How to Set Glasses on a Dinner Table: Step-by-Step Guide

This updated guide explains how to Set Glasses on a Dinner Table through clear steps, practical examples, and important checks that help prevent common errors.

Method 1 of 3:

Setting Plates and Utensils

Lay out your placemat and plate. Give each seat a crisp, flat placemat and put the dinner plate in the very center of the placemat. If you are using a salad plate, put that plate on top of the dinner plate.^{[1]XResearch source}
- Salad plates are usually only used in formal dinners. If yours is more casual, you don't have to worry about it.
Put the napkin, dinner fork, and salad fork to the left of the plate. Fold a cloth napkin into a triangle and slide it next to the plate with the tall point sticking outward. Put the large dinner fork on the napkin closest to the plate and add the salad fork to the left of the dinner fork.^{[2]XResearch source}
Set the knife on the right side of the plate. Make sure it lines up in a parallel line with the dinner plate and that the blade faces inwards. Always use a butter knife unless the main course requires a steak knife.^{[3]XResearch source}
- Keep the handle of the knife facing toward the seat so your guests can pick up their knife easily.
Add the teaspoon and soup spoon to the right of the knife. Place the teaspoon, or the smaller spoon, next to the knife, and then put the soup spoon, or the larger spoon, next to that one. You can also keep the teaspoon until the dessert portion of the meal when you'd typically serve your guests coffee.^{[4]XResearch source}
- Try to keep about 0.25 inches (0.64 cm) of space in between each utensil.

Method 2 of 3:

Adding Water and Wine Glasses

Put out all the glasses you'll use at the beginning of the meal. Your guests may want to switch between which drink they sip on during each course. Instead of bringing out new glasses with each course, set them out ahead of time so your guests can pick and choose between them.^{[5]XResearch source}
- If you are having a dessert wine or coffee, you can save those glasses and cups until the dessert is served.
Place a white wine glass at the top right corner of the placemat. Keep it slightly above the soup spoon so that your guest doesn't have to reach too far for it. White wine glasses are usually smaller and more upright than red wine glasses.^{[6]XResearch source}
Set a red wine glass above and to the left of the white wine. Keep the next wine glass slightly above the white wine one to avoid any spilling. Red wine glasses are usually larger and more bowl shaped than white wine glasses.^{[7]XResearch source}

Tip: If you are serving a dish that only pairs well with red wine or white wine, you can choose 1 wine glass to set out instead of 2.
Situate a water glass above and to the left of the red wine. Keep the water glass above the wine glasses so your guests can pour their own water throughout the meal. For a more classic place setting, use a water goblet, a conically shaped glass with a stem and a foot.^{[8]XResearch source}
- If you are setting out a more casual dinner setting, you can use any glass cup as a water glass.

Method 3 of 3:

Setting Liquor and Dessert Glasses

Put a sherry glass on the right of the white wine glass. When you are serving a course that uses sherry as an ingredient, give your guests a small glass of sherry to sip on during the meal. If the table is too crowded to fit the glass on the right of the white wine glass, you can put it on the left instead.^{[9]XResearch source}
- Sherry glasses are small, shot glass sized glasses situated on stems with a foot.
Bring out a dessert wine glass when dessert is served. You can place it behind and to the right of the water goblet if there's space. If the table is crowded, put the dessert wine glass directly to the right of the water goblet.^{[10]XResearch source}

Tip: The kind of dessert wine you serve depends on what dessert you serve and what pairs with it. Chocolate desserts go great with red wines, while vanilla or berry desserts pair well with white wine.
Place a champagne flute near the water goblet when it's served. If champagne is the only wine you are serving, you can keep the glass to the right of the water goblet the entire meal. Otherwise, clear out the other wine glasses before you serve champagne to make room.^{[11]XResearch source}
- Champagne flutes are tall and slender glasses that sit on stems with a foot.
Add a coffee cup and saucer to the right of the place setting. You can bring out your coffee cup and saucer during the dessert course. Put the handle of the coffee cup in the 4 o'clock position so your guests can easily reach for it.^{[12]XResearch source}
- Keep the coffee cup and saucer below the rest of the glassware.

FAQ

What is the easiest way to Set Glasses on a Dinner Table?

Start with the requirements in this guide, then follow each step in order. Check the result after every major change so problems are easier to identify.