The Best Dining Chairs for Every Style & Budget

Dining chairs are arguably one of the most important pieces of furniture. The dining table is the heart of the home, where everyone comes together to eat, drink, and gather, and having uncomfortable dining chairs is the first faux pas in dining room mistakes. Finding your perfect match, however, can be tricky—with so many options, you’ll need to choose between materials, back heights, and design styles, just to name a few. 

For this reason, we’ve scoured the internet and compiled a list of the most stylish, comfortable, and durable options across the most accessible shopping platforms. No matter whether you have a formal dining room or a small nook, we’ve got you covered. We also chatted with expert interior designer Noz Nozawa for more advice on how to find your perfect dining chairs.

Best Upholstered

For ultimate comfort and a high-end vibe, upholstered is the way to go. With multiple fabric colors, patterns, and textures, upholstery can bring that sought-after warmth and dimension to your space. Take Crate & Barrel’s Odette Sand Upholstered Swivel Dining Chair, for example.

With the ability to spin a full 360 degrees, it’s ideal for easily getting up and grabbing something from the kitchen or turning to have a more intimate conversation. It’s available in four neutral fabric options too, including both a light sand and a darker adobe. 

Anabei’s Washable Upholstered Dining Chair, on the other hand, is entirely machine washable, which is great for those with kids who don’t want to worry about any unsightly spills. It’s stain and liquid resistant (and pet-friendly!), and there are two back height options (15 inches and 19 inches) so you can tailor it to the height of your table. The patent pending steel frame also promises no creaking or splitting, and it’s even collapsible for easy storage.

Best Metal

Metal chairs are ultra durable and easy to maintain, and they also give your space a versatile, sleek design. We like the Threshhold Becket Metal X Back Dining Chair for that reason—its unique criss-cross back from Target creates a bit of visual interest, but it’s made entirely of steel, so it can withstand heavy use and be easily wiped down when accidental spills inevitably occur. It’d look just at home with a farmhouse design style as it would with an industrial one, and it comes in an inexpensive pack of two. 

West Elm’s Keaton Leather Dining Chair, too, easily blends in with different design styles with its fusion of wood, metal, and top-grain leather. A polished stainless steel finish provides a sturdy base, and the kiln-dried wood is great for added durability. It’s designed to last yet is lightweight enough to easily shift around, as is the Rove Concepts Uma Dining Chair if you’re looking for something more contemporary.

Best Rattan

With its organic texture and feel, rattan adds a touch of warmth and an immediate sense of comfort to a dining room. Rattan doesn’t immediately mean you have to have a boho design style though. There are plenty of modern takes on rattan, like the Nathan James Boucle & Rattan Dining Chair, for example. The combination of pine, bouclé, and rattan with an arched back feels seriously elevated and inviting.

For a touch of mid-century modern charm and a little bit of color, try the AllModern Walsh Velvet Side Chair that comes in olive, cognac, sapphire, or platinum seat cushions. The metal floating frame is inspired by Italian design, and the combination of a cane back makes for a casual yet polished chair. Equally as polished are the Target Modern Black Rattan Dining Chairs, which come in a set of four and a bold, statement-making all-black design.

Best Wooden

Those searching for a classic, timeless material should gravitate toward wood. Because of its natural beauty and versatility, it can fit well with various styles, like the Arhaus Robin Wishbone Dining Chair. This chair comes in either natural ash or black beech wood, both equally stylish with a comfy upholstered seat cushion. You can choose from eight fabrics, including both light and dark color options, to tailor the chair to your existing dining room’s color palette. 

If you’re looking for something made entirely of wood, try the Poly & Bark Enzo chair, made from solid oak. It blends farmhouse comfort with mid-century charm, and its tapered legs give it stability and a timeless look. We also love the Crate & Barrel Pierre Light Brown Oak Wood Dining Side Chair with Faux Shearling for its ultra cozy and comfortable design and the All Modern Jahmal Solid Wood Slat Back Side Chair for another all-wood option.

Best Plastic

Plastic is fuss-free, easy to clean, and ultra practical, and our picks are just that without skimping on style, like Blu Dot’s Decade Chair. It’s charming and interesting, and in addition to its pretty and comfortable design, it’s available in 12 playful colors, like bubblegum and celery. It’s also made using 100% recycled plastic, is stackable (up to 12 chairs!), is durable and scratch-resistant, and can be used both inside and out. 

For a set of four with a price tag under $200, we recommend the Poly & Bark Isla Modern Kitchen Chairs. They channel mid-century modern style with their combination of metal and plastic, and they come in plenty of colors, including black, white, pistachio green, and sunburst yellow. These can also be used inside or outside, as can the very stylish Industry West Ripple Dining Chair.

Best Leather

For their comfort and durability, leather chairs can’t be beat. They can be quickly wiped down and have a timeless appeal, and with high-quality leather, they can also age gracefully and develop a lovely patina over time.

For the most stylish, modern leather dining chair around, try the Crate & Barrel Treviso Natural Leather Dining Side Chair. Several styles—Swiss, Italian, and mid-century—are at play in its design, and its horseshoe-shaped back makes for a seriously comfortable seat. 

For a nearly fully leather option, look to Interior Define’s Nora Leather Upholstered Armless Chair from Havenly. It’s also an ultra comfy option with a wide tufted seat, and it comes in a range of finishes for both the frame and upholstery.

The West Elm Dolores Leather Dining Chair is an entirely leather option we love, and Saracina Home’s Dining Chair comes in either whiskey brown or black for a subtle western flair.

How to Shop for Dining Chairs Like a Pro

Material

We’ve touched briefly on the benefits of each material, but Nozawa broke down for us how she would recommend selecting materials:

Upholstered dining chairs are best for comfort but also versatility. You can personalize the fabric type, texture, and color and even reupholster later. Some chairs, like Anabei’s Washable Upholstered Dining Chair, are even machine-washable. 

Nozawa admits that this is her personal favorite due to “their plush seats, often plush backs, and overall comfort to sit in for a long time. If I’m selecting chairs for someone who likes to host long dinner parties, play board games with friends for hours at their dining table, or might be working from home seated in a dining chair, this is what I go for.” 

Wood dining chairs are timeless and classic. They’re available in essentially every style option, including traditional, farmhouse, and mid-century, and they can also be paired with other materials like upholstery for an added touch of softness. 

Metal dining chairs are ideal for a more contemporary feel. They can also be paired with a fabric cushion for a softer landing if you plan to sit in it for long periods of time. “They are perfect for wipeability and being low-maintenance too,” Nozawa says. 

Plastic chairs are also incredibly easy to care for, can range in style, are often stackable (like Blu Dot’s Decade Chair), and can be used both indoors and out, making them a great pick for small spaces or extra seating for gatherings. 

Rattan is a naturally strong and pliable material that gives comfort and durability. Nozawa says to keep in mind that wicker is a different material, although they look very similar in photos, but rattan is more forgiving and flexible, giving your seating a softer, more comfortable feel.

Leather adds an automatic high-end feel to a dining table. It’s also easy to quickly wipe down, and a quality leather will wear nicely over time. Nozawa recommends leather for messy households with kids for this reason.

Size

Most dining chairs typically have an 18- to 20-inch seat height, and Nozawa prefers to be right in the middle at 19 inches. No matter what seat height you choose, as a rule of thumb, Nozawa says a dining table should be between 29 to 30 inches tall, and the seat height should ideally be 10 to 11 inches shorter. 

The height of the backs on dining chairs can vary widely as well, with both very low chairs that can fit entirely under a table and ones that reach as high as your shoulders when seated. Which one you choose comes down to personal preference in aesthetics and comfort. 

While Nozawa says she doesn’t have a “Goldilocks” seat back to suggest, she does recommend doing a seat test whenever possible “to ensure that the pitch (how angled back or straight-up the back is) is comfortable to you for how long you think you’ll be sitting in the seat.”

Nozawa also explains that in terms of overall chair size, the most important dimension is the seat. “How large you want or need it depends on the size of your table and your room, how you define comfort at a dining table, and what styles are available. Traditional-style chairs are often larger, whereas mid-century to modern style dining chairs are usually smaller,” which is something to keep in mind while shopping.

Lastly, a seat depth (the distance from the front of a seat to the back) of 16 to 18 inches allows for proper leg support and overall comfort while sitting at a table, and an ideal distance between the seat and tabletop is between 10 and 12 inches.

Comfort and Support

The most comfortable chairs will be upholstered with some kind of cushion on the seat and back, like the cozy Crate & Barrel Pierre Light Brown Oak Wood Dining Side Chair with Faux Shearling or the tufted CB2 Hank Tufted Light Blue Velvet Dining Chair.

If sitting for long periods, you might also want to look for more ergonomic shapes with a rounded back, like the Rove Concepts Uma Dining Chair. 

Questions You Might Ask

How many chairs do you need for a dining table?

This varies depending on your needs, but a good rule of thumb is that for rectangular seating, a 54-inch table seats up to four adults, a 60- to 72-inch table seats up to six adults, and an 84- to 96-inch table seats up to eight adults. For round tables, a 42- to 48-inch diameter table seats four, while a 60-inch diameter table seats six to eight. 

Also consider that it’s generally comfortable to have 24 inches of space per chair and to allow at least 2 inches between seats (but if you have the space, 6 inches is ideal). Between the table and walls or other furniture, give around 36 inches of space.

Take Our Word For It

This article was written by Jen Woo, a design, lifestyle, and culture writer and content strategist. She has interviewed and worked for and with many interior designers and lives at her dining table with her family, eating, crafting, and often working. 

To put together this list, we thoroughly researched recliners and considered factors like style materials, comfort and support, price, and positive reviews. For expert advice on how to shop for dining chairs, we also spoke to interior designer Noz Nozawa.