What height should dining chairs be?

Most dining tables sit at around 75cm high, and a chair seat of roughly 45 to 47cm pairs with that comfortably. You're aiming for about 28 to 30cm of clearance between the seat and the underside of the tabletop so your legs aren't squashed. Measure your table before you order.

Should dining chairs have arms?

Chairs with arms (carvers) feel more relaxed and look smart at the head of a table, but check the arms actually tuck underneath, since ones that catch on the table frame are a daily annoyance. Armless chairs slide away neatly and let you seat more people, so plenty of homes mix the two.

Can I mix different dining chairs?

Yes, and it often looks more considered than a perfectly matched set. Keep the seat heights similar so everyone sits level, then vary the colour, material or even the style. A different pair at the ends of the table, or chairs that differ from a bench, reads as collected rather than flat-packed.

How to Choose Dining Chairs You'll Actually Want to Sit On

Dining chairs are bought with the eyes and tested with the back. They look lovely in a photo, then you sit through a three-course Sunday lunch and find out whether they were actually a good idea. A little thought up front saves you from a set you quietly stop using.

Get the height right first

This is the part people skip, and it is the one that matters most. Most dining tables sit at around 75cm high. A chair with a seat of roughly 45 to 47cm pairs with that nicely, leaving room for your legs to cross and your knees to clear the apron under the table.

If your table is taller or shorter than standard, measure it and aim for about 28 to 30cm between the seat and the underside of the tabletop. Too little and you are wedged in. Too much and you are eating with your chin near the plate.

Then think about comfort

You sit in a dining chair for longer than you think, so the shape does real work. Look for a back that actually supports you rather than just framing your shoulders, and a seat with a bit of give. Upholstered seats and curved or slightly reclined backs are the easiest to sit in for a whole evening. A hard, upright chair is fine for a quick breakfast and tiring by pudding.

Arms, or no arms?

Carver chairs with arms feel more relaxed and look smart at the head of the table. The only thing to check is that the arms tuck under the tabletop when you push the chair in, because arms that catch on the frame become a small daily irritation. Armless chairs slide away cleanly and let you fit more people around the same table. Lots of homes use a mix: armless along the sides, a carver at each end.

Material and upkeep

What the chair is covered in changes how it feels and how much looking-after it needs.

Upholstered chairs are the warmest and most comfortable, and a soft fabric pulls a dining room together. They do ask for a bit of care around food and drink. We go into fabrics properly in our bouclé vs chenille guide.
Faux leather wipes clean in seconds, which makes it the sensible pick for a busy family table.
Wood and rattan are hard-wearing and timeless, and a seat pad adds comfort if you want it.

Buy in sets, but don't be afraid to mix

We sell most of our dining chairs in sets of two, which keeps the price down and makes it easy to seat a whole table without buying six things separately. You do not have to match every chair, though. A pair a shade different at the ends, or chairs that play off a bench, looks gathered over time rather than bought in one click.

Leave room to move

Allow around 60cm of width per chair so people are not shoulder to shoulder, and enough space behind each one to push back and stand up. As ever, measure the room before you order so the set you love actually fits.

Find yours

Every set is chosen to look far more expensive than it is, with free UK delivery and 30-day returns, and the option to make us an offer if you are kitting out a whole table. Have a browse through our dining chairs, or see the full collection when you are ready.