Nearly One in Five People Eat Dinner on the Couch

There’s nothing like making a meal for the whole family, gathering everyone together, and sitting down around the coffee table, while you eat and binge watch Netflix.

According to a survey of 30,000 people worldwide, the average time everyone eats dinner is 6:44 P.M.  And we usually spend 27 minutes eating.

At that time, 44% eat at a kitchen table, 34% eat at a dining room table, 25% eat at a table in the living room, 18% eat on the COUCH, 4% of people eat while standing in the kitchen, and another 4% eat in BED.

If you’re thinking, well, maybe that is mostly just bedridden grandparents or something, NOPE:  Gen Z’ers are about TWICE AS LIKELY to say they eat in their bed.

40% of people say they watch TV while eating together with others in their household.  And 15% watch TV while eating, even when guests are over.  Only 7% say their kitchen table is a “device-free zone.”  So no phones, laptops, tablets, or TVs.

 

(IKEA Cooking & Eating Report 2026)