Chair Dimensions: Standard Measurements for Every Type of Chair

Standard chair measurements

Most chairs made for sitting at a table share the same core measurements, because they are sized to the same adult body. Lounge chairs, stools and children's chairs vary these on purpose, as the later tables show.

Seat height is measured to the top of the seat at the front center, uncompressed. On upholstered chairs it drops 1-2 in (2.5-5 cm) when someone sits down, which is why soft lounge chairs list a higher figure than they feel.

Chair dimensions by type

The type of chair sets its footprint far more than its style does. This chart covers the chairs people most often need to fit into a room.

In centimeters: a dining side chair is about 43-56 cm wide, 51-61 cm deep and 81-102 cm tall; an armchair 76-91 cm wide; a recliner 76-102 cm wide; a chaise lounge 183-203 cm long.

Recliner, reclined 36 × 66 inArmchair 34 × 35 inOffice chair 26 × 26 inDining chair 19 × 22 in

Each type has a full guide: dining chairs, armchairs, recliners, office chairs, gaming chairs, bar and counter stools and bean bag chairs.

How to measure a chair

Use a rigid tape measure and a flat floor. Measure with no one sitting in the chair unless you want the compressed seat height.

1. Seat height: floor to the top of the seat at the front edge, in the center. On a sloping seat, this is the highest point of the seat surface.
2. Seat width: across the seat at its front edge. On an armchair, measure between the arms at seat level; this is the "inner" width.
3. Seat depth: from the front edge of the seat straight back to the backrest, at seat level.
4. Back height: from the seat surface to the top of the backrest. For overall height, measure from the floor instead.
5. Arm height: from the floor (or from the seat, if a spec asks for it) to the top of the arm.
6. Overall width and depth: the widest and deepest points, including flared arms and splayed back legs. These decide whether the chair fits a space or a doorway.

Choosing the right seat height and depth for your body

A chair fits when your feet rest flat with your thighs roughly level, and your back reaches the backrest with a small gap behind the knees. The measurement that decides seat height is the distance from the floor to the crease behind your knee while sitting, with shoes on.

These follow the common approximation that knee-crease height is about a quarter of standing height, plus about 1 in for shoes. Leg proportions vary, so measure if a chair is for one specific person.

• Seat depth: sit back and check the gap between the seat front and the back of your knees. Two to four fingers (about 2-4 in) is right. Less, and the seat edge presses on the legs; more, and you lose back support.
• Seat width: your hip width plus at least 1 in on each side. For most adults, 17-18 in is enough on an armless chair; armchairs need 20 in or more between the arms.
• Fixed-height chairs for shorter people: a footrest under a desk or table solves a seat that is too high; nothing fixes a seat that is too deep except a back cushion.

For desk work, an adjustable office chair handles these settings; the office chair guide covers seat height ranges and desk pairing, and the desk size guide covers desk heights.

Children's chair sizes by age

Children's chairs scale the same proportions down. The table and chair are sized as a pair, with the tabletop 8-12 in above the seat.

Children's seat depth should be shorter too: roughly 10-11 in for preschoolers, 12-14 in for primary school ages. Schools in Europe size chairs by the child's height under EN 1729-1, which uses numbered and color-coded size marks rather than ages. Height is the better guide either way, since two children of the same age can be 6 in apart. The kids furniture guide and kids table guide have more detail, and booster and high chairs are covered in the high chair guide.

Outdoor chair dimensions

Outdoor chairs split into dining chairs, which follow indoor sizes, and lounging chairs, which sit lower and recline.

• Patio dining chair: 20-26 in (51-66 cm) wide, 22-26 in deep, seat 17-19 in. A seat cushion adds 2-3 in.
• Deep-seating lounge chair: 28-34 in (71-86 cm) wide, 30-36 in deep, seat about 14-17 in (36-43 cm) with cushions.
• Adirondack chair: 28-32 in wide and 32-38 in deep, with a seat that slopes from about 12-15 in at the front down toward the back. Wide flat arms, about 5-7 in, double as side tables.
• Chaise lounge: 72-80 in (183-203 cm) long and 24-30 in (61-76 cm) wide, seat 12-16 in off the ground. Allow 24 in between neighboring chaises.
• Beach and sand chairs: low beach chairs put the seat only a few inches to about 10 in off the sand; standard folding beach chairs sit higher. See beach chair sizes.

Full patio sets and the deck space they need are in the outdoor furniture guide.

Folding, stacking and event chairs

For events, chair width sets the row length. A standard metal or resin folding chair is 17-19 in wide; Chiavari chairs, the slim wooden chairs used at weddings, are 15-16 in wide.

• Theater-style rows: allow 18-20 in (46-51 cm) of row length per folding chair, and 30-36 in from the back of one row to the back of the next.
• At banquet tables: 60 in rounds take 8 chairs and 72 in rounds take 10; folding chairs fit 24 in apart along 6 ft and 8 ft tables. Table sizes are in the table size guide.
• Storage: folded metal and resin chairs are only a few inches thick, so a cart or wall rack holds them flat; stacking chairs save floor space but each one adds some height to the stack, so check the maker's maximum stack count.

Frequently asked questions