How To Raise Chair Height? Comprehensive Guide

Helen Skeates
Helen Skeates
19 min read

Does the height of your chair need to be adjusted? Thankfully, you found this article, which will explain in plain English how to easily increase the height of a chair.

One of the most frustrating pieces of furniture is a table that is too high for the seats around it. However, there are numerous methods available for adjusting the height of your chair.

Depending on your needs and preferences, you can raise the height of a chair using a variety of tools, including chair raisers, chair cushions, woodblocks, and so on. Soon enough, you’ll be able to relax at your dinner table.

The Benefits of a Good Chair

Create A Professional Image

Not only can attractive, professional seats amaze clients and visitors, but they also boost productivity and morale in the workplace. It’s crucial for workers’ health and safety that working conditions be kept at a reasonable temperature and humidity. High-quality office chairs are built to last, providing years of comfortable use through their sturdy frames, ergonomic seats, and lack of sharp edges.

7 Practical Ways to Make an Office Chair Higher - Ergonomic Trends

Select The Best Chair

Seating materials for office chairs range from poly vinyl mesh to vinyl to leather to polyester. However, “green” fabrics are also commercially available; these are crafted from recycled plastic bottles and colored using an environmentally beneficial process. Keep an eye out for the percentage of recycled materials before making a purchase.

Size Matters

If everyone in the company were the same height and weight, selecting the right chair wouldn’t be difficult. Thankfully, quality office chairs are designed to accommodate such adjustments. Customer and guest seating in an office setting is the same way. Chairs’ widths, back heights, and seat depths all vary slightly. Chairs with a range of motion are not a luxury but a necessity.

A Chair For Every Office Need

Some workers are more comfortable in chairs that allow them to recline somewhat and have height-adjustable backs and seats. Office climate plays a role in determining chair fabric. If you need chairs for your lobby, get ones that are both comfy and reflect well on your business. Think about how easily people can move about the desk and surrounding area while using seats. The space needed for an executive chair is typically greater than that needed for a receptionist’s chair or stool. Likewise, swivel or tilting office chairs should be thought about. Keep in mind the foot rests that are built into the floor of your office chair.

Increasing Seat Height

There is a wide variety of chair types and styles available. If the chair’s standard height is too low for you, though, you may always raise it a bit. There are just a few easy steps you need to do to accomplish this.

Attaching chair raisers

Step #1. Pick your chair raiser

Choose linked chair raisers if you value safety. Although separate chair raisers are known, it has been found that linked designs are less likely to tremble.

The linked chair lifts’ riser legs can be adjusted in and out and to the side for a great degree of customization. If you go for a linked chair raiser, you’ll just have to buy one instead of four.

Step #2. Choose a height

The standard range of height adjustment for chair risers is between 1 and 5 inches (2.5 to 12.5 cm) (13 cm). Chair raisers come in a variety of heights, so you may choose one based on how much you want your stools to be elevated.

If you want your chairs to be more comfortable around a table, you can determine the appropriate size for raisers by subtracting the desired height from the chair’s present measurement.

Even though most raisers are universal in size, you should still measure your chair’s legs to make sure the base isn’t too small.

Step #3. Fit in

Chair legs should be inserted into the lifts. Chair leg indentations are standard on both single and linked chair lifts.

Lift up the chair’s leg, slide it into the cutout, and repeat with the second leg. All four legs of your chair should have a raiser unless you have a linked raiser. Seek help lifting the chair if you believe installing the raisers is beyond your physical ability.

Step #4. Paint to match

You might paint the lift to match your chair. The chair raiser can be made to blend in with the chair if it is painted the same color.

Two or three coats of paint are recommended, followed by a finish to prevent the paint from chipping. Even if you can’t locate an exact match for the color of your chair raisers, you can still help them blend in more effectively by painting them.

Adding seat cushion

Step #1. Replacing cushion

If you remove the old cushion and replace it with something solid, you may be able to adjust the seat height. Adding a chair cushion to your chair can help you sit up straight while still providing the necessary level of comfort. If you want to add 5 inches to the height of your seat, you can do it by purchasing a cushion and tying it to the bottom of your chair (13 cm).

Step #2. Tuck in with a fabric cover

The excess cushion can be concealed by using a pillowcase or fabric cover of a contrasting or coordinating color. In addition, if the buffer has a non slip backing, it will be less likely to slide around. Now you can hide that mismatched set of cushions under a slipcover.

Replacing or adding casters

Step #1. Drill in

Make a hole in the middle of the base of each leg. Use a drill bit that is slightly smaller in diameter than the caster shank to create a hole for the caster to fit into.

Step #2. Secure casters

Casters, particularly heavy-duty casters like ball-type casters, can be secured in place with wood glue.

Why is it essential to maintain seat height?

If you want to get the most out of your chair, you need to make sure it’s at the right height. Your neck and back will be supported in an ergonomically optimal position. Additionally, it will aid in preventing a host of issues that might contribute to bad posture.

When the seat is too shallow, for instance, it can be uncomfortable for the legs. However, if your chair is too high, you’ll be forced to constantly hunch over your desk or table, which isn’t a comfortable position for long periods of time. So, adjust the seat of your chair so that you are completely at ease whenever you sit down.

Disclaimer

Some chairs, such those with tubular metal legs or heavy easy chairs that aren’t compatible with screw-in legs, may not be able to be adjusted to the proper height for the user’s legs.

The chair is more secure thanks to the brakes on the casters. It is not advisable, however, to equip a chair with wheels if the user is elderly or has mobility issues.

How To Adjust Your Office Chair's Seat Height - YouTube

How to Clean and Maintain an Chair

Vacuum Dust and Debris

The wand attachment of the vacuum cleaner should be used once every few weeks to clean the office chair. If the wand attachment is smooth, it will be able to pick up most dust and dirt without scratching your desk chair. To clean the seat, back, and armrests of a couch, simply switch the vacuum to the “low suction” setting and run the wand attachment over the fabric.

It doesn’t matter what kind of office chair you have, frequent vacuuming will help keep it in good shape for longer. Sticky dust and dirt that could otherwise deteriorate and kill your office chair will be sucked up by the wand attachment.

Look for an Upholstery Tag

Check your office chair for an upholstery tag if you haven’t done so already. While there are always exceptions to any rule, virtually every chair in an office will have an upholstery tag. Instructions on how to clean the office chair are included on this label, which is also called a care tag or care label. In order to identify the safest and most efficient method of cleaning your office chair, see the upholstery tag.

Most office chairs will have a label sewn into the underside of the seat covering. Once you find it, see whether there’s a code on it that allows you to clean it. There are usually two-letter cleaning codes sewn into the seams of office chairs, and they specify the most effective method for cleaning the chair’s fabric.

The following is an explanation of the various cleaning codes found on upholstery tags and what they mean:

  • Water or a water-based product should be used to clean the office chair, as indicated by the W cleaning code, which is the most frequently seen on upholstery tags.
  • S: If the cleaning code on the upholstery label is S, then you should clean your office chair with a water-free solvent. The use of a water-free solvent is typically recommended by manufacturers for cleaning office chairs upholstered in organic textiles such as cotton, wool, or rayon.
  • Office chairs with the W/S cleaning code can be cleaned with either a water-based or solvent-based cleaning solution.
  • Finally, an X cleaning code indicates that the office chair needs just to be brushed or vacuumed. If your office chair has this cleaning code, don’t clean it with water or a solvent.

If your chair doesn’t have an upholstery tag, the owner’s handbook should provide information on maintenance and care. If a chair in the office doesn’t have a tag with care instructions sewn into the fabric, it should have an owner’s manual with the same information.

Spot Clean Using Soap and Warm Water

Spot clean your office chair with soap and warm water unless the upholstery tag or owner’s handbook specifies otherwise. Any light smudges or stains on your office chair can be removed by blotting the affected area with a moist washcloth and a drop or two of liquid soap.

It’s not necessary to use a special kind of soap to clean your desk chair. For the dishes, just use a mild dishwashing liquid. Put a few drops of dish soap on a clean washcloth, then run it under running water. You should next blot the soiled area(s) instead of scrubbing them with a sponge or towel. The substances that produce stains can be removed from the fabric by blotting. Scrubbing the stain will only spread the stain-causing elements even further into the fabric. When cleaning a spill on your office chair, remember to blot it.

Test Stain-Removing Products in a Discreet Area

Soap and warm water should be sufficient for removing most surface stains from an office chair, but for deeper stains, you’ll need something stronger. Several treatments on the market can help you get rid of unsightly stains, and many of them use strong chemicals that can also clean the surface. Try it out in a hidden part of your office chair before committing to using it regularly.

Take care not to saturate your entire office chair with stain remover. Instead, try it out in a hidden spot where no one will be looking. You can observe the effect the product has on your desk chair in this way. Try out a product that claims to remove stains by placing it under the seat of your office chair. Even if the product does leave a permanent stain—which we certainly hope doesn’t happen—the stain won’t be noticeable.

It’s important to perform a spot test before using any stain remover on your office chair, whether it’s something you bought at the shop or something more natural like vinegar. If the fabric of your office chair is not damaged or altered in any way, you can move on to the next step.

Apply Conditioner to Leather

To keep your leather office chair from cracking and drying out, condition it once every few months. Full grain leather, rectified grain leather, and split leather are all examples of the many types of leather available. The greatest quality leather is full-grain, while the next best is rectified grain. However, the porous surface of any genuine leather means that it will absorb and retain moisture.

Natural leather has millions of tiny holes that only become visible under a microscope. These openings, or pores, are what maintain the leather’s moisture level. When rain condenses on a leather office chair, it seeps into the material and stops it from drying out. However, after time, the pores will dry out and the fluid will be gone. If this isn’t fixed, the leather will eventually crack open and peel.

Applying a leather conditioner to your office chair will help keep it in good shape and prevent damage from everyday use. Mink oil and saddle soap are just two examples of leather conditioners that can help keep the material supple and hydrated. In addition to containing water, these products also include other chemicals that hydrate and shield leather from drying out. Applying a conditioner to your leather desk chair can help keep it from drying out over time.

Here are some more suggestions for taking care of your leather desk chair:

  • It’s important to take care with your leather office chair to avoid spilling drinks or other substances on it.
  • Keep the relative humidity in your workplace between 40% and 55%. In conditions with relative humidity of less than 40%, the leather on your office chair could dry out. However, if the percentage is above 55%, it could become overly saturated with water.
  • A leather office chair shouldn’t be conditioned more frequently than once every few months. Leather that has been over-conditioned becomes overly saturated with moisture.
  • You might want to invest in some leather protection. Different from conditioners, leather protectants work to fortify the material’s outermost layers.
  • Keep your leather office chair away from any heat sources like radiators or vents.

Clean and Lubricate Casters

If your desk chair rolls on casters, you should clean and oil them regularly to ensure smooth operation. The wheels on an office chair are housed within metal or plastic components called casters. Plastic, rubber, steel, aluminum, cast iron, and polyurethane are just some of the elements that go into making wheels. In contrast, the actual housing units nearly always use metal construction.

Most modern office chairs glide easily and with no effort. However, after a year or more of daily usage, the casters on your office chair may become clogged with dirt and other material, making it difficult to move.

Turn your chair upside down and remove any lint, hair, or dirt from inside the wheel housing units to clean the casters. The casters can be be cleaned with a vacuum cleaner or bottled air to remove any stubborn debris.

Apply some WD-40 or other lubrication to the casters of your office chair after you’ve cleaned them properly. It’s easy to make your office chair roll more smoothly by spraying a little lubricant into each housing unit. If you want your office chair to roll smoothly, you should clean and oil the wheels at least once every six months.

Tighten Fasteners

Naturally, you should also check the bolts on your office chair and make sure they are secure. Whether your office chair is held together with screws, bolts, or both, it’s a good idea to tighten them up every so often. You can’t sit securely in your workplace chair if a fastener isn’t properly tightened.

Find the locations of all fasteners by consulting the user guide. There are office chairs with a handful of fasteners and others with dozens. After finding the screws that hold your desk chair in place, tighten them using a screwdriver.

Turn the screwdriver to the right to tighten a screw. However, if you turn a fastener to the left, you will loosen it. The phrase “righty-tighty, lefty-loosey” is useful for keeping track of which way to turn a fastener.

Replace Gas Cylinder

When you raise your chair, does it immediately return to the floor? Possibly the gas cylinder needs to be replaced. Pneumatic lift is generated by a gas cylinder, which is standard on most types of height-adjustable office chairs. The office chair can be raised to a standing position and held there by pressurized nitrogen gas contained within this cylinder.

You won’t be able to elevate your office chair if the gas cylinder is leaking or isn’t working properly. The good news is that most gas cylinders are readily available for replacement. To change the gas cylinder in your office chair, you just to invert it, remove the old one with a screwdriver, and insert the new one. After the new gas cylinder has been placed, you can test its functionality by lifting your desk chair.

Keep Away From Direct Sunlight

Your workplace chair should be kept out of the sun. Most fabrics and materials, including those used to manufacture office chairs, can degrade when exposed to ultra violet (UV) sunshine. It is not an instantaneous process. However, an office chair left in the sun for too long may dry out and fade.

It is not necessary to work in complete darkness to prevent solar damage to your office chair. Instead, try to find a shady spot during the day to set up your desk chair. Curtains and shades can be partially drawn to reduce the amount of direct sunlight that reaches your desk chair. Taking these measures will prevent your office chair from fading or drying out as a result of exposure to sunlight.

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Replace When Necessary

There comes a time when even a chair that has been meticulously maintained and cleaned needs to be replaced. Office chairs typically last anywhere from seven and fifteen years, according to one study. It’s time to get a new office chair if your current one is broken or worn out beyond repair.

A guarantee should be included with every high-quality office chair from a respected manufacturer. During the warranty term, the manufacturer will fix or replace any defective parts at no cost to the buyer. Look for a warranty when shopping for an office chair, as this shows the company stands behind their goods.

To get the most out of your new office chair, keep it clean and in good condition by following these steps after each use. Doing so will prevent its breakdown before its time. Additionally, a well-cared-for office chair can greatly enhance your productivity.

Conclusion

If you sit in the right way, you can reduce your risk of developing back pain and pinched nerves. If you want to be comfortable and take care of your back, you’ll need to learn how to adjust the height of your chair. In this article, we laid out the steps for you, demonstrating how easy it is.

Helen Skeates

Helen Skeates

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