Buying Guide: Our different seat heights & what they mean
In the wise words of James, oh sit down. Sitting is an important and inevitable part of life - in fact, the average person spends a total of 18 years of their adult life sitting down. With this in mind, we think it’s important to be comfortable while doing so! However, choosing what to sit on can be overwhelming. Stools, sofas, benches, hanging chairs, egg chairs, office chairs - the options are endless. That’s why we have compiled a series of buying guides to help you pick the perfect perch, starting with this one, which is all about seat heights.
What is the seat height?
The ‘seat height’ in each of our product specification sections measures the distance from the floor to the top of the seat itself, which is the bit you sit on. This will help you identify whether the chair/stool/other will fit nicely beneath your dining table, desk or whatever other surface you plan to use it with.
Average seat heights for different purposes
Seat heights, just like us people, come in many different sizes. That being said, there are some standard sizes that apply across the interior design industry. These are:
https://www.grainandframe.com/buying-guides/standard-chair-and-table-heights-in-the-uk/
At Where Saints Go, we’ve also compiled our own key so that you can determine what seat height pairs with which surface.
What do I need to consider when looking at the seat height?
Now we get into the (not very) complicated stuff. Get your measuring tape at the ready, because things are about to get technical. Here’s what you need to consider when looking at the seat height:
Surface usage First of all, what are you intending to do while sitting on this chair/stool/bench? If it’s dining, you’ll want to ensure that you can comfortably rest your elbows on the surface and have plenty of movement with your arms, but not be so high that you end up having to lean forwards to eat. Likewise, if you’re in the market for an office chair to pair with your desk, you want the seat height to allow your elbows to rest comfortably on the surface in front of you.
Surface height & thickness You’ll want to ensure that your legs have got room to breathe beneath the table, and that you’re able to sit comfortably. The optimum leg space to allow between the seat and underneath of your surface is between 25 - 30cm.
Surface overhang or drop-down edges When measuring for your leg space, be sure to take into account any overhangs or drop-down edges around the table. This will mean that your seat will be closer to it in parts and may not be very comfortable if it’s too close, i.e the overhang will likely dig into your legs.
Foam compression Don’t forget that upholstered seats will have a small amount of compression when you sit on them, depending on the density of the foam and how plush the material of your choice is. This is likely to have minimal impact on your measurements, but if you’re a stickler for the small details like we are, you’ll appreciate knowing that high density foam has a compression rate of 44 lbs. This means that for every 44 lb of weight applied to the foam, it will compress by 25%.
Ultimately, we wouldn’t suggest trying to figure out the maths of how much compression is going to affect your sitting experience - mostly because it is so minimal you are highly unlikely to notice it at all. What we will say is that upholstered seats provide a more comfortable, roomy feel which is great for dining spaces, desks and just about anywhere.
I’ve calculated my ideal seat height… what’s next?
Whether you’ve been squatting beside your surface, using cardboard cutouts to ascertain levels or you’re just a wizard with a measuring tape, well done, you’ve cracked the code and got the boring bit out of the way. Now it’s time for the fun part, where you get to choose between stunning materials, an array of colours and a mixture of design styles. Check out our bar stool, sofa and dining chair buying guides to help you along the next part of your quest.