Are you taller than 1.85 m? Sitting healthily and comfortably on an office chair is essential, especially for taller people with a higher body weight. For a healthy back, but also for concentrated work. That is exactly why there are special XXL office chairs. They are specifically tailored to the needs of taller and heavier people.
In our guide, you will find everything about the XXL office chair. We show you
- why an ergonomically adapted desk chair is so important
- the difference between a XXL and a standard task chair
- how to find the best office chair for you using our checklist
- how to adjust your chair correctly
What is a XXL office chair and why is it necessary?
Desk chairs for tall people are generally suitable from a height of 1.85 to 1.90 m. They are developed in line with the requirements of the so-called office chair standard, but are based on the body dimensions of taller people and therefore have different dimensions. This also applies to people who are (severely) overweight. In that case, it is likely that the product dimensions of a conventional task chair will not be sufficient. In addition, XXL office chairs are more robust than ordinary chairs.
The office chair standard has its limits
In principle, every desk chair should of course suit as many people as possible. Average women and men, shorter and taller people, and slimmer and heavier people. To make this possible, manufacturers follow certain standards.
The relevant dimensions for office chairs come from anthropometry, the study of the measurements and proportions of the human body. Specifically, the range of values that covers the standard dimensions for office chairs is defined in the office chair standard DIN EN 1335. In a sense, this reflects the majority of people in Germany.
1. Taller than the standard
The problem is that not everyone fits this standard. As soon as you are taller than average, you will not be able to adjust the chair to suit your body’s ergonomic needs. The seat height is then usually too low, the seat is generally too narrow and not deep enough, the backrest is too low and too narrow, and the armrests are also too low and do not fit properly. In addition, your body weight may also exceed the office chair’s load capacity.
When is a person considered tall?
There is also a standard for this. It is defined in DIN 33402-2 “Ergonomics – Human body dimensions – Part 2: Values”. In it, body measurements are divided into percentiles (hundredth values). A percentile indicates what percentage of people are smaller than or at most exactly the same size as the corresponding body measurement stated.
This means that if you fall into the 95th percentile or above, you are considered a tall person. Put more simply: 95% of all comparable people are either exactly the same height as you or shorter. Only 5% are taller. According to these figures, a man is considered tall from a height of 185.5 cm and a woman from 172.0 cm.
Office chairs for tall people are based on the height specification for men. This naturally means that, regardless of gender, if you are over 185 cm tall, you should specifically look for a suitable office chair for tall people. Did you know that as an employee, you even have a legal right to an ergonomic workstation?
2. Heavier than the standard
The weight standard is also regulated in DIN EN 1335. According to this standard, an office chair must be able to support at least 110 kg. However, if you are overweight or significantly taller than average, the chair must be able to support more weight. Overweight people also often have the problem that the seat and backrest are too narrow, the support for the spine is insufficient, the pressure distribution is incorrect, and the padding is also not adequate when sitting.
This results in poor posture, which in turn can lead to sitting-related complaints such as back pain, tension, pressure pain when sitting, pain in the knees or poor circulation in the legs. It is therefore essential to sit and work on an ergonomically adapted chair.
How an office chair for tall and heavy people differs from a conventional chair
Office chairs for taller and heavier people are characterised by a few features that set them apart from standard-size desk chairs:
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Seat: Because taller people have longer legs and lower legs, the seat needs to be higher. Their thighs are also longer and their hips are wider. That is why the seat on these specialist chairs is also wider. This can also be helpful for overweight users. The wider seat ensures better pressure distribution and relieves the muscles, bones and joints.
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Armrests: The armrests are positioned further outwards and should also offer a greater height adjustment range.
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Backrest: Taller people also have a higher back and broader shoulders. Accordingly, the backrest also has a larger surface area. It is wider and taller.
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Maximum load: The desk chair is built to be more stable overall, as it has to support more weight. It can therefore withstand a higher maximum weight. In most cases, the XXL office chair can support a body weight of 150 to 180 kg. The chair mechanism is likewise designed for the heavier weight.
Checklist: Important ergonomic features of the XXL office chair
Only those who sit healthily and with proper ergonomics can prevent discomfort caused by poor posture in the long term. We have put together a detailed checklist for you so that you know exactly what to look out for before buying an extra-large desk chair:
Gender-specific differences in sitting
There are some physical differences between men and women. Sitting is affected by these too. In medicine, there is even a term for this: “gender seating”. Most desk chairs are designed more for men. Women should take a closer look when choosing an office chair. There are in fact also special office chairs for them. At HJH, for example, you will find our ERGOHUMAN SLIM. It is tailored precisely to the needs of women.
Recommended sitting time
Make sure it is rated for a sitting time of at least 8 hours. You will find this information in the description provided by the respective manufacturer. The sitting time depends on which materials are used for the cover and padding. Accordingly, the fabrics should be durable and abrasion-resistant. When it comes to the padding, proper pressure distribution is key. You should still be able to sit comfortably even after a long working day.
Backrest
For tall people, it is important that the office chair has the right backrest height. The backrest should reach at least up to your shoulders and be at least as wide as your shoulder blades, so you can lean back comfortably. We also recommend a height-adjustable backrest. This allows you to adapt it perfectly to your spine. To provide additional support for the lumbar area, you should choose a model with an adjustable lumbar support that you can set in height and, ideally, depth as well. Find out everything you need to know about lumbar support here.
Weight capacity
As taller people are generally also heavier, the maximum weight capacity should be higher as well. Standard office chairs can usually support up to 120 kg. XXL office chairs can often support a body weight of 150 to 180 kg. This means the chairs are often suitable for people who are both tall and heavy. As a general rule, make sure that the maximum weight capacity is at least 10 % above your body weight.
- Heavy-duty chair (up to 250 kg): There are special heavy-duty chairs for severely overweight users, usually supporting weights of up to 250 kg. These XXXL office chairs are particularly sturdy and feature an extra-large, wide seat.
Seat height
Your office chair should definitely have infinitely adjustable seat height. This is especially important to ensure your legs have enough room and a healthy sitting posture is possible. There is even a formula for the optimal seat height:
Divide your height in centimetres by 3.72. For example, if you are 1.85 m tall, this gives a seat height of around 50 cm.
If, for example, you are 1.90 m to 2.00 m tall, you should choose a height between 52 and 55 cm. You can use the following table as a guide for seat height:
| Height | Seat height |
|---|---|
| 150 cm | 40 cm |
| 160 cm | 43 cm |
| 170 cm | 46 cm |
| 180 cm | 48 cm |
| 185 cm | 50 cm |
| 190 cm | 51 cm |
| 195 cm | 52 cm |
| 200 cm | 54 cm |
| 205 cm | 55 cm |
| 210 cm | 56/57 cm |
| 215 cm | 58 cm |
| 220 cm | 60 cm |
Seat depth and seat width
There should be between 3 and 5 cm of space between the backs of your knees and the front edge of the seat. You achieve the optimum sitting position for you if the seat depth can also be adjusted. If you have wider hips, make sure in particular that the seat is wide enough.
Adjustable armrests
To sit comfortably and relieve your back properly, you should be able to adjust the armrests on your chair. Supporting the forearms helps take the strain off the shoulders and neck. 2D, 3D or 4D armrests are even more effective. These can also be adjusted in width, depth and radial position.
Movement mechanism
Other important features include a rocking function and a so-called synchronous mechanism. These help you sit actively and support your back health. Try never to sit in a static position. Instead, you should keep moving even while working at your desk – in other words, sit dynamically. That is exactly what the synchronous mechanism makes possible. It allows you to move in all directions. At the same time, the seat and backrest remain at the correct angle to each other. Changing position regularly distributes pressure more evenly along the spine and improves circulation throughout the body. Ideally, an ergonomic office chair will leave you still feeling fit and productive even after a long day at the office, without tension or other health complaints.
Headrest
It can also be worth buying a desk chair with a headrest. It provides pleasant moments of relaxation and relieves strain on the neck and shoulders. To do this properly, it naturally also needs to be positioned correctly. So make sure the headrest can be adjusted in height, depth and angle.
The right castors for safe seating
Also make sure you choose the right castors. For soft floors such as carpet, you need hard castors, while for hard floors such as parquet, laminate or PVC, soft castors are the right choice. However, many office chairs also come with universal castors that are suitable for both surfaces. Locking safety castors are also important – these only roll when someone is sitting on the chair. When there is no weight on the chair, they remain locked. This gives you extra safety.
XXL Adjusting your office chair correctly
It is important that you can adjust the office chair to suit your body. Only then can it provide ergonomic support for your back and properly relieve pressure on your spine during your daily work at your desk. It is best to take a look at your chair's instruction manual. It explains how to adjust it to your body measurements in the best possible way.
When adjusting it, pay particular attention to the following:
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Seat height: Both feet must rest evenly on the floor. Your back should be against the backrest. Your thighs and lower legs should form a 90-degree angle.
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Seat depth: Then adjust the seat depth so that there is about 3 to 5 cm of space between the front edge of the seat and the backs of your knees.
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Backrest: The height of the backrest should be adjusted so that the most pronounced curve is in the belt line area, roughly at the height of the iliac crest.
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Lumbar support: The lumbar support must be positioned in the lower back area. It should support the 5 lumbar vertebrae so that an upright posture is maintained.
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Synchronous mechanism: The synchronous mechanism automatically adapts the office chair to your body weight. If your chair does not have one, the adjustment is correct when the resistance of the backrest feels comfortable and you only need a little force to lean back.
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Seat tilt adjustment: If your desk chair is equipped with a seat tilt adjustment, set the seat so that the pelvis tilts slightly forwards. This encourages an upright posture.
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Armrests: Adjust them so that your upper and lower arms form a 90-degree angle. Your arms should be able to rest comfortably on the armrests.
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Head and neck support: The headrest or neck support should be adjusted so that your head neither falls backwards nor is pushed forwards.
Different body proportions
Whether an office chair is the right one does not depend only on height and weight. It is also important to remember that everyone has different body proportions. This becomes especially apparent in cases of excess weight. For example, men tend to have a large, solid upper body. That means broad shoulders, a broad back and a larger waist circumference. In women, body fat tends to be distributed more around the waist, hips, buttocks and thighs.
In any case, the chair must adapt to your individual needs. For example, even if the maximum load capacity of the office chair is not exceeded, sitting problems can still occur due to excess weight.
However, from a weight of 120 kg, you should opt for an office chair for tall people or a special chair for overweight users. This is absolutely essential for ergonomic and safety reasons.
You can also distinguish between the length of the extremities, i.e. arms and legs:
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Short torso -> long legs: short upper body, long legs
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Long torso -> short legs: long upper body, short legs
This should make it clear that everyone has different needs and that there is no standard chair that suits everyone. So choose the task chair that fits you best. Pay particular attention to the right dimensions and adjustment options. Then nothing stands in the way of the perfect office chair!
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