The Riser Guide
Plinths New York (plinthsny.com) makes acrylic food display risers for caterers, event stylists, hotels and venues. This guide covers how to choose buffet risers that hold up to weekly service: what they do, which material to pick, single cubes or a full system, and how many you need. Each section links to the full article, and the shop links below go straight to the collections.
The guides
Buffet Food Risers: How to Choose the Right Set for Catering Events
Why Buffet Risers Are a Game Changer for Caterers and Hosts
Cheap Cube Risers vs Professional Display Systems: What Caterers Actually Need
Acrylic Display Tables vs Acrylic Risers: Which One You Actually Need
Cube Risers for Food Presentation: A Caterer's Complete Guide
How Many Display Risers Do I Need? A Size Guide by Guest Count
Acrylic vs Glass vs Wood Display Risers: Which Is Best for Catering?Acrylic vs Wood Buffet Risers: Which Is Better for Catering?
Best Buffet Risers for Catering in 2026: A Caterer's Honest Buyer's Guide
How to Choose the Right Food Display Stands for Your Event
What Are Acrylic Risers? A Caterer's Guide to Display Plinths That Hold Up
Buffet Risers: A Caterer's Buying Guide That Skips the Sales PitchShop the setups
What food risers do on a buffet
A food riser is a solid block that lifts a platter, bowl or tray above the table. Set at three heights, risers turn a flat row of dishes into a display guests can read from the front of the line, so every dish gets seen and the table looks planned. Taller pieces, 12 inches and up, are usually called plinths. What acrylic risers are explains the terms caterers use.
Pick a material that travels
Most caterers move their displays every week, so the material has to pack, travel and clean fast. Acrylic is light to carry, and it cleans with warm water and mild soap using a soft cloth. Glass can chip or break in transit. Wood suits rustic events. Our acrylic risers come in clear, white and black. Compare the options in acrylic vs glass vs wood risers and acrylic vs wood buffet risers.
Single cubes or a full display system
Single cube risers suit a small station or a one-off event. A full display system gives a whole buffet matched heights and one finish, and the pieces nest inside each other for transport. Read cheap cube risers vs professional display systems before you buy, and our cube riser guide for arranging them.
How many risers you need
Work per station, then per event. A station needs three to five risers at three heights. For a whole event, a 15-piece set such as the White Range or Black Range covers 100+ guests, the 20-piece Black & White Array covers 125+ and the 30-piece Black & White Range covers 200+. The size guide by guest count has the full table, from a 20-guest gathering up.
Where to start
Buying your first kit: read the buffet risers buying guide and the five tests for judging buffet risers. Ready to choose: browse food display risers for catering, the white risers in our White Classics range, or plinths for the tallest pieces. Our riser sets carry a 3-year professional warranty when registered within 30 days.
Questions
How do you create height on a buffet table?
Use three height zones. Keep platters and bowls in a low zone of 0 to 4 inches, medium risers in a mid zone of 5 to 11 inches, and plinths in a tall zone of 12 to 18 inches. Build outward from the tallest piece at the back center. Full guide to buffet height.
How tall should a buffet table be?
A standard banquet buffet table is 30 inches tall, and a cocktail-height buffet is 42 inches. Table height changes the riser plan: the taller the table, the shorter your tallest pieces can be. A 12-inch plinth on a 42-inch buffet reads taller than an 18-inch plinth on a 30-inch one. Buffet display setup guide.
What can I use to add height to a table display?
Acrylic plinths for the tallest pieces, tiered riser sets for the middle, and cake stands or pedestal platters for desserts and cheese. Chafing dish stands add 6 to 8 inches on their own. Crates and stacked linens also add height but rarely look polished. Use two materials at most so the table reads as one system.
How do you arrange food on a buffet table?
Follow the guest's path. Put plates and utensils first, then cold starters and salads, then hot mains and sides, then sauces and accompaniments, bread and desserts. Napkins and condiments go at the end. Place risers under some dishes to guide the eye and keep each station from crowding the next one.