River Tables for Sale: What to Pay & How to Commission
Updated 16 October 2026
A good river table stops people in their tracks: two live-edge slabs with a glassy channel of resin flowing between them (our river table guide explains the style in detail). But browse river tables for sale online and prices swing from a few hundred pounds to many thousands for what look like similar pieces in photos. The difference lies in the timber, the resin, the finishing and how the table is built – things that don’t always show up on a screen.
This guide is part of our epoxy table hub. It explains what you should typically expect to pay, how to judge quality before you buy, realistic lead times, and how commissioning a custom river table works if nothing ready-made fits your space.
What drives the price of a river table?
Several factors make up the cost of any epoxy river table for sale:
- Timber species and slab quality: walnut, elm, oak and olive are popular. Wide, dry, character-rich slabs from a single tree (book-matched) cost far more than narrow or mismatched boards. See our walnut epoxy table guide for why walnut is so sought after.
- Resin volume: a wide, deep river uses a lot of specialist deep-pour epoxy, which is one of the biggest material costs.
- Size: a coffee table needs a fraction of the timber and resin of a 2.4 m (8 ft) dining table.
- Design complexity: tinted or layered “ocean” effects, embedded objects, fibre-optic or LED lighting all add time and skill.
- Base: a simple steel frame costs less than a fabricated bespoke base or a solid timber trestle.
- Finish: a multi-stage sanded, polished or hardwax-oiled finish takes many hours of labour.
- Shipping and handling: large tables are heavy and need crating and specialist couriers.
How much do river tables for sale cost?
The figures below are broad, typical ranges for handmade pieces and will vary by maker, region and specification.
| Table type | Typical size | Typical price range |
|---|---|---|
| Side or end table | Around 40–60 cm | Typically £300–£900 / $400–$1,200 |
| Coffee table | Around 100–130 cm long | Typically £800–£2,500 / $1,000–$3,200 |
| Dining table (4–6 seats) | Around 160–200 cm long | Typically £2,000–£6,000 / $2,500–$7,500 |
| Large dining or boardroom table | 220 cm+ | Typically £5,000–£12,000+ / $6,500–$15,000+ |
| Lit (LED or fibre-optic) table | Varies | Typically a premium on the equivalent unlit table |
Very cheap listings are worth questioning. Thin resin layers over plywood, under-dried timber or resin with poor UV stability can look fine in photos but crack, warp or yellow within a short time. For a broader view of the market, our guide to epoxy tables for sale covers other styles too.
Quality checks when comparing river tables for sale
Whether you’re looking at a live edge river table for sale in a showroom or online, ask these questions:
- Was the timber properly dried? Kiln-dried or well air-dried timber to a suitable moisture content is essential. Wet wood keeps moving and can crack the resin or pull away from it.
- What resin was used? A purpose-made deep-pour epoxy, poured in suitable layers, cures with less heat and stress. Our article on the best epoxy for a river table explains what to look for.
- Is the resin clear and bubble-free? Look for even colour, no cloudy patches, no trapped bubbles and no visible gaps where resin meets wood.
- Is the top flat? Ask how it was flattened – a router sled or wide-belt sander – and check with a straight edge if you can.
- Has the underside been sealed? Sealing both faces helps the slab stay stable with changes in humidity.
- Is the timber stabilised? Knots, cracks and bark inclusions should be filled or stabilised so they don’t move later.
- What finish has been used? Polished resin and hardwax oil, a two-part polyurethane or a top coat of table-top epoxy each wear differently. Ask how to maintain it.
- Is the base properly engineered? The frame should be sized for the weight, with fixings that allow the timber to move seasonally.
Lead times
Ready-made tables can typically ship within days to a couple of weeks. Commissioned pieces take longer because each stage needs time:
- Design and slab selection: typically 1–2 weeks, depending on how quickly a suitable slab is found.
- Resin pours and curing: deep pours are often done in layers, each needing days to cure before the next.
- Flattening, sanding and finishing: often the most labour-intensive stage.
- Base fabrication, assembly and crating.
Overall, typically allow around 4–10 weeks for a custom piece, longer for very large or lit designs.
Buying ready-made vs commissioning a custom river table
| Ready-made | Custom commission | |
|---|---|---|
| What you see | The exact finished piece | Design drawings and slab photos before work starts |
| Size and shape | Fixed | Made to your room and seating |
| Resin colour and effect | Fixed | Chosen with you – clear, tinted, ocean, lit |
| Lead time | Short | Typically several weeks |
| Price | Known upfront | Quoted once the specification is agreed |
Commissioning makes most sense when you need a specific size, want a particular timber, or would like something unusual – an ocean-effect table, a lit design or a matched set. Our custom epoxy tables guide covers the options in more depth.
How commissioning works
- Brief: share the room size, number of seats, preferred timber, resin colour and any inspiration images.
- Slab selection: you’ll usually be shown slab options; many people like to approve the actual boards.
- Design and quote: dimensions, edge style, base design, finish and delivery are agreed, with a deposit to secure materials.
- Build updates: progress photos as the resin is poured and the top is flattened.
- Finish, inspection and delivery: the table is checked, crated and delivered. For overseas orders, ask about crating, customs and import duties.
Caring for your table
- Use coasters and placemats – resin can mark with very hot dishes.
- Clean with a soft, damp cloth and mild soap; avoid abrasive or solvent cleaners.
- Keep it out of strong direct sunlight, which can yellow some resins over time.
- Avoid placing it right next to radiators or underfloor heating hotspots.
- Refresh oiled timber periodically following the maker’s guidance.
If you’re tempted to have a go yourself instead, our step-by-step guide on how to make a river table shows what’s involved.
When judging any maker’s quality, ask how the slabs were dried. The drying and moisture control chapter of the US Forest Products Laboratory’s Wood Handbook explains the moisture content interior furniture should reach and why poorly dried timber moves after it leaves the workshop.
Watch it being made
See one of our tables come together in the workshop: a nebula resin top with fibre optic stars, from the first pour to the lights going on.
Resin art nebula resin table with fibre optic art. More builds on the Go Bespoke YouTube channel.
Frequently asked questions
Why are river tables for sale so expensive?
Large, dry slabs and deep-pour epoxy are costly materials, and the process involves many hours of layering, flattening, sanding and finishing. Shipping heavy tables safely adds to the price too.
How much does a custom epoxy river table cost?
It depends on size, timber and design, but as a broad guide a custom dining table typically costs from around £2,000 / $2,500 upward, with larger or lit designs costing more.
How long does a river table last?
A well-made table using properly dried timber and quality resin, cared for sensibly, can last for many years. Poorly dried wood or cheap resin is the most common reason for early problems.
Can river tables be shipped internationally?
Yes, many makers ship abroad using crates and specialist freight. Ask for a delivered quote and check who handles customs and import charges.
Is an epoxy river coffee table for sale a good starter piece?
Yes – a coffee table is a lower-cost way to own a river table and is easier to fit and move than a full dining table.
Looking for something made to measure? Go Bespoke designs and builds river tables in our London workshop, with UK delivery and shipping further afield. Get in touch to discuss a commission.
