Training Table – The Ultimate Buyers Guide

Companies use employee training and orientation as a mean to introduce the newcomers to their new responsibilities and environment. It gives new employees the chance to get a hang of the company’s way of doing things. Effective employee training is beneficial for both the employers and employees.

When the time comes for the new employees to learn all the things they need to know to survive in the company, training tables can help simplify the process. The company can create flexible training areas with tables arranged and lined in a manner that is efficient and effective to bring up new employees for the work they are expected to do.

Training room tables come in various shape, sizes, and features. When buying for tables, one must consider what is needed and what choices available to fulfill those needs. Let’s have a quick look at some things you need to consider.

Work Space

If the training is held in a multi-purpose room, you should choose tables that are easy to move around and store when the training sessions are completed. Flipper and foldable training tables are the best choices for this temporary setting. These two are designed to maximize storage space usage. A small storage room can keep stacks of foldable tables ready to be used on the next company training session.

However, when the training is held is a dedicated training room then it’s okay to buy tables that are more permanent. They don’t need wheels or any space-saving features.

Mobility

Training tables with built-in wheels work well in a dynamic training session where there’s a mix of seated activities and active drills. Tables, especially the big ones, are heavy. The wheels make it easy for the trainees to set the tables aside, freeing the workspace for the drills or reconfigure the seating arrangement for group projects. The wheels also make it easy to move the tables into the storage room so the available space can be used for another company activity.

Material

Wood, particle board, HDPE plastic, and melamine are some of the commonly used material for tabletops. Plastic and Melamine tabletops are low maintenance. They are also sturdy and last a long time even when used outdoors. When lined with a durable finish that resists scratches and stains well, wood and particleboard tabletops still make a solid choice. They may not be suited for outdoor training use but for indoors they are more than acceptable.

For the legs, always opt for steel. Durable tabletops need strong legs to support them. A good combo of tops and legs give you a sturdy table that holds hundreds of pounds of weight. Some tables can hold over 500 pounds of distributed weight.

Tabletop Finish

Both function and aesthetic are important when it comes to tabletop finish. A good table with crappy tabletop finish is not only a bad investment it may also hinder productivity. A good finish should be scratch and stain resistant. You also need to choose between textured or smooth finish. Textured finish improves scratch resistance and for a piece of furniture that is going to be used many times, that’s actually a good thing. However, if the employee training involves plenty of writing, scribbling, or drawing on paper, smooth finish is much more preferable. In any other scenarios, textured finish is fine.

Aesthetically appealing finish is important too. Some say it’s irrelevant, but you should look into it from the trainees’ point of view. Long training sessions in a dully-painted room, equipped with equally boring-looking furniture is hellish.

Extra Features

There are a couple of features that can make life easier for everyone. For instance, a cable management trough is useful for reducing the cable clutter when using desktop computers, printers, and other electronics. Adjustable glides keep the table level when situated on an uneven surface. It may seem like minor but in real life situation a wobbly table is not only annoying but can also be dangerous when you have training equipment and gears on it.

Okay, now that you know the things you need to consider, you’re ready to buy the best training table. But first, read the following reviews for the top rated training room tables available in the market. Any one of them will make a good choice for your training needs.

Best Training Room Table Reviews 

BALT 89870 Flipper Training Table

This multipurpose table from Balt is not only useful in the training room. It’s great for the office, classroom, conference room, and home office. The top is available in two sizes 36×24-inch and 48×24-inch. It’s made of solid wood with rounded edges. The table top is easy to flip. Use the lever release to unlock the top and you can store it away. It also makes a good laptop desk because there’s a hole on the back of the table where you can get a monitor, keyboard, and CPU cables through. Some assembly is required, but it’s simple, and you don’t need any tools to do it.

Balt flipper training table is very well-made. It’s super steady and feels like a table that will last years. The sturdy steel frame is black powder-coated to prevent rust and corrosion. The legs are not centered under the top but positioned a bit far back. Plenty of leg room down there even if you have rather log legs.

The four wheels at the bottom make the table easy to move around. This table weighs 56 pounds, so the wheels help a lot. Two of the 2-inch wheels have brakes so it won’t slide around when you don’t want it to.

Flash Furniture Granite White Plastic Folding Training Table

This granite white training table is very easy to set up. Snap open both legs, lock them and then put the tabletop. It also makes it easy to store the table when you need to put it away for a while. The whole construction looks and feels sturdy. The legs and locking system are good enough to keep the table steady. The height makes it a perfect training table, buffet, or trade show table.

The table top measures 8-inches x 60-inches x 1.75-inches. With 330-pound load capacity, it has both sufficient space and capacity to put a good amount of food, drinks, training materials, computer monitor, and heavy equipment. It doesn’t have any wheels, but since it weighs a mere 20 pounds it’s still easy to move around. It’s 5-foot long, so it’s easier when two people do it. With rounded corners, you won’t hurt yourself too bad when you bump into them.

It’s good that the plastic top is stain resistant. Very useful when the people drop their coffee or any kind of beverages. The stain won’t seep into the table, make a blotch, and warp the top like some tables with wood top. You can clean it easily. It’s scratch and impact resistant too. It will keep the top in good condition for a long time.

Boss Training Table

This is one of Boss’s gorgeous training table. It’s available in Mahogany or Cherry but Mahogany is the one you should get. The deep brown color looks pretty yet professional, perfect for an office environment. The top is 1-inch thick with PVC edging. The melamine work surface makes the top scratch resistant and very easy to clean. Wipe it down with a damp cloth and it will look like new in no time. Energy bar crumbs, coffee, and energy drink spills just slide off.

One major drawback with this table is that it doesn’t come with the legs. Yes, you read that correctly. You need to buy the legs separately. It’s a good thing those legs are easy to attach. They use steel threaded inserts, so assembly only takes a couple of minutes. Just screw the legs in tightly and you’re done. The legs are made of steel instead of hard plastic, and they are powder coated for extra protections against rust. They have a simple design, but they are strong enough to support the tabletop.

The tabletop itself is pretty spacious. A 72-inch x 24-inch top is large enough for any kind of work equipment and gears. You can use it to seat two trainees, and each will have plenty of space to work on.

Work Smart Resin Multi-Purpose Flip Table

This is a flip table from Work Smart. It is a great table for indoor use and also outdoor, like for company gatherings and such. It looks clean, simple, and will match the décor of whatever rooms it is used in.

At 48 pounds, this table is quite heavy, but it has wheels to help you move it from room to room. Like any decent table, this one also has locks on two of its wheels to prevent it from running off when placed one slightly uneven surface.

The tabletop measures 24-inches x 60-inches. There are two cord management holes on it, one at each end. You can put two desktop computers on it or one computer plus one printer. This table has sturdy tubular frame and has 250 lbs maximum weight limit. It’s not as high as other flip table but still plenty to hold various training materials and equipment. The top can be flipped down for easy storage and it’s a good space-saving feature.

One minor weakness of the tabletop is that it’s not entirely flat. There’s a slight slope at the edges. You can line it together with similar tables, but there will be a small indent where the edges meet. It’s not really a big deal, though.

Correll SP1860PX

Correll’s Panel Leg Folding Table is a unique folding table that offers generous leg room, enabling people to sit closer to the table. It’s available in nine different sizes. Whatever your need is, chances are there’s a size that would be just right for it. The table comes fully assembled so you can use it right out of the box. However, the Nylon glides are not pre-attached. You need to screw them in manually if you need them. The table folds and unfolds easily. Remember to unscrew the glides if you want the table to fold flat.

This table has rectangular steel tube for legs and matching panels attached to them. The panels serve no purpose whatsoever, but they are aesthetically appealing. It’s a nice break from the plain steel table legs you see everywhere. If you take this to a trade show, it will stand out all on its own.

The smooth tabletop surface is easy to clean and easy to write on. When the training involves a lot of paper works and tests, the smooth surface is a huge plus. The 0.625-inches thick tabletop is also resistant to warping, staining, and scratching. With minimal care, it will still look brand new for years to come.

Overall, the table is well-built. It’s not only easy to the eyes but also has exceptional workmanship.

National Public Seating BT1860

This rectangular folding table is so easy to set up. Just open the legs until the locks snap and you’re ready to use it. To fold it back just push a button and it will fold flat. Easy to slip between closets or stack on the corner of the room.

It may look slim, but this is actually a heavy-duty training room table. The frame is made of 8 gauge steel while the legs are 6 gauge steel. It holds up to 700 lbs. Most tables this size can only hold around 300. You can even sit on it without worrying it would break. It’s no wonder this table is used for CPR training. It can definitely take a beating. The cantilevered legs provide ample leg room too. No frame in the middle to hit your knees.

This table works well for indoor and outdoor use. The molded plastic table top can withstand rain and direct sunlight. Unlike tabletops made of particle board, it won’t warp or damaged easily when exposed to the elements. To improve scratch resistance, the top is slightly textured but smooth enough for you to write on top of it.

One problem with this thing is that it’s only 18-inches wide. Many prefer 24-inch as it’s more comfortable to work on. Depending on what you’re going to use it for, this may or may not be a major concern.

OFM UT2460-OAK Utility Table

This OFM training table is a simple one. It’s a rectangular table with rounded edges on the front and back. The sides are flat so you can arrange it tightly with similarly-sized tables. Being simple does not indicate that it’s a lousy table. In fact, this is a great table. The 60-inches x 24 inches, high-pressure laminated tabletop is smooth with attractive wooden pattern. It’s easy to wipe clean and write on. It’s nothing fancy and some people like that.

Since this table is packaged in parts, some assembly is required. OFM gives you all the tools required and the whole thing takes less than half an hour to put together. It has leveling glides that prevent the table from wobbling. It’s very useful when you take the table outdoor and there’s no guarantee that you can put it on an even surface.  Both the frames and legs are made of 15 gauge steel frame. That makes this table sturdy enough for employee training sessions, seminars, and collaborative works. Leg room is generous because there’s nothing under the tabletop.

In summary, this is a really good table. It does have some minor shortcomings. First, it weighs 67 pounds but has no wheels. Moving it around is strictly a two-person job. Secondly, it’s not foldable. This table suits better as a permanent furniture instead of a temporary one.

KFI Seating Folding Utility/Training Table

Yet another excellent product from KFI Seating. KFI made this for commercial use and it shows in the quality of the table. The top is 1-inch thick and extremely sturdy. It will hold up well when used in various training programs. The medium oak styling is elegant and blends well with any office environment. To protect the table from dents and bumps, the edges are covered in T-mold. The frames and legs are made of steel, painted in matte black finish. Each of its legs has an adjustable glide that prevents the table from wobbling when placed on uneven floors while also protect the flooring from scratches when the table is pushed around.

For company training conducted off-site, the furniture should be easy to store and transport. This table fits those requirements well. It’s easy to fold and perfect for stacking numerous tables in a compact storage. It folds flat making transporting in bulk simple. The table is available in three sizes; 18-inches x 60-inches, 18-inches x 72-inches, and 24-inches x 60-inches.

KFI Seating is a well-known brand that makes and sell a full line of furniture for businesses and schools. Despite the name, this company also makes a wide range of tables. It’s easy to find seats that will pair well with whatever KFI training table you buy.

Lorell LLR60682 Training Table

This rectangular tabletop is one of Lorell Training table lines that gives you flexibility in your training room arrangement needs. It is made of 1.25-inches thick particleboard, laminated in light gray to provide smooth working surface that has excellent scratch and stain resistance.  At the bottom, there’s a metal bar that stiffens the board and prevents it from sagging or warping when exposed to humidity.

Normally, you should avoid tabletops made of particleboard. They are prone to warping when someone accidentally spills water, coffee, or tea on them. However, this tabletop has first-rate lamination that prevents spills from being absorbed into the particleboard.  Still, you should clean the table immediately in case the top is getting wet. That’s just basic maintenance.

Do note that this is just the tabletop. The C-Leg table base that is sold separately. This tabletop already has the holes pre-drilled for your convenience and installing the legs will be a snap. If you prefer, you can make custom table legs that suit your taste. As long as they are compatible with the mounting hole on the bottom of the tabletop, it should be a snap to put together. For extra privacy, Lorell also has modesty panels for this table. It has cable management hole for the computer or printer cables to pass through.

MFO Rectangular Wood Folding Training Table

This is a slim and strong table from My Friendly Office (MFO). The top is made of solid wood. It’s not going to be as warp-resistant or stain-resistant as table tops made of HDPE so it should be cleaned regularly and used indoor. Luckily the smooth surface makes it easy to wipe it clean. This MFO training table is foldable. Unfolding is simple and it’s easy to get the legs lock into place securely. Folding is equally effortless.

The tabletop measures 18-inches x 72-inches. When space is limited, a slim table such as this is a perfect choice. Set it against a window or wall to free up space in the middle of the room. The height is pretty standard too, 30.25-inches. It’s easy to set up a chair that allows you to type in an ergonomically sound position. You can seat two people along with their laptops on this table. The slim design still leaves you plenty of workspaces. This table is also great to be used as extra counter space in the office to keep those piles of papers. It’s balanced and stable.

This training room table uses tubular steel frame for legs but they have no glides. In case of uneven surface, you have to resort to folded papers slipped under the leg to level the table.

Conclusion

That sums up this training table buying guide. What are you waiting for? Pick one that meets your requirements. They are all functional training room tables that work well in various settings and situations. Remember to be flexible in the arrangement. They don’t have to be lined up straight. You can also lay them out in a semi-circular configuration. Be creative in the layout and focus on getting the best out of the training process for both the employees and employers.