It is essential to purchasing the correct office chair size. Sometimes people get intimidated seeing Office Chairs of different types and sizes and often choose the wrong sized office chair. Not every chair works for everyone due to the variation of body type and, most importantly, height.
People with average height (5’3’’ to 6’4’’) need an office chair with a seat height of 17.3 to 20.5 inches. To find the right size office chair for yourself, make sure your chair has optimal seat height. Most modern office chairs have seat height adjustments that support users of different heights.
Some people erroneously think that they can get chairs of any size as they can adjust the seat height. This is not always the right thinking at all.
In this article, I will provide you with a seat height calculator and answer all of your burning questions regarding office chair sizes to help you find the right-sized office chair for yourself.
Common Office Chair Sizes:
During our research on office chair sizes, I have collected data of several supported heights and sizes of popular chairs.
Office chairs come in different sizes; the most important thing to consider is the seat height which will help you determine the perfect chair for your height.
To give you a precise idea, I made a table of 15 popular office chair models with the height ranges and suitable user’s height.
| No. | Office Chair Model | Adjustable Seat Height | Recommended User Height |
| 1 | SIHOO Office Ergonomic Chair | 16.5 – 20” | 5’2″ – 6’2″ |
| 2 | Herman Miller Embody Office Chair | 16 – 20.5″ | 5’0″ – 6’4″ |
| 3 | Herman Miller Aeron Office Chair | 16 – 20.5″ | 5’0″ – 6’4″ |
| 4 | ErgoHuman Eurotech | 17”– 21” | 5’3″ – 6’6″ |
| 5 | SIDIZ T80 Office Chair | 18”– 22” | 5’7″ – 6’9″ |
| 6 | Hbada Ergonomic Office Recliner Chair | 17.3″– 20.5″ | 5’5″ – 6’4″ |
| 7 | Duramont Office Chair | 17” – 20” | 5’3″ – 6’2″ |
| 8 | ErgoChair 2 | 18” – 20” | 5’7″ – 6’2″ |
| 9 | Steelcase Leap | 15.5” – 20.5″ | 4’10” – 6’4″ |
| 10 | Tribesigns T18 Ergonomic office chair | 17″ – 20.9″ | 5’3″ – 6’5″ |
| 11 | IKEA Markus | 19”– 22.5” | 5’11” – 6’10” |
| 12 | Humanscale Freedom | 16”– 20” | 5’0″ – 6’2″ |
| 13 | IKEA Renberget | 18”– 22.5” | 5’7″ – 6’10” |
| 14 | Haworth Zody Chair | 14” – 21” | 4’8” – 6’6″ |
| 15 | Sihoo M57 office chair | 17”– 19.7” | 5’3″ – 6’1″ |
Herman Miller Aeron office chair with Three different sizes:
If you are looking for a chair, you might be familiar with the popular Herman Miller Aeron Chair. We would like to use this chair as an example to see the different chair sizes. This chair actually comes in three different sizes.
Each type has a different chair size, depth, and width. As the chair size increases, so does the chair width and depth. Let’s look at this chair in different sizes.
| Aeron Chair Sizes | Seat Height | Seat Width | Appropriate User Height |
| Size A: | 15 – 19’’ | 26’’ | 4’10’’ – 5’9’’ |
| Size B: | 16 – 20.5’’ | 27’’ | 5’2’’ – 6’6’’ |
| Size C: | 16 – 20.5’’ | 28.25’’ | 5’2’’ – 6’6’’ |
Office Chair Seat Height Calculator:
We made this seat height calculator that will help you determine the right size office chair for you. You can put your height on the calculator, and it will show you the appropriate chair seat height.
After determining the appropriate chair height, you can check which chair supports the particular seat height that you need.
[CP_CALCULATED_FIELDS id=”7″ ]How do I measure myself for an office chair?
You can easily measure yourself for an office chair with the calculator that we provided earlier, or you can just use a measuring tape to determine the right seat height.
Here is how I properly measured myself for an office chair using the calculator and the measuring tape. You can use either of them.
Step 1 – Determine The Seat Height:
First, determine the optimal seat height using our calculator. Using the calculator is easy. All I had to do was input my height, and it gave me a number in inches which is the appropriate seat height for my height.
Alternatively, you can measure the distance from the underside of your knee up to your feet.
Check the image below to get a better idea:
Step 2 – Check the Seat Height Using Measuring Tape:
Take the measuring tape, then measure the distance between the top of the seat and the floor. Say, for example, if your optimal seat height is 17 inches, match if the existing seat height of your chair is 17 inches or not.
Step 3 – Check the Seat Height Adjustments:
While you are looking for a chair, check the seat height adjustment range if it fits for you or not.
Let’s say you are planning to buy an office chair that has a seat height of 16.5 to 20 inches and you have determined the right seat height for yourself is 17 inches. The size of this chair will be perfect for you.
That’s how you can measure yourself for an office chair before even buying one.
How Tall Should An Office Chair Be For a (30 inch) Desk?
In North America, the standard Desk Height is taken to be 29 inches. There is not any standard set of height for Office chairs like the Standard height of Desk. But the desk height differs from brand to brand.
Here is the optimal office chair height according to a desk height:
Note: Chair Seat Height = Distance From the top of seat to floor
| Chair Seat Height | Desk Height |
| 16.1 Inches | 24.2 Inches |
| 16.4 Inches | 24.6 Inches |
| 16.7 Inches | 25 Inches |
| 16.9 Inches | 25.4 Inches |
| 17.2 Inches | 25.8 Inches |
| 17.5 Inches | 26.2 Inches |
| 17.7 Inches | 26.6 Inches |
| 18 Inches | 27 Inches |
| 18.3 Inches | 27.4 Inches |
| 18.5 Inches | 27.8 Inches |
| 18.8 Inches | 28.2 Inches |
| 19.1 Inches | 28.6 Inches |
| 19.4 Inches | 29 Inches |
| 19.6 Inches | 29.4 Inches |
| 19.9 Inches | 29.8 Inches |
| 20.2 Inches | 30.2 Inches |
| 20.4 Inches | 30.6 Inches |
So, if your desk is 30 inches tall, your office chair (from top of the seat to the floor) should be around 20-22 inches tall.
Related Questions:
How do I know what office chair is right for me?
What type of office chair is right for you depends on the nature of your job.
If you spend long hours sitting at your desk, then an office chair with lots of ergonomic features is possibly the right kind of chair for you.
However, if you don’t have to spend long hours sitting and you just want to look at your office environment to look more professional, then a simple executive chair can be great for you.
Recommended Article: How to Choose the Right Office Chair for you?
Are all office chairs the same height?
All office chairs don’t have the same height. However, most of the office chairs have similar seat height adjustments as it fits a wide range of people. Every office chair has a particular seat height adjustment that is right for people with average height.
For example, Herman Miller Embody and Aeron have seat height adjustments from 16’’ to 20.5’’. On the other hand, Sihoo M57 office chair has seat height adjustment from 17’’ to 19.7’’.
How tall is a normal chair?
A normal chair has a seat height between 17’’ to 18,’’ and it’s usually 42’’ to 44’’ tall. However, an office chair has a seat height between 17’’ to 21’’, and it’s usually 40’’ to 50’’ tall.
Modern office chairs have different types of backrests that make a chair taller or shorter. For example, a mid-back office chair is shorter than a high-back office chair.
Final Thoughts:
I think it is very important to get an office chair of proper chair seat height, as most people who have long desk jobs are going to sit in the chair for almost all day.
Thus If you want to sit comfortably without hurting yourself, getting a chair that fits with your height is a must. Most of the chairs we mentioned have adjustable seat height features.
If you buy one of those chairs, then adjust the seat height according to your comfort. I also have attached a calculator to help you with finding the proper seat height.
