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An office chair for a tall person: check the top of the range
Updated
A tall person needs a chair whose seat goes high enough to keep the thighs level and a seat deep enough to hold most of the thigh. By our rule of thumb, a person who is 6 ft 5 in wants a seat height near 20.5 inches and can use a seat up to about 20.5 inches deep. Check the highest seat setting on the listing, not the weight limit.
What goes wrong for tall people
OSHA's workstation guide says a seat pan that is too short puts extra pressure on the buttocks of taller users. A seat that tops out too low pushes your knees up above your hips. You slide forward and lose the backrest. A tall back matters too, so the lumbar curve lands in the small of your back and not above your belt.
- You at 6 ft 2 in19.5 in
- You at 6 ft 5 in20.5 in
- You at 6 ft 8 in21 in
- SIHOO M18 highest21 in
- GABRYLLY highest23.6 in
| Your height | Seat height, about | Seat depth, up to |
|---|---|---|
| 6 ft 0 in | 19 in | 19 in |
| 6 ft 2 in | 19.5 in | 19.5 in |
| 6 ft 5 in | 20.5 in | 20.5 in |
| 6 ft 8 in | 21 in | 21.5 in |
For a tall person, a seat shallower than your number is not wrong. It just supports less of the thigh. The deeper the seat, up to your number, the better.
The picks that fit tall people
- GABRYLLY High Back Mesh Chair. The listing prints a seat range of 18.9 to 23.6 inches and a 20 inch deep seat, the deepest we list. It suits people about 6 ft 0 in and up by our math. The catch: owners report some chairs sinking or sticking at a low height.
- HON Ignition 2.0. The seat slides forward, which adds thigh support. The catch: the listing gives one seat height, not a range, so ask how high it goes.
- SIHOO M18. The maker says it suits people up to 6 ft 2 in, and its seat tops out at 21 inches. The catch: the 18 inch seat is on the short side for long thighs.
Checklist before you order
- Find the highest seat setting on the listing or the maker's chart. Compare it with your number from the calculator.
- Check the seat depth. Deeper is better, up to your number.
- Check the back height and where the lumbar pad sits.
- Make sure the arms go high enough, or flip up, so they do not push your shoulders up.
Tall and heavy are different problems. If you need both, read weight limits and the big and tall label, then compare all seven picks.