Lifetime Products has been producing folding tables and folding chairs for over 10 years now and have done quite well with it. They have provided many different sizes, styles, colors, and features. With all of the success they have had, a competitor is almost always going to emerge. In this case, there is a manufacturing plant in China that has begun to make comparable tables and chairs to those of Lifetime Products. For this article, we will only consider the round folding tables offered by both of these companies.

Lifetime Round Folding Tables:

Lifetime Products got into the folding table business when it obtained patent rights to the polyethylene plastic, blow molding process. Their tables feature this light weight, but dense material for the table tops. The framework is all steel, which provides great stability. The one thing that needs to be pointed out here is on their 60" and 72" round folding table models. On these tables there is an "H-Bracket" about 2 ft. off the ground, which attaches both legs together, on either side of the table. The H-Bracket is designed to provide added stability to the framework as the table top gets larger. Because of this design feature and that Lifetime Products still manufactures mostly in the United States, Lifetime offers a 10 year warranty. Typically, you can expect to pay anywhere from $30-$70 more per table because of these added features.

Atlas Round Tables:

Atlas imports their tables from a plant in China. The manufacturer there designs products similar to those made by American manufacturers, even down to the color, and sells them to American importers. What you will notice with these tables is very similar material on both the table top and the steel framework to the Lifetime models. However, on the 60" and 72" round folding tables, there is no H-Bracket. To help accommodate the lack of additional framework, they have tried to redesign the legs and folding mechanisms under the table to support the extra table top weight. Their selling point is that without the H-Bracket design, people sitting around the table where the H-Bracket would normally be will now have more leg room. With Atlas, these tables typically carry only a 1 year warranty. There are other importers of the same product, like National Public Seating. Due to their volume and competitive pricing, National Public Seating with offer the same folding tables with a 5 year warranty for only slightly more money.

Which one should you buy?

In most cases it depends. If you need the cheapest table possible and you foresee only using the tables infrequently, then the Atlas branded model will likely suit you fine. I have had about 3 years experience with these kind of tables and have yet to hear anything negative about them. But, if you have a little more money and want a folding table that is just a step below commercial quality, than the Lifetime branded folding tables will probably be best. You get at least 2 times the guaranteed life and potentially 10 times the guaranteed life, depending on who you buy from, for the Lifetime table. The H-Bracket, while sometimes a problem with leg room, provides you added stability allowing you to use the table for a greater variety of activities. Good Luck Shopping!