Nesting Tables Guide: Set of 3 vs Set of 2, Sizes and Woods
A nesting table is a set of two or three tables in graduated sizes that slide under one another, so the whole set takes up the floor space of one. Choose a set of 3 if you want a coffee-table surface that splits into extra side tables when people come over. Choose a set of 2 for one end of a sofa, a reading chair or a small apartment.
Nesting tables are also an easy first piece of real wood furniture. They are small, they move from room to room, and they show you how walnut, oak or chestnut actually looks in your own light before you think about anything bigger. This guide covers the sizes, set of 3 vs set of 2, and the woods and finishes we make them in. Everything below comes from our product pages.
What is a nesting table?
A nesting table is really a small family of tables. Each one is a little lower and a little smaller than the one before, so the small table stands under the medium and the medium under the large. Pushed together, they read as one side table or a compact coffee table. Pulled apart, you have two or three separate surfaces for a lamp, a stack of books, a cup of coffee or a plant.
That is why they work so well in small spaces. You don't have to give floor space to three tables all the time, only when you need them. The legs on our sets are tapered and set wide enough for each table to slide over the one below. On the pebble-shaped sets, the curved tops fan out when they are partly pulled apart, so the set looks deliberate even when it isn't fully nested.
Nesting tables set of 3 vs set of 2
- Set of 3 is the flexible choice for a living room. The large table works as a low coffee table or sofa-side table, and the two smaller ones come out for guests, a laptop or a drink next to an armchair.
- Set of 2 suits a smaller room, a bedroom or one corner. You get a side table and a pull-out perch without a third piece to find room for.
- Not sure? Our walnut pebble nesting tables come as a set of 3, or as a set of 2 in either the medium and large sizes or the small and medium sizes. You can start with two and keep the same shape and wood.
Nesting table sizes
The clearest measurements we publish are for the black pebble set of 3 and the two-piece epoxy sets. Each table in the black set is about 2 inches (5 cm) lower than the one above it. That gap is what lets it slide underneath.
| Set | Table | Size (L × W × H) |
|---|---|---|
| Black pebble set of 3 | Large | 25 × 17 × 19" / 63 × 43 × 47.5 cm |
| Black pebble set of 3 | Medium | 21 × 14.5 × 17" / 54 × 37 × 42.5 cm |
| Black pebble set of 3 | Small | 17 × 12 × 15" / 44 × 30.5 × 37.5 cm |
| Walnut epoxy river set of 2 | Medium | 19.7" wide, 18.5" high / 50 cm wide, 47 cm high |
| Walnut epoxy river set of 2 | Small | 19.7" wide, 16.5" high / 50 cm wide, 43 cm high |
These are handmade, so the pages note a possible variation of up to 2 cm. For the epoxy sets, check the depth of each table on the product page you're ordering from, because the blue and burgundy listings show it differently. The walnut, oak and chestnut pebble sets don't list measurements in their descriptions. If you are fitting a tight spot, ask us before you order.
Wooden nesting tables: woods and finishes
Our nesting tables come in walnut, oak and chestnut, in black, white and green lacquer, and in two epoxy designs. This is what each product page lists:
| Wood or finish | Pieces | What the page lists |
|---|---|---|
| Walnut | 3 or 2 | 100% European solid walnut, matte lacquer, pebble tops |
| Oak | 3 | 100% solid European oak, matte lacquer; pebble set, or a rustic set in Chocolate-Oak or Multicolor-Oak |
| Chestnut | 3 | 100% European solid chestnut, matte lacquer, Transparent or Natural color |
| Black lacquer | 3 | Matte black (pebble set) or black high gloss (rustic set) |
| White lacquer | 3 | High gloss white |
| Green lacquer | 3 | Solid wood with green high gloss lacquer |
| Walnut with epoxy river | 2 | European walnut, blue or burgundy river |
| Walnut with snowflake epoxy | 2 | Solid European walnut; stripes in White, Pearl Blue, Emerald Green, Transparent Blue or Transparent Green |
Walnut is the darkest and warmest of the three woods. Oak is lighter and more even. Chestnut nesting tables have a pronounced, open grain. If you want to read more about each wood first, see is walnut good for furniture and our chestnut wood guide.
The epoxy sets are the bold option. The blue river walnut nesting table set of 2 pairs a square top with a smaller rectangular one. Its page says the epoxy color and leg height can be changed on request. Our epoxy river table guide has more on resin-and-wood pieces.
Small nesting tables in a small apartment
In a small home, every piece has to do more than one job. A few ways to use a nesting set:
- Sofa side: keep the large table at the arm of the sofa for a lamp and a remote, and pull the smallest one out for a drink or a laptop.
- In front of the sofa: pushed together, a set of 3 can stand in for a coffee table in a room too narrow for one.
- Bedside: a set of 2 makes a nightstand with a spare surface for a book or a glass of water.
- Reading corner: next to an armchair, the medium table holds a mug and the small one holds the book you are not reading yet.
- Entry or plant corner: staggered heights make a simple stand for plants, photos or a bowl for keys.
Before you buy, measure the height of your sofa arm. The large table in the black pebble set is 19 inches (47.5 cm) tall, and a side table usually feels right when it sits close to the arm height.
Start small: see the wood in your own light
A nesting set is a sensible way to find out what real walnut, oak or chestnut looks like at home before you think about a bigger piece. There is one honest caveat. Wood looks different under a north window, a warm lamp or a phone camera. Walnut can read almost chocolate in one photo and honey-brown in another, and no two tops have the same grain.
So before you order, look through every photo on the product page, not only the first one. Compare the matte and high gloss finishes if you are choosing a lacquered set, and ask us any questions about the color before you order. Our return policy covers 30 days from delivery in the US and Canada for items that are new and in their original packaging. A difference in color tone isn't treated as a reason for return, because natural wood always varies. Pieces made to your request, such as a changed epoxy color, can't be returned. Shipping within the US is free. If a part arrives damaged, send us a photo and the part code, and we replace the damaged part at no cost.
Furnishing a whole room? Our solid wood vs laminate guide compares the two materials.
Frequently asked questions
Are nesting tables in style?
Our sets lean mid-century: pebble-shaped tops, tapered legs and a choice of natural wood or lacquer. The product pages describe them as fitting both modern and rustic rooms, and the lacquered colors give you a way to add one accent without a large piece.
How tall are nesting tables?
In the black pebble set of 3, the tables are 19, 17 and 15 inches tall (47.5, 42.5 and 37.5 cm). The two-piece epoxy sets are 18.5 and 16.5 inches tall (47 and 43 cm).
Are the black and white nesting tables solid wood?
The green lacquer set is listed as solid wood. The black and white lacquer listings describe the finish but don't name the wood underneath. If that matters to you, ask us before ordering, or choose the walnut, oak or chestnut sets, which are listed as 100% solid wood.
Should I buy a set of 3 or a set of 2?
A set of 3 if the tables will replace a coffee table or serve guests, a set of 2 for one sofa end, a bedroom or a small apartment. The walnut pebble set is sold both ways.
See all our walnut nesting tables set of 3, or browse the wider range of wooden living room tables.
Sizes and materials are taken from our product pages. Photos show our own pieces. This article was prepared with AI assistance and reviewed by the UPP Home team before publishing.
