Wood vs Plastic Folding Tables: Weight, Cost and Lifespan

Two volunteers carry a six-foot table up the church basement stairs. One says it is too heavy. The other says plastic never lasts. Both are partly right.

The wood vs plastic folding tables question has a real answer, and it depends on three numbers: weight, price and years in service. Here are those numbers from the live Chivari listings, plus the one situation where each type is the wrong buy.

Plywood or plastic: which folding table is better?

Plastic wins on weight and price. Plywood wins on capacity and warranty. Choose plastic if your people carry the tables every week. Choose plywood if you want tables that stay in service for years and carry heavy loads.

Both come in a 72 by 30 inch, six-foot size that seats 6 to 8 adults. Browse Rectangle Wood Banquet Tables and Rectangle Plastic Folding Tables, or the full Banquet & Folding Tables range.

Which lasts longer outdoors?

Neither is built for permanent outdoor use. The plastic table's listing calls it weather-resistant, but the care notes limit outdoor use to temporary and say to bring tables in after each use. The listings do not state a UV rating.

The lawn setup above is a one-day event, which is the right use. Set the tables out in the morning and stack them under cover that night. Sun and rain over a week hurt both materials.

How much do wood and plastic tables weigh?

Plastic is lighter by about 20 percent. The 72" x 30" plastic table weighs 36 lbs. The 72" x 30" (6 Foot) Rectangle Plywood Folding Table weighs 45 lbs. At eight feet, the 96" x 30" White Rectangle Plastic Table weighs 45.6 lbs, and the plywood 96 by 30 lists 60 lbs.

Nine pounds does not sound like much. Over 50 tables, you lift 450 lbs less on every load-in and load-out. If your crew is two people, you will feel that by the third event of the weekend.

The 72" x 42" (6 Foot) Rectangle Plywood Folding Table with Metal Edge weighs 62.48 lbs, so a wider top costs you in weight.

What does cost per use look like over five years?

Divide price by uses. The plastic six-footer lists at $94.09 and the plywood at $129.39. Say you rent a table 60 times a year, an illustrative figure. Over five years that is 300 uses: about $0.31 per use for plastic and $0.43 for plywood.

That favors plastic only if the table lasts all five years. The warranties differ. Plastic carries 2 years total, made of 1 limited year plus 1 extended. Plywood carries 4 years, a 2-year limited term plus 2 extended. Both cover the original purchaser.

Capacity differs too. The plastic six-footer lists a 440 lb capacity, and the plywood table lists 600 lbs. For buffets with chafers and full pans, that extra 160 lbs is real.

How do edges, legs and tops fail?

Plywood does not like moisture, so wipe spills and keep the edges dry. The plastic listing warns that rain, direct sun and extreme heat can fade, warp or crack the top. As a rule of thumb, legs on either type bend first when tables are dropped.

Legs are the cheap repair. A replacement set lists at $39.98, so a bent leg should not retire a good table. Read the Table Parts collection before you scrap anything.

Note: Plastic is the wrong choice for heavy buffet loads, and plywood is the wrong choice if every table gets carried upstairs weekly.

What to add to the order

Dress the plywood with a skirt from Table Skirts, and match the listed table size to the 72 by 30 tops above. For round banquets, the 60" (5 Foot) Round Heavy Duty Natural Plywood Folding Banquet Table seats 8 to 10 and weighs 54 lbs.

For legs, the Gray Replacement Legs for 60" and 66" Round Plywood Table keep round tables in service. For transport, the Steel Banquet Table Cart is $299.98 and lists 10 tables of 72" x 30" or 96" x 30". See Table Carts for the full list.

Then pick by use case:

• Weekly setup by volunteers: plastic, for the lighter lift.
• Buffet lines and heavy loads: plywood, for the 600 lb capacity.
• Rental stock for five years or more: plywood, for the longer warranty.

The cheapest table is the one you do not replace. Match the top to the job and fix the legs when they bend. Browse the Banquet & Folding Tables collection or call for a quote on a full order.

Frequently asked questions

How many people sit at a six-foot table?

Both the plywood and plastic 72" x 30" tables are listed for 6 to 8 adults.

How much does a 6-foot plastic table weigh?

The 72" x 30" heavy duty plastic table weighs 36 lbs. The plywood version weighs 45 lbs.

Can I leave folding tables outside?

Not for long. The listings allow temporary outdoor use and say to bring tables in after each use.