Height is a crucial aspect of a chairs design – especially for extended periods of sitting common whilst at work. Whether too high or too low, ill sized seating can lead too poor posture and a range of health problems, which ultimately can impact productivity, creativity and happiness. So what determines the correct height?
What is the “right height”?
Classic ergonomic thinking on the optimum height for an office chair is based around comfort. When seated, you should not have to strain, stretch or bend in unnatural or uncomfortable ways to reach the tools you use. The correct height will easily allow your feet to rest on the floor (or footrest) and place your arms at a 90-degree angle on the desk or work surface.
For most people, the correct seat height ranges between 40-55cm, but particularly tall or short people may fall outside of this range. Therefore it is always good to try out a chair first before making a decision, especially if you opt for a chair without a gas stem.
What is a 'gas stem'?
Also known as gas lifts, gas cylinders or pneumatic cylinders, most office chairs are equipped with a gas stem (the mechanism which raises and lowers a chair height). This makes a chair widely suitable for a majority of people. Some manufacturers also offer a range of gas stem heights, which are more suited to higher or lower work surfaces, so it's always good to make sure you have the right sized gas stem for your workspace.
Getting the desk right
The chair is only half the picture – having the right desk is just as important as the right chair.
When seated correctly, you should be able to fit your legs underneath and sit as close to your desk as you feel is comfortable. If your hands are higher than your elbows your desk is too high, or your chair is too low. If you find that your desk is ill-fitting to your office chair, there are ways around it that don’t require buying a new desk.
If your desk is too high, you can lower your work surface by using a keyboard tray attached underneath the desk. Alternatively, you can raise your seat height and use a footrest or footring to bring your feet up higher to a comfortable resting position.
If your desk is too low, meaning you cannot get underneath comfortably, place risers underneath the table to bring it up to the correct height.
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High tables & sit-stand desks
If you have a particularly high work surface but still want to use a high-performance office chair, you can opt for the higher gas stems, allowing you to reach much greater heights without losing stability. In these instances, it is best to choose a chair that is equipped with a footring. This allows you to maintain a comfortable leg position whilst seated, without them dangling.
If you have a sit-stand desk, we also recommend choosing the higher gas stem options, as this offers greater flexibility when it comes to choosing your seat height. It also gives you the choice to perch on the edge of your seat - not quite sitting, not quite standing - yet another posture to add to your daily work routine to help you maintain a healthy balance of seating positions.
Movement & flexibility
Whilst traditional ergonomic thinking is valid, it is only half of the picture. Movement and posture variation is also very beneficial to a person’s health and well-being whilst at work. By changing your seating position regularly throughout the day you keep your body active, reducing the effects of sedentary behaviour.
Sure, you should be able to place your feet comfortably with your knee joint angle no less than 90 degrees, but that doesn't mean you should stay like that all day. It's all about variety and keeping active.
In Summary
- Typical height for an office chair seat is between 40-55cm - but there are always outliers
- Gas stems offer a great range of seat heights, making them more flexible for multiple surfaces and multiple users
- Matching your chair height to your worksurface height is crucial for best results
- Higher gas stems are better suited to sit-stand or higher worksurface
- Footring attachments allow for more ergonomic sitting when at a higher desk height.
- If in doubt, test out chairs to find the best height for you.
Looking for more help?
If you are still unsure what seat height is best for you, we’d love to help. Visit our contact us page to find your local Flokk office, and either give us a call or drop us an email to speak to one of our team today.
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