How many pieces of tableware do you need for a household or dinner party of six? The simple answer is: at least six of each plate you use during a meal. In practice, it is also wise to take guests, the dishwasher, and spare parts into account.
A complete tableware set for six people provides a convenient basis. However, the contents vary from set to set. Therefore, look not only at the number of pieces, but also at the types of plates, bowls, and serving dishes you receive.
The minimum basis for six people
For one meal with six diners, you need at least six dinner plates. Do you serve multiple courses, soup, or a dessert? Then smaller and deeper plates are also important.
A practical basis consists of six dinner plates, six deep plates, and six breakfast or dessert plates. This comes to eighteen individual pieces. This combination is suitable for breakfast, lunch, soup, pasta, main courses, and desserts.
Do you often use bowls for yogurt, cereal, or salads? Then six matching bowls are a valuable addition.
What do you need per person?
For daily use, three types of tableware per person are usually sufficient.
You use the dinner plate for main courses and elaborate lunches. The deep plate is suitable for soup, pasta, curry, and meals with lots of sauce. You use the smaller plate for breakfast, pastries, appetizers, and desserts.
With six of each type, you have enough to fully set the table for six people. What other pieces you need depends on your eating habits.
Is exactly six of each plate enough?
When you always wash up immediately and rarely receive guests, six pieces may be enough. However, a small reserve offers more convenience. A plate can be in the dishwasher, get damaged, or have already been used for another meal.
For a household of six people, tableware for eight people is therefore sometimes more practical. You then have two extra place settings available without immediately needing a second complete set.
A reserve is especially handy when you do not run the dishwasher every day, regularly receive visitors, eat several meals at home, or often use the same type of plate.
How many dinner plates do you need?
Six dinner plates are the absolute minimum. For comfortable daily use, eight dinner plates are more practical. Do you often receive guests? Then consider ten or twelve pieces.
Also take into account the size of the table and your cabinet space. A large number of plates is nice, but only if you can easily store them.
How many deep plates do you need?
Do you regularly eat soup, pasta, or dishes with sauce? Then six deep plates are a logical basis. When deep plates are only used occasionally, you do not necessarily need to purchase extra pieces.
More and more tableware has low, bowl-shaped pasta plates. These are versatile and can also be used for salads, rice dishes, and elaborate lunches.
How many small plates do you need?
Small plates are often used more frequently than dinner plates. They are suitable for breakfast, lunch, pastries, fruit, appetizers, and desserts. Therefore, it can be handy to have more than six pieces.
For a family or household of six people, eight to twelve small plates are not an unnecessary luxury. You can use them several times a day without constantly washing up.
Do you also need six bowls?
That depends on what you usually eat. When everyone regularly eats yogurt, cereal, soup, or a salad from a bowl, six bowls are practical. Do you mainly use bowls to serve snacks and side dishes? Then two or three larger bowls will suffice.
When choosing bowls, pay attention to the capacity and diameter. A small bowl is suitable for yogurt or snacks, while a larger bowl is better suited for soup and complete meals.
How many serving dishes are convenient?
Serving dishes are shared by the whole table. Therefore, you do not need six of them. For a table of six people, two or three different dishes are usually sufficient.
A large dish is handy for salad, potatoes, or vegetables. A smaller dish can be used for sauce, bread, or a side dish. Preferably choose dishes that match the tableware in color and material.
You can also view the serving dishes from TEKZEN to further expand a tableware set.
Is a 25-piece tableware set enough?
A 25-piece tableware set can be a good choice for six people. However, the number of pieces does not exactly say what is in the package. Such a set can contain several types of plates and one shared serving piece.
Always check that there are six pieces of the most important plates. Also see if the other pieces match your daily use. A set with a large serving dish can, for example, be more convenient than a set with small dishes that you hardly use.
Is a 27-piece tableware set enough?
A 27-piece set can also be suitable for six people. The two extra pieces do not automatically make the set more complete. They can be bowls, dishes, or serving pieces.
Therefore, compare the parts list of different sets. The best tableware set is not the set with the highest number of pieces, but the set with the pieces you actually need.
What if you regularly receive guests?
When your household consists of six people and two guests regularly join, tableware for eight people is the most practical choice. Do you receive larger groups during birthdays and holidays? Then you can choose twelve place settings or combine two identical tableware sets.
The advantage of two identical sets is that the entire table maintains a calm appearance. Check beforehand if the chosen series can be supplemented later. Product collections can change over time.
Do not forget glasses and cutlery
A tableware set usually consists of plates, bowls, and sometimes serving dishes. Glasses and cutlery are usually sold separately.
For six people, you need at least six drinking glasses and six complete cutlery place settings. An extra set of glasses and cutlery is handy for guests and for moments when part of it is in the dishwasher.
With matching glasses and a complete cutlery set, you complete the table setting.
An example for six people is the Bricard Bonnes 27-piece tableware set. View the parts list to determine if the composition matches your meals.
This is how you determine the right quantity
Start with six dinner plates, six deep plates, and six smaller plates. Add six bowls when you use them daily. Also choose two or three serving dishes for shared dishes.
Do you want extra convenience or regularly receive visitors? Then choose eight place settings. This way you have enough reserve without storing unnecessarily much tableware.
View the tableware sets from TEKZEN and check per set which pieces are included. This way you find a tableware set that fits six people and your daily eating habits.
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