An altar tablecloth that is too short looks unfinished, while one that is too long can pool on the floor and become a trip hazard. The right size depends on three measurements: the length of the altar, its width, and the drop you want at the front and sides. This guide explains how to measure an altar in centimeters and inches, how to calculate the finished cloth size, and which standard sizes cover most church altars.
Measure the altar in three dimensions
Use a metal tape measure and write down every measurement in both centimeters and inches. Ask someone to help you hold the tape so it stays straight.
- Length: the long side of the altar top, from corner to corner.
- Width: the short side of the altar top, from front to back.
- Drop: how far the cloth should hang down over the front and sides. A drop of 20–30 cm (8–12 in) is common; a more formal altar may use 30–40 cm (12–16 in).
If the altar has a mensa that overhangs the base, measure the mensa itself, not the floor footprint. If the altar is fixed to the wall, you only need a drop at the front and two sides; if it stands free, the cloth may need a drop at the back as well.
Calculate the finished tablecloth size
Use this simple formula:
- Finished length = altar length + (2 × side drop).
- Finished width = altar width + (2 × front/back drop).
For example, an altar 200 cm long and 90 cm wide with a 25 cm drop needs a cloth about 250 cm long and 140 cm wide. Always round up to the nearest available size rather than down; a little extra drop is easier to adjust than a cloth that cannot reach the floor line evenly.
Standard altar tablecloth sizes
Most church altars fall within a few common ranges. The table below shows the finished cloth sizes we make most often. The first number is length, the second is width.
| Finished size (cm) | Finished size (in, approx.) | Typical altar |
|---|---|---|
| 200 × 90 cm | 79 × 35 in | Small chapel or side altar |
| 230 × 100 cm | 91 × 39 in | Small parish altar |
| 250 × 130 cm | 98 × 51 in | Standard parish altar |
| 300 × 130 cm | 118 × 51 in | Large parish altar |
| 330 × 150 cm | 130 × 59 in | Large church or cathedral altar |
| 400 × 150 cm | 157 × 59 in | Very large altar or custom commission |
These are finished sizes, not altar-top sizes. If your altar is between two rows, choose the larger finished size or order a custom size.
When to order a custom size
Custom sizing is the right choice when the altar is unusually long, very deep, or has a shaped mensa. It is also useful when you want a specific drop for a feast day or when the cloth must fit around a tabernacle, candlesticks or a fixed frontal. Send us the altar length, width and desired drop, and we will calculate the finished size and confirm the layout before production.
Common measuring mistakes
- Measuring the floor footprint instead of the mensa. The cloth follows the top surface, not the base.
- Forgetting the back drop. A free-standing altar needs fabric at the back as well as the front.
- Using a cloth that is too short. It will not hang evenly and can expose the altar frame.
- Ignoring embroidery placement. A border or central motif needs to sit on the front panel, not wrap around the corner.
Choosing the right altar tablecloth
Once you have the finished size, choose the fabric, color and design. Our altar tablecloths are made in widths from 90 to 150 cm and lengths from 200 to 500 cm, with Richelieu embroidery and guipure lace. If you are also preparing the linens for Mass, read our guide to altar linens: corporal, purificator and pall.
