Dining Chairs — Upholstered, Wooden & Leather Dining Chairs

Dining chairs are the seats you use more predictably than any other in the house — every meal, every day — so getting them right matters for comfort as much as looks. The right dining chair suits your table, fits the people who use it, and holds up to daily life at the table. Whether you're after a soft upholstered seat for lingering over dinner, a solid wooden chair for a farmhouse kitchen, or something in between, the choice comes down to comfort, material and how the chair sits with your table.

Below you'll find the main dining chair styles, the all-important question of height, and how to choose a set that works for your room.

Upholstered, wooden and leather dining chairs

Dining chairs fall into a few broad types, and each suits a different kind of room and use.

Upholstered fabric dining chairs

An upholstered dining chair has a padded seat, and often a padded back, covered in fabric. It's the most comfortable option for long meals and lingering conversation, and fabric brings the widest range of colours and textures. For a dining chair that meets food every day, it's worth choosing a cover you can wipe or, better still, a removable cover you can wash.

Leather dining chairs

A leather dining chair pairs the comfort of upholstery with a surface that wipes clean easily, which makes it a practical choice for a family dining room. Leather ages well and improves with use, developing character over the years, and it brings a smart, timeless look that suits both traditional and modern tables.

Wooden dining chairs

A wooden dining chair is the classic, hard-wearing choice, and it comes in styles from spindle-back and shaker to cleaner modern shapes. Oak is the traditional British pick — dense, durable and ageing beautifully — while other timbers offer lighter or richer tones. A wooden chair with a seat pad is a good middle ground, giving some comfort without losing the easy-clean practicality of wood.

Dining chairs with and without arms

Most dining chairs are armless, which keeps them compact and lets them tuck neatly under the table when not in use. Dining chairs with arms — often called carver chairs — offer more comfort and are traditionally placed at the head and foot of the table. They take up more room and don't always fit under a table, so it's worth checking the height and width if you want them to slide away.

Dining chair height and how to measure

This is the measurement that catches people out, and it's the one worth getting right. For comfortable dining, you want roughly 10 to 12 inches (25–30cm) of space between the top of the seat and the underside of the tabletop — enough room for your legs and to cross them without knocking the table. Most dining tables sit around 29 to 30 inches (73–76cm) high, which puts a comfortable dining chair seat at about 18 to 20 inches (45–50cm) off the floor.

If you're buying chairs for an existing table, measure the table height first and work back from there. If the chairs have arms, check they'll pass under the table apron too. Getting this right is the difference between a chair that's comfortable for a long meal and one that isn't.

Choosing dining chairs for your table

Start with comfort, because it's the thing people regret getting wrong — a chair that looks lovely but is uncomfortable after twenty minutes is the most common mistake. Sit in a chair if you can, and think about how long your meals tend to last. Then think about how the chairs work with your table and room: they don't have to match the table exactly, and many rooms look better for a little contrast, as long as something ties the scheme together.

Mixing seating is worth considering too — upholstered chairs at the ends with wooden or armless chairs along the sides, or a dining bench on one side paired with chairs opposite, adds variety and can seat more people in less space. If a bench appeals, our dining benches are a flexible way to fit more diners in. You're welcome to see and try the ranges at our Enniskillen showroom, where you can judge comfort and how a chair reads against different styles before you decide.

Dining chair FAQs

What is the right height for a dining chair?

For comfortable dining, allow around 10 to 12 inches (25–30cm) between the seat and the underside of the tabletop. With most dining tables around 29 to 30 inches (73–76cm) high, that puts the ideal seat height at about 18 to 20 inches (45–50cm) off the floor. If you're matching chairs to an existing table, measure the table first and work back from there.

Are upholstered or wooden dining chairs better?

Neither is better outright — it depends on your home. Upholstered fabric or leather dining chairs are more comfortable for long meals, while wooden chairs are hard-wearing and easy to clean. Many people compromise with a wooden chair and a seat pad, or mix upholstered chairs at the table ends with wooden ones along the sides for both comfort and practicality.

What are carver dining chairs?

Carver chairs are dining chairs with arms, traditionally placed at the head and foot of the table. They offer a little more comfort and a sense of occasion, but take up more space than armless chairs and don't always fit under the table. Many people buy a pair of carvers for the ends and armless chairs for the sides.

Do dining chairs need to match the table?

No. Dining chairs don't have to match the table, and many rooms look better when they don't. A contrast in material or colour can add interest, as long as something links the scheme — a shared tone or finish. Mixing chair styles, or pairing chairs with a bench, is a popular way to add character and flexibility.