At a glance
| Ref | Dimension | Typical range | Measured from and to | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | Finished seat height, unloaded | about 430 to 460 mm | Finished floor to the top of the seat at the front edge, nobody sitting | Set the table from this. It is the figure the drawings should carry. |
| B | Seat height as sat on | A less the compression allowance, [ ] mm | The same points, with a sitter | The workshop states the allowance for the build. |
| C | Seat depth | about 450 to 550 mm | Front edge of the seat to the face of the back, at seat level | Depth also decides how upright the diner sits. |
| D | Back height above seat | set by the design: low back or booth | Top of the seat at the back to the top of the back, vertical | One teaching guide gives 305 to 508 mm for dining chairs. |
| E | Back rake | [ ] degrees | Front face of the back from vertical (state the datum) | See the seat rake and slope sheet. |
| F | Table top height | 720 to 760 mm | Finished floor to the top of the table | See the table heights sheet. |
| G | Drop: table top above seat | about 280 to 300 mm | Top of the seat (A) to the top of the table | A vertical distance. Do not confuse it with I. |
| H | Thigh room | at least about 200 mm | Top of the seat to the underside of the apron or rail | Keep the base clear of the knees. |
| I | Gap: seat front to table edge | set on a mock-up | Horizontal, front edge of the seat to the table edge | Published figures disagree, so none is given here. |
| J | Upholstery build-up | stated for each build | Top of the frame deck to the top of the seat, unloaded | A equals the deck height plus J. |
| Seat width per diner | about 550 to 600 mm | Along the run, centre to centre of diners | Corner and curved runs change the count. |
Millimetres, from the finished floor. Ranges are conventional practice that we publish elsewhere on this site, to be confirmed by our partner workshop for each design; a blank [ ] means no figure is given because none could be verified. Final dimensions are fixed on the shop drawing and a mock-up.
Three datums that settle most arguments
- Unloaded or as sat on. A banquette seat compresses under a diner. The seat height on a drawing should say which it is. This sheet carries the unloaded, finished figure (A) and asks the workshop for the as-sat-on figure (B).
- Frame or finished. The timber frame deck is lower than the finished seat by the thickness of the upholstery (J). Drawings that quote the deck height and drawings that quote the finished height differ by that build-up, so the shop drawing should show both.
- Drop or gap. Our table guidance sets the table top 280 to 300 mm above the finished seat. That is a vertical drop (G). A "table gap" in other guidance can mean the horizontal clearance (I). The two are unrelated and each needs its own figure.
The drawing shows each of them against a banquette in section, drawn to the published ranges for the heights. Rake, depth and the horizontal gap are schematic.
How the heights fit together
The table height and the drop fix the seat, so the seat height should be stated once and everything else worked from it. The example reuses the figures in our table heights sheet.
| Step | Working | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Table top (F) | set by the table design | 745 mm |
| Drop (G) | within 280 to 300 mm | 295 mm |
| Finished seat height, unloaded (A) | 745 mm less 295 mm | 450 mm |
| Frame deck height | A less the build-up (J) from the workshop's drawing | [ ] mm |
Runs, corners and curves
The seat width per diner (about 550 to 600 mm along the run) sets how many covers a run seats, and a corner or a curve changes both the count and how a table sits to the seat. Ask for the run on the plan with the seat centres and the table positions marked, and have the corner and curve geometry resolved on the shop drawing, not on site.
The wall, the back and services
A banquette is built into its room, so the interface with the wall matters as much as the seat. State whether the back stands against the wall or off it, what allowance is made for skirting and for the wall finish, where the fixings go into structure, and where access panels are needed for services behind or beneath the seat. Show the run dimensioned from the wall on the shop drawing.
Accessible provision
Approved Document M, Volume 2 (2015 edition, incorporating the 2020 and 2024 amendments, for use in England) sets no dimensions for banquettes. It says in paragraph 4.13 that refreshment facilities such as restaurants and bars should be designed so that they can be reached and used by all people independently or with companions, and paragraph 4.16 deals with bar and counter heights. A fixed banquette does not suit every diner, so many designers keep some loose seating at tables served by a banquette so a wheelchair user can choose where to sit. BS 8300-2:2018 is the reference for accessible design in the UK. Confirm the provision with your access consultant and the venue's licensing and fire review.
Fix the numbers on a mock-up
Heights, depth, rake and the horizontal gap are best settled on a full-size mock-up with the real build-up: sit at it for a working afternoon, with different people, then record the approved figures with their datums on the shop drawing. See also formal versus relaxed seating for the feel of the seat.
Specification wording
Paste into your schedule or specification and replace anything in [square brackets] with your own figures. Wording is a starting point: your specification governs.
Banquette seat: finished seat height [450] mm (tolerance [ ] mm), measured from finished floor level to the top of the seat at the front edge, unloaded. Seat height as sat on [ ] mm. Seat depth [ ] mm to the face of the back at seat level. Back height above seat [ ] mm. Back rake [ ] degrees from vertical. Seat slope [ ] degrees from horizontal. Upholstery build-up [ ] mm. Heights and angles to be confirmed on a full-size mock-up with the real build before production.
Table top [745] mm above finished floor level, [295] mm above the finished seat height (unloaded). Underside of apron or rail not less than [200] mm above the seat. Horizontal gap from seat front edge to table edge [ ] mm, set on the mock-up. Table base clear of the diners' knees.
Banquette run [ ] mm long, dimensioned from the finished wall on the shop drawing, with seat width per diner [ ] mm and the table positions shown. Back [fixed to structure behind the wall finish]; allowance for skirting and services [ ] mm; access panels at [ ]. Loose seating to be provided at [ ] tables for wheelchair users.
Terms used on this page
- Banquette
- A long upholstered seat fixed to a wall or built into the room, with tables set in front of it. Common in restaurants and bars because it fits more diners and creates a formal edge to the room.
- Finished seat height
- The height of the top of the upholstered seat above the finished floor. It is different unloaded and when sat on, because foam and feather compress, so drawings should state which one they mean.
- Table drop
- The vertical distance between the top of the seat and the top of the table. Our table-heights guidance uses about 280-300 mm; some suppliers use the same words for a horizontal gap, so the datum must be defined.
- Back rake
- The angle of the backrest. It can be measured from the vertical or as the angle between seat and back, so the drawing must say which; the two conventions give very different numbers.
Standards and sources
- Approved Document M, Volume 2: Buildings other than dwellings (2015 edition incorporating 2020 and 2024 amendments): paragraphs 4.13 and 4.16 read; no banquette dimensions are given.
- BS 8300-2:2018: design of an accessible and inclusive built environment; named as the reference, not read for this sheet.
- BS EN 16139:2025: non-domestic seating strength and durability; its informative annex of recommended dimensions has not been read.
- Make Bespoke Studio: Banquette seating, and Table heights: the ranges for seat, depth, width per diner and drop are those we publish there.
Questions we are asked
What is the standard banquette seat height?
About 430 to 460 mm for the finished, unloaded seat in our published guidance, measured from the finished floor to the top of the seat at the front edge. A seat compresses under a diner, so ask the workshop for the as-sat-on figure too.
How far above the seat should the table top be?
About 280 to 300 mm vertically, from the finished seat to the top of the table, which with a table top of 720 to 760 mm puts the seat at 430 to 460 mm. That drop is separate from the horizontal gap between seat front and table edge.
How deep should a banquette seat be?
About 450 to 550 mm to the face of the back at seat level, in our published guidance. Depth also affects how upright the diner sits, so settle it on a mock-up together with the rake.
What is the difference between a banquette and a booth?
A banquette is fixed bench seating along a wall, usually with a low back. A booth is a banquette with a high back, often enclosed or semi-enclosed, which gives a more private seating area.
Do the Building Regulations set banquette dimensions?
Approved Document M, Volume 2 gives none. It asks that restaurants and bars can be reached and used by all people independently or with companions, so many designers keep loose seating at some tables.
Download the factsheet
A two-page A4 PDF with the dimension table, the sectional drawing and three specification clauses, to keep with your project file.