Ergonomic: What is the Ideal Height for a Desk Chair?

May 27th, 2021 | Office Furniture Blog

Ergonomic office chairs are essential for any workspace to ensure that your employees will not suffer from body pains especially while working through extended periods. These chairs are designed to support your body and have features that are typically unavailable from cheaper non-ergonomic chairs.

But you shouldn’t just get any office chair, you also have to find the right height. If the chair is not suitable for your employee’s height, it is likely that they’ll experience the same problems as those working with a non-ergonomic chair.

It’s important that your chair’s height can be well adjusted to your employee’s build and have them feel comfortable while working.

Does the Ideal Office Chair Height Exist?

An ideal office chair is where you feel the reduced negative effects of sitting for long hours on your thighs, shoulders, neck, and arms. 

The ideal seat height shouldn’t be fixed. It should be well adjustable according to the individual’s body. The best way to determine if your chair’s height is right is when your forearms are at the same height as your desk. Your elbows should be in an open 90 – 110 degree open-angle. Your feet should be touching the floor while your knees are bent at 90 degrees.

A seat height of 19 – 21 inches off the floor is usually good enough for most people, but having an adjustable chair height allows the employee to adjust it further to make it just right for them.

Calculating the Ideal Desk Chair Height

Here’s how you can calculate the ideal desk chair height for you:

Feet Should be Firmly Touching the Floor

Adjust your seat’s height lever until your feet are touching the floor completely and your knees are bent at a 90-degree angle. Be careful not to exaggerate lowering your chair since it can exert pressure on bones in the glutes area.

A quicker way to find the right height is by standing in front of the chair and adjusting the height until you see the top of the seat just below your knee cap.

Your Forearms Should Be Parallel to the Desk

Make sure your forearms are at the right height. You can raise your seat height until your elbows form a 90 – 110 open-angle. You can adjust the height a little bit more until your forearms are parallel with your desk or are sloping slightly towards it.

Once you have the proper seat height, your shoulders should be more relaxed, you should feel more comfortable, and your wrists should be in their neutral position. Proper posture reduces arm fatigue and prevents a host of repetitive strain injury (RSI) like carpal tunnel syndrome.

Other Ergonomic Factors

Not everything is your chair’s fault. You may also want to look into your other office furniture. It is also important that your other furniture exactly matches your chair’s dimensions. 

For example: If your legs can’t fit under your desktop, the desk is too low for you. You might need to place your desk on risers or look for a desk with a proper height or an adjustable height desk.

If you find yourself sitting comfortably but you still need to raise your arms to reach your work surface and keyboard, your workstation is too high. You’ll need to look for a way to lower your work surface. You can either get a keyboard tray so you can at least lower it or you can adjust your chair’s height to ensure that your forearms are parallel to the desk and then use a footrest for your feet.

Looking for a great ergonomic chair for your home office or workplace? Get it only from trusted commercial office chairs distributors like Arenson Office Furniture San Diego.