How tall should your side table be? The general rule of thumb is the table should be within 2 inches of the sofa or chair arm. This ensures it's easy to reach and place items on the table without straining. If you have armless furniture, the table should be within 2 inches of the seat height. For example, if your sofa's arm is 22" tall, a proper end table can be anywhere from 20" – 24" tall. LTKHome LTKStyleTip LTKFamily