Buffet vs Sideboard vs Credenza: Differences

They Are Not the Same Thing

While often used interchangeably in furniture stores, buffets, sideboards, and credenzas have distinct origins and proportions that affect how they function in your dining room.

Buffet

A buffet is designed for serving food. It has a long, flat top surface at counter height (34 to 36 inches) and shallow storage below for dishes and serving pieces. Buffets are typically 50 to 70 inches wide and 18 to 20 inches deep. They sit against a wall near the dining table.

Sideboard

A sideboard is taller (34 to 38 inches) with more enclosed storage — cabinets, drawers, and sometimes wine racks. It is designed to store dining essentials: china, linens, silverware. Sideboards are typically 48 to 66 inches wide and 16 to 20 inches deep. They tend to be more ornate than buffets.

Credenza

A credenza originated as an office piece and is lower and longer than both. Typically 30 to 32 inches tall and 60 to 80 inches wide, credenzas have sliding doors rather than hinged ones. In dining rooms, they work as a modern alternative to traditional sideboards, especially in open-plan spaces where the credenza doubles as a media console.

Which One for Your Space?

• Small dining room: Sideboard (vertical storage, narrow footprint)
• Large formal dining room: Buffet (serving surface + display)
• Open floor plan: Credenza (dual-purpose, modern aesthetic)