Skip to content
Dining chairs are one of the hardest-working pieces of furniture in your home. They're where everyday breakfasts begin, family dinners unfold, and friends gather long after the plates have been cleared away.
The right dining chair should do more than complement your dining table. It should feel comfortable through every course, fit beautifully within your space and suit the way you live every day.
Whether you're replacing existing chairs or furnishing a brand-new dining room, this guide will help you choose dining chairs that balance comfort, practicality and timeless design.
What This Guide Covers
- How to choose the right dining chairs
- Dining chair measurements explained
- Choosing dining chairs for your dining table
- How many dining chairs fit around a table
- Choosing the right dining chair style
- Dining chair frame styles
- Choosing the right seat shape
- How to style a dining chair
- What makes a comfortable dining chair?
- Dining chairs for different lifestyles
- Caring for your dining chairs
- Common buying mistakes
- Dining chair buying checklist
- Frequently asked questions
Choosing the Right Dining Chairs
Before comparing styles or materials, think about how your dining chairs will actually be used.
A chair used for quick weekday breakfasts may have different priorities to one that's regularly used for entertaining. Likewise, the right dining chair for a compact apartment will be very different from one designed for a spacious open-plan dining room.
Start by considering:
- The size and shape of your dining table
- How often the chairs will be used
- The amount of space available
- Whether comfort or practicality is your priority
- The overall style of your dining space
Answering these questions first makes choosing the right dining chair much easier.
How to Measure a Dining Chair
Choosing the right dining chair starts with getting the proportions right. The measurements of your chair influence everything from how comfortably it fits beneath your dining table to how spacious your dining area feels once everyone is seated. Understanding a few key dimensions will help you choose chairs that look balanced, feel comfortable and work effortlessly within your space. Here are the measurements worth paying attention to.
- Height. This is from the very top of the chair right down to the floor. This measurement will vary vastly from chair to chair so is important to check. A taller chair will give an overall more formal, enclosed look whereas chairs with lower backs will open up your dining space.
- Seat Width. This is the measurement of the seat from side to side. This will tell you how wide the chair is and dictate how many chairs you can fit around your table.
- Seat Height. This is the height of the chair from the floor up to the bottom of the seat. Very important measurement when it comes to seeing how well your chairs will fit under your choice of dining table.
- Depth. Seat depth is measured from the front of the seat to the back, so as far back as you can sit.
- Back Height. This is not the height of the whole seat but rather the height of the backrest. The chair style and support will differ greatly depending on the height of the seat back.
- Footprint. This measurement is how much floor space, or footprint, the seat occupies. Much like seat width, this will help you decide how many chairs you’ll be able to fit around your table.
Why Seat Depth Matters
Dining chair seat depth is based on ergonomic measurements of the human body, helping ensure enough support beneath your thighs without putting pressure behind the knees. While public seating often uses shallower seat depths, dining chairs are usually slightly deeper to provide greater comfort during longer meals.
Top Tip: Back height influences more than just comfort—it also affects how your dining space feels. Higher backs create a more formal, cocooning look, while lower-profile chairs help keep the room feeling lighter and more open.
Some dining chairs have wider bases or more sculptural silhouettes, which naturally take up more floor space than slimmer designs. If you're furnishing a compact dining area or trying to maximise seating, always check the overall chair footprint rather than just the seat width. A few extra centimetres can make a significant difference to how comfortably everyone fits around the table.
Choosing Dining Chairs for Your Dining Table
Your dining table and chairs should feel like they belong together, but they don't need to match perfectly.
Instead, think about how the materials, proportions and silhouettes complement one another.
Ceramic Dining Tables
Ceramic dining tables pair beautifully with upholstered dining chairs in velvet, fabric or leather. The softness of the upholstery balances the clean, architectural look of ceramic, creating a dining space that feels warm as well as contemporary.
Wooden Dining Tables
Wood naturally brings warmth and texture to a room. Upholstered dining chairs or chairs with wooden frames complement timber beautifully while creating a relaxed, layered aesthetic.
Glass Dining Tables
Glass dining tables help smaller rooms feel lighter and more open. Pairing them with slim-profile dining chairs or sculptural silhouettes keeps the overall look elegant without feeling heavy.
Round Dining Tables
Curved dining chairs naturally echo the shape of a round dining table, encouraging conversation while making movement around the table feel effortless.
Rectangular Dining Tables
Rectangular dining tables work with almost every dining chair style, giving you the flexibility to pair upholstered chairs with a dining bench for a more relaxed, contemporary feel.
How Many Dining Chairs Fit Around a Table?
Comfortable dining isn't simply about fitting chairs around a table - it's about giving everyone enough space to sit and move comfortably.
As a guide, allow approximately 60cm of table space per person.
Rectangular Dining Tables
| Table Length | Recommended Chairs |
|---|---|
| 120–140cm | 4 |
| 160–180cm | 6 |
| 200–240cm | 8 |
Round Dining Tables
| Diameter | Recommended Chairs |
|---|---|
| 90–110cm | 2–4 |
| 120cm | 4 |
| 135cm | 4–6 |
| 150cm | 6 |
| 180cm | 8 |
These are intended as a guide and may vary slightly depending on the width of your dining chairs or whether they include armrests.
How to Choose a Style of Dining Chair
Dining chairs have a bigger influence on the look and feel of your dining space than almost any other piece of furniture. Beyond comfort, they help establish the overall character of the room - whether that's relaxed and understated or bold and sculptural. Asking yourself a few simple questions before you begin will help narrow your options.
How often will you use your dining chairs?
Think about how your dining space is used day to day. If it's the heart of family life, practical upholstery that stands up to everyday use will always be a worthwhile investment. If it's used mainly for entertaining, you may choose to prioritise statement design and luxurious materials instead.
How long will you be sitting on the chair for?
The longer you expect people to remain seated, the more important comfort becomes. Supportive backrests, generous seat padding and well-proportioned seat depths all contribute to a chair that's just as enjoyable at the end of the evening as it is at the beginning.
Think About Longevity
Dining chairs are used every day, making them one of the most worthwhile furniture investments in your home.
Choosing well-made chairs with durable materials and timeless design means they'll continue to feel comfortable and look beautiful for years to come, even as your home evolves.
Dining Chair Frame Styles
While upholstery often draws the eye first, the frame plays an equally important role. It influences the chair's overall silhouette, how it feels when seated and the way it interacts with the rest of your dining space.
Four-Leg Dining Chairs
Timeless, versatile and suitable for almost every dining space.
Cantilever Dining Chairs
A contemporary design that offers a subtle flex when seated, creating a comfortable dining experience.
Swivel Dining Chairs
Perfect for open-plan living, swivel dining chairs make it easier to move in and out of the chair while adding flexibility to everyday dining.
Wooden Frame Dining Chairs
Combining the warmth of timber with upholstered comfort, wooden-framed dining chairs introduce natural texture while maintaining a contemporary look.
Dining Chair Seat Shapes
Once you've narrowed down the practical considerations, you can start thinking about seat shape. From supportive dining armchairs to elegant high-back designs, different silhouettes offer different levels of comfort while shaping the overall look of your dining room.
Dining Armchairs
Dining armchairs will create a really premium and comfortable feel around your dining table. What’s more, they are so easy to style no matter what your space. Don’t forget if you go for dining armchairs, you may need to double check the spacing. Make sure there is enough space for the chair to tuck in as the table top thickness will take up some of the space available for the armrest.
High Backed Dining Chairs
A high backed dining chair will create a really visually impactful yet elegant look round your dining table, alongside offering lots of support when seated. Our Blakely velvet dining chairs, for example, have high backs and a gentle curve which is guaranteed to add style and comfort to any dining room setting.
How to style a Dining Chair
Mix and Match
Matching dining chairs will always create a timeless look, but introducing subtle variation can give your dining space a more curated, designer feel. The key is to repeat a common element - whether that's material, colour, shape or finish—so the overall setting still feels cohesive.
Dining Armchair Combinations
You can style a dining armchair one at either end of your table for a balanced setting. Or you can have them around the whole table for a really cosy and inviting space. Having both dining armchairs and dining chairs will give your dining set a hint of variation while also providing two seats that offer an extra bit of comfort and luxury.
Colour Burst
Upholstered dining chairs are one of the easiest ways to introduce colour into a dining room. Rather than relying solely on paint or accessories, consider using your chairs as the focal point. Rich velvets, warm neutrals or deep earthy tones can all add personality while still feeling timeless.
What Makes a Comfortable Dining Chair?
Comfort is about much more than soft cushioning.
The most comfortable dining chairs combine several thoughtful design details that work together to support your body throughout longer meals.
Look out for:
- A supportive backrest that encourages good posture.
- A well-proportioned seat depth that supports your legs comfortably.
- Generous seat padding that balances softness with support.
- Armrests where space allows.
- Upholstery that feels comfortable throughout the seasons.
When these elements work together, dining chairs become somewhere people genuinely want to sit long after the meal has finished.
Dining Chairs for Different Ways of Living
Busy Family Homes
Easy-care upholstery such as faux leather or durable fabric makes everyday cleaning simple while standing up to family life.
For Entertaining
Generously upholstered dining chairs with supportive backs encourage guests to relax and linger around the table.
Smaller Dining Spaces
Slim silhouettes and armless dining chairs maximise seating while helping the room feel open.
Open-Plan Living
Choose dining chairs that repeat materials or finishes found elsewhere in the room to create a cohesive look throughout your home.
Caring For Your Dining Chairs
Different upholstery and frame materials require slightly different care routines, but regular maintenance is often all that's needed to keep your dining chairs looking their best. Below you'll find simple care advice for the most common materials.
Cleaning Fabric Dining Chairs
Do – wipe up any spills as soon as they appear by using a slightly dampened cloth. Only use specialised upholstery cleaning products as then you’ll know the product is safe to use on fabric chairs. To give your chairs an extra layer of protection, spray your fabric with a Scotchguard Fabric and Upholstery Protector. This will help to lock out water, prevent stains and make your fabric chairs even more durable.
Don’t- keep your fabric dining chairs in constant direct sunlight. This is because the material can potentially fade over time. To avoid this, it’s a good idea to rotate your chairs every now and then so they’re not always directly exposed. When cleaning, don’t spread moisture around the chair. Instead, do a spot clean to treat the affected area. Repeated dapping is far more beneficial than saturating the fabric.
Cleaning Real Leather Dining Chairs
Do – use an absorbent damp sponge or cloth to wipe the affected areas, being sure to dry the leather after cleaning. If you really want to give your leather dining chairs some TLC, invest in a leather maintenance kit. Then you can look after your leather before, during and after cleaning.
Don’t – use cleaning solvents or soaps on the leather and try not to place your leather chairs in direct sunlight as this can cause fading to some extent over time. Be careful of colour transfers from brand new jeans or heavily dyed items as this could potentially mark the leather.
Cleaning Faux Leather Dining Chairs
Do – use a soft, damp microfiber cloth and a mild detergent like washing up liquid, applying a gentle amount of pressure in a circular motion.
Don’t – use anything abrasive or scrub the surface as this will crack the faux leather rather than help to remove the mark. Make sure you don’t leave your faux leather chairs to air dry. Instead, use a dry cloth to remove any excess moisture.
Cleaning Plastic Dining Chairs
Do – use mild household cleaning sprays, furniture wipes, antibacterial sprays or even baby wipes on your plastic dining chairs.
Don’t – use abrasive materials like scourers or leave your plastic chairs outside. Also, keep your plastic dining chairs away from extreme sources of heat.
Cleaning Wood Dining Chairs
Do – use dish soap and a dishcloth to clean your wooden dining chairs. Keep wooden chairs out of direct sunlight as this can damage the look and texture of the wood finish.
Don’t – let wooden chairs air dry but rather use a dry cloth to wipe over the surface. Don’t use anything abrasive to clean wooden dining chairs as this will scratch and damage the beautifully smooth finish.
Cleaning Painted Wood Dining Chairs
Do – use a damp soft cloth and wipe the surface evenly, rather than just the mark. Concentrated scrubbing will potentially damage the painted layer rather than help to remove the stain. Test any cleaning products on an area of the chair that is out of sight before using it seat.
Don’t – let a painted wood chair air dry or use a lot of water on the surface. If you dust your chairs frequently, you won’t have to use water to clean the chairs more often than needed.
Cleaning Chrome and Black Chrome Dining Chairs
Do – wipe away any marks as soon as they appear. This is because the dirtier chrome gets before you deal with it the more difficult it becomes to clean. When cleaning, use soap and water on a soft cloth. If the mark still doesn’t go away, try using a splash of vinegar to give your cleaning that extra boost.
Don’t – use abrasive cleaners on your chrome dining chairs as any scratches caused could potentially expose the material to the air and therefore cause rust.
Cleaning Brushed Metal Dining Chairs
Do – use stainless steel polish or lemon oil to buff a stainless steel surface. To do this, apply the polish to a lint free cloth and move in the direction of the metal’s grain. Then with a dry cloth, buff the surface again until it is dry. When cleaning, you can simply use some hot (not boiling) water and a cloth or sponge.
Don’t – use oven cleaners or any products that contain chloride on brushed stainless steel as this will damage the surface.
Common Dining Chair Buying Mistakes
Avoid:
- Buying before measuring your dining table.
- Forgetting to check chair widths.
- Ignoring seat height and table clearance.
- Prioritising appearance over comfort.
- Choosing upholstery that doesn't suit your lifestyle.
- Buying a complete matching set without considering contrast.
Taking a little extra time to plan your dining space helps ensure your chairs feel just as practical as they are beautiful.
Dining Chair Buying Checklist
Before making your decision, ask yourself:
✔ Have I measured my dining table?
✔ Will the chairs fit comfortably around it?
✔ Is there enough room beneath the table?
✔ Have I chosen the right upholstery?
✔ Will the chairs suit the way I use my dining space?
✔ Do they complement my dining table?
✔ Will they still feel comfortable after a long dinner with friends?
Frequently asked questions
What height should a dining chair be?
Most dining chairs have a seat height of between 45–50cm, making them suitable for standard dining tables measuring around 72–76cm high.
How much space should each person have at a dining table?
Allow approximately 60cm of table space per person for comfortable dining.
Should dining chairs match the dining table?
Not necessarily. Coordinating materials, colours or finishes often creates a more considered look than matching everything exactly.
Can you mix dining chair styles?
Yes. Mixing styles can create a curated, contemporary feel, provided there's a common element such as colour, material or shape that ties the chairs together.
What is the most durable upholstery for dining chairs?
Leather, faux leather and high-performance fabrics are all excellent choices for busy households because they're durable and easy to maintain.
Final thoughts
Choosing the right dining chair is about finding the balance between comfort, practicality and considered design.
By understanding the key measurements, selecting materials that suit your lifestyle and choosing a style that complements your dining table, you'll create a dining space that feels as good to use as it does to look at.
Whether you're furnishing a compact breakfast nook or a large open-plan dining room, thoughtfully chosen dining chairs will continue to shape everyday moments for years to come.
If you're completing your dining space, explore our Dining Table Buying Guide and Dining Bench Buying Guide for more expert advice on creating a cohesive dining setting.
