Really glad about this thread, since I'm planning to make a table runner and matching place-mats for my nephew & his fiancee. I've seen them at stores in lengths from 48" to 72", so I guess it's just a matter of personal preference. I like to think of a table runner as a sort of "place-mat" for the serving dishes and centerpiece. Therefore, I would make it long enough to run from the place-mat at one end of the table to the place-mat at the other end. Does that make sense?