Which Plywood for a Table? Dining, Study and Computer Tables, and How Thick the Top Should Be

Short answer: make the top 18/19mm plywood. For a top longer than about 5 ft without support in the middle, use 25mm plywood or block board, or add a frame underneath. Put 1mm or thicker laminate on top and liner underneath.

What matters most in a table: the top

A table top carries elbows, books, a monitor, a CPU and dishes every day. A thin top sags in the middle, and once it sags it doesn't come back. So decide the top's thickness and support first.

Which table, which material?

Table	Top	Other parts	Grade
Study table (3–4 ft)	18/19mm plywood	Sides 18mm, drawers 12mm, drawer bottom 6mm	MR
Computer desk (4–5 ft)	18/19mm with a frame underneath, or 25mm	Keyboard tray 12mm, CPU shelf 18mm	MR
Dining table	18/19mm with a frame, or 25mm; block board also works well	Separate frame and legs	MR (BWR near the kitchen)
Centre or coffee table	18mm	—	MR
Office workstation	18–25mm	Partitions 12mm	MR

For a long top (over 5 ft) without a middle support, take 25mm plywood or block board, which sags less along its length. The difference: block board vs plywood.

Which laminate on top?

• 1mm or slightly thicker laminate on top, for daily wear.
• Always liner laminate underneath, or the top starts to curve.
• For a dining table, a matt or suede finish: scratches and fingerprints show less.
• Don't put hot dishes straight on the laminate.

Choosing a shade: how to choose laminate.

Mind the edge

A table top's edge takes the most hands and knocks. Fit thick, good-quality edge band, and round the corners of a dining table slightly; it's safer for children too.

Three things for a computer desk

1. Keep the CPU shelf a little off the floor, away from mop water.
2. Plan the cable holes before the top is made.
3. Use a good channel for the keyboard tray: see the hinge and channel picker.

How many sheets?

A 4 x 2 ft study table (top, two sides, one drawer, one shelf) usually needs about 1 sheet of 18mm and a little 12mm and 6mm, depending on the design. For bigger jobs: the plywood sheet calculator.

FAQ

Will 12mm plywood do for a study table? Not for the top; use 18/19mm. 12mm is fine for drawers and small shelves.

Plywood or block board for a dining table top? For a large top, block board or 25mm plywood, with a frame. For a small top, 18mm plywood is enough.

Nitin Plywood House, Alipur

Plywood, block board, laminate, edge band and channels: everything for a table in one place. To check which size and brand is in stock today, call +91-9212017608.