Even if it may not seem so at first glance, working at a desk is a major challenge for both mind and body. Office and screen-based work requires you to stay focused for many hours and spend a large part of your working time sitting down. Sitting can put strain on the body. This is especially true if the seat height of the office chair is not adjusted correctly. You should not go without a high-quality swivel office chair if you spend many hours each day sitting in front of a screen.
Table of contents
- Office chair seat height – how do I adjust the chair correctly?
- What desk chair height is ideal?
- How can I calculate the right seat height for my desk chair?
- How important is the ideal seat height for your health?
- Conclusion
Office chair seat height – how do I adjust the chair correctly?
The seat height of an office chair is the distance between the floor and the seat surface. A common mistake when adjusting the seat height of office chairs is setting it too low. A seat height that is too low puts even more strain on the body when sitting for long periods. Tension and back pain can be the result. There is no standard seat height that can be recommended for everyone. Different body sizes and seating comfort preferences create different needs. How high the office chair needs to be adjusted therefore depends on various factors.
Please note the following points if you want to find the ideal seat height for your chair:
- When adjusting the seat height of your office chair, make sure the seat is set high enough so that your pelvis and knees form a right angle. An angle between 90 and 100 degrees is ideal.
- When adjusting the seat height of the office chair, your feet should be flat on the floor (entire sole of the foot).
- Healthy sitting requires your back to remain in constant contact with the backrest and your feet to be able to touch the floor comfortably.
- If your arms are resting on the desk, they should also form a right angle.
- If the desk height does not feel right, it should be adjusted. Ideally, not only the swivel office chair but also the desk should be height-adjustable.
- Tip: There should be a small gap between the backs of your knees and the front edge of the chair
What desk chair height is ideal?
Ergonomics in the workplace plays an important role. Health, well-being and, not least, employee performance depend on optimal working conditions. When it comes to setting up an ergonomic workstation, the chair is the most important component. When choosing an office chair, make sure it has as many adjustment options as possible. That is why there is no one-size-fits-all answer to how high an office chair should be.
Whether you need a high seat height for your office chair depends largely on your own height and the height of your desk. As a general rule, taller people should choose a higher seat height. Shorter people are better off with a lower seat height. You can use the tips above as a guide. Ideally, the office chair height should be adjusted so that your legs can rest on the floor at a right angle. The desk height adjustment should be set so that there is a distance of at least 20 cm between the seat surface and the underside of the desk. A distance of 28 to 30 cm would be ideal so that freedom of movement is not restricted. The correct seat height is very important for your health and well-being at work , which is why you should take the time to adjust the seat height to your individual optimum.
Are you wondering why you should pay attention to the correct office chair seat height?
Your pelvis must be able to adopt the correct position so that your spine can straighten.
Most often, office chairs are set too low. This can cause tension, especially in the lumbar spine / lower back area.
| Adjustment | Effects on the body |
| Office chair set too high | If the office chair seat height is too high, your feet will not reach the floor and you will not have the right stability. |
| Office chair set too low | If the office chair seat height is too low, the pelvis tilts backwards and you do not have the right foundation when sitting. |
How can I calculate the right seat height for my desk chair?
If you want to find the optimal seat height for your chair, you can also use a formula. To calculate the office chair seat height, your height is divided by the factor 3.72. Take your height in cm and divide it by 3.72. For a height of 180 cm, this gives a result of 48.4 cm. The result is rounded. In this example, the optimal office chair seat height would therefore be 48 cm. When adjusting your chair, it is best not to rely solely on this value, but also on how it feels to you.
| Height | Seat height setting |
| 150 cm | 40 cm |
| 160 cm | 43 cm |
| 170 cm | 46 cm |
| 180 cm | 48 cm |
| 190 cm | 51 cm |
| 200 cm | 54 cm |
How important is the optimal seat height for your health?
Seat height plays an important role in wellbeing and health at work. A high-quality chair can relieve strain on the body and make it easier to work for longer periods while staying focused. The right seat height is important so that you can maintain an upright posture while seated at work. Sitting should place as little strain on the body as possible. It is also important to take movement breaks and maintain a balanced diet.
Conclusion
When furnishing your office, you should make sure the desk chair is set to the right seat height. The optimal chair height reduces the strain of prolonged sitting and supports ergonomics in the office. When choosing an office chair and other office furniture, opt for models where the chair height can be adjusted easily and all study furniture can be adapted to your needs.