The fork lies to the left of the plate, the knife to the right with the blade facing the plate, and the spoon to the right of the knife. The cutlery is used from the outside in with the courses. Dessert cutlery is placed above the plate. Simple rule: knife and spoon to the right, fork to the left.
A beautifully laid table starts with the cutlery in place. Luckily, the placement follows a simple, classic logic that's easy to remember – and that your guests intuitively understand. Here's the correct arrangement, so your table looks thoughtful and inviting.
The basic rule
The cutlery is placed close beside the plate in the order it's needed:
- Fork: to the left of the plate.
- Knife: to the right, with the sharp edge facing in towards the plate.
- Spoon: to the right of the knife (e.g. soup spoon on the outside).
From the outside in
If several courses are being served, you lay one set of cutlery per course and use them from the outside in. The starter cutlery is therefore on the outside, the main course cutlery closest to the plate. Only lay out the cutlery that's actually going to be used – otherwise the setting looks excessive.
Tip: Think "fork = left hand, knife = right hand", just as you hold them when eating – that way you'll remember the placement.
Dessert cutlery
Dessert spoon and fork are placed above the plate: the spoon on top with the handle facing right, the fork below with the handle facing left. This keeps the table tidy, and dessert is ready without extra laying.
Overview of the place setting
| Cutlery | Placement | Placement |
|---|---|---|
| Fork | To the left of the plate | Prongs facing up |
| Knife | Right, closest to the plate | Blade facing the plate |
| Spoon | To the right of the knife | Bowl facing up |
| Dessert cutlery | Above the plate | Spoon on top, fork underneath |
Signal: pause or finished
Cutlery "speaks" during the meal too. If you place your knife and fork as an inverted V (tips facing each other), you're signalling a pause. If you place them together and parallel – typically at 4–5 o'clock on the plate – it means you're finished, and the plate can be cleared.
Frequently asked questions
How should cutlery be laid when setting the table?
Fork on the left, knife on the right with the blade facing the plate, and spoon to the right of the knife. Use the cutlery from the outside in.
Which side does the fork go on?
The fork always goes on the left of the plate, with the prongs facing up.
Where do you place dessert cutlery?
Above the plate: the dessert spoon on top with the handle facing right, the dessert fork underneath with the handle facing left.
How do you signal that you're finished?
Place the knife and fork together and parallel on the plate, typically at 4–5 o'clock. An inverted V means a pause.
Does the knife need to face a particular way?
Yes – the knife's sharp blade should face the plate.
Summary
Fork on the left, knife and spoon on the right, and use the cutlery from the outside in. Dessert cutlery goes on top, and the knife-and-fork position tells you whether you're pausing or finished. With these few rules in place, the table is both correctly set and inviting.
