The 6 Best Folding Tables (2024)

Tabletop Dimensions: 30 x 20" | Features: Removable legs with 3 adjustable heights

The Iceberg IndestrucTable TOO Personal Folding Table stands out for its larger tabletop and ultra-stable design. For laptop use, it's our favorite, hands down. It features three main height adjustments (29.5, 25.5, and 19.5 inches) suitable for folks of all heights. You can use it to turn a regular desk into a standing desk or use it on its own with any chair or couch. We even used it as our aid station when using a treadmill during our workouts. We found it very stable in all cases because of its broad base. It can easily be stored underneath a couch, and the legs can be completely separated to make storage simple.

The tabletop quality is our only letdown with this product. Even though it's called the "IndestrucTable," it is far from it. After just a few weeks of use, we noticed scratches and scuffs. We also noticed that the plastic polymer on the top sheet started bubbling, suggesting poor craftsmanship. The height adjustment process is also a bit of a pain. Both legs can come out and need to be pushed into the slots, which requires a bit of muscle to release and set. Caveats aside, we reached for this table when we needed to set up a personal laptop station in our living room. We don't think you'll be disappointed if you're in the market for a smaller personal table with a larger desktop space and stable design.

Tabletop Diameter: 31.5" | Design: Plastic faux-rattan surface

If you're looking for a round table that'll look good in your living space, the Flash Furniture Round Rattan Folding Table should be considered. This super cute option looks great and has oodles of uses, from morning coffee to afternoon crafting to evening game night. Its hardware is quality and operates smoothly. It also folds up easily with one single action and can be easily carried by one person and loaded up into a car or truck for transport. The plastic legs have protective caps for interior floors, while the plastic construction also does well outdoors.

While this table easily folds flat, the tabletop doesn't fold in half, so it takes up a bit more storage space. It's also a little smaller than it looks. We originally brought this to a friend's house to play Monopoly to learn there wasn't enough room to set up the board game and host four people. As a result, we'd recommend it for smaller games or fewer people. If you're seeking a good-looking round table, this one looks great indoors or on a patio and can accommodate a wide range of uses.

Tabletop Dimensions: 19 x 16" | Features: Faux marbled look, 4 trays, rack for storage

The Linon Home Decor Tray Table Set features a faux marble surface that'll look chic and sophisticated in most living rooms. The set comes with four tray tables and a storage rack that requires installation. This product is a good solution if you prefer to make dinners in front of the TV or need several matching side tables around your home. We appreciate the user-friendly dimensions that will do as a small laptop station in a pinch and the attractive smooth surface. These also seem to be built of higher quality materials than other contenders of a similar style in this review, and they won't scratch your floors.

While this set will look great in any living room, performance is lacking. It wobbles side to side on both hardwood and carpets when using it for eating or computer work. It doesn't lock when set up, making it seem unstable and impossible to move with items on the tabletop. The most significant caveat, however, is the price. While it's got a cute look and comes in a set of four, it's still expensive with lackluster performance and construction. As a result, it's not one we'd recommend to our friends or family. However, if you like the faux marble look and stability isn't crucial, you might find value in this set.

Tabletop Dimensions: 19 x 15" | Features: Wood (particle board) construction, 5 trays, rack for storage

The Mainstay 5 Piece Tray Table Set offers the right amount of functionality you'd expect from any low-priced tray table set. It's got a wooden particle board construction that'll allow you to eat a meal or do small crafts in front of the television. The smaller table dimensions will still fit any laptop, and the trays stack nicely on their storage rack. There are five tables in the package with a price that is hard to beat.

Unfortunately, with a great price also comes lower quality. The rough edges scratch the floor, which is not ideal. It doesn't lock into place, resulting in wobble and instability. That also means you can't pick it up and move it with anything on the tabletop. Should you decide to use the storage rack, the installation will take some time. Even though the Mainstay 5 Piece Tray Table Set isn't the highest quality contender, it still performs similarly to others that cost almost twice the price, making it a good bargain buy if you're in the market for a wooden tray table set.

Why You Should Trust Us

Our review process for these tables began with deep research. We looked at over 40 different products before selecting some of the best to test side-by-side. Then the real-life testing began — we measured dimensions, shook each at different heights, scratched and sliced tabletops, scrubbed them down, timed setup and breakdown, and used them in the field. We used them for crafting projects, gardening sessions, with kids at work, and for events. We objectively tested quality by assessing the smooth operation of hardware and key craftsmanship details. All to help you find the best folding table for your specific needs.

Our main tester Amber King and her testing team bring a whopping seven years of experience to the table (see what we did there?). Amber has tested and written over 30 categories for GearLab, covering electronics, outdoor gear, and household items. She is the founder of a local non-profit in Ridgway, Colorado, called Treeline Education, which is an outdoor enrichment program. On school days, she uses folding tables regularly. She also uses them during community astronomy events and at home. She works on household projects where each table is regularly employed. In addition, she works remotely part-time, using smaller personal tables as workstations in different locations around her home.

Analysis and Test Results

This review covers a wide range of folding table options. From full length to personal use tables to tray sets. When using each, we note key differences and similarities to help you understand how each product compares. We assess each on the following key metrics: stability, ease of use, portability, storage, and quality.

Stability

A table that doesn't shake and stays put while you use it is of utmost importance. What good is a table you can't trust to hold up the items you put on top of it? We shook each table and evaluated its stability elements to test this metric. We also set it up over uneven terrain, carpet, and hard floors to test lateral movement. We then used each while doing household projects, working on them daily.

The most stable contenders proved to be the Iceberg IndestrucTable TOO, Cosco Deluxe, and Lifetime 4-foot Commercial Adjustable. The Iceberg is a smaller-sized personal table with a base almost as wide as the table itself. The larger and thicker tabletop design absorbs shake and movement, making it an excellent laptop table on hardwood or carpet. The Lifetime Adjustable is another personal-sized option that earns a high score because of its durable tabletop design, but it's not nearly as stable as the Iceberg IndestrucTable.

The Cosco Deluxe and Lifetime 4-Foot Commercial are longer full table options. The Cosco is 6 feet long (and also available in an 8-foot length) with a straight wide leg structure and several stability slats, providing limited movement once set up. It locks across all the folding hinges, ensuring it won't fold in on itself. The OfficeStar Bench and Table set is also quite stable with a thicker tabletop and a similar level of stability to the Cosco Deluxe — though it doesn't have the locking features. The Lifetime 4-foot Commercial is a straight leg design with multiple heights. Its stability varies, with it being the most stable at the lowest setting. Since it doesn't fold in half, its stability comes in the form of its full-tabletop construction. Overall, of the larger tables, if you want the best in stability, go with the Cosco Deluxe.

All of the table tray sets we tested proved to be relatively unstable, with lots of shaking and lateral movement and no locking mechanisms to speak of. For mid-range sized options, the Flash Furniture Round Rattan is stable on carpet and hardwood, as is the Flash Furniture Black Folding Card Table. The Coleman Camping Table stands out for being stable over uneven terrain, designed for adventures into the backcountry.

Ease of Use

How easily can you take your table down and put it back up again? To test this metric, we fiddled with all the parts and practiced putting our tables together and taking them down to understand which are the easiest to use. We also evaluated which are easiest to clean and maintain and assessed their ability to set up and be functional on various surfaces.

A vital trait of any folding table is its ease of use, so most tables did well in this metric. The Lifetime 4-Foot Commercial earns top marks in this category since there is no need to fold the table in half to get it going — only the legs collapse. Plus, we love the easy adjustment buttons on each leg that allow you to adjust the height, even with items on its tabletop. None of the other long tables in our review have this level of adjustability, making it one of the most versatile. It takes about 10 seconds to take down and put up.

Our other large table options, like the Cosco Deluxe and Office Star Folding Bench and Table, took about 20 seconds to take down and put up. Both have hooks or latches to open them up, with legs that easily open up for quick and easy setup. Cleaning on all three is simple with a hand wipe or sanitizer. The Cosco proves to clean up a little better than the others because its dark color doesn't show dirt as readily.

The Flash Furniture Round Rattan also has a super quick setup (about 8 seconds) that requires just one simple movement to erect and take down. Cleaning it, however, proved to be a little harder due to the weaved finish. The Flash Furniture Card Table, in contrast, requires opening each leg separately, which takes a little more time (20 seconds), but the smooth vinyl surface is a breeze to clean.

Of the smaller personal use tables, the Lifetime Adjustable Folding Laptop Table is by far the easiest to use. It and the Iceberg IndestrucTable Personal Folding Table have three main adjustable heights, with the Iceberg having a few more options as you can remove both legs and choose which slates to adjust it into. However, it advertises only three main heights (29.5, 25.5, and 19.5 inches). The Lifetime Adjustable is preferred because of its easier-to-use adjustment system. For both, you need to flip the table upside down to adjust the height, but the Lifetime Adjustable has a handy spring bar that makes the adjustment much easier. The Iceberg IndestrucTable, on the other hand, has a bar that you need to pull out with a little muscle and push back in manually.

The Coleman Camping Table, Mainstay 5-piece, and Linon Home Decor Set are all easy to use as well. The Coleman takes a little more time to put together (about three minutes) and is best over uneven surfaces. The tray sets are ready for use right away, setting up in under 10 seconds.

Portability

Most tables that are folded are transported either around the house or from place to place. As a result, we think that portability is very important. To evaluate this metric, we looked at each table's design and how easy they are to transport. We also opened each up and tried to move them around to see if any fold back in on themselves or can't maintain their shape. Those that are lighter with a great carry mechanism that locks on the folding hinges do best in this category.

The most portable full folding table is the Cosco Deluxe and the Lifetime 4-Foot Commercial. The Cosco Deluxe boasts a six-foot design with a sturdy handle for carrying. In addition, when set up, it locks into place, making it easy to move around. The Lifetime Commercial Adjustable scores a little lower — it's bulkier to carry because it does not fold in half; however, the handle is more sturdy than the Cosco Deluxe. The Office Star 3-Piece Folding Bench and Table Set is great to move from place to place. Both benches and the table fold in half and lock for transport, with great handles. However, it earns lower points because it doesn't lock once set up. As a result, if you try and move the table or chairs, they collapse, meaning you can't move the tables after set up when things are on top of them.

Of the personal-size folding tables, the Lifetime Adjustable Laptop Table and Iceberg IndestrucTable TOO are the most portable. Neither fold up, and neither have handles, but they are incredibly light, and the legs bend down flat for easy maneuverability. The Lifetime Laptop Table earns an extra point in this category because it is slightly lighter and smaller than the Iceberg IndestrucTable. The Flash Furniture Rattan and Flash Furniture Card Table both fold down and are relatively light, though neither have handles. However, they both lock into place, so you can easily change their position when set up, even if you've got the tabletop littered with cards or a game.

Storage

A folding table should also store easily in a closet, basem*nt, or under a piece of furniture. To test this, we simply packed each one up and noted the profile and space they took up. Those that stash away the best earn the highest kudos in this category.

The most storable tables are the smallest, which isn't too surprising. The Coleman Roll Top Camping Table is the cream of the crop in this department as it breaks down completely and fits into a handy carrying bag. The Lifetime Adjustable Folding Laptop Table and Iceberg IndestrucTable TOO Personal Folding Table both fold up flat and fit under a piece of furniture. The Lifetime Laptop Table is a touch smaller, but the Iceberg IndestrucTable has the ability to remove its legs completely, earning it a slightly higher score in this category. The tray table sets, including the Linon Home Decor Tray Table Set and Mainstay 5 Piece Tray Table Set, come with storage racks that easily stack next to a couch or in a closet. If you prefer to keep them out of sight, they slide underneath furniture easily as well.

Quality

A product that you won't have to buy again or that will last you a long time is an important consideration, especially when it comes to the wallet. As a result, we looked at the hardware, materials, thickness, and critical hinge points to assess quality. We also scratched and sliced each surface to see which ones could handle the inevitable scrapes and scuffs of life.

Of all the tables tested, the Lifetime 4-Foot Commercial Adjustable and Lifetime Adjustable Folding Laptop Table have the most durable tabletops. The components are solid, smooth, and don't stick. The Office Star 3-Piece Folding Bench and Table Set comes in a close second with a thicker scratch-resistant tabletop and burly hardware. The Cosco Deluxe pales in comparison to these full folding tables in this metric. While it seems sturdy enough, the plastic tabletop is thin and showed craftsmanship issues upon unpackaging.

We also like the Flash Furniture Round Rattan and Flash Furniture Vinyl Card Table. Both have smooth components that can scuff, but use a darker color so you can't see the damage as easily. The Iceberg IndestrucTable scores fewer points because the tabletop, despite being thick, has scratched deeply with minimal use. The tray table sets score even lower, with the Linon Home Decor Tray Table Set, a faux marble set, looking to be a touch more high quality than the particleboard Mainstay 5 Piece Tray Table Set.

Conclusion

While the folding table market is wide, there's a light at the end of the table tunnel. We've done the hard work of testing the most popular products, so you don't have to guess your way through the selection process. Whether it is an award winner or a high-ranking option, we believe our unbiased review will help you find an excellent folding table for your needs and budget.