How Much Does a Chair Weigh?

Having a quality office chair is essential for maintaining good posture while working. When purchasing a chair, there are a lot of factors that we take into consideration, such as the quality, material, adjustability, price, etc. But even if it doesn’t seem like it at first, the weight of your chair is also really important as it’s another indication of its quality.

In this article, we’ll explore what makes a chair heavy, how much chairs weigh, and what type of chair you should opt for in terms of weight, so you can make an informed purchasing decision next time you shop for a chair. 

Without further ado, let’s get into it.

What Makes a Chair Light or Heavy?

The weight of a chair is affected by its size and the materials that are used to make it.

Weight and size often go hand in hand, so the bigger an object is, the heavier it gets. So, for example, you can expect a foldable chair to be lighter than a professional gaming chair.

The next important factor that determines a chair’s weight is the type of material it’s made of. For example, a metal chair is significantly heavier than a plastic chair. 

While you may think that metal is one of the heaviest materials, this isn’t always the case. In fact, aluminum alloy chairs are often more compact and lighter than a lot of wooden chairs. When it comes to bamboo chairs, which are the most eco-friendly and durable option, the weight depends on how much material is used during the production.

How Much Does a Chair Weigh?

There are different types of chairs with different functions, so naturally, all of them differ in size and weight. Some are meant to be used in an office, then there are dining chairs, we even have special gaming chairs, and so on. 

Let’s see how much each type of chair weighs in general. 

  • Portable chairs are often the lightest chairs of the bunch and their average weight varies between 8 lbs for a plastic chair, 8.4 lbs for a wooden one, and 10.4 lbs if it’s made of metal.
  • Dining chairs weigh about 13 lbs on average and there is little variation in weight between padded and unpadded ones. 
  • Rocking chairs weigh about 24 lbs on average and the weight can go a bit higher or lower, depending on the type of material they’re made of.
  • Lounge chairs are a bit heavier and bulkier, weigh about 33 lbs on average, and can be even heavier if made from materials such as massive wood.
  • Office chairs are one of the most popular categories of chairs and they are often the heaviest since the focus is put on comfort and ergonomics. Standard office chairs weigh between 20 to 55 lbs, while bigger office chairs can weigh up to 60 lbs.
  • Gaming chairs are becoming quite common nowadays and some people even use them as office chairs since they provide good support to the spine and lower back. The average weight of gaming chairs is between 34 to 50 lbs.
  • Armchairs are a staple in a lot of homes and they weigh between 50 to 75 lbs.
  • Reclining chairs are one of the heaviest since they have many mechanisms inside them and weigh around 100 lbs. 

If we were to get an average out of this list, we’d say that, on average, chairs weigh between 20 to 55 pounds, depending on their use. But have you wondered why it’s important to know how much a chair weighs?

Why Is Chair Weight Important?

Knowing how much your chair weighs is especially important when you’re thinking about purchasing a new one and below, we’ll look into the reasons, which include:

  • Safety and purpose 
  • Cost 
  • Room 
  • Weight capacity 

Safety and Purpose

The purpose of the chair will determine how heavy your chair should be. For example, if you were to go camping, you wouldn’t choose a heavy chair that you have to carry around, but rather you’d opt for a chair made of aluminum or another light material that will be easy to transport. 

If you’re looking for a chair that doesn’t have to be moved continuously, you can opt for a heavier chair. This is perfect for outdoor seating as heavier chairs can carry more weight as well as withstand a lot of wear and tear.

However, you wouldn’t want to purchase an armchair for your living room that’s too heavy and you aren’t able to move it from one location in the room to another one or even move it slightly while you’re cleaning.

The same goes for office chairs, as they need to be light enough so you can move around and they also need to be ergonomic to support good posture. Take your height into consideration as well and whether the chair will enable you to sit comfortably for long hours. That being said, if the chair is mobile, heavier options are usually better.

Cost

Generally, the heavier the item, the more expensive the shipping cost is. Sometimes, the shipping cost can end up being as much as the chair itself.

If you’re shopping for a chair on a budget, choose minimalistic chairs, as wooden chairs with a lot of detailing and heavy metal chairs tend to be on the more expensive side. The popularity of the creator, the size, as well as the materials that are used in the chair should also be taken into consideration.

Room 

Bigger chairs tend to take up more room in your office and limit the ways you can switch the office around anytime you want. It’s better to focus on getting a few lighter and smaller chairs for people who are coming to your office, and a bigger office chair of higher quality for you, as you’ll be the one sitting in it for hours at a time.

Weight Capacity

The weight capacity of your chair is another important factor, so let’s see how you can choose the right chair for you based on how much it’s able to support. 

If we take a look at chairs that are specifically designed for larger people, we see that the heavier the chair is, the heavier the weight limit on it is. As a general estimate, you should know that a standard office chair may hold about 6 times its weight, which can be important information as you’re shopping for chairs.

What’s the Right Chair for You?

Now that you know more about the different types of chairs you can find on the market and how much weight they can carry, you’re probably wondering what’s the perfect chair for you. 

To determine that, you first need to look at your office or room and see how much space you have for a chair. Next, you need to figure out whether the chair will be able to support your weight as well as look at the ergonomic design of the chair. And finally, you need to see whether the chair is aesthetically pleasing to you.

After you have all this information about all the chairs that you’re considering, you can easily compare them to pick out the one you like best.

Conclusion

If at the beginning of the article you were asking yourself why you should be concerned with such a trivial question, you probably know by now that the weight of your chair is directly connected to its quality, how much load it can carry, and the final cost.

We hope that we managed to help you learn more on this topic and we hope you will make the best purchasing decision. And sometimes, choosing the best chair is a case of trial and error, so don’t be discouraged if the one you picked doesn’t end up living up to your standards. We just hope that if that happens, you can replace it or get a refund.

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