How to Identify Dining Chairs

A dining chair functions as an occasional chair.

Identifying dining chairs is more difficult than it seems. Many fully upholstered dining chairs often look like occasional chairs, and many occasional chairs, such as slipper chairs, appear to be dining chairs. While most furniture stores will identify dining chairs for you, if you shop at antique stores or garage sales, you can't tell at first glance if a chair is usable at a dining table. Measuring chairs is the best way to determine if they are dining chairs.

Things You'll Need

• Tape measure
• Pen or pencil
• Paper

Instructions

1. 

   Example of a dining table with an apron.

   Measure the height of your dining table from the floor to the top of the table, and write this measurement down. (If you don't have a dining table yet, skip to Step 2.) If your table has an apron, or overhang, that extends downward from the tabletop, measure the dimension from the floor to the bottom of this piece, and write this measurement down.

2. Choose chairs you would like to use as dining chairs. Measure the height from the floor to the top of the chair seat, and write this measurement down. Sit in the chairs to make sure you find them comfortable.

3. Analyze the measurements of your potential dining chair. If you have dining table measurements, the seat height of the chair should measure 10 to 12 inches less than the top of the dining table. If you don't have dining table measurements, the seat height of a dining chair should measure approximately 18 to 20 inches, which will allow it to sit comfortably with most standard size dining tables, which measure between 28 and 30 inches tall. If the seat height of the chair measures less than 18 inches or more than 22 inches, it is not designed to be a dining chair.

4. Check if your chairs have arms. If so, measure the height from the floor to the highest point of the arm, and write it down. If your table has an apron, compare this measurement to the measurement you took from the floor to the bottom of the apron to make sure it is less. If the arm height is greater than the height from the floor to the bottom of the apron, the chair will not slide underneath the dining table. If the arm height is greater than 26 inches, the chair is most likely not a dining chair.

Tips & Warnings

• Dining chairs don't have to be used at a dining table. They are often comfortable for those desiring a firmer and more upright seat and are often in living room and bedrooms as accent chairs.

• Although the seat of a chair may fall into the height range for use at a dining table, it may still sit too low if the padding or cushioning is very soft. Soft cushioning or padding causes you to sink a few inches when sitting on the chair, resulting in an uncomfortable relationship with the table height.

References

• All Barstools: Choosing Barstool & Table Height
• Las Vegas Review-Journal: Chair Type, Size Plays Key Role In Selecting Dining Table
• Klassic Furniture: Your Dining Room

Resources

• House Beautiful: Looking For A Dining Chair?
• Better Homes & Gardens: Dining Chair Styles
• Dining Chairs and Dining Chair Ideas