Fold-down and flip-top tables: 6 tables with nothing to store
The leaves stay attached. That makes these the quickest to open and the easiest to live with in a studio, at the cost of a short top: none of these 6 goes past 62 in.
| Table | Closed top | Steps | Open length | Closed length as % of open | Places, leaves down / open | Maker seat figure | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Expand Furniture Flip | 15.75 in x 47.25 in | none | 31.5 in | 50% | 2 / 4 | 4-6 | Expand Furniture, Nov 5, 2026 |
| IKEA PINNTORP | 26.38 in x 29.5 in | none | 48.88 in | 54% | 4 / 6 | 2-4 | IKEA, Nov 5, 2026 |
| IKEA DANDERYD | 29.12 in x 31.5 in | none | 52.75 in | 55% | 4 / 6 | 2-4 | IKEA, Nov 5, 2026 |
| IKEA VIHALS | 15.38 in x 35.38 in | 37.38 in | 59.5 in | 26% | 2 / 6 | 2-4 | IKEA, Nov 5, 2026 |
| IKEA NORDEN | 10.25 in x 31.5 in | 35 in | 59.88 in | 17% | 2 / 6 | 2-4 | IKEA, Nov 5, 2026 |
| Expand Furniture Echo | 31 in x 31 in | none | 62 in | 50% | 4 / 6 | 8 open | Expand Furniture, Nov 5, 2026 |
The narrow-closed trick
The IKEA NORDEN closes to 10.25 in with both leaves down, about the depth of a bookcase, and opens to 59.88 in. With one leaf up it is 35 in long and 31.5 in wide, enough for 4 places by the 24 in rule, one on each side and one at each end. VIHALS gateleg follows the same pattern at 15.38 in closed and 59.5 in open.
Flip tops are a different shape change
The Expand Furniture Flip and Echo do not get longer in steps. The top folds in half over itself and swings round, so the table jumps from one size to double in a single move. The Flip goes from 15.75 in deep against the wall to 31.5 in deep; the Echo goes from a 31 in square to 31 x 62 in.
Gateleg legs and knees
A gateleg holds each raised leaf on a leg that swings out from the center frame. A person sitting on the long side near that leg may have to sit off-center. Look at the photos on the maker page for where the swing legs land before counting on a full place at every 24 in.