Dining Chairs

How do you choose dining chairs?

Start with the table, not the chair. Measure the table height and the gap under its top, count how many people you need to seat, then choose chairs that fit that space and are comfortable for at least an hour. Only then choose the look and fabric. A beautiful chair that is 3 cm too tall or too wide will annoy you at every meal.

The four things that matter most are seat height, seat width, back support and how easily the seat cleans. Everything else, from leg style to colour, is a matter of taste.

Dining chair dimensions

Measure from the floor to the underside of the table apron, not the top, and subtract about 30 cm: that is your ideal seat height. Our dining chair buying guide has drawings for different table types.

How many chairs fit your table?

Allow about 60 cm of table edge per armless chair and 65 to 70 cm per armchair. A table of 120 by 75 cm seats four comfortably; 150 to 180 cm long seats six; 210 cm or more seats eight. Round tables of 100 to 120 cm across seat four, and 135 to 150 cm seat six. Remember the table legs: a leg at each corner takes space at the ends, while a pedestal base lets chairs move freely.

Leave 75 to 90 cm behind each chair so people can pull out and sit down, and more where someone needs to walk behind a seated diner. Browse dining tables, and see our dining table size guide or 4 seater vs 6 seater tables to plan the full set.

Types of dining chairs

Solid wood chairs

Slatted, spindle and Windsor-back chairs in solid wood are strong, easy to wipe and look lighter than upholstered chairs. They suit Indian modern, Scandinavian and farmhouse rooms. Add a seat pad if you sit for long meals.

Upholstered chairs

Padded seats and backs, often with a curved back that wraps the shoulders, make long dinners more comfortable and soften a room full of hard surfaces. Choose a wipeable or performance fabric. Read more about upholstered dining chairs.

Swivel dining chairs

A swivel seat lets you turn to talk or stand without dragging the chair across the floor. It suits open plan homes where the dining table is next to the living area.

Chairs on castors

Rolling chairs move in and out easily, which helps older family members and works well when the dining table doubles as a work desk. Use them on tile or marble, not on a rug.

Rattan and cane chairs

Woven backs are light, breathable in humid weather and bring texture to a plain room. See our guide to cane furniture.

Chairs and banquettes with storage

Some chairs hide a compartment under the seat, and our banquettes have lift-up seats along their full length, which is useful for table linen and festival serving dishes in a small flat.

Armless chairs or armchairs?

Armless chairs fit more people around the table and slide in fully, which keeps a small dining area tidy. Armchairs are more comfortable for lingering and help older people push up to stand, but they need about 10 cm more width each and must clear the table top. A popular compromise is armless chairs along the sides and two armchairs at the ends. Check that the arms are no higher than about 65 cm from the floor, or they will hit the table edge.

Banquettes and benches

A banquette is a built-in style bench along a wall, often in an L shape around a corner. It seats more people in less space than chairs, because nobody needs room to pull a chair back. It suits small dining corners, breakfast nooks and families with young children who squeeze together. The trade-off is getting in and out from the middle, which older guests may find awkward. Pair a banquette with two or three chairs on the open side. A loose bench from ottomans and benches does the same job and can be moved. For more space-saving layouts, read small dining room ideas.

Comfort for long meals

A family meal at Diwali or a weekend lunch can run two hours. For that, a chair needs a seat that is firm but not hard, a slight backward tilt of the back of about 100 to 105 degrees, and a back that supports the lower spine rather than ending at the waist. Test by sitting for ten minutes as if eating, leaning forward to the table and then back. If the seat edge presses behind your knees, the seat is too deep. If you slide forward, the seat is too slippery or tilted.

Fabrics and finishes that handle daily meals

• Performance fabric: tightly woven, treated to resist spills; the best all-round choice for families.
• Vegan leather or leatherette: wipes clean with a damp cloth, good for homes with young children.
• Genuine leather: ages well and wipes clean, warm-looking with wooden tables.
• Boucle and chenille: soft and stylish but harder to clean; better for adults-only homes or formal dining rooms.
• Wood finishes: a sealed matt or satin lacquer resists water rings and haldi stains far better than an oiled finish.

For tips on fabric choice with children, see kid-friendly fabrics, and for curry and oil marks, our stain removal guide applies to dining seats too.

Matching or mixing chairs

A matching set looks calm and formal. Mixing chairs looks more relaxed and personal, but works only when the chairs share something: the same seat height, the same wood tone, or the same colour in different shapes. Two upholstered chairs at the ends with wooden chairs along the sides is a simple, reliable mix. Our article on how to mix and match dining chairs has more combinations.

The chairs should also suit the table top. Pale oak chairs look fresh with a white marble top; dark walnut chairs suit a dark wood or black stone table. Read about dining table materials if you are choosing both.

Choosing a style for your room

• Mid-century: tapered wooden legs, curved or tufted backs, walnut tones. Works with most modern flats.
• Contemporary: clean curved backs, metal or slim wooden legs, plain upholstery in ivory, black or mocha.
• Farmhouse and classic: Windsor spindles, slatted backs, oak finishes, nailhead trim on upholstered chairs.
• Soft modern: cloud-like boucle seats and rounded shapes, best in a dining room used mainly by adults.
• Natural: rattan, cane and light wood, good for coastal and Japandi-style homes.

Dining chairs that double as desk chairs

In many flats the dining table is also the work desk. If you will spend working hours at it, choose an upholstered chair with a back that supports your lower spine and a seat of 46 to 48 cm, and add a small cushion behind your waist if needed. A swivel or castor chair makes it easier to move between laptop and files. Keep at least one chair in a fabric that does not show wear from long sitting. Our home office ideas help when one room does several jobs.

Chairs for older family members

For parents and grandparents, choose a dining armchair with firm arms, a seat height of 46 to 48 cm and a firm cushion. Avoid low-slung seats, slippery leather on a tilted seat, and castors that roll as you sit. A chair that is light enough to pull out with one hand helps too.

Protecting your floors

Dining chairs move more than any other furniture, dozens of times a day. On marble and vitrified tile, fit felt pads under every leg and replace them when they wear through. Castors should have soft rubber or polyurethane wheels. If the dining area has a rug, it should extend at least 60 cm beyond the table on every side so the back legs stay on the rug when a chair is pulled out.

What changes the price

Solid wood frames, curved or carved backs, full upholstery, genuine leather, rattan weaving, swivel bases and storage compartments all add to the cost. Armchairs cost more than armless chairs. Each product page shows the starting price, and many chairs come in sets of two. If you change the fabric, we confirm the price before production.

Mistakes to avoid

• Ignoring the table apron. Thighs knock it if the seat is too high.
• Choosing armchairs that will not slide under the table.
• Squeezing in one chair too many. Elbows clash at every meal.
• Light boucle in a family dining room. Dal and ghee stains are hard to remove.
• Forgetting clearance behind chairs. A wall 50 cm behind a chair makes sitting down awkward.

A quick checklist

• Table height and apron height measured.
• Number of chairs worked out at 60 cm each.
• Clearance of 75 to 90 cm behind chairs.
• Armless, armchairs or banquette decided.
• Wipeable fabric or finish chosen.
• Felt pads ready for the floor.

Made to order

Because we build each chair after you order, a full set comes from the same fabric batch, so colours match. Tell us your table height and we will confirm the right seat height before production. You can order different fabrics for end chairs and side chairs, or match the chairs to a banquette. If you need a counter-height seat for a breakfast counter instead, see bar and counter stools and our breakfast counter ideas.

Delivery and care

Dining chairs usually arrive assembled or with legs to screw on. Wipe seats after meals, vacuum fabric weekly, and dry spills quickly. In the monsoon, keep wooden chairs away from wet floors near balcony doors, and wipe them dry if a window was left open in the rain. Tighten leg screws once or twice a year. Explore all our seating in chairs and stools.