What are the dimensions of an economy class airline tray table?
I'm just looking for length & depth. (This is for a new design that
will sit on a tray table)

Hi fatorangecat,

Boy, that question was harder to find an answer for than I thought! I
was about ready to head to the airport to measure them for myself,
except I wouldn't be able to make it past security :)

Anyway, along the research path I discovered that America West has
been selling traytop table ads on their airplanes. The ads cover the
entire top surface of the table (as you can see in this picture):
http://www.flightattendants.org/photopost/showphoto.php/photo/432/password/0/sort/1/cat/all/page/11

From this article, a comment on the ad sizes:
"Ad sizes vary with aircraft, but are approximately 16.5 inches by 9.5 inches."
http://www.medialifemagazine.com/news2004/apr04/apr19/1_mon/news5monday.html

And from the SkyMedia site:
"Product size varies by aircraft. Approximate dimensions are 16.625? x 9.625?.
Specific dimensions provided by SkyMedia upon aircraft assignment."

From an article on the Powerbook laptop computer:
"Despite its admirable design and plethora of features, the new
PowerBook's dimensions can be inconvenient. It swallows nearly all of
a coach airline tray table, about 16.5 by 10.5 inches."

Therefore, the consensus appears to be around 16.5" wide by 9.5-10.5"
deep. The exact dimensions will, understandably, vary by airline.

Hopefully this is specific enough for your needs. Best of luck with your project!

-inquisitivega

Search strategies:
airplane "tray table" dimensions
airplane "tray table" size
airplane "tray table" inches
america west "tray table" ads

My question was answered and then clarified and verified though collaboration.
Thank you.

I was interested to see what the answer would be

good work

(tip well)

Hi Fatorangecat,

The small photos in your answer appear to display either a 717, MD-80 or DC-9. 
What accuracy of measurement do you need? If you want DH-8, BAE-146,
B737, B767, or Airbus types, please qualify your question and I will
happily do the hands-on measurements or source the tech drawings for
you.

Phil

Phil,

Thanks so much for offering the specific dimensions for different
airplane types. That is something I was unable to find on the Web.

I just wanted to mention, however, that the airplane types you
mentioned (717, MD-80 or DC-9) are not ones flown by America West (the
airline carrying the ads in the pictures) according to their Web site
(http://www.americawest.com/aboutawa/companyprofile/aa_fleet.htm).
They fly the Boeing 757-200, a number of 737s, several Airbus planes
and the DH-8.

If the product needs to specifically fit every airplane's tray table
exactly, then I would suggest the tech drawings, hands-on
measurements, or contacting the airplane manufacturers directly as you
suggested. However, if it is to be one product that should fit
comfortable on all airplane tray tables, then 16" x 9" appears to be
closest to an industry standard.

Another link with pictures of the America West ads:
http://www.greyglobalgroup.com/greymatter/mediacommail/mcm100803.pdf

-inquisitivega

Hi Inquisitive and Fatorangecat .. (not Garfield I suppose)  :)

That is very generous of you Inquisitive to offer your follow up to an
answered $6 question. The small distant photos in your first website
(flightattendants.org) seemed to show what appeared to be 717's,
MD-80's or God forbid the old DC-9's.

I guess we will have to wait for the poster of the question for
further clarification of the application of a "new design that will
sit on a tray table". The leading edge raised lip and recessed cup
holder might effect the application. Economy class was specifically
nominated. This differs greatly in design from say the business class
split foldable tray table housed in the armrest as opposed to the back
of an economy seat. I am led to believe that the design is set by the
manufacturer with little input from the airline purchaser.

It's all good fun, but I'm sure the full answer will come in time,
after further clarification from the poster of the question.

Regards, Phil.

Hi Phil,

>>The small distant photos in your first website
(flightattendants.org) seemed to show what appeared to be 717's,
MD-80's or God forbid the old DC-9's.<<

Assuming that you're referring to the small airplane photos displayed
below the tray table ad photos, they may very well be. But the
airplanes in those photos have nothing to do with the pictured tray
tables. They are of another airline as far as I can tell, and were
posted in a different user's gallery at any rate. The traytable ad's
pictured are from America West and that airline does not have any of
the planes that you mentioned in its fleet. Instead, they use the
"16.625? x 9.625" measurement as a general measurement for the traytop
table in all of their planes, which are primarily Airbus and 737s,
with a few 757 and DH-8's thrown in.

Not that any of this has much to do with the answer to fatorangecat's
question. I just wanted to clear up the misconception that the
tray-table ads had anything to do with the airplanes pictured on the
same Web site (flightattendants.org).

--inquisitivega

Wow- a debate about tray tables! I feel very lucky.

To clarify- The design that I'm working on is specifically for economy
class seating. No need to look at any of the higher classes.

The dimensions that you have given me will work fine for this project.
However, you both have posted a good question- Is there a difference
in tray table size between different planes or different airlines (I'm
guessing that seats aren't tied to the airframe type)?

Since this is a different question, should I post it separately? And,
is there a way to credit you both (since the debate may be necessary
to answer the question). Please advise.

My thoughts on the seating not being tied to the airframe is that I
believe JetBlue outfitted their planes with custom seating. Just a
thought.

Hi Garfield !!!!

Thanks for coming back to the discussion, especially as it was your
question. No, not a debate at all. Inquisitive has given clarification
of the website offered, which I recognised as 717's or whatever.
Doesn't matter anyway in the context of your question.

It's simply intriguing to me, depending on your application as a
business enterprise, if that is what you wish to do. If I can be of
further help in actually measuring the tray tables for you, or
locating the tech drawings via my engineer mates, please just say the
word.

Nothing more, nothing less.

Phil

Hi fatorangecat,

>>Is there a difference in tray table size between different planes or
different airlines (I'm guessing that seats aren't tied to the
airframe type)?<<

Yes, there is a slight difference in sizes from plane to plane. Most
airplanes are configured by the manufacturer, so you will find most
planes of a specific type - B737-300, for example - to have the same
seat and tray table sizes. Planes can be retrofitted, however, and
some airplane manufacturers offer several different configurations, so
there can always be exceptions to the general rule.

Between different airlines and different plane types there will be a
slight difference in sizes. If your product needs to fit specific
airlines or airplane types, then I would recommend posting a second
question and allowing Phil to measure the specific planes that you
need (you can even address it to him specifically in the subject line,
i.e. For silver777-ga). If you just need a general measurement that
should fit most economy class tray tables then 16" x 9" seems to be
the smallest general measurement and should work for most
applications.

Best of luck with your project!

--inquisitivega

Hi people,

This is an amazing discussion over a $6 question!!!!

Garfield .. (I can't call you a fat orange cat, regardless of your
self imposed salutation .. I don't even know you .. so Sir/Madam
Garfield must suffice for now :) )

So Garfield, are you going to share the depths of your potential
enterprise or not? Nothing will be stolen from you, as it's your baby,
your idea. Your application will dictate the way we might be able to
help you. Inquisitive and I have offered you lots of time here, apart
from our collective pleasure of enjoying the humour. What precisely do
you want? Does your application also include the measurement of say
the thickness of an economy tray table? Will that have an impact on
your design? Is your application fixed, removable, separate, connected
or otherwise?

We all have real lives. This discussion is better than watching TV
however, that's why I choose to take timeout here, in the hope to help
others and to find answers to my own questions. It's far more
proactive than watching crap on the idiot box, if we can make a
difference for you, or ourselves. All is very amusing. If you are
serious, we are here to help. If not, just say so.

Here to help the collective, Phil.

Garfield,

P.S. ....

Inquisitive has reiterated no less than 3 times that the median
minimal dimensions of a commercial aircraft economy tray table are no
less than 16" by 9". That sounds about right to me.

You have not responded to this. Does this suit your application or not?

Regards, Phil

ps Let me know if I need to take my tape measure to work tomorrow or not.

Sorry if I haven't been very responsive, and have taken your time and
research lightly- I apologize.

(fatorangecat is my fat orange tomcat.)

The 16.625" x 9.625" dimension will work fine for this project. Sorry
I cannot tell you about the project yet- but I can in a couple of
months if you are interested.

As for having further research done on tray tables, I don't have an
active project for it, so any research you do may be unguided. Let's
close the question now, and If this project leads into another one, I
know exactly who to go to.
Thanks again!

To Phil- is there a way to also compensate you for you help?

Hi Garfield .. and hello to your Tomcat,

No need to consider any recompense to either Inquisitive or I .. yet.
Your question was intriguing to me as I can see lots of commercial
applications for aircraft tray tables. Think about it .. you have a
captive audience.

If you make a few million bucks in your venture, give us a call, I'm
sure we will readily provide bank account numbers for a transfer of
funds.

All the best, Phil.