The Science Behind Custom Table Covers

There’s more to a Table Cover than you think!

Take a look around.

You’ll see table covers used in many different places: tradeshows, health fairs, job fairs, college orientation, 5K walks/runs, college recruitment, home shows, open houses, grand openings, holiday parties, seminar registration tables, just to name a few!

Why? Because a table cover is a perfect place to display your corporate logo, school mascot or association name.

The large imprint area gives you lots of room to get your message out and make a positive first impression.

Table covers are available in numerous sizes and can be customized to fit special table sizes.

Measurements are key!

Standard table sizes are 29″ high and 30″ deep across the top of the table.

The length of a table will vary in 2′ increments like 4′, 6′ or 8′ length tables.

Table covers will reach down to just above the floor on the front of the table and across the top of the table plus down the two short sides of the table, again to just above the floor.

A three-sided table cover will leave the back exposed while the four-sided will have a piece of material that covers the back of the table.

Please see the picture on the next page.

The key consideration here is whether to go with a flat or fitted table
cover.

If you are going to use the same size table every time you use the table cover then the fitted style will work.

If you expect variation in the size of the tables you use (e.g. sometimes a 6′ and sometimes an 8′ table) then order different sized table covers, a longer flat one or a convertible.

The Different Styles and Sizes

Flat table covers drape at the corners of the table and will hang down to an inch above the floor.

A set of slight dimples will appear at the corners.

A fitted table cover is made for a specific size table and has sewn corners like a fitted bed sheet.

A convertible is a flat 6-foot or 8-foot table cover with hook and loop on each side so it can be converted to fit a 4-foot or 6-foot table.

It is a flat table cover at the larger size and when converted to the smaller size it is a fitted table cover.

Convertible table covers only available with polyester material.

A stretch fit table cover is the polyester material that stretches over the table cover to give it a snug contoured fit.

The table cover has reinforced sleeves on each corner.

Slip each table leg into the sleeve and pull tight.

To achieve the snug contoured look, this table cover fits best on a table with legs no more than 6″ from the table edge.

Three-sided table covers reach over the table’s top, front and two sides leaving the back of the table exposed.

This allows for storing items under the table with easy access or for sitting behind.

The four-sided cover reaches over the back of the table in addition to the top and sides.

Materials

We have premium and budget polyester, poly/cotton twill and stretch polyester.
The premium polyester is a quality poplin polyester material that is washable and flame retardant.

It meets the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 701 standard for flame resistance.

This material weight is 5 oz. per square yard and drapes nicely and can be silk screen printed on any color material or full color dye sublimated on white material.

We offer 5 different material colors in polyester.

The fabric colors will not fade.

The budget material is quality lightweight polyester that is washable.

The material weight is 4.13 oz. per square yard. It is cut with rounded corners and has a rolled hem to give it a finished look.

It can be silk screen printed up to 6 colors. We offer three material colors in the budget polyester.

The fabric colors will not fade. It is a lower priced option when you don’t need flame retardant material.

The digital direct print material is also a polyester material – but it is lighter weight, 4.57 oz. per square yard. The table cover is finished with a rolled hem with double stitching. It is cut with rounded corners to give a finished look.

It is a lower priced option when you don’t need flame retardant material.

The poly/cotton twill is a blend of 65% polyester and 35% cotton twill. This is a heavy material that will withstand a lot of use.

We offer 16 different material colors in the poly/cotton blend. The products that use this material are cut and sewn in the United States. These products are finished with a rolled hem so the edges won’t fray.

The poly-cotton twill can only be silk screen printed. Stretch polyester is used to make the stretch fit table covers. It meets the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 701 standard for flame resistance.

This material can only print with full-color dye sublimation and is cut and sewn in the United States.

Printing Methods

We offer three different kinds of methods: Silk Screening, Dye Sublimation and Digital Direct.

Silk Screening is the imprint method on the Premium Polyester, Budget Polyester and Poly/Cotton Twill items.

We can print up to 6 colors with silk screening.

A screen is needed to print each color.

Ink is poured onto the screen and then a squeegee passes over the ink, forcing ink through the screen and onto the product. This is a slower imprint method.

Dye Sublimation is the imprint method on premium polyester all over dye sub table covers.

This prints only on white material and can be printed with an all over imprint.

The image prints out on special transfer paper.

Then the transfer paper is fused to the material using heat.

The image is fused into the polyester material making the image extremely durable.

Digital Direct print is printed on budget polyester material.

This prints only on white material and can be printed with an all over imprint.

The image prints directly onto the material, with no transfer paper.

The image is fused into the budget polyester material and is extremely durable.

However, the colors and details are not as vibrant or crisp as the dye sublimation method.