I'm relatively new here so please forgive me if this has been discussed before:

I'm about ready to get my new quilting room together. I know what I want in a sewing table, although I haven't found it yet, but I was wondering about the size of a cutting table.

Should it be big so I could fit a whole (almost?; queen size) quilt on it or smaller? What would good dimensions be.

The sewing and cutting tables will be separate entities.

Thanks in advance for your thoughts and suggestions.

Wow thats a big cutting table. Mines about 5' x 3' but Im thinking a little bigger would be fine. My specific tip though would be to place it so you have walking space around the entire table. I love that I can cut from any side.

I have the cutting table from Joann's it folds down so it doesn't take up alot of room when I'm not using it. when it's completely open its a great size. (and with the coupons the price isn't so bad either)

I would not make the table any larger in depth than a large cutting mat. I have a queen size bed & even though I can walk around it, I don't think I could do much in the center as it is not readily reachable. For sandwiching queen size, you can use the binder clips to secure the quilt to the table & do the pinning/basting in sections. I think storage is a bigger issue than a very large table. My sewing table/cabinet has a hindged drop down leaf on the back side that does not have to be up & taking up space all the time.

Now - I disagree with donnajean. I have a sliding closet door ($15.00 at a recycle place) on 2 2-drawer file cabinets ($5.00 ea at garage sale). DH just cut it down to 36 x 70. I like the extra room for laying all my fabrics out ---- and my pattern, cutters, rulers, marking pens --- and my JUNK! The size should be determined by how much room you have!

My cutting table is about 5' wide and 7' long and I would love to have it wider and longer. I also think that one of the most important things is the height, everything I've read says that a cutting table should be no less or more than 3" below your elbow. I also have a ton of storage underneath it.

I found two vintage drop leaf dining tables at thrift store ( at different times.) I have them side by side for a space about 6 ft x 7 ft with leaves down. When I need more room to layer a large quilt I put the leaves up, all or how ever many I need.

We were just looking at Keepsake Quilting site and they offer cutting table plans I believe the measurements are 6x4'. The pattern is $15

Not sure what you disagree with. My "large" mat is the width of a door. I think it is 36x48". I only said "I" would make the depth the size of the mat. The length could be as long as the room if table was agaist a wall.

Thanks for all your responses so far!
I've been using the dining room table (too short!) up till now which is 3'6" X 6'4".
I'd like it to be just a touch wider I think. But Donnajean has a point of not being able to reach in the center of it. I do like to lay tools and cloth on the top as I assess and reassess my quilt.
Yes, I am planning on being able to walk all around it with anti-stress mats on the floor.