How to choose a chair: what to consider

A chair is judged by sitting in it, which a listing cannot offer. These are the things worth settling before you choose one. The numbers are common rules of thumb, not fixed rules.

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What it is for

A dining chair is for upright sitting at a table; a lounge chair or armchair is for relaxing; a desk chair needs to adjust. Decide the use and how long you will sit before you look at style.

Size and fit

Seat height is commonly about 43-47 cm. Check it against the table or desk: you want roughly 25-30 cm between the seat and the underside of the top.
Allow about 50-60 cm of table edge for each chair. Chairs with arms need more room and may not slide under the table.
Check the seat depth and width, and whether chairs stack, fold or fit the space when not in use.

Comfort

Seat depth, back angle and the firmness of any padding matter more than looks. If you can, sit in one before buying, and check the return terms.
Removable cushions and covers make a chair easier to keep fresh.

Frame and materials

Solid wood frames can usually be repaired and refinished; check how the joints are made. Plywood and bent wood are light and strong in the right shapes. Metal is durable and usually coated: powder-coated metal can chip, raw metal changes with age.
Plastic and moulded chairs are easy to clean and often suit outdoor use if made for it.
For upholstered chairs, a fabric's abrasion rating (often given as a Martindale number) shows its resistance to wear: higher is more resistant. Leather patinates with use.
A chair for outdoors must be made for weather. An indoor chair left outside usually is not suitable.

Floors and use

Check the feet. Hard glides can scratch floors; felt or rubber glides help, and are often replaceable.
Check the weight if you will move it often, and whether it wobbles on an uneven floor.

Longevity and repair

Parts that can be replaced or tightened keep a chair going: glides, seat pads, covers and fixings. Woven or upholstered seats can often be redone.

Questions worth asking the maker

Exact seat height, width and depth? What are the frame and the seat made of? Are covers, pads and glides replaceable? Is it stackable? What are the delivery and return terms?

Sources and further reading

A label covers one aspect of a product, such as where the wood came from or which chemicals are in a textile, not its whole footprint. These pages explain what each covers; they are not endorsements, and Formground does not rate products.

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