By the team at Lincoln House Cutlery — specialists in fine cutlery since 1967
If you've ever tried to buy a cutlery set online and found yourself puzzled by the numbers — 42 pieces? 56 pieces? 124 pieces? — you're not alone. It's one of the questions we get asked most often, and after nearly 60 years selling cutlery, we understand exactly why.
The way cutlery sets are counted isn't always intuitive. Different retailers package them differently, and the "extras" bundled in by some brands can make comparisons tricky. In this guide, we'll cut through the confusion and explain everything clearly, so you can buy with confidence.
Understanding the 7-Piece Place Setting
The foundation of most cutlery sets is the 7-piece place setting. Each setting contains everything one person needs for a full three-course meal:
- Table knife
- Table fork
- Dessert/side knife
- Dessert/side fork
- Dessert spoon
- Soup spoon
- Teaspoon
This is the standard we use across the vast majority of our ranges — and the one most commonly used by reputable British and European silversmiths. Once you understand this building block, the set sizes start to make perfect sense.
How Set Size Relates to the Number of Diners
Multiply the 7-piece setting by the number of place settings you need, and you arrive at your set size:
Our advice from experience: We recommend buying for the maximum number of guests you regularly host — not a special occasion that happens once a year. Most of our customers find an 8-person (56-piece) set is the sweet spot for household use, while a 12-person (84-piece) set tends to suit those who entertain frequently or have large family gatherings.
What About Serving Spoons?
This is where we differ from many retailers — and deliberately so.
Many shops bundle serving spoons into their sets as standard, which inflates the piece count and the price. At Lincoln House, we don't include them automatically, because not everyone needs them. You may already own serving pieces, or you may prefer to choose serving spoons separately to match a different style.
That said, if you'd like a truly comprehensive set, we do offer a 124-piece set in most of our ranges. This includes:
- 84-piece, 12-person set (as above)
- 12 x coffee spoons
- 12 x fish knives
- 12 x fish forks
- 4 x serving spoons
This is the set we typically recommend to hospitality clients — hotels, restaurants, and private dining venues — where complete coverage matters. For home use, it's ideal if you host formal dinners regularly.
Everyday Cutlery Sets: The 4-Piece Setting
Not every meal calls for three courses. For everyday dining, a 4-piece place setting is a practical, popular choice:
- Table knife
- Table fork
- Dessert spoon
- Teaspoon
These sets come in:
In our experience, these are the most frequently purchased sets for daily household use — robust enough for regular meals, without the cost of pieces you'll rarely reach for.
The 5-Piece American Place Setting
If you're looking for a gift, or have American family or guests, you may come across the 5-piece USA setting. This is the standard place setting used in North America and contains:
- Dinner knife
- Dinner fork
- Dinner spoon
- Salad fork
- Coffee/teaspoon
Please note: this setting is currently only available in our Carrs range of silver plate and sterling silver. If you're unsure whether this is right for you, we're happy to talk you through the differences.
This useful infographic summarises the main cutlery set sizes that you will find on our website, with the composition and number of pieces in each.
Can You Customise Your Set?
Absolutely — and this is one of the things that sets us apart from most retailers.
Every piece in our ranges is sold individually, which means you can:
- Build your set gradually — starting with the essentials and adding pieces over time
- Replace lost or damaged pieces — without buying a whole new set
- Add specialist pieces — such as steak knives, pastry forks, tea knives, sauce spoons, soup ladles, salad servers, and more
- Mix and match — for a table that reflects your own style
With over 300 cutlery patterns in our range, and most available piece by piece, we can help you create something that's genuinely tailored to how you live and eat.
Not Sure What You Need? Just Ask.
We've been helping customers choose the right cutlery since 1967 — from individual replacement pieces to complete hospitality settings for five-star venues. There's no such thing as a silly question, and we'll never push you towards a larger or more expensive set than you actually need.
Call us, email us, or use our live chat — you'll speak directly with a cutlery specialist, not a call centre. We're here to help.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between a 42-piece and a 56-piece cutlery set?
The difference is simply the number of place settings included. A 42-piece set is built around 6 x 7-piece settings — enough for six people — while a 56-piece set provides 8 x 7-piece settings for eight people. Each setting contains the same pieces: table knife, table fork, dessert/side knife, dessert/side fork, dessert spoon, soup spoon, and teaspoon. If you're buying for a household, we'd generally suggest going for the 56-piece set unless you're confident you'll rarely seat more than six.
Do cutlery sets include serving spoons?
This varies by retailer. At Lincoln House, we don't include serving spoons in our standard sets — we believe you should only pay for what you actually need. If you'd like serving pieces, you can add them individually or opt for our 124-piece set, which includes serving spoons alongside fish knives, fish forks, and coffee spoons. Other brands often include serving pieces as standard, which can make their sets appear better value — but you're paying for them regardless of whether you use them.
Can I buy extra pieces to add to my cutlery set later?
Yes — and this is one of the reasons customers come to us specifically. We sell every piece in our ranges individually, so you can add to your set over time, replace anything that gets lost or damaged, or include specialist pieces like steak knives, pastry forks, or sauce spoons as your needs change. This is particularly useful if you've inherited a partial set or are trying to match an existing pattern.
How do I know which cutlery set size is right for me?
Think about how many people you regularly seat — not your maximum capacity for a rare occasion, but your typical day-to-day or regular entertaining number. For most households, a 24-piece (6-person) or 32-piece (8-person) 4-piece everyday set is perfectly sufficient for daily use, while a 42- or 56-piece 7-piece set covers formal dining. If you host large dinner parties or family gatherings regularly, an 84-piece 12-person set offers the flexibility you need. When in doubt, call us — we've helped thousands of customers work this out and it's a five-minute conversation.
What does "7-piece setting" actually mean — why seven pieces?
A 7-piece setting covers every course in a traditional three-course British meal: a table knife and fork for the main course, a smaller dessert/side knife and fork for a starter or dessert, a dessert spoon, a soup spoon, and a teaspoon for coffee or tea. The seven-piece format is the standard used by most British and European silversmiths, and it's the basis of our range because it gives you genuine flexibility at a formal table without excess.
Is there a minimum number of pieces I need to buy?
No — there's no minimum at all. You can order a single teaspoon if that's what you need. This matters more than people realise: if you've broken one piece from a set you've owned for years, or you're trying to build up a collection gradually, you shouldn't have to buy pieces you don't need. We stock small quantities of our best-selling patterns for quick dispatch, and most other pieces can be ordered directly from the manufacturer, usually within one to four weeks.
Can cutlery sets be engraved?
Yes. We offer engraving on most of our cutlery ranges — popular choices include initials, monograms, names, and dates. It's a particularly popular option for wedding gifts, anniversary presents, and corporate hospitality pieces. Lead times for engraved orders are typically one to three weeks depending on the design. Contact us directly to discuss options and we'll advise on which patterns work best for engraving.
Lincoln House Cutlery has been a family business since 1967, specialising in sterling silver, silver plate, and stainless steel cutlery. Our team has decades of hands-on experience helping home customers and hospitality professionals find the right cutlery for their needs.
