How to Choose Dining Room Chairs: 6 Tips

Long before his presidency, Thomas Jefferson set aside a room specifically for dining—uncommon in late-1700s American homes.¹ The idea took time to catch on, but today, dining rooms are the place for casual nightly meals and large family gatherings alike.

Yet no matter the occasion, everyone needs a seat. Enter: the dining room chair.

But how do you choose dining room chairs? We’ll discuss what to consider before setting the table, from chair styles to material choices.

Assess Your Dining Table and Space

Let’s start simple: How much space do you have? How much can you make?

Standard Table Dimensions

Dinner plates have to go somewhere, so first take stock of your table’s dimensions.

Standard dining table height is 28–30 inches, but other dimensions vary based on shape. Here are examples of tables that seat four²:

• Round tables: 36–44 inches diameter
• Oval tables: 36 inches diameter by 56 inches long
• Square tables: 36–44 inches squared
• Rectangular tables: 36 inches wide by 48 inches long

Chair Width

The standard chair seat width of 16.5–22 inches leaves enough wiggle room to dine comfortably at most tables.³

Room Size

You need enough space to pull chairs out, walk in and out, and walk around the table (especially with the chair leaner—there’s one in every family!).

With precise measurements and a little creativity, you can make it work no matter your dining room’s size.

Determine Chair Style

Given how much time you’ll spend sitting, your dining room chairs should reflect your personal style while accommodating your home’s needs.

Armchairs vs Armless Chairs^4,5

Let’s dive into the perks of armchairs. They’re:

• Versatile, elegant, and ergonomic
• Perfect for children and older folks
• Ideal statement pieces

Now, let’s explore some negatives associated with armchairs. They may:

• Require up to seven inches more space
• Feel less inviting
• Be difficult to move around in

As for their armless cousins, these chairs are:

• Flexible, functional, and friendly
• Roomy, inviting more guests to sit
• Perfect for encouraging engagement and sociability

However, armless chairs come with their own set of drawbacks. They may: 

• Encourage guests to rest their hands on the table, which might feel less polished
• Be less suitable for formal settings, where a more structured look is preferred

Back Height & Style

Dining chair back height sits at around 32–34 inches, although heights can differ. Generally, there are three categories⁶:

1. Lower-backed – Standing at table height, these chairs appeal to sleek, minimalist sensibilities.
2. Standard height – Ranging from 32–34 inches. As noted above, it doesn’t get more traditional than this.
3. Tall-backed – Built to be noticed, not simply sat on. Think Frank Lloyd Wright’s famous Robie chairs.⁷

Back height notwithstanding, specific styles exist for every taste.⁸ Chameleons, like side and rustic chairs, seamlessly blend into almost any dining room. Other types, like coastal and Queen Anne chairs, are tailor-made to elicit specific feelings. And contemporary chairs tend toward functional minimalism. When in doubt, focus on the backs: open, slatted, or solid?

Choose Materials and Upholstery

Wood, metal, and upholstery are the most common dining chair materials. Let’s take a seat and compare.⁹

Wood

Wood is the most popular. It’s durable and customizable, providing endless options—reasons as simple and reliable as wood itself.

Solid wood dining chairs are also generally easier to clean than other options, too. The only true downside of wood chairs is that they can be relatively heavy, but this isn’t necessarily a common pain point when considering the benefits of solid wood furniture.

Metal

Metal chairs are usually lighter than their wooden chair counterparts, and they don’t require as much cleaning.

However, they’re not as comfortable and, like most metal objects, reflect the temperature around them. Cold weather, cold seating.

Upholstered

Ah! Nothing’s more comfortable than upholstery. And with myriad colors and styles available, upholstered chairs are extremely personalizable.

Cleaning them is less fun than sitting in them, though. Indeed, upholstered chairs don’t last nearly as long as wood or metal chairs.

Consider Comfort and Ergonomics

You’re going to be sitting in these chairs daily. Better to actually like them, right?

That’s why comfort and ergonomics are essential.

Seat Depth and Width

As we discussed earlier, typical dining chairs are between 16.5–22 inches wide.³

Depth refers to the distance between the back and where your legs rest against the front. Anywhere from 20–24 inches is deep enough for most to focus on their food rather than ask for a new seat.¹⁰

Back Support

Ask yourself these guiding questions when considering back support:

• Is the chair stable?
• Are you a tall family?
• Does anyone in your family experience back pain?

There are solutions no matter your needs, such as adjustable lumbar support, seat padding, and varying curvatures. No one likes a picky eater, but pickiness counts in chair choice.

Mix and Match Thoughtfully

Unless you’re a symmetrical stickler, knowing how to mix and match dining chairs can be fun. Here are some exciting, eclectic possibilities^11,12:

• Have the same kind of chair in unique colors or patterns
• Pair opposites together, perhaps swapping between vintage and modern
• Place a bench into the mix
• Finish wood chairs differently from one another

Test Before Purchasing if Possible

We’ve all plopped onto mattresses at the store. Why not dining chairs?

Indeed, if at all possible, we encourage you to take a seat before taking anything home. Consider all we’ve laid out, keep personal preferences in mind, and sit a while.

Discover Solid Wood Dining Chairs from James & James

From Thomas Jefferson to James & James, dining rooms have come a long way.

We don’t want to forget the tradition he helped pioneer. Quite the opposite: we want to offer high-quality, American-made dining furniture that fits right at home.

Our solid wood dining chairs come in a tasteful variety of styles, finishes, and price points. Personalize your dining room with us today and find the perfect dining chairs for your space.