Standard Dining Chair Dimensions and How to Choose the Right One

Dining chair dimensions are the chair’s seat height and total height including the backrest, the seat width and total width of the chair including the legs and armrest, the seat depth and total depth of the chair including the backrest and legs. 

Standard dining chair dimensions start at 18 inches high by 16 inches wide by 15 inches deep. The largest standard chairs are 20Hx20Wx18D. Specific ranges for height, width and depth are discussed below. 

It is crucial to know how to choose the right dimensions for your dining chairs because chair size will affect how many chairs fit at your round or rectangular table, spacing of the chairs and seating comfort. 

All of those important issues are covered in this guide to dining chair dimensions and sizes available. You’ll discover how to choose the right size chairs for your table, your dining space and for who will be using the chairs most often. There are tips for avoiding common mistakes when choosing dining chair dimensions plus several FAQs related to dining room chair sizes and uses. 

What Size Dining Chairs Are Available?

Dining chairs are available in three sizes, standard, counter height and bar height.

Standard dining chair height is 18-20 inches at the seat, and the backs are 28-40 inches high. Armrest height is 24-26 inches. The seats are 16-20 inches wide, and the width of the legs is 18-24 inches. Standard dining chair seat depth is 15-18 inches, and the depth of the legs from front to back is 20-24 inches.

Counter-height dining room chair seats are 24-27.5 inches high, and the backs range from 34-42 inches high. Armrest height range is 32-34 inches. Seats are 15-20 inches wide, while the leg width is 18-24 inches. Seat depth is 15-18 inches, and the total depth from the front to back legs is 20-24 inches.

Bar-height chair seats are 28-30 inches high, and the backs are 40-48 inches high. Armrests are 36-38 inches high. Seats are 16-26 inches wide, and the chairs are a total of 18-28 inches wide. Seat depth is 14-18 inches, and the total depth of the chair including the legs is 18-22 inches.

When considering armless chairs vs chairs with armrests, remember that armrests make the total width of the chair greater by 4-6 inches. For example, a chair with an 18-inch seat might be 22 inches wide when measured across the armrests.

What Is the Standard Dining Chair Height

Standard dining chair height ranges from 18 inches to 20 inches. This measurement is from the top of the seat to the floor.

Lower chairs, about 18 inches, are a good fit in two scenarios. First, when the table has a skirt or apron around it, which is a panel attached to the underside of the table, having a lower chair ensures sufficient leg room between the chair and the apron of the tabletop. Secondly, lower chairs are better for larger adults who appreciate adequate room between the chair and table.

Higher chairs, 19 or 20 inches, are ideal for average-size adults and also for older children. They are also preferred by elderly individuals who might have trouble getting up from lower chairs.

Standard dining chair seats are 16-20 inches wide and 15-18 inches deep. The range of sizes gives you options for fitting the chairs to your household and also for being able to fit chairs to your table depending on its dimensions.

Finally, the total footprint of the chairs when the width and depth of the legs is considered, ranges from 18x20 to 24x24 inches. These dimensions give you choices for choosing the right size dining table and chairs set for the size and layout of your dining room or dining area.

What Factors Determine the Best Chair Height?

First, the height of your dining chairs should provide 8-12 inches of space between the chair seat and the bottom of the table or the bottom of the table skirt. Higher tables need higher chairs; lower tables need lower chairs. This approach ensures comfortable legroom. The height is different for standard dining chairs, counter-height chairs and bar-height chairs.

Secondly, consider the cushion on the chair, if it has one or if you plan to add one. If it is a thick cushion that doesn’t compress much, the chair seat should be lower. Chairs designed with upholstery are generally made lower to accommodate the cushion. 

Are you selecting chairs with an armrest? Ideally, the rests will be low enough so that the chair can slide beneath the table. If they don’t, you may have a space problem and smaller individuals might not be able to pull their chairs as close to the table as they would like. 

Finally, total chair height should complement the table. Modern and contemporary tables work best with chairs with a low backrest. Traditional and rustic tables are complemented by chairs with higher backrests.

Standard Height Dining Chairs vs Counter Height Dining Chairs

Standard height dining chairs are 18-20 inches from the floor to the top of the seat. Counter-height chairs are quite a bit higher, or 24-27.5 inches from the floor to the seat top.

Do Manufacturers Make Adjustable Height Dining Chairs?

Yes, you can find dining chairs with adjustable height, though they are not as common as adjustable height stools. As a result, your selection is limited, and the chairs are often more expensive than options that are not adjustable because of the lift mechanism similar to office chairs. The chairs typically adjust between the height for a standard dining table and counter-height.

What Is Standard Dining Chair Width?

Standard dining chair width ranges from 16 to 20 inches. This is the width of the seat. The total width of the chair including the legs and armrests, if it has them, can be up to 24 inches or possibly up to 26 inches on some chairs.

Narrow dining room chairs, those 16-17 inches wide, are considered compact dining chairs and are ideal for small spaces and small tables. They might give you the opportunity to have one more chair on each table side, depending on the length and width of your table, or an additional chair at a round dining table.

Narrow dining chairs are also a good fit for children and slender adults, though large adults might find them uncomfortable. Average width chairs, for example those about 18 inches wide, fit larger kids and average-size adults, while wider chairs are best for larger adults.

What Factors Determine How Wide Should a Dining Chair Be?

The first factor is to ensure that you can fit the number of chairs you want around the table or on each side without crowding. 

If you plan to make use of the chairs in other rooms, such as extra seating in the living room when you have guests, consider narrower chairs that are lighter and fit more easily through doorways. Slim chairs are also easier to store and may be more stackable, especially those without armrests.

Keep in mind too that wider chairs are often more expensive, so make your choice with your budget in mind. 

What Are Standard Dining Chair Depth Measurements?

The depth of standard dining chairs ranges from 15-18 inches. This is the depth of the seat. When the legs and chair back are considered, the total depth of dining room chairs is 20-24 inches. The depth of the seat is typically proportional to the width of the chairs.

Chairs with a shallower seat are a good fit for children and adults with small stature or short legs. This allows their feet to reach the floor, and they can get support from the backrest of the chair without having to lean back to an uncomfortable degree.
Chairs with a deeper seat are right for larger adults.

Dining chairs that are deeper are preferred by individuals with long legs, so they don’t have to raise their knees off the seat in order to sit comfortably.

The total depth of a dining chair includes the distance from the front of the seat or legs to the rear legs or back of the backrest. Knowing this dimension is useful when considering the room between the table and a wall or other furniture – 36 inches is recommended, and the deeper the chair is, the less room it will leave for getting around. Shallower chairs are a better fit for a compact dining area.

What Mistakes Should I Avoid When Choosing Dining Chair Dimensions?

There are 5 mistakes to avoid when selecting the right dining chair dimensions for your space.

The first common mistake is not knowing the table height and, as a result, choosing chairs with too much or too little legroom between the seat and the tabletop. Too much legroom makes it difficult for smaller people to reach the table or reach items toward the center of the table. Too little legroom is uncomfortable and can make it difficult to sit close to the table.

A related mistake is choosing standard-height chairs for a counter-height location or doing the opposite – selecting counter-height chairs for a standard dining table. This mistake is rare, but a reminder never hurts.

Another major mistake is not knowing the exact size of your dining table – and the space between legs. This space determines possible dining table seating capacity. If the table is round, failing to know its circumference creates the same problem. Chairs that are wide might leave too little space between chairs to be comfortable, or worse case, prevent you from fitting the number of chairs to the table that you desire, which will reduce seating capacity at the table.

A related mistake is ignoring the necessary 2-8 inches of space between chairs, which leads to crowding and bumping at the table.

Finally, choosing chairs that are too deep for your room will make it difficult to get around chairs when someone is in them. This could lead to people having to get up from their chairs to let others pass when there is no other route.

FAQ

How Big Are Compact Dining Chairs?

Compact dining chairs are 16-18 inches wide with a height of 18-20 inches. Seat depth is 15-17 inches. Total width including legs is 18-20 inches while total chair depth is 20-22 inches. Compact dining chairs have shorter backrests and do not usually have armrests. 

How Many Dining Chairs Do I Need?

You need 1 dining chair for every 20-32 inches of chair space. This range covers the total chair width plus the necessary space between them.

Consider the width of chairs you are considering, and add 2-8 inches of space between chairs. Also measure the space between table legs to know how much room you have to fit chairs. Do the math, and you can determine how many dining chairs you need for maximum table capacity.

Of course, the seating capacity for round and rectangular tables increases as the table gets bigger.

Can I Use My Dining Chairs at the Kitchen Island?

You probably can’t use your dining chairs at the kitchen island because they will be too short. Standard dining tables are 28-30 inches high while the standard kitchen island is counter-height or 36 inches.

If your dining table is standard height and your kitchen island is counter-height, consider counter-height chairs, which are 24-27.5 inches high, for the island. They will be a perfect fit.