Where Does the Napkin Go on the Table?

Where Does the Napkin Go on the Table?

Where does the napkin go on the table? It depends on the moment. There is a right place for it when you set the table, a right place once everyone sits down, and a right place when a guest steps away or the meal ends. Here is the whole life of a dinner napkin, with the options for every level of formality.

Quick answer: When setting the table, place the folded napkin in the centre of the dinner plate (or charger), or to the left of the forks. Once seated, guests put it in their lap. When leaving the table, during the meal or at the end, the napkin is folded loosely and placed to the left of the plate.

Part 1: Where the napkin goes when you set the table

On the plate or charger

A folded napkin in the centre of the plate is the classic formal placement, and the Emily Post Institute's formal place setting puts it on top of the charger when one is used. It also works beautifully at an informal dinner: it frames the plate, keeps the space either side clear for cutlery, and is the first thing a guest picks up. If you use charger plates, this is the placement that shows them off best.

To the left of the forks

The traditional everyday placement. Emily Post's informal setting guide lists it alongside the on-the-plate option. University of Maryland Extension's table-setting guide adds a finishing detail: lay a simply folded napkin with its fold on the left. Choose this placement when the first course will already be on the plate as guests sit down.

Under the forks

When the table is tight, fold the napkin into a rectangle and lay the forks on top of it. It saves several inches per place and is correct at both casual and formal tables.

With a napkin ring

A napkin in a ring can sit on the plate or to the left of the forks. Guests slide the napkin out and place the empty ring at the top left of their setting, where it will not get in the way of the right hand — the approach taught in Penn State's napkin etiquette guide.

Rolled around the cutlery

Ideal for a buffet or a casual party. Roll a fork, knife and spoon inside each napkin and stand them in a basket at the end of the buffet line, so guests collect cutlery after they have filled their plates rather than juggling it while serving.

In a glass?

You will see napkins fanned inside wine glasses at banquets. We would skip it at home: the glass cannot be used until the napkin comes out, and a tall fold blocks the view across the table — a drawback this Boston.com napkin etiquette column points out too.

Occasion Best napkin placement
Formal dinner On the charger or plate
Dinner party (three courses) On the plate, or left of the forks
Everyday meal Left of the plate, with the fork on top
Starter already plated Left of the forks
Narrow table Under the forks
Buffet Rolled with cutlery at the end of the line

Part 2: Simple napkin folds that always look right

  • The rectangle. Fold the napkin in half, then in half again, then fold it lengthwise into a neat rectangle. It sits beside or under the forks and suits any table.
  • The triangle. Fold the square in half corner to corner, then in half again. Set it on the plate with the point facing the diner, or away from them.
  • The loose pull-through. Pinch the centre of the napkin, draw it halfway through a napkin ring and fluff the ends. Relaxed and pretty on a plate.
  • The band. Fold into a long, narrow rectangle, lay it across the plate, and tuck a sprig of rosemary, a place card or a single stem underneath.

Elaborate folds are fun, but pressed linen folded simply almost always looks more elegant than a complicated shape.

Part 3: What size napkin should you use?

Handwoven magazine's size guide sets out the generally accepted dimensions:

  • Cocktail napkin: about 6 to 9 inches square — for drinks and small bites
  • Luncheon napkin: about 14 to 16 inches square
  • Everyday dinner napkin: about 18 to 20 inches square
  • Buffet napkin: about 18 to 24 inches square
  • Formal dinner napkin: about 21 to 26 inches square

The rule of thumb: the more formal the meal, the larger the napkin. A generous napkin also gives you more options for folding.

Part 4: Napkin etiquette for guests

When to put the napkin in your lap

At a restaurant, place it in your lap as soon as you sit down. At a hosted dinner, many etiquette guides suggest following your host's lead: when the host unfolds their napkin, the meal has begun. Unfold it below the table rather than shaking it open.

How to place it

Fold a large dinner napkin in half, with the fold towards your waist; a smaller napkin can be opened fully. Daniel Post Senning of the Emily Post Institute, in his CreativeLive dining course, notes that either a triangle or a rectangle is fine — the aim is simply to cover your lap.

How to use it

Blot rather than wipe. Blotting your lips before taking a sip keeps marks off the glass. A napkin is not a handkerchief. If it falls on the floor, leave it and quietly ask for a fresh one.

When you leave the table during the meal

This is where etiquette experts genuinely disagree.

  • Loosely to the left. The Emily Post Institute teaches “LL” — loosely, to the left of your plate — whether you are stepping away or finished. Their reasoning, explained on their napkin etiquette page, is hygienic: a used napkin on a chair seat can transfer food to the upholstery and then to your clothes.
  • On the chair. Many other etiquette teachers, and many restaurants, prefer the napkin on your chair as a signal that you are coming back, with the table reserved for the end of the meal. The Takeout's napkin guide follows this approach.

Both are accepted. At home, we side with Emily Post: loosely to the left is simpler and kinder to your chairs.

At the end of the meal

Wait for the host to place their napkin on the table — that is the signal the meal is over. Then lay yours loosely to the left of your plate. Do not refold it neatly (that can look as if it has not been used and could be set again), do not crumple it into a ball, and never drop it onto a plate of leftover food.

Part 5: Cloth or paper?

Paper napkins are perfectly correct at a casual meal, a barbecue or a buffet. Cloth napkins suit dinner parties and holidays, feel better in the hand, and save money over time. Wash cloth napkins promptly so stains do not set, and iron them while slightly damp for crisp folds.

Finishing the look

A folded napkin laid across a charger plate is the quickest way to make a table look finished. For a fuller walkthrough of where everything else goes, read how to set a dinner table properly; for styling ideas, see how to create an elegant table setting.

Frequently asked questions

Does the napkin go on the left or right?

The left — or on the plate. A napkin is never set on the right, where the knife, spoons and glasses go.

Should the napkin go on the plate or beside it?

Both are correct. On the plate is more formal and looks tidy; beside the forks is better when food is already plated when guests sit.

Where does the napkin go under a fork?

Fold it into a rectangle, lay it to the left of the plate and set the fork on top. This is the most common casual layout.

Where do you put your napkin when you leave the table?

Loosely folded to the left of your plate is the Emily Post recommendation. Placing it on your chair is also widely accepted.

What size is a dinner napkin?

Roughly 18 to 20 inches square for everyday dinners, and 21 to 26 inches for formal dinners.

Sources and further reading

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