Selecting the right School Chairs
Seat Height — A standard adult chair usually measures 17" — 18" from the floor to the top of the seat. The smallest chairs we sell have 7"-high seats and are a good size for a typical 2-year-old.
Use the seating chart below to get the right chairs "on average" for students in a particular grade. The grades that show a split percentage are those where it's best to have a couple of different sizes on hand for growing students.
If you are buying a chair for a particular child, you may want to get something a little bigger than they need and let them grow into it. Or for a precise fit, measure the child's leg from the floor to the break in his or her knee. Buy the seat height that is closest to this measurement.
Suggested Chair Size Chart
Stackability — If you frequently need to move chairs from one room to another, or if you need to store them out of the way, consider a chair style meant to stack. Stackable chairs come either with separate backs and seats (2-piece) or with the seats and backs combined (1-piece). The difference is more aesthetic than it is functional.
Seat Material — Among chairs with plastic seats the molded polyethylene and polypropylene varieties, while still very durable, tend to be softer and less expensive. Resin or thermoset plastics are harder and more resistant to abuse. Of course, chairs with wooden seats are extremely strong and durable, and they tend to cost more.
Seat Color — As you browse our online catalog, you'll notice that we offer similar chairs from different manufacturers. Often, the reason we do this is to provide you with a wider variety of color choices. When you find something that fits your need you might want to check out other similar options and compare the available colors.
Frame Finish — Some chairs offer you a choice of powder coat paint colors or chrome; others are available exclusively in chrome. Both finishes are extremely durable, so which you choose tends to be a matter of taste.
Wheels, Glides & Sled Bases — In some situations (such as labs), students move frequently between work stations. In those instances you might consider a wheeled chair. Glides are typically either nylon or steel. Some people prefer steel glides for the chairs they use on carpet, but we find that nylon glides also work very well. Nylon glides tend to be a little less noisy on hard floors. Some of our chairs are also available with a sled base that tends to be a bit easier on carpeted surfaces.
Bookbaskets — Many manufacturers offer optional bookracks (also called bookbaskets) that attach beneath the seat. They're a great way to keep books off the floor and out of the aisles.
Band Pitch — Some manufacturers' chairs are available with slightly shorter front legs that make them ideal for students playing instruments. This optional feature is called a "band pitch."
If you can't decide what's best for you, we'll be happy to help. Call us at 1-800-599-6636 or visit the school chair and classroom chair experts at www.worthingtondirect.com .