For a standard 75 cm table, choose dining chairs with a seat height of 45 to 48 cm, leaving 25 to 30 cm for knees. Allow a chair width of 45 to 55 cm and about 60 cm of table edge per person, then decide on comfort, materials and whether to mix or match.
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Buying guide
Dining chairs are used for breakfast, homework, long Sunday lunches and the odd video call. They need to fit the table, the room and the people who sit on them, so start with a tape measure rather than a mood board. Note the height of the table, its length or diameter, and the space behind it.
Measure from the floor to the underside of your table, including any apron or frame. A gap of 25 to 30 cm between seat and table works for most adults. Most tables are 74 to 76 cm high, which pairs with a seat of 45 to 48 cm. If you choose chairs with arms, check the arms slide under the top, otherwise the chair stays pushed out.
Allow about 60 cm of table edge per diner. A 160 cm rectangular table seats six, three per side, with chairs of 45 to 50 cm wide. Leave 75 to 90 cm behind each chair so people can sit and stand without scraping the wall or blocking a walkway.
A seat depth of 40 to 45 cm suits most adults; deeper seats feel relaxed but push the back away from the table. A slightly angled backrest is kinder for long meals than a straight one. Upholstered seats and padded backs make a real difference if you linger after dinner.
You do not need identical dining chairs. A matching set looks calm and formal; mixed chairs feel relaxed. Keep one thing consistent, such as colour, material or seat height, and the table will still look deliberate. Two carvers with arms at the ends and side chairs along the length is a classic British arrangement.
In a tight kitchen, choose armless dining chairs that slide fully under the table, with slim legs and an open back so the room looks less crowded. Stacking or folding designs give you extra seats for guests without filling the floor every day. A bench along one side of the table seats children closely together and tucks under when it is not in use; pair it with two or three chairs on the other side.
Fabric seats feel warmer and quieter than wood, but they see spills. Look for removable or wipeable covers, darker or patterned fabrics and a rub count suited to daily use, often quoted as 20,000 or more on the Martindale test. Upholstered furniture sold in the UK must carry a permanent fire safety label under the 1988 regulations, so check it is there.
Many dining chairs arrive flat-packed and need their legs or backs bolting on, usually in ten minutes or so. Retighten the bolts after a few weeks. Felt pads under each leg protect wooden floors, and a quick vacuum keeps upholstered seats fresh.
45 to 48 cm for a table of 74 to 76 cm, leaving 25 to 30 cm for your knees.
Allow 60 cm of table edge per person: six chairs around a 160 cm rectangular table, four around a 110 to 120 cm round one.
Yes. Keep one element in common, such as colour, material or seat height, so the set still looks planned.
Often yes, usually just the legs or back. Allow around ten minutes per chair and check the bolts again after a few weeks.