Side Chairs

SEARCH ALL PRODUCTS

Commercial Side Chairs: How to Choose

A side chair is the seat you buy most of, so it decides both the look of the room and how much you spend on repairs. Every Designform side chair is contract-grade: welded steel or mortise-and-tenon hardwood frames, replaceable seats, and a 3-year structural frame warranty. All products are tested to 400 lbs, and testing to a specific weight requirement is available on request.

Choosing a commercial dining chair

  • Wood, metal or upholstered. Wood chairs suit steakhouses, hotel dining rooms and country clubs. Metal chairs handle fast casual, breweries and patios. Upholstered chairs add comfort where guests linger.
  • Dimensions. Standard seat height is about 18", for a table 29–30" high. Allow roughly 24" of table edge per seat. Every product page lists width, depth, height, seat height and seat size.
  • Stacking. Banquet rooms, churches and campus dining want stackable chairs. Ganging (linking) hardware is available as a custom option.
  • Finishes and fabric. Custom wood stains, powder coat colors, in-house fabrics and faux leathers, or your own COM/COL. Most upholstery is rated 75,000–100,000 double rubs, and foam and fabrics meet CAL TB 117-2013.

Lead times, samples and minimums

In-stock chairs from Quick Ship leave in 2–3 days, for projects worldwide. Custom orders run 14–20 weeks, and many can be rushed to 8–10 weeks. Minimum order is typically four pieces. Seating ships fully assembled. Ask about the sample loan program for a sit test before you commit.

Where our chairs are used

Designform side chairs are in restaurants, hotels, casinos, coffee shops, fast casual chains, breweries and senior living communities around the world. Pair them with table bases and table tops, or match a coordinating chair and stool.

Commercial Restaurant Chairs Built for Daily Service

Side chairs are the backbone of a dining room, and in a busy restaurant each one is pulled out, sat in and slid back hundreds of times a week. Designform builds commercial restaurant chairs for that pace: wood frames joined with mortise-and-tenon construction rather than bolts, and metal frames that are welded, not screwed together. Every Designform frame is tested to hold 400 lbs and checked internally against ANSI/BIFMA standards, foam and upholstery meet CAL TB 117-2013, and frames carry a 3-year structural warranty (1 year on finish and upholstery).

Choosing a restaurant side chair

  • Wood chairs in European beech, American ash, American white oak or American walnut bring warmth to steakhouses, bistros and hotel dining rooms. See wood chairs.
  • Metal chairs handle the heaviest traffic in breweries, fast casual and food halls, and many are rated for outdoor use. See metal chairs and outdoor chairs and stools.
  • Upholstered seats and backs add comfort for longer meals. Choose from our leathers, faux leathers and fabrics, most rated 75,000–100,000 double rubs, or send your own COM/COL. See upholstered chairs.
  • Stackable chairs suit banquet rooms, cafés and multi-use spaces. See stackable chairs.

Sizing and spacing

Most restaurant side chairs are 17–20" wide with an 18" seat height for a 29–30" dining table. Plan on about 24" of table edge per guest. Our restaurant chair dimensions guide and table seating chart cover the numbers, and the seating layout guide shows how many seats a room will hold.

Ordering

In-stock chairs on Quick Ship ship in 2–3 days. Custom orders take 14–20 weeks, and many can be rushed to 8–10 weeks. Minimum order is typically four pieces, and every chair arrives fully assembled. Sample chairs are available for a sit test before you order. Designers can download Revit and SketchUp files for many models, and we can prepare a 3D model or rendering of any product on request.

What is the best material for restaurant chairs?
Hardwood frames give the warmest look and can be refinished; welded steel is the most durable for high-volume and outdoor spaces. Many operators mix both, with wood in the dining room and metal on the patio or at the bar.

Do you sell restaurant chairs outside the US?
Yes. Designform supplies projects worldwide, including Quick Ship orders to Canada.