Before you start thinking about conference chairs, you should have already selected your conference table. 

The number of chairs you'll be able to fit in your meeting room will largely depend on the size of the conference table. A good rule of thumb is that the width of the table in feet is also the number of chairs that can be comfortably seated around it. So, for example, a 4-foot-wide table can seat 4, and a 20-foot-wide table can seat 20.

Space permitting, it's also a good idea to add side chairs against some of the walls in your conference room. This will provide some overflow seating for individuals in larger meetings when there's not enough space around the conference table. We recommend leaving at least 3 feet of walkway space around your conference table to allow for comfortable movement around the room.

What Type of Conference Chairs Do I Need?

Conference chairs have a look that’s similar to desk and task chairs. So what’s the difference? In truth, most desk chairs can also be used as conference chairs and vice versa, but there are some distinguishing features. A task-style seating option is typically referred to as a conference chair if it has fixed arms and minimal ergonomic adjustments. The fixed arms provide support to users while minimizing the opportunity for causing distractions during meetings. Likewise, the lack of ergonomic adjustments prevents users from fiddling with knobs and handles while meetings are in session. Most conference chairs have only an adjustment for seat height. 

Big and tall chairs are sometimes used in conference rooms to support big and tall users. These are conference chairs that are rated to support 300 pounds or more.

Petite chairs are not often used in conference rooms, but they certainly can be. Petite chairs have a shorter cylinder and a smaller seat pan to support users of a shorter stature.

Side chairs or guest chairs are often added to the outside walls of a conference room to serve as overflow seating when a meeting is too large to seat everyone around the table.

Stools are often used in conference rooms with a standing or adjustable height conference table. The adjustable height stool allows some members to stand while others are sitting, ensuring everyone can remain comfortable during the conversation. 

Are There Any Special Features I Should Look for?

Stacking chairs are, as the name suggests, chairs that can stack on top of one another. Because you can stack them easily for compact storage, this type of seating is ideal when extra chairs need to be kept nearby for occasional use.

Nesting chairs are similar to stacking chairs, but they nest into one another rather than stack on top of one another. Nesting chairs are also great when compact storage is needed, and they are usually mobile so you can transport multiple chairs simultaneously.

Tablet arm chairs are often used as side chairs in conference rooms because they provide a writing surface for meeting members not seated around the conference table. 

What Type of Chair Upholstery Should I Choose?

Fabric upholstery is a woven material that helps give furniture a homelike look and feel. Fabric is available in a huge range of colors and patterns, making it an ideal option for conference rooms going for a very specific look.

Genuine leather upholstery is either full-grain or top-grain genuine animal hide. Full-grain leather shows its grain and natural imperfections and is as close to its natural state as possible. Top-grain leather is the most common type of genuine leather upholstery; it’s thinner and more pliable than full-grain options. Top-grain leather is sanded to remove imperfections, giving it a more polished appearance. 

Faux leather and vinyl upholstery are man-made alternatives to genuine leather. Faux leather and vinyl are made of either polyurethane (PU) or polyvinyl chloride (PVC), both of which give the look of leather at a lower cost with lower maintenance.

Mesh is a textile that provides more breathability than any other type of upholstery. Mesh is durable, but it can be trickier to clean due to its porous design.

What Different Seat Types Are Available?

Pocketed coil systems are made up of a number of individual pocketed coils that help evenly distribute weight for user comfort. The coils are usually outfitted with a layer of foam on the top and bottom, with the top layer being less dense to create a cushioned feel.

Fabricated foam is one of the most common materials found on upholstered office chairs. This type of foam varies in density; the denser the foam, the more firm it will feel.

Molded foam is made from a liquid foam material poured into a mold—hence the name. This type of foam offers more consistent support and can hold its shape for longer than fabricated foam. This allows for more contour and a more comfortable feel for the users.

Memory foam has a unique chemical makeup that allows the seat to adjust to your individual body temperature. The seats, therefore, retain more heat than others, allowing them to mold their shape as the user moves. Memory foam seats are well known for providing superior customized support. In addition, this material is hypoallergenic and resistant to dust mites.

TEMPUR® material is a specific type of material made by Tempur-Pedic® and designed to provide a superior level of comfort. This type of material is specially designed to conform to your body and relieve pressure points.

Boardroom Seating Table Sizes – How Many Seats Will Fit?

How big should my boardroom table be to seat the number of people I need?

Different sized boardroom tables accommodate different numbers of seats (this seems obvious!). But different shapes of boardroom seating can accommodate different numbers of chairs.

How many seats will fit around my boardroom or meeting table?

There are several boardroom seating and conference table shapes on the market (rectangular, oval, D-end, circular, and boat-shaped board tables, to name a few) and each shape will best accommodate an optimum number of seats.

What sized boardroom seating can I fit into my room?

Your room dimensions may also determine which size and shape of boardroom table will be the best fit for you. (Further information and room size guide below).

We have created a helpful visual guide (below) to help you see the most common office meeting table or board table shapes and sizes choose according to the number of recommended seating positions for each shaped table.

BOARDROOM TABLE SHAPE, SIZE, & SEAT CAPACITY GUIDE

NB. This is only a guide: - other variables may include:
1 - The widths of the chairs you use.
2 – How close or spaced apart you choose to have chair next to chair.
3 – Which type of table legs you choose – some board table legs impede some chair positions.
(See below for further information.)

Make Sure You Also Consider The Following..

1)     Check Your Chair Sizes:

Bear in mind that the overall width of the chairs you use with your boardroom table will determine how many chairs you can comfortably fit around and pushed under the table. Most boardroom chairs would have a width of 50-55cm, however some may be wider, exceeding 60cm, depending on the style of chair, whether it has arms or not, and what the leg design is.

2)     How Close Together Or Spaced Apart Do You Want Your Chairs:

You should consider how close you want your users sit – tight together with chairs almost touching each other or with some space either side allowing the user to move around more freely at the table. If you are happy for everyone to sit very close together then you may be able to fit more chairs around your table. So selecting the right sized meeting chairs to fit your table will be an important factor in choosing the best size and style of boardroom table for your room.

3)     Table Leg Styles Can Impact Where Chairs Can Be Positioned:

Significant mainly for smaller sized meeting tables, the leg design might impede on certain users being able to tuck themselves and their chair under the table due to a leg being positioned where they would otherwise sit. For tables with well inset legs this shouldn’t pose a problem, but for smaller tables where the legs are more obvious, you should consider whether any of your chairs will hit the legs.

For example, boardroom seating with arrowhead base legs will restrict access around the legs if you are wanting to push chairs under the table, while the trumpet base legs will allow freer room for leg movement under the table.

RULE OF THUMB CHAIR SPACING GUIDE:

(Dependant on: Overall Chair Width + How Much Or Little Space Required Between Each Chair)

As an overall rule of thumb, we recommend allowing 70cm per user along the straight edge of a boardroom table, which allows 50-55cm for the chair width, and a few centimetres gap either side of the chair.

WHAT SIZE & SHAPE OF BOARDROOM TABLE WILL FIT INTO MY ROOM?

According to British Standard fire regulations (BS5588) the space between desks should be a minimum of 60cm, and 90cm for wheelchair users. For practical reasons however, a minimum of 100cm is a good minimum guide. For boardroom tables we would recommend a minimum 1200mm walkway around each side of the table, so that with chairs pushed under the table, users can still walk around the table. 

See our room dimension guide below to help you plan which meeting tables will best fit into your room.

ROOM DIMENSION GUIDE FOR BOARD TABLES

Other Variables To Consider:

• Allow space for your boardroom table when the room is an irregular shape, or if there are columns.
• Allow space for other furniture in the room such as sideboards and credenzas. If this is the case, allow space between the table and the closest obstruction.
• Importantly for small rooms, allow space for the door entrance, particularly if the door opens into the room.
• Tables don’t always need to be placed in the centre of each room, nor do you always need to allow the same amount of space all around the table.
  
  

NUMBER OF USERS PER TABLE SHAPE & SIZE GUIDE

If you prefer to start with the numbers of seats, or size and shape of table, to calculate how many chairs per boardroom table, then see the table below to guide your decision making. (NB – this should be taken as a guide only due to the variables listed above. For specific information call us on 01892 832880.)

Number Of Users