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EVERY DAY IS A BLACK FRIDAY HERE AT THE OFFICE CHAIR MAN
SUMMER 2026 OFFER! (Ends 30 September 2026) Qty 1–5 5%, 6–10 10%, 11–15 15%,16–20 20%, 21+ 25% Saving.
Choosing an office chair is not simply a matter of finding a model that looks comfortable. A chair can be well made, highly adjustable and designed for long working days, yet still feel wrong if its proportions do not suit the person sitting in it.
Height is one of the clearest reasons why chair fit varies. Taller users may need more seat depth, a higher backrest or a greater seat-height range. Shorter users often need the opposite, particularly a lower minimum seat height and a seat that does not press into the backs of the knees.
At The Office Chair Man, we stock a wide range of used office chairs from established manufacturers. The key is not to buy by brand name alone. It is to find a chair whose dimensions and adjustments suit your body, desk and working style.
The best office chair should suit your body proportions, not just your overall height.
Taller users should pay particular attention to seat depth, maximum seat height, backrest size and lumbar positioning.
Shorter users may benefit from a lower minimum seat height, adjustable seat depth and armrests that can be lowered sufficiently.
Adjustable features such as seat slides, lumbar support and armrests can help one chair accommodate a wider range of users.
Measuring your chair requirements alongside your desk height can help you achieve a more comfortable and supportive working position.
Did you know? A seat can be too deep for a shorter user to sit properly against the backrest, while the same seat may not provide enough thigh support for someone taller.
There is no single office chair size that works perfectly for everyone. Overall height is useful, but body proportions matter just as much. Two people of the same height can have different leg and torso lengths.
The Health and Safety Executive advises that seats should support taller people’s legs without being so deep that shorter users cannot use the backrest. Seat height, back support and armrest position also need to suit the individual.
Look at several measurements rather than concentrating on one figure:
Minimum and maximum seat height
Seat depth
Seat width
Backrest height
Lumbar support position
Armrest height and width
Clearance beneath the desk
A generous adjustment range is particularly useful in shared offices, but it only helps when it genuinely covers the person using the chair.
Before comparing brands or prices, check how you sit and what dimensions you need.
Your thighs should be comfortably supported and your feet should have a stable surface beneath them. If your feet cannot reach the floor, a suitable footrest may be required where the desk cannot be lowered.
Shorter users should check a chair’s minimum seat height. Taller users should check the maximum. Desk height matters too, so assess the chair and desk together rather than as separate purchases.
Seat depth is one of the most important measurements. HSE guidance recommends around 2 to 3 cm between the front edge of the seat and the back of the knee.
A taller person may find a shallow seat gives insufficient support, while a shorter person may find an overly deep seat prevents proper use of the backrest. A sliding seat or adjustable seat depth can therefore be extremely useful.
Adjustable back height or lumbar support can help people with different torso lengths position support more accurately.
Measure the desk height and clearance underneath it. Armrests that cannot fit beneath the desk may stop you sitting close enough to the work surface.
For more detail on matching chair dimensions to your workspace, see our guide to choosing the right used Herman Miller chair.
The table below provides a simple comparison of the features that deserve the most attention.
| Feature | Taller users should look for | Shorter users should look for |
|---|---|---|
| Seat height | Sufficient maximum height | Low enough minimum height |
| Seat depth | Enough thigh support or adjustable depth | Shorter depth or a seat slide |
| Backrest | Appropriate height for the torso | Support that meets the back in the correct place |
| Lumbar support | Correct height and adjustability | Ability to position support low enough |
| Armrests | Height and width adjustment | Armrests that lower sufficiently |
| Desk compatibility | Enough legroom beneath the desk | Ability to sit high enough for the desk while keeping feet supported |
| Foot support | Usually floor support when correctly adjusted | Floor support or a suitable footrest if required |
These are buying considerations, not rigid rules. Individual fit should take priority.
Before ordering, compare the chair specification with your own measurements rather than relying on labels such as small, medium, large or ergonomic. If possible, check the manufacturer’s recommended height or weight range, but treat it as guidance rather than a guarantee of comfort.
A useful final check is to ask whether you can:
Sit fully back against the backrest
Keep a small gap behind the knees
Support your feet securely
Relax your shoulders while using the armrests
Reach the desk without leaning or stretching
Change position easily during the working day
Taller users often need enough seat depth to support longer thighs. HSE guidance specifically highlights this. An adjustable seat slide is useful because it lets you fine-tune depth rather than relying on a fixed seat pan.
Gas lifts vary, so check that the chair can be raised to a comfortable position for your legs and desk.
A high back can suit a longer torso, but the key question is where the backrest and lumbar support meet your body.
Lumbar adjustment can help position support around the lower back, while adjustable arms can reduce the risk of sitting with the shoulders raised or unsupported. Width adjustment can also be useful for larger frames.
The Steelcase Leap V2 is a strong option to compare if seat-depth adjustment is important. The model listed by The Office Chair Man includes a sliding seat, adjustable arms and user-controlled tension adjustment.
A sliding seat is particularly relevant for users with longer legs because it allows the seat pan to move forwards or backwards to alter thigh support.
You can browse our wider range of used Steelcase chairs for current availability.
The RH 400 is another highly adjustable chair worth considering. The model listed by The Office Chair Man includes a height-adjustable seat and back, a sliding seat, pneumatic lumbar adjustment and height and width adjustable arms.
Those controls give the user several ways to alter the chair to match their proportions rather than relying on a fixed seating position.
See our range of used RH office chairs for current models.
The Herman Miller Aeron is a useful example of why chair sizing matters. Herman Miller produces the Aeron in three sizes: A, B and C.
According to Herman Miller’s UK sizing guide, Size A is the smallest, Size B covers a broad middle range, and Size C is the largest. The manufacturer recommends Size C for users approximately 178 to 200 cm tall, although height alone should not determine the final choice.
The key is choosing the right Aeron size, not simply the Aeron name.
For shorter users, the minimum seat height is often crucial. If a chair will not lower far enough, the feet may be unsupported. A footrest can help where the desk height makes a higher chair position necessary.
A deep seat may prevent a shorter user from sitting fully against the backrest. Adjustable depth makes it easier to maintain clearance behind the knees.
Lumbar support is only useful when it meets the right part of the back. Shorter users should therefore check whether the backrest, lumbar support or both can be repositioned.
Armrests that sit too high can encourage raised shoulders. Look for arms that can be lowered to a comfortable position and, where possible, moved in width or depth as well.
The Aeron Size A is the smallest version of the chair. Herman Miller’s UK buying guide recommends it for users approximately 142 to 163 cm tall, with a seat height range of 401 to 507 mm.
That does not mean everybody within that height range should automatically buy Size A. Weight, body proportions, preferred sitting position and desk dimensions still matter. However, it demonstrates the benefit of choosing a chair that is manufactured in different sizes rather than assuming one frame will suit everyone.
The Posturite Positiv Plus is another chair to consider when extensive adjustment is the priority. The model listed by The Office Chair Man includes height adjustment for the seat, back and arms, along with a sliding seat, lumbar adjustment and rake-adjustable backrest.
These controls help adapt the chair to different body proportions.
See our current range of Posturite chairs.
The Orangebox Flo is another adjustable option. The model listed by The Office Chair Man includes a sliding seat, adjustable lumbar support, height-adjustable arms and independent back rake adjustment. Its published seat-depth range is 400 to 500 mm.
Browse our Orangebox office chairs to see current stock.
Not necessarily, but businesses should not assume that one chair will fit every employee simply because it is labelled ergonomic.
In shared-desk offices, adjustable seat height, seat depth, armrests, backrests and lumbar support become especially valuable.
When choosing seating for a team, consider:
The full seat-height range
Adjustable seat depth
Backrest and lumbar adjustment
Adjustable armrests
Manufacturer weight limits
Desk height and under-desk clearance
The requirements identified through individual DSE assessments
Where the Display Screen Equipment regulations apply, workstation assessments should take account of the individual user and setup.
For more specialised options, browse our used DSE chairs or used orthopaedic office chairs.
There is no single ideal seat depth for every tall person because leg length varies. The goal is to support the thighs while leaving comfortable clearance behind the knees. An adjustable seat slide is often the most flexible option.
It should lower far enough for the user to achieve a stable, supported sitting position while remaining at a suitable working height for the desk. If the desk cannot be lowered and the feet are unsupported, a suitable footrest may help.
Not automatically. A high back may suit a longer torso, but seat depth, lumbar position, armrest adjustment and overall dimensions are equally important. A high back that positions its support incorrectly can still be a poor fit.
Yes, provided the chair has a broad enough adjustment range for both people. Seat slides, adjustable lumbar support, adjustable arms and a useful seat-height range can all increase flexibility.
For further guidance on features for extended desk work, read our guide to the best ergonomic office chairs for long hours.
The right office chair should fit the person, not force the person to adapt to the chair.
Before choosing a particular brand or model, check the seat-height range, seat depth, backrest position, lumbar support and armrests. Then compare those measurements with your desk and working position.
For taller users, adequate seat depth and height range are often priorities. For shorter users, a low minimum seat height and manageable seat depth can make a major difference. For shared workplaces, broad adjustability is particularly valuable.
Premium brands can offer excellent ergonomic features, but the badge does not guarantee the right fit. Measure first, check the specification and choose the model that suits your body and workspace.
