Prices from Amazon AU, updated daily. Swipe or use the arrows for more.
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Quick summary7 picks
- Entry PickDUSLANG 3 Tier Console Table with Open Wood… about$69.99
- Artiss Narrow Console Table with Charging… about$75.95
- Oikiture 80cm Hallway Table Compact Console… about$90.90
- MAHANCRIS Console Table about$95.99
- Artiss 2-Drawer Console Table with Open Shelf about$112.95
- Giantex Farmhouse Console Table with 2 Drawers about$119.95
- Most PremiumOikiture Console Table 120cm Hallway Table… about$127.92
Measure the hallway before you look at tables
A console table is a narrow table that sits against a wall, usually in a hallway, an entry or behind a sofa, and the depth is the number that decides whether it works. The six picks run from 15cm deep on the Artiss charging table to 31cm on the Artiss two-drawer, and the lengths go from 80cm on the Oikiture drawer table to 180cm on the MAHANCRIS. Most of them stand about 80cm tall, which is roughly hip height on an adult.
Measure the hallway wall to wall at the spot where the table will go, then take the table's depth off. A 30cm deep table in a 1 metre wide hall leaves 70cm to walk past, which is fine for one person but tight with a pram, a washing basket or two kids racing for the door. If the hall is narrower than about a metre, I'd look at the 15cm deep Artiss or the 20cm deep MAHANCRIS before anything with drawers.
Check what's on the wall too. Light switches, a power point, a door that swings open over the end of the table and a heater vent all change where it can sit. Skirting boards push a table out from the wall by a centimetre or two, which matters for the anti-tip strap and for a slim table that relies on the wall to look straight. Mark the outline on the floor with masking tape and walk past it for a day before you order anything.
Tipping is the real risk with a narrow table
A narrow, tall table has a small footprint for its height, so it's easier to tip forward than a coffee table or a sideboard. Put a heavy lamp or a pile of books near the front edge, pull out a full drawer, or let a toddler hang off the top, and the balance point moves in front of the legs. That's the usual way furniture comes over, and console tables are some of the narrowest pieces in most houses, so it's worth taking seriously.
Three of the six picks include anti-tip hardware: the Artiss charging table comes with an anti-tip strap, the Artiss two-drawer comes with a wall anchor bracket kit and the Giantex comes with two anti-tipping kits. The Oikiture 120cm, the Oikiture drawer table and the MAHANCRIS 180cm listings don't mention any, so plan on buying a furniture anchor kit from a hardware store for those, which costs very little next to the table itself.
The strap is only as strong as what it screws into. In a timber framed house, find a stud with a stud finder and screw the bracket into it, since a screw into plasterboard alone can pull straight out under a sudden load. On a brick or block wall you'll need masonry plugs and a drill bit to suit them. If you rent, ask before drilling, because most leases want permission for fixings, though in my experience plenty of landlords say yes to anti-tip anchors.
Load ratings and what the table is made of
Almost every console table at this price is flat pack: particleboard or MDF panels with a printed wood-look finish, on a metal frame or on panel legs. That isn't a criticism, since particleboard is flat and stable indoors, but it does have limits. It doesn't like water, it doesn't hold a screw well once the hole has been stripped, and the printed finish tends to chip at the corners rather than wearing evenly the way real timber does.
The stated load ratings vary a lot across the picks. The Giantex listing says its legs hold up to 80kg, the Oikiture 120cm states 50kg, the Oikiture drawer table states 30kg on its 15mm top, and the Artiss charging table and the MAHANCRIS 180cm both state 20kg. The Artiss two-drawer listing doesn't give a figure at all. Those numbers are for weight spread over the top, not for someone sitting on the end or standing on it to change a light globe.
For a hallway table, 20kg covers a lamp, a bowl for keys and a few photo frames easily. Where the rating starts to matter is a fish tank, a big stack of books or a TV, which some people do put on a console table. None of these are built as TV furniture, and a TV on a narrow table is a tip risk even when the weight is in range. Our TV unit guide covers furniture that's actually made for that job.
Keep wet things off particleboard. Umbrellas, a dripping raincoat, pot plants without a saucer and a vase that gets topped up every few days are the usual culprits in a hallway. Water gets into the edges and the holes drilled for screws, and once particleboard swells it stays swollen, so the top ends up with a raised lip that never goes back down. A tray under anything wet and a quick wipe with a dry cloth after a spill keeps the top flat for years.
Built-in power points and the cord behind the table
A lot of console tables on Amazon AU now come with a built-in power strip: two power points and a USB port or two, on a cord that plugs into the wall. The best-ranked console table on the day, a 180cm Giantex, is one of them, along with several MAHANCRIS models. It's a handy idea for a hallway where phones and keys land, but it puts a mains powerboard inside a piece of flat pack furniture, and that's the part I look at hardest.
The Artiss charging table states its outlets as 220-240V and 10A, which is the Australian standard, along with a 2 metre cord, so I'm comfortable it's an Australian board. The Giantex and MAHANCRIS powered listings I read describe two outlets and USB ports but don't state the voltage, the socket type or any certification, so I can't confirm from the listing that they're Australian boards. I left those out, which is why the best-ranked table on the day isn't one of the picks.
Even on the Artiss, the listing doesn't mention an RCM mark, the regulatory compliance mark that mains electrical products sold in Australia should carry. Look for it on the power strip's label when the table arrives, along with the rating, and if it isn't there, send it back. A 10A rating means the two outlets and the USB ports share 2,400W at most, so a lamp and a phone charger are fine, but a heater, a kettle or a hair dryer has no business on a hallway table.
The cord is the part that usually gets damaged. A power cord pinched between the table and the wall, run under a rug or trodden on by everyone coming through the door wears through its outer sheath, and that's when it becomes a hazard. Route it along the skirting, keep it out of the walkway and look at it when you dust. If it's ever warm, cut or scorched near the plug, stop using it. Our surge powerboard guide covers what a good board looks like.
The USB ports are the other thing to know about. None of the powered listings I read state how many watts the USB-A or Type-C port puts out, and ports built into furniture are usually slow chargers. That's fine for topping up a phone overnight, but don't expect one to fast charge a laptop. If a phone charges slowly or stops charging on the table but works on its own charger, the problem's usually the port or the cable, and our guide to bad chargers explains what to look for.
Drawers, shelves and what you actually keep there
Think about what lands on the table every day. Keys, wallets, sunglasses, mail and a phone are the usual list, and a couple of drawers hide that mess better than any open shelf. Three of the six picks have two drawers each: the Oikiture drawer table, the Artiss two-drawer and the Giantex. The MAHANCRIS 180cm has an open shelf, while the Oikiture 120cm and Artiss charging listings don't describe drawers. Phones left on the edge get knocked onto tiles a lot, and that's a repair we see often at our Erina workshop.
Drawer runners are where flat pack furniture tends to fail first. The Oikiture drawer table states powder-coated metal runners, and the Giantex says its drawers have stoppers so they don't pull straight out and spill everything on the floor. The Artiss two-drawer listing doesn't say what its runners are made of. Basic plastic runners wear and start to stick, and a drawer that sticks gets yanked, which is usually how the front panel ends up coming away from the rest of the drawer.
The Artiss two-drawer has 15cm of clearance under its bottom shelf, which the listing says is enough for a robot vacuum to pass under. Measure your robot's height before relying on that, since some models with a raised laser turret stand taller than others. That kind of clearance also makes it easier to mop under a table in an entry where dirt gets walked in, and our robot vacuum guide covers the models we'd look at for a hallway floor.
Behind the sofa, where length and depth both matter
Behind a sofa that sits out from the wall, a console table fills the gap and gives you somewhere to put a lamp, a drink or a phone. Length matters here more than anywhere. A table about the same length as the sofa back looks deliberate, and one that's much shorter looks a bit lost. The MAHANCRIS 180cm is the longest of the six picks and suits a three seater, while the 100 to 120cm tables suit a two seater or a single armchair.
A long table on thin legs can rack, which means it sways side to side when it's knocked. The MAHANCRIS uses four adjustable feet on a metal frame and states a 20kg maximum load, which is on the light side for 180cm of table. Tighten the frame bolts after a week, once everything has settled, and if it still sways, a small bracket at the back to the wall stops it. Lamps behind a sofa also need their cords kept well clear of the sofa legs.
Flat pack assembly without wrecking it
Every pick here comes flat packed, and assembly is where a lot of furniture gets damaged before it's used. The most common mistake is overtightening. Particleboard crushes around a screw or a cam bolt if you crank it with a drill, and once the hole is stripped it never holds properly again. Use the hand tools in the box or a drill on its lowest clutch setting, and stop as soon as the joint is snug rather than forcing that last half turn.
Lay the parts out on the carton or a blanket, not straight on tiles, so the finish doesn't scratch, and check every panel and the bag of fixings against the instructions before you start. A cracked panel or a missing bolt is much easier to sort out with the seller before the table is half built. Build it close to where it'll live, since a finished table is easier to carry a few metres than down a narrow hallway and around a corner.
After a few weeks, go round and nip up every bolt and cam lock, because they always settle a little once the table takes weight. The adjustable feet on the MAHANCRIS and the foot pads on the Giantex and the Oikiture drawer table are worth setting properly on tiles or floorboards that aren't flat, since a table that rocks slowly loosens its own joints. Felt pads under the feet stop scratches on timber floors and make the table easier to slide out when you clean.
How I picked these six
I looked at every console and hallway table sold new on Amazon AU between about $60 and $600, then left out sellers I couldn't confirm as Australian retailers, the powered tables whose listings didn't state an Australian voltage or socket, and listings whose title and features didn't agree. Then I picked six from what was left, from Artiss, Oikiture, Giantex and MAHANCRIS, all sold through their Australian stores on Amazon AU, with a mix of slim, long and drawer tables.
The six run from $76 to $128 and are ordered by Amazon AU sales rank in the Console Tables category on the day. The Artiss charging table is the best-ranked of the six at #3, then the Oikiture 120cm at #4, the Oikiture drawer table at #5, the Artiss two-drawer at #12, the Giantex at #21 and the MAHANCRIS at #24. Two of those ranks are shared with sibling listings, which the cards note, so treat them as a guide rather than a precise order.
Where a listing doesn't give a figure, the card says so rather than guessing, and a couple of sizes come from Amazon's item dimensions rather than the feature text. Prices move week to week, and furniture goes up and down a lot in the weeks before Christmas, so check the price, the colour and the box contents on the day you order. If you're also furnishing a lounge, our coffee table picks and side table guide use the same checks.
The 6 picks, $76 to $128
Prices are Amazon AU at time of writing (2026-11-12) and move week to week. Ranks are Amazon AU sales ranks in the Console Tables category, checked the same day; two are shared with sibling listings.
Artiss Narrow Console Table with Charging Station, 100cm, 15cm Deep
ASIN B0H3JKWGCF • $75.95 • Sold by Artiss Furnishings on Amazon AU
This is the table I'd look at first for a narrow hallway where phones and keys land, and it's the best-ranked of the six at #3 in Amazon AU's Console Tables category. Artiss Furnishings sells it for $75.95, the lowest price among the picks. It's 100cm long, 80cm tall and just 15cm deep, the slimmest of the six, with a black metal frame and what the listing calls a thick wooden top, though it doesn't give the thickness. The model code is FUR-U-CST-05-WD for the wood finish, Artiss sells through its own Australian store on Amazon AU, and the listing states a 1 year warranty. At that depth it fits under a window or beside a door where nothing else will go.
The charging station is the reason it ranks so well. It has two standard power points rated 220-240V and 10A, one USB port and one Type-C port, on a 2 metre cord, and that voltage and rating is what lets me confirm from the listing that it's an Australian board. That's enough for a lamp and a phone or two. The listing doesn't state the USB wattage, so treat the ports as overnight top-up chargers rather than fast chargers. It comes with an anti-tip strap for fixing to the wall, which I'd fit on a table this shallow, and the top is rated for 20kg. Run the cord along the skirting and away from the door so nobody trips on it.
A 15cm top is narrow, so a lamp with a wide base or a big fruit bowl won't sit comfortably, and 20kg is the joint lowest stated load of the picks, level with the MAHANCRIS. Check the power strip's label for an RCM mark when it arrives, since the listing doesn't mention one, and don't plug a heater or a kettle into it. Screw the anti-tip strap into a stud. Wipe the top with a dry cloth, keep drinks on a coaster, and look over the cord every few months for any pinching where it meets the wall.
Honest caveats: The 15cm top suits slim items only, and 20kg is the joint lowest stated load of the six. The listing doesn't mention an RCM mark or the USB charging wattage, so check the label when it arrives. The listing doesn't describe drawers, so keys and mail sit out in the open.
Best for: Narrow hallways where phones get charged and keys get dropped on the way in.
Price: $75.95 (Artiss Furnishings) • Model: FUR-U-CST-05-WD • Size: 100 x 15 x 80cm stated • Top: Wooden top, thickness not stated • Load: 20kg stated • Power: 2 outlets 220-240V/10A, USB, Type-C, 2m cord • Anti-tip: Strap included • Warranty: 1 year stated • Rank: #3 in Console Tables (Amazon AU)
View on Amazon AU
Oikiture Console Table 120cm Hallway and Sofa Table, Natural
ASIN B0GTYX7ZX5 • $127.92 • Sold by Oikos 1943 on Amazon AU
The Oikiture 120cm is the one for a hallway or entry that has room for a proper table and wants it to look solid. It's #4 in Console Tables, a rank shared with a second Oikiture 120cm listing, and at $127.92 it's the most expensive of the six. Oikos 1943 sells it on Amazon AU, and its part number is a 93-prefix barcode, which is the code range GS1 Australia issues. The size works out to about 120cm long, 29.5cm deep and 80cm tall from the listing dimensions, in a natural wood-look finish. That's a good length for an entry with a mirror above it, where a 100cm table can look a little short under a big frame.
The listing describes a 10cm thick particleboard top, which gives it a chunky slab look rather than the thin top and metal legs most tables at this price use. It states a 50kg load, the second-highest stated figure of the picks behind the Giantex, so a heavy lamp, books and a couple of big frames sit well inside the rating. The finish is a composite wood-look surface the listing says wipes clean, and Oikos 1943 states a 1 year warranty against manufacturer defects. The listing doesn't describe drawers or a shelf, so it works best as a display table rather than a drop zone for keys and mail. If you need hidden storage, the Oikiture drawer table is the same maker in a smaller size.
The listing doesn't mention anti-tip hardware, so buy a furniture anchor kit and fix it to a stud, since a heavy top on a narrow base still wants to tip forward when it's loaded at the front. A thick particleboard top makes it heavy, so it's a two person carry once it's built. Check the edges for chips when you unpack it. Keep wet umbrellas and pot plants off it, because particleboard swells at the edges when it gets wet, and put felt pads under the base on timber floors.
Honest caveats: No anti-tip kit is listed, so add one. It's the most expensive of the six and the listing doesn't describe drawers or a shelf. The rank is shared with a second Oikiture 120cm listing, so it isn't this listing's rank alone, and particleboard swells if it gets wet.
Best for: Entries with room for a solid looking 120cm table under a mirror or artwork.
Price: $127.92 (Oikos 1943) • Size: About 120 x 29.5 x 80cm (listing dimensions) • Top: 10cm particleboard top stated, wood-look finish • Load: 50kg stated • Storage: Not described on the listing • Anti-tip: Not listed, add a kit • Warranty: 1 year against manufacturer defects • Rank: #4 in Console Tables (Amazon AU), listing shared
View on Amazon AU
Oikiture 80cm Hallway Console Table with 2 Drawers and Open Shelf, White
ASIN B0BNBVYBK2 • $90.90 • Sold by Oikos 1943 on Amazon AU
For a small entry or an apartment hallway, the Oikiture 80cm drawer table packs the most storage into the shortest length of the six. It's #5 in Console Tables, a rank shared with Oikiture's rattan hallway table, and Oikos 1943 sells it for $90.90. It's 80cm long, 30cm deep and about 74.5cm tall by the listing dimensions, the shortest and lowest of the picks, with a white body and a wood-look top. Two drawers sit under the top and an open shelf below takes a basket or a few pairs of shoes. Like the 120cm Oikiture, its part number is a 93-prefix Australian barcode, and the listing states a 1 year warranty against manufacturer defects.
The top is 15mm particleboard rated for 30kg, which the listing likens to two 15 litre water containers, and that's plenty for a lamp, a key bowl and the mail. The drawers run on powder-coated metal runners, which is the detail I look for, since metal runners usually outlast the plastic ones that come in a lot of flat pack furniture. The feet are anti-slip pads, so the table shouldn't skid on tiles when someone bumps it on the way past. Two drawers is enough for keys, sunglasses and a few chargers. The white finish shows scuffs from bags and shoes more than a wood-look one, so think about where it sits relative to the door.
The listing doesn't mention anti-tip hardware, and with two drawers that a child can pull out and stand on, I'd anchor it. At 74.5cm it sits lower than the others, which suits a short entry but can look small behind a sofa. Don't load the drawers with heavy items, since the runners carry it all on a few small screws. Wipe the white finish with a damp cloth and dry it off, and tighten the drawer screws as soon as you notice a drawer starting to sag at the front.
Honest caveats: No anti-tip kit is listed, and drawers on a narrow table want one. At about 74.5cm tall it's the lowest of the six, so it can look small behind a sofa. The white finish shows scuffs, and the rank is shared with a sibling listing.
Best for: Small entries and apartments that need two drawers in 80cm of wall.
Price: $90.90 (Oikos 1943) • Size: About 80 x 30 x 74.5cm (listing dimensions) • Top: 15mm particleboard, 30kg stated • Storage: 2 drawers, open shelf • Runners: Powder-coated metal • Anti-tip: Not listed, add a kit • Warranty: 1 year against manufacturer defects • Rank: #5 in Console Tables (Amazon AU), listing shared
View on Amazon AU
Artiss 2-Drawer Console Table with Open Shelf and Rounded Corners, 100 x 31 x 80cm
ASIN B0HHRDLW39 • $112.95 • Sold by Artiss Furnishings on Amazon AU
The Artiss two-drawer is the pick for an entry where you want drawers, a shelf and a table that's thought about kids and pets. It's #12 in Console Tables and Artiss Furnishings sells it for $112.95. It measures 100 by 31 by 80cm by the listing, the deepest of the six, with two scalloped drawer fronts, an open bottom shelf and rounded corners on the top, which the listing says are there for households with kids and pets. The model code is FUR-Z-CST-04-WD in the natural finish. A 31cm depth gives it the widest base front to back of the picks, which helps it resist tipping, though it also takes the most hallway width.
The bottom shelf sits on a raised base with 15cm of clearance underneath, which the listing says lets a robot vacuum pass under. That's a handy detail in an entry where dust and leaves collect along the wall, though it's worth measuring your robot first. It comes with an anti-tip wall anchor bracket kit, and the listing states a 1 year warranty. The drawers suit keys, mail and sunglasses, and the open shelf takes a couple of storage baskets or a row of shoes. The scalloped fronts are a style choice more than a function, so if you'd rather something plainer, the Oikiture drawer table is the simpler two-drawer option among the picks.
The listing doesn't give a load rating for the top, the shelf or the drawers, so keep heavy things on the bottom shelf and don't treat it like a sideboard. At 31cm deep it takes the most hallway width of the six, so measure a narrow hall before ordering. Fit the anchor bracket into a stud, wipe the top with a dry cloth, and check the drawer runners and handles are tight after a few weeks of use. Felt pads under the feet are worth adding on timber floors, and they make it easier to slide out to clean.
Honest caveats: No load rating is stated for any part of it. At 31cm deep it's the deepest of the six and needs a wider hallway. The listing doesn't say what the drawer runners are made of, and the scalloped fronts won't suit every room.
Best for: Family entries with kids, pets or a robot vacuum, where drawers and rounded corners both help.
Price: $112.95 (Artiss Furnishings) • Model: FUR-Z-CST-04-WD • Size: 100 x 31 x 80cm stated • Storage: 2 drawers, open shelf • Clearance: 15cm under the base • Load: Not stated on the listing • Anti-tip: Wall anchor bracket kit included • Warranty: 1 year stated • Rank: #12 in Console Tables (Amazon AU)
View on Amazon AU
Giantex Farmhouse Console Table with 2 Drawers and Open Shelf, Natural and White
ASIN B0FH78G8DP • $119.95 • Sold by Giantex AU on Amazon AU
The Giantex farmhouse table is the one I'd pick for a busy entry where things get dumped on it in a hurry, because it carries the highest stated load of the six. Giantex AU sells it for $119.95, and it ranks #21 in Console Tables. It's about 106cm long, 30cm deep and 81.5cm tall by Amazon's item dimensions, with two drawers with patterned fronts, an open shelf underneath and a natural and white finish. The model code KW23764AU carries an AU suffix, which matches the Australian seller, and Giantex sells a wide range of furniture through its Australian store on Amazon AU. A 30cm depth is typical of the drawer tables among the picks, so it suits a hall of a metre or more.
The listing says its thick legs hold up to 80kg, which is well above the other picks, and it's the one of the six that comes with two anti-tipping kits. Each drawer has stoppers so it doesn't pull straight out and dump its contents on the floor, and non-slip foot pads keep it from sliding on tiles. That's a sensible set of hardware for a table that'll see daily use by a whole family. With 80kg on the legs and two anchor points, a lamp, books on the shelf and a pile of school bags dropped on top shouldn't worry it, though I'd still keep the heaviest things low and toward the wall.
The listing doesn't state a warranty or the top material, so treat the wood grain top as a printed finish until you've seen it and keep wet things off it. Fit both anti-tip kits into studs, since a table loaded toward 80kg is a lot of weight to have come over. The drawer stoppers mean the drawers won't come all the way out for cleaning, so run a vacuum brush along the runners now and then. Check the leg bolts after the first month, and add felt pads on timber.
Honest caveats: No warranty or top material is stated on the listing. The patterned drawer fronts are a strong farmhouse look that won't suit every hallway, and the drawer stoppers make the drawers harder to take out for cleaning. At about 106cm it also needs a little more wall than the 100cm tables.
Best for: Busy family entries where school bags and shopping get dropped on the table every day.
Price: $119.95 (Giantex AU) • Model: KW23764AU • Size: About 106 x 30 x 81.5cm (Amazon item dimensions) • Storage: 2 drawers with stoppers, open shelf • Load: Legs rated to 80kg stated • Anti-tip: 2 anti-tipping kits included • Warranty: Not stated on the listing • Rank: #21 in Console Tables (Amazon AU)
View on Amazon AU
MAHANCRIS 180cm Narrow Console Sofa Table with Open Shelf, Rustic Brown CTHR18001Z
ASIN B0C3Q9G3R5 • $95.99 • Sold by MAHANCRIS AU on Amazon AU
If the table's going behind a three seater sofa, the MAHANCRIS 180cm is the long one of the six. MAHANCRIS AU sells it for $95.99 and it ranks #24 in Console Tables. It's 180cm long, 20cm deep and 80.5cm tall by the listing, in a rustic brown wood-look finish on a black metal frame, with a top and an open shelf below for books, baskets or a speaker. The model code is CTHR18001Z, and it's the plain version of a MAHANCRIS range that also includes tables with built-in outlets. At 20cm deep it pushes a sofa out only a little from the wall, which is the main thing a behind-the-sofa table needs to get right.
Four adjustable feet let you level it on a floor that isn't flat, which matters on a table this long, since a rock at one end shows up as a wobble right along the top. The listing states a maximum load of 20kg, which is light for 180cm of table, so it suits lamps, drinks, a few books and decor rather than anything heavy. It doesn't list a warranty or any anti-tip hardware. I'd skip the powered MAHANCRIS versions for now, since those listings don't state an Australian voltage or socket, and run a lamp from a wall point instead. A smart plug on that lamp means nobody has to reach over the sofa to switch it off.
A long top on thin legs can sway when it's knocked, so tighten the frame bolts after a week and add a small bracket to the wall at the back if it still moves. The 20kg rating is the joint lowest of the picks, level with the Artiss charging table. Spread the shelf's load out rather than stacking it all at one end. Dust the shelf when you vacuum behind the sofa, keep lamp cords clear of the sofa legs when you push it back, and put felt pads under the feet on floorboards.
Honest caveats: The 20kg maximum load is light for a 180cm table, and no anti-tip hardware or warranty is listed. A long top on thin legs can sway if it's knocked, so it wants a wall bracket in a busy room, and it has no drawers for keys or mail.
Best for: Behind a three seater sofa, where the table has to be long and shallow.
Price: $95.99 (MAHANCRIS AU) • Model: CTHR18001Z • Size: 180 x 20 x 80.5cm stated • Storage: Open shelf • Load: 20kg maximum stated • Feet: 4 adjustable • Anti-tip: Not listed, add a kit • Rank: #24 in Console Tables (Amazon AU)
View on Amazon AUSide-by-side comparison
| Product | Price | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| DUSLANG 3 Tier Console Table with Open Wood… | ~$69.99 | |
| Artiss Narrow Console Table with Charging… | ~$75.95 | |
| Oikiture 80cm Hallway Table Compact Console… | ~$90.90 | |
| MAHANCRIS Console Table | ~$95.99 | |
| Artiss 2-Drawer Console Table with Open Shelf | ~$112.95 | |
| Giantex Farmhouse Console Table with 2 Drawers | ~$119.95 | |
| Oikiture Console Table 120cm Hallway Table… | ~$127.92 |
What wears out on a console table
Console tables don't come into our workshop, since there's not much on them to fix, so this part comes from how flat pack furniture is built and from the electrical parts in the powered ones. Most console tables that end up on the kerb haven't broken in one go. A joint has worked loose, a drawer has come apart or the top has swelled, and most of it can be caught early with a screwdriver and a cloth.
Joints and cam locks that work loose
Flat pack joints rely on cam locks, dowels and screws biting into particleboard, and every knock and every drawer pull works them a little. A table that wobbles is usually one loose cam lock, and if you leave it, the wobble hammers the dowels until the holes go oval. Tighten every fixing a few weeks after assembly and again when you notice any movement. If a screw spins without biting, a slightly thicker screw or a hole filled with glue and a timber dowel gives it something to grip again.
Drawers that sag and stick
Drawers fail at the runners and at the front panel. Overloaded drawers bend plastic runners, and once a drawer drags, people pull harder, which pulls the front away from the drawer box. Metal runners, like the Oikiture drawer table's, last longer, but they still need their screws tight. Keep drawers for light things, vacuum the grit out of the runners now and then, and if a drawer front starts to lift, glue and clamp it before the screws pull through the board. Heavy tins and tools belong on a shelf, not in a drawer.
Power strips, ports and cords
The built-in boards on powered tables fail like any powerboard: a loose socket that won't grip a plug, a USB port that stops charging, or a cord damaged where it's pinched against the wall. A loose socket runs warm under load because of the poor contact, so stop using any outlet that's discoloured, warm or that lets a plug fall out. Furniture boards usually aren't built to be opened, so a failed one is generally a replacement rather than a repair. Unplug it at the wall before cleaning around it.
Decision tree: which one should you actually buy?
- Narrow hallway and want somewhere to charge phones? → The Artiss charging table at $75.95 is 15cm deep and has two 220-240V, 10A outlets plus USB and Type-C ports.
- Entry with room for a solid table under a mirror? → The Oikiture 120cm at $127.92 has a thick slab top rated for 50kg. Add an anchor kit.
- Small entry or apartment that needs drawers? → The Oikiture 80cm at $90.90 fits two drawers on metal runners and an open shelf into 80cm of wall.
- Busy family entry with kids or pets? → The Giantex at $119.95 states an 80kg load and comes with two anti-tip kits, or the Artiss two-drawer at $112.95 has rounded corners and an anchor bracket.
- Going behind a three seater sofa? → The MAHANCRIS 180cm at $95.99 is 180cm long and only 20cm deep. Keep it to light things, since it's rated for 20kg.
- Phone knocked off the hallway table onto the tiles? → Cracked screens and phones that stop charging after a fall are everyday repairs. Bring it into our Erina workshop and we'll check it and tell you the cost before you spend anything.
Frequently asked questions
How deep should a hallway console table be?
Measure the hallway wall to wall and take the table's depth off to see what's left to walk past. A 30cm deep table in a 1 metre hall leaves 70cm, which is fine for one person but tight with a pram or a washing basket. In a hall narrower than about a metre, a 15 to 20cm deep table like the Artiss charging table or the MAHANCRIS 180cm usually works better. Allow a centimetre or two for the skirting board, which pushes the table out from the wall.
Do console tables need to be anchored to the wall?
I'd anchor any console table, because a narrow, tall table tips forward more easily than most furniture once it's loaded at the front or a drawer is pulled out. Three of the six picks include anti-tip hardware: the Artiss charging table, the Artiss two-drawer and the Giantex. For the others, buy a furniture anchor kit. Screw the bracket into a stud in a timber framed house, since plasterboard alone can pull out, and use masonry plugs on brick. Renters should ask before drilling.
Are console tables with built-in power points safe?
They can be, but check the listing and the label. A board for Australia should be rated 220-240V and 10A and carry an RCM mark. The Artiss charging table states 220-240V and 10A, but its listing doesn't mention an RCM mark, so look for it on the label when it arrives. Several powered tables I read didn't state the voltage or socket type at all, so I left them out. Keep the total load under 2,400W, never run a heater from it, and replace a damaged cord.
How much weight can a console table hold?
It depends on the table, and the listings vary a lot. Among the picks, the Giantex states its legs hold up to 80kg, the Oikiture 120cm states 50kg, the Oikiture drawer table 30kg, and the Artiss charging table and MAHANCRIS 180cm 20kg each. The Artiss two-drawer doesn't state a figure. Those ratings are for weight spread over the top, so keep heavy things low and toward the wall, and don't stand or sit on a console table.
What height should a console table behind a sofa be?
Level with the sofa back or a few centimetres above usually looks best. Most of the picks are about 80cm tall, with the Oikiture drawer table at about 74.5cm and the Giantex at about 81.5cm by the listing dimensions, so measure your sofa back before you choose. Length matters too. A table close to the sofa's length looks deliberate, so the 180cm MAHANCRIS suits a three seater and the 100 to 120cm tables suit a two seater.
How do I stop a flat pack console table wobbling?
Most wobbles come from one loose cam lock or bolt, so go round and tighten every fixing a few weeks after assembly, once the table has settled. Set any adjustable feet so it doesn't rock on an uneven floor, since a rocking table slowly loosens its own joints. Don't overtighten with a drill, because particleboard crushes around the screw. If a long table still sways side to side, a small bracket screwed to the wall at the back usually stops it.
Related buying guides
Phone knocked off the hallway table?
A phone left charging on the edge of a hallway table gets knocked onto the tiles more often than you'd think. If the screen's cracked, the charge port has gone loose or it won't charge on any cable, bring it into our Erina workshop. We'll check what's failed and tell you whether it's worth fixing before you spend anything.
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