Measure with someone sitting down
Mark the table's footprint on the floor and position a chair beside it. Sit as you would for breakfast, rather than tucking your knees in to make everything fit. Check the remaining space and whether another person can pass without asking you to stand.
Open the door during the trial. A table sometimes fits perfectly until the door swings into the chair's space. Consider where you will put a watering can or tray as you come outside. The route needs to work with your hands full, not only when the balcony is empty.
Look below the top
A small tabletop can conceal a base that gets in the way of your feet. Check leg spacing and any bars at knee height. With round models, inspect the central support and stability. Having no corners does not automatically make a table comfortable for two people.
A square top may make better use of one side, while a round one can ease movement in some layouts. Neither shape wins everywhere. The choice depends on the door, chairs and whether the table needs to sit close to a wall. Test the actual arrangement rather than relying on the product's room photograph.
Assess the whole folding process
For a folding top, measure the closed piece and examine its locking mechanism. Check whether you can fold it without first taking the chairs indoors. Where it will be stored matters as much as the space saved for a few hours.
Tables that hang from railings require genuine compatibility with that barrier and the building's rules. Do not improvise hooks or assume any railing was designed for this use. A floor-standing option may be simpler, provided it suits the balcony's conditions.
Buy for what goes on top
Two cups need less surface than plates, cutlery and a serving dish. Try those objects on a similar-sized surface before deciding. Finally, check the material, maintenance and storage required when the outdoor season ends or windy weather arrives.
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