My cutting table is a kitchen island with a tile top. It is just a little larger than 36" square on top. I laid an old cutting mat over the tile and under my newer mat so I don't feel the grooves when I cut on my newer mat. The 36" size is just perfect to be able to reach what I'm working on from all 4 sides without having to move my material or blocks around on the mat. Also, the drawers are perfect for storing rotary cutters, blades and smaller templates. Below the drawers are regular cabinet doors where my scrap fabric, scrap batting, and orphan blocks are hidden. There might be a UFO or 2 in there also. It's my perfect cutting table & it cost $0. It was a rescue from a kitchen remodel.
Painters Tape works wonderfully for marking qrid lines & crosshatching for quilting lines.