The conference table is usually the most-used piece of furniture in an office. People sit at it for hours, and clients read something about the company from it before anyone says a word. Choosing one well comes down to a few questions, covered in order below: how many people it seats, what shape suits the room, what it’s made of, how it handles power and cables, and whether a stock size works or the room needs something custom.
Fargo Woodworks builds conference tables by hand in Fargo, North Dakota, from solid American hardwood. The guidance here comes from building these tables, not only selling them.
How to size a conference table
Sizing is the decision people get wrong most often, and the hardest to fix later. Two measurements matter: the table, and the room around it.
For the table, plan on about 30 inches of edge per person. For the room, leave at least 36 inches of clearance on every side so chairs pull out and people can walk behind them. In an executive room, 42 to 48 inches of clearance is more comfortable.
| Table length | Seats | Room size needed |
|---|---|---|
| 6 ft (72″) | 6 | 12 × 14 ft |
| 8 ft (96″) | 8 | 14 × 16 ft |
| 10 ft (120″) | 10 | 14 × 18 ft |
| 12 ft (144″) | 12 | 16 × 20 ft |
| 14 ft (168″) | 14 | 16 × 22 ft |
| 16 ft (192″) | 16–18 | 18 × 24 ft |
| 18 ft (216″) | 18–20 | 18 × 26 ft |
| 20 ft (240″) | 20–24 | 20 × 28 ft |
Most conference tables are 42 to 54 inches wide. Below 42 inches gets tight once laptops and notepads are out. Fargo Woodworks builds conference tables up to 20 feet long and 5 feet wide, so even large boardrooms can be fitted with a single table rather than a joined pair.
Quick sizing rule
30 inches of table edge per person. 36 inches of clearance, minimum, on every side. Measure the room before you choose the table.
A full breakdown by headcount is covered in the Conference Table Sizes & Seating Capacity Guide.
What shape should a conference table be?
Shape follows the room and how the room is used. Rectangular is the common choice. It seats the most people in the least space and suits long, narrow boardrooms. Boat-shaped tables curve slightly wider at the center, which improves sightlines from one end to the other and reads as more refined. Racetrack tables, with rounded ends, soften a large rectangle and make the head of the table less rigid. Round tables suit smaller rooms and conversations where no one sits at the head, which is common in law and finance settings. Modular configurations join several tables and make sense for training rooms that change shape often.
What conference tables are made of
This is where quality is decided, and where much of the market cuts corners quietly.
A lot of what’s sold as a “wood conference table” is veneer or laminate over particleboard or MDF. It looks fine in photos and costs little. The trade-off shows up later. The edges chip, the surface can’t be refinished, and a few years of daily use start to show.
Solid hardwood holds up differently. It can be sanded and refinished years into its life, daily wear is slower to show, and it has a heft a veneered top doesn’t. Fargo Woodworks builds every conference table from solid American hardwood, with lumber sourced in the USA, in four species:
- Walnut. Rich and chocolate-brown, with dramatic grain. The classic executive choice.
- White Oak. The most versatile species. Tighter grain, warm, quietly elegant.
- Red Oak. Bold, open grain with warm undertones.
- Maple. Pale and creamy, with a fine, consistent grain.
Tops are 1.5 inches thick, set on hand-welded steel bases built in the same shop.
Solid wood vs. veneer
A veneered top is cheaper up front and disposable. A solid hardwood top can be refinished and kept for decades. For a table used every day, that difference compounds.
Finishes
Fargo Woodworks finishes every table with its Signature in-house finishes, a proprietary range developed and applied by hand in the Fargo workshop. Finishes are named by species and color: Walnut – Clear, Walnut – Black, White Oak – Natural, White Oak – Black, and similar combinations. Each is a matte, hand-applied finish that protects the surface and leaves the grain visible.
One practical point for buyers. A hand-applied finish on solid wood can be repaired in place. A factory laminate cannot.
Power and cable management
Meetings run on power and screens, so it is worth planning for before the table is built. The cleanest result is integrated cable management, with power and data routed through the base and brought up through grommets or a channel in the top. Fargo Woodworks builds integrated cable management into the Executive Conference Table, and power routing can be specified on custom tables. Settling it up front means the table arrives ready for the room instead of getting retrofitted with surface-mounted power strips later.
Stock sizes or a custom table?
Fargo Woodworks builds conference tables across a range of named designs, from the industrial Boulder and Broadway to the architectural Cassian, the Scandinavian-minimal Nordic and Larsen, and the statement Apex and Cascade. Many are offered in 25 or more size variations, which covers most rooms without a fully custom build.
A custom commission makes sense when the room is an unusual size, when the table needs to match other pieces in the office, or when a live-edge or epoxy-river top is the look. Because everything is built to order in one shop, a custom conference table follows the same process as a stock size. It just starts from the room’s measurements.
A note on a cohesive office
A conference table rarely stands alone in a space. Because every piece is handcrafted to order in the same shop, a conference table can be built to match a reception desk, executive desks, credenzas, and shelving in the same wood and finish, so a whole office reads as one considered environment instead of a set of separate purchases. Logo and branded detailing is also available on select pieces.
How much does a conference table cost?
Price depends on size, wood species, and design. Fargo Woodworks’ handcrafted solid-hardwood conference tables generally run from around $3,000 for core designs like the Broadway and Nordic, to about $4,500 for statement pieces like the Apex and Cascade, and up to $12,500 and beyond for large executive tables and live-edge or epoxy-river commissions.
Prices are current as of publication and subject to change. See each product page for current pricing and available sizes.
Set against a veneered table from an office-furniture store at a fraction of the price, what that buys is a piece built to last decades and to be refinished rather than replaced.
Fargo Woodworks conference tables
Every Fargo Woodworks conference table is handcrafted to order in Fargo, North Dakota, from solid American hardwood, and ships nationwide. A selection of the collection:
-
The Hartford Conference Table
From: $5,000.00 -
The Cassian Conference Table
From: $3,500.00 -
The Nordic Conference Table
From: $3,000.00 -
The Timberline Conference Table
From: $3,500.00 -
The Larsen Conference Table
From: $3,500.00 -
The Dakota Conference Table
From: $4,500.00
Frequently asked questions
How many people does a conference table seat?
Plan for about 30 inches of table edge per person. A 10-foot table seats 10 comfortably and a 12-foot table seats 12. Confirm the room allows at least 36 inches of clearance on every side. Fargo Woodworks builds tables up to 20 feet long, seating roughly 20 to 24.
What is the best wood for a conference table?
Solid hardwood rather than veneer or laminate over particleboard. Walnut, White Oak, Red Oak, and Maple are all good choices. Solid wood can be refinished and lasts decades. Walnut is the classic executive choice and White Oak is the most versatile.
How wide should a conference table be?
Most conference tables are 42 to 54 inches wide. Below 42 inches feels tight once laptops are out. Fargo Woodworks builds up to 5 feet wide for the largest rooms.
Can a conference table include power and cable management?
Yes. Integrated cable management routes power and data through the base and up through the top. It should be planned before the table is built. Fargo Woodworks builds it into the Executive Conference Table and can specify it on custom commissions.
How long does a conference table take to build?
Fargo Woodworks conference tables are handcrafted to order. Current production time is shown on each product page, since it varies with shop workload.
Does Fargo Woodworks ship conference tables nationwide?
Yes. Every table is built in Fargo, North Dakota and ships nationwide. White-glove delivery is available on request.
Design a conference table for your space
Built to last. Designed with intent. — Fargo Woodworks, Fargo, North Dakota.
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