A Guide To Select The Best Seating Height For You, From 6 Seat Heights

We know that one size does not fit all, especially if you are a bit taller than average.  Furniture manufacturers sometimes say it is important for you to have the proper seat height, but then they offer sofa seating height of 17 to 18 inches only, negating the previous statement. 

                  

             Photo - Comfortworks, Stockholm, Sweden - Instagram

The above picture is of a Swedish sofa, low-seating style, where you are almost sitting on the floor and you can support your elbows with your knees.  

Below is an example of a sectional sofa from IKEA (LIDHULT style) https://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/categories/departments/living_room/39130/  where the seat height is not given, but the overall height is 40-1/8 inches.  The question for me is how high is the seat height?   I imagine this sofa would also be pretty much a low-rider. 

     

 Maybe the U.S. company LazyBoy furniture https://www.la-z-boy.com/, is more appealing to taller people.  Even though they don’t give you the actual seat height, it is obvious that the sofa below has a higher seat height than the IKEA sofa.  And when you ask LazyBoy about seat height, they say “we think it is best to just try it out and see how it feels for you.”   

 Here is a table that gives an estimate of what a target seating height would be for you based on your height.  You just need to know your height in inches   (1ft = 12 inches) or meters (1m = 100cm).

Seating height distance is from the floor to the top of the furniture seat.

 The proper seating height makes it not only easier to stand up but it also helps you have good sitting posture.

Why is Good Sitting Posture Important? 

The American Chiropractic Association points out:

Good posture helps us stand, walk, sit, and lie in positions that place the least strain on supporting muscles and ligaments during movement and weight-bearing activities. Correct posture:  

  • Helps us keep bones and joints in correct alignment so that our muscles are used correctly, decreasing the abnormal wearing of joint surfaces that could result in degenerative arthritis and joint pain.
  • Reduces the stress on the ligaments holding the spinal joints together, minimizing the likelihood of injury.
  • Allows muscles to work more efficiently, allowing the body to use less energy and, therefore, preventing muscle fatigue.
  • Helps prevent muscle strain, overuse disorders, and even back and muscular pain.                                                          https://acatoday.org/content/posture-power-how-to-correct-your-body-alignment

The Magical 3 Inch Boost

 Could you use a little boost to get up from your sofa or chair?  Maybe you suffer from arthritis or some other disabling disease or you recently had surgery.  Or maybe your seating height is too low. If you have difficulty standing up from a sitting position and could use a little boost to get up, risers may be a great solution for you.  Furniture risers that raise your furniture three or more inches give you a boost and make it easier to stand up. 

For example let’s say you are 5’10” tall and your sofa has an 18 inch seating height.  A 3 inch riser would raise your seating height to 21 inches and help you stand up easier. 

One of many people who decided to use 3 inch risers for his recliner said this: “The lift was like a miracle life saver.  It made it much easier to stand up and I really do recommend them.”

Four and even five inch furniture risers are available.  Check the Seating Height Guide to determine approximately what your target seating height should be and compare to what your current seating height is.  If you are sitting too low, you might find furniture risers to be a low cost solution to help you stand up easier!  And you get to keep your favorite comfy sofa.