What you will find
Four-seaters are the most common, from couples and small families moving to bigger homes. Six-seaters in sheesham, teak or engineered wood come from family homes, often with a matching bench or extra chairs. Glass-top and marble-top tables list regularly because they are among the hardest pieces to move, so sellers would rather sell than shift them. Foldable and extendable tables suit small flats and appear from people who have outgrown them.
How to check a used dining table
- Wobble. Press down on each corner of the top and push it sideways. A small wobble may just be an uneven floor; real sway means loose legs or joints.
- Top damage. Look for water rings, heat marks, deep scratches and peeling laminate. Solid wood can be sanded and repolished; laminate cannot.
- Glass and marble. Check for chips at the edges and hairline cracks. Both are very heavy — ask whether the top lifts off the base, and plan for at least two people to carry it.
- Chairs. Sit on every chair and rock it. Loose chairs are the most common fault in a used set. Check cushions for stains, tears and flattened foam.
- Extensions. On extendable tables, open and close the leaf and check the runners slide freely.
Measure before you buy
Allow space for people to pull chairs out and walk around the table, not just the table itself. Measure the room, the doorway and the lift. A six-seater with a fixed top may not fit through a narrow flat door, while one with detachable legs will.
Transport and safety
A dining set usually needs a tempo and two loaders, and glass or marble tops must be carried upright and padded. Agree before paying who arranges and pays for this. Meet at the seller's home and pay in person — never send an advance online, and never share an OTP or scan a QR code to receive money. Read our safety tips and browse all used tables.