How do you choose a compact tabletop and base together?

Choosing a table base for its appearance alone can lead to knee-clearance or stability problems later. A table is a complete system of top, support, fittings and floor contact. Information about each component in isolation is not enough.

Think of load capacity as a system property

Hettich’s T-leg product information states capacity including the tabletop and subject to evenly distributed load. The important point is not a particular number but the conditions to which it applies. Do not interpret a leg’s catalogue rating as the capacity of the whole table.

Source: Hettich — T linking leg product information

Define the seating scenario first

Short café visits, shared worktables and dining-hall benches create different layout needs. Evaluate users’ knee positions, chair pull-out space and the movement of people seated side by side in the drawing.

You may want easy circulation around a central base, but the compatibility of tabletop dimensions and the base footprint still needs checking. For long tops, support arrangements depend on the material and fixing solution.

Do not overlook fixings and the floor

Screws, holes and supports used with compact tops must follow the manufacturer’s guide. Rather than choosing arbitrary fittings, ask both the tabletop and base suppliers to approve the same detail.

Assess floor levelness and whether tables will be moved during use. Test a sample table for wobble, chair access and ease of cleaning. Do not approve an order solely from a catalogue photograph.

Before you decide

Approve the top, base and fixings as one system.
Test chair access and knee clearance.
Request the conditions behind capacity ratings in writing.

Sources and scope

Manufacturer sources were reviewed on 24 September 2026. Brand and product properties in those sources do not automatically represent performance or certification claims for Mat Kabin products. Planning advice is general information; final selections should be based on the current technical documents for the specific product.

Hettich — T linking leg product information