton cloths we would set for Thanksgiving.
For Thanksgiving, choose a cotton cloth tablecloth in warm, earthy colors: browns, golds, saffron or rust. Size it for your table with every leaf in, adding 10 to 15 inches (25 to 38 cm) of drop on each side. Thanksgiving falls on Thursday, November 26, 2026, so measure this week and leave time to wash and press.
That is the short answer. Below, we go one question at a time: color, size, round tables, napkins and runners, and how to care for a cloth that will meet a lot of gravy.
Then we share why we love dressing this table, and the cloths we would pick ourselves.
Warm, earthy colors do the most work
Thanksgiving food is brown, gold and orange. Turkey, stuffing, sweet potatoes, pie. A tablecloth in the same family makes the whole spread look calm and generous.
Prints from our fall tablecloth collection sit right in that range. Oak Brown is a white leafy print on a warm brown ground. Goldenrod Yellow mixes mustard, sage and gray flowers on white.
If you like more color, look at saffron and apricot. Kashmiri Saffron Paisley has rust and orange paisleys with a deep rust border. Amber Marigold scatters small burgundy sprigs over an apricot-gold ground.
Prefer something quieter? A mostly white cloth with a soft print lets the food and flowers lead. Quiet Earth and Taupe Jal both do this well.
One thing we would skip is bright white alone. It shows every cranberry drip, and it can look a little cold under candlelight. A print is much more forgiving of small spills.
Measure with the leaves in, then add the drop
Most Thanksgiving tables grow for the day. So measure the length and width with every leaf you plan to use.
Then add the drop twice to each measurement, because the cloth falls on both sides. Our tablecloth size guide suggests 10 to 12 inches (25 to 30 cm) of drop as a standard, and 12 to 15 inches (30 to 38 cm) for holidays and dinner parties.
Here is how common table sizes match our rectangle and square cloths. The drop is worked out as (cloth minus table) divided by 2.
Thanksgiving table sizes and the cloth to choose
| Table (inches) | Seats* | Ridhi cloth (inches) | Drop: sides / ends |
|---|---|---|---|
| 36 x 36 (91 x 91 cm) | 2 to 4 | 60 x 60 (152 x 152 cm) | 12 in / 12 in |
| 48 x 30 (122 x 76 cm) | 4 | 52 x 70 (132 x 178 cm) | 11 in / 11 in |
| 60 x 36 (152 x 91 cm) | 4 to 6 | 60 x 90 (152 x 229 cm) | 12 in / 15 in |
| 72 x 36 (183 x 91 cm) | 6 to 8 | 60 x 102 (152 x 259 cm) | 12 in / 15 in |
| 84 x 42 (213 x 107 cm) | 8 | 70 x 108 (178 x 274 cm) | 14 in / 12 in |
| 96 x 42 (244 x 107 cm) | n/a | 70 x 118 (178 x 300 cm) | 14 in / 11 in |
| 108 x 42 (274 x 107 cm) | n/a | 72 x 140 (183 x 356 cm) | 15 in / 16 in |
*Seat counts come from our published tablecloth size guide. Our square and rectangle cloths also come in 54 x 54, 48 x 102, 60 x 108, 60 x 120, 72 x 160, 72 x 190 and 80 x 120 inches. Sizes vary a little by print, so check the product page.
When you fall between two sizes, our size guide says to size up. A longer drop looks more intentional than a cloth that barely clears the edge.
A ruffle hem softens the edge of a long holiday table. Photo: Ridhi Block Print
Round tables need a little more cloth
For a round table, measure straight across the middle. Add twice the drop you want.
Our round cloths come in 60, 90, 110, 120 and 132 inches (152, 229, 279, 305 and 335 cm). A 60-inch round table under a 90-inch cloth gets a 15-inch (38 cm) drop all around.
Round tables
| Table diameter | Ridhi round cloth | Drop |
|---|---|---|
| 48 in (122 cm) | 60 in (152 cm) | 6 in |
| 60 in (152 cm) | 90 in (229 cm) | 15 in |
| 72 in (183 cm) | 90 in (229 cm) | 9 in |
| 72 in (183 cm) | 110 in (279 cm) | 19 in |
Drop = (cloth minus table) divided by 2. Check your table height before choosing a long drop.
The Oak Brown round cloth, falling in soft folds. Photo: Ridhi Block Print
Hosting at an oval table? Our cloths come in rectangle, square and round. Measure the oval at its longest and widest points and use the rectangle chart above.
Napkins, placemats and a runner pull it together
Count your guests, then add a couple of spares for the kids' table and the inevitable gravy spill. Our border napkins, like Goldenrod Yellow, come in sets of 4, 8, 12, 24, 48 and 100.
Border napkins measure 20 x 20 inches (51 x 51 cm), a generous lap size for a long meal. Matching them to the cloth is optional. A solid-feeling cloth with printed napkins looks lovely too.
“
Fair warning: once you've hosted with block-print napkins, paper ones start to look a little sad.
Renu, founder
Placemats help on a bare wood table, or layered over a cloth at each seat. Ours come as 15-inch rounds, 15-inch squares and 13 x 19-inch rectangles (38, 38 and 33 x 48 cm).
Goldenrod Yellow round placemats with a scalloped edge. Photo: Ridhi Block Print
A runner adds a stripe of color down the middle, over a cloth or on its own. Ours are 16 inches wide (41 cm) in 70, 90 and 106-inch lengths. A 90-inch runner on a 72-inch table hangs 9 inches (23 cm) past each end.
Wash cold, dry low, and blot the gravy
Cotton is washable, which is the whole point of a cloth you use for a feast. For stains, blot rather than rub, then follow the care steps below.
Our store-wide care is simple. Machine wash cold on a gentle cycle with a mild detergent and no bleach. Tumble dry low or air dry, and iron low on the reverse while slightly damp.
Wash a new cloth on its own the first time. Some early dye bleeding can be normal. Always follow the care notes on your product page, and see our care guide for the details.
Questions we hear about Thanksgiving tablecloths
What color tablecloth is best for Thanksgiving?
Warm, earthy colors: brown, gold, saffron, rust or apricot. They sit well with the food. If you want calm, choose a mostly white cloth with a soft taupe or brown print.
What size tablecloth do I need for 8 people?
Our size guide lists an 84 x 42-inch table for 8. A 70 x 108-inch cloth gives it a 14-inch (36 cm) drop on the sides and 12 inches (30 cm) at the ends.
Can I use a round tablecloth for Thanksgiving?
Yes. Measure the table across the middle and add twice the drop. A 90-inch round cloth on a 60-inch table gives a 15-inch (38 cm) drop.
Should the napkins match the tablecloth?
They don't have to. Pick one shared color, like the gold in Goldenrod Yellow or the brown in Oak Brown, and the table will feel planned.
When should I order for Thanksgiving?
As early as you can, so there is time to wash and press the cloth. See our shipping policy for current delivery details.
Why we love setting this table
“
It all started when I swapped paper napkins for cotton ones at home.
Renu, founder
Ridhi began at a family table. Our founder, Renu, started by replacing paper with reusable cotton napkins at home.
Our block printed cloths start in Jaipur, where the fabric is prepared. They are hand printed in Bagru with hand-carved wooden blocks, one block for each color or layer, including the background.
Printing the Oak Brown design, one block at a time. Photo: Ridhi Block Print
Then they come back to our Jaipur workshop for cutting, stitching and finishing. The colors are mixed by hand, so one batch can differ slightly from the last.
Because each piece is printed by hand, no two are ever exactly alike. That slight shift is the artisan's fingerprint. A damaged piece is different, and we will replace it.
Brown Meadow Vine: brown vines with peach and blue flowers. Photo: Ridhi Block Print
The cloths we would set for Thanksgiving
These are the prints we reach for in November. Ratings are as of October 25, 2026.
Oak Brown. What we love: the warm brown ground is forgiving of spills and looks cozy by candlelight. It is rated 5.0 from 9 reviews. Worth knowing: the rectangle comes in 12 sizes, starting at 60 x 60 inches, so there is no 54-inch square.
Goldenrod Yellow. What we love: it is the easiest print to build a whole table around, with matching border napkins, a runner, placemats and a round cloth. Rated 4.83 from 6 reviews. Worth knowing: it is a busy print, so keep the centerpiece simple.
Oatmeal Brown Stripe. What we love: a fine brown stripe with a scalloped edge, quiet enough to let printed napkins shine. It is also made as a round cloth with a scalloped piping edge. Worth knowing: the stripe is subtle, so add color with napkins or a runner.
Kashmiri Saffron Paisley. What we love: saffron and rust feel made for a harvest table. Worth knowing: it is a bold print, so plain white plates suit it best.
Amber Marigold. What we love: burgundy sprigs on an apricot-gold ground, warm without being loud. Worth knowing: it has no reviews yet, so the photos are your best guide.
Apricot Rosette Vine. What we love: burgundy and gold flowers on apricot, for a rosier table. Rated 5.0 from 1 review. Worth knowing: the ground color is strong, so pair it with quieter napkins.
Apricot Rosette Vine, for a warmer, rosier table. Photo: Ridhi Block Print
Oak Brown round. What we love: the same warm brown print for round tables, in five sizes from 60 to 132 inches. Worth knowing: measure your table height before choosing one of the longer drops.
Oak Brown with a ruffle. What we love: a striped ruffle hem that feels relaxed and homey. It comes in rectangle and round sizes. Worth knowing: a ruffle reads cozy rather than formal.
Want to see more? Browse our fall tablecloths, or go straight to rectangle and square or round cloths. For more ideas through the year, see how to style block print table linens for every season.
Ridhi Block Print is a women-led, family-run brand from Jaipur, India, making cotton table, bedroom and kitchen linens.
Sources: Ridhi tablecloth size guide (drop lengths and seat counts); Ridhi care guide; Ridhi shipping policy; Ridhi product pages for sizes, pack counts and ratings, read October 25, 2026.
