The best C tables

• C tables are the polished, grown-up versions of fold-out snack tables, smartly designed to provide a surface for eating or working, without taking up too much floor space.
• The Alcott Hill Gammons End Table from Wayfair is our top pick thanks to its sleek, classic design and built-in magazine rack.

Anyone who's eaten dinner while watching Netflix knows the benefit of a couch-side surface to put food on. However, coffee tables are bulky and fold-out snack tables, while functional and space-saving, tend to be less than stylish. Enter, the C table.

The name comes from the unique three-sided shape (it's also called a C-side table). Because it's "missing" one side, it can hover over the arm of a sofa or chair, as the base slides beneath the seat (provided there's some clearing between the chair and the floor). Not all C tables are equally attractive, but they tend to be more stylish than their fold-out counterparts and provide the perfect small-space solution for snacking or working in the living room.

Here are our top picks for the best C tables:

• Best overall: Alcott Hill Gammons End Table
• Best acrylic C table: CB2 Peekaboo Acrylic C Table
• Best for minimalists: Project 62 Glasgow C Table
• Best stackable set: Carolina Chair & Table Madison Nesting Table
• Best long, thin C table: Wrought Studio Thaxted End Table

Prices and links are current as of 7/8/20. We also added a selection of related buying guides.

The best C table overall

The Alcott Hill Gammons End Table features clean, geometric lines, a neutral wood finish, and a built-in storage rack for your reading material.  

The Alcott Hill Gammons End Table from Wayfair solves several couch-side lounging issues. It gives you a place to eat or work and an area to store your reading material. The natural wood look is more traditional, but it can work with many interior design schemes. A built-in magazine rack provides a clever storage solution for tiny living rooms with minimal surface space.

Constructed of rubberwood, it has a polished, neutral finish. Despite the material, you can easily slide it right up toward where you're sitting. The surface is large enough to accommodate a laptop or a standard-sized dinner plate.

Pros: Affordable, comes with storage pocket, comes in five neutral shades

Cons: Magazine rack is a bit narrow, assembly required

The best acrylic C table

CB2's Peekaboo Acrylic C Table is a conversation piece that adds a quick dose of cool to any decorating scheme.

I've become somewhat obsessed with acrylic design elements ever since my mom picked up the coffee table version of the Peekaboo Acrylic C Table from CB2. There's something about adding a transparent piece of furniture that makes a space look infinitely cooler. In the Peekaboo series, there's also a C table for small-space dwellers.

This table would elevate anybody's first apartment from the hand-me-down look to something sophisticated. It's 100% clear, save for the metal fixtures that hold the wheels (also acrylic) in place. Those wheels ensure the table is mobile, making it the perfect multi-use piece for any room.

Product photos show the table being used as a makeshift bar cart, with bottles stashed on the elongated base. Or, you can keep that area clear and slide it right under the couch for a snug dining surface.

Pros: Cool design, mobile, no assembly

Cons: Expensive, metal hardware takes away from all-clear design

The best for minimalists

The monochrome steel Project 62 Glasgow C Table is lightweight, simple, and a minimalist's dream come true.

If you're leading a minimalist lifestyle, the Project 62 Glasgow C Table just might be a perfect fit. While the CB2 Peekaboo Acrylic C Table is also understated, that's more of an art piece. Plus, you can't beat this table's price.

This C table is made of steel and features geometric design elements that harken back to the modernist era of the 1960s (hence the name, Project 62). It comes in two colors, white and black, and measures 16 inches wide, 16 inches deep, and 26 inches tall. If also comes to your door fully assembles, so there's absolutely no guesswork. The base has no surface so it can't be used as a shelf, but if storage isn't a requirement, this is a perfect pick.

Pros: Preassembled, affordable, simple design

Cons: No bottom shelf

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