How to choose dining chairs: height, comfort and materials
Dining chairs get used every day, for meals, homework and long evenings with friends. The right chair fits your table, is comfortable to sit on for an hour or more and suits the way your household lives.
1. Check the height against your table
Comfort starts with the gap between the seat and the underside of the table. As a rule of thumb, allow around 25 to 30cm between the top of the seat and the underside of the table top, so there's room for legs without the table feeling too high. Most dining tables are around 75cm high, but always measure yours and compare with the seat height on each chair's product page.
If the table has an apron (a frame under the top), measure to the bottom of the apron, as that's what knees will meet. Chairs with arms also need to slide under the table edge: check the arm height if you want them to tuck in.
2. Work out how many fit
Allow roughly 60cm of table edge per person, a little more for chairs with arms or wide seats. Measure the chairs' width on the product page and check how many will fit along each side, leaving space between them. Our dining table size guide covers the space you need around the table, too.
3. Arms or armless?
- Armless chairs take less width and tuck right under the table, which suits smaller rooms and benches of chairs along a side.
- Carver chairs (with arms) at each end of the table add comfort and a sense of occasion.
- Arms help anyone who needs support getting up and down.
4. Choose the seat and back
- Upholstered seats are the most comfortable for long meals. Velvet, chenille, boucle and linen-effect fabrics are all popular.
- Curved and winged backs give a hug-like feel and a contemporary look.
- Wipe-clean finishes such as faux leather suit young families.
- Wooden and metal frames: check the leg finish against your floor and table.
Our dining chairs come from makers including SOLACE+CO, LPD Home, Living and Home and Zuiver, and many are sold in sets of two or four, so check how many are included.
5. Mix or match?
- Matching sets look calm and classic. A dining set takes the guesswork out of pairing table and chairs.
- Mixing works best when chairs share one thing: the same colour in different shapes, or the same shape in different colours.
- A bench on one side seats more children and looks relaxed. Compare in dining bench vs chairs.
Colour ideas
Neutral upholstery such as beige and grey is easy to live with; brown and rust tones feel warm and mid-century. See edits of beige, grey and brown dining chairs.
Care tips
- Felt pads under chair legs protect wooden and tiled floors.
- Vacuum upholstered seats with a soft brush and blot spills straight away. See our velvet and boucle care guide.
- Check and tighten any fixings now and then, especially on chairs that are rocked back.
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Frequently asked questions
What height should dining chairs be?
Allow around 25 to 30cm between the top of the seat and the underside of the table. Measure your table and compare it with the chair's seat height on the product page.
How many dining chairs fit around a table?
Allow about 60cm of table edge per person, a little more for chairs with arms. Check the chair width on the product page.
Can you mix dining chairs?
Yes. Mixed chairs look best when they share something, such as the same colour in different shapes or the same shape in different colours.