Lounge chair and sofa dimensions: seat height, depth and space in a lobby

How big is a lounge chair?

Between 60 and 80 cm wide, 65 and 95 cm deep and 68 and 85 cm high overall. The lounge chairs in Kadek's collection fall within those ranges, apart from the compact Seruni Mini, and they match what furniture makers give for a living-room armchair. Above 80 cm wide, a lounge chair starts to behave like a small sofa.

Overall depth includes the back and, on a reclined chair, how far it leans out. That is why two chairs of similar width can take up very different floor space: Seruni and Rukun differ by 10 cm in width but 31 cm in depth.

How high should the seat be?

41 to 49 cm on a lounge chair, according to Castlery, and 43 to 48 cm on a sofa. Lower than a dining chair, because in a lounge there is no table to reach with your elbows.

Low seats, at 38 to 43 cm, look more relaxed but are harder to get up from. In a hotel, where guests of every age sit down, stay in the middle or upper part of the range and choose chairs with firm arms, which help people stand.

Upholstery and the real seat height

A cushion sinks when someone sits. Measure the seat height with the cushion compressed, or compare chairs of the same kind: a webbed or taut-leather seat barely gives, while thick foam can drop several centimetres.

How deep should the seat be?

It depends on how long the guest stays. Castlery gives 53 to 61 cm of seat depth for a standard sofa. In a lobby people pass through, a seat of that depth or a little less lets them sit upright with their feet on the floor. In a bar lounge or a suite, a deeper seat invites them to lean back.

• Short waits, reception or meeting areas: medium seat depth and a more upright back.
• Bar, library or lounge: a deeper seat, a reclined back and cushions.
• Bedroom or suite: a reading chair with arms and a side table next to it.

How high should the coffee table be?

Level with the seat or slightly lower: 35 to 50 cm, depending on the seat. Interior guides usually recommend 35 to 45 cm between the front of the seat and the table, close enough to put a cup down and far enough to stretch your legs.

How much space does a lounge group take in a lobby?

More than it looks on plan. An example with two Tentram chairs, 68 × 77 cm, facing each other across a 60 cm coffee table, with 40 cm on each side:

The group takes about 3 × 1.5 m before counting the space around it. In Spain, an accessible route needs at least 1.20 m of clear width and a 1.50 m circle for a wheelchair to turn, under the Technical Building Code. Keep those clearances between groups and to reception, the lifts and the exits.

What changes in a lounge chair for a hotel?

Strength and fire. A lobby sees more use in a month than a living room does in a year, so the frame should be tested for non-domestic use to EN 16139, which also covers sofas and lounge chairs. Any upholstery needs the EN 1021 ignition tests explained in the guide to fire-retardant upholstery.

Check how it cleans and repairs too: removable covers, zipped cushions, leather that wipes clean. The guide to leather for hospitality compares the types of leather for this use.

How do you check the dimensions before you buy?

1. Ask the maker for the width, depth, overall height, seat height and arm height.
2. Draw the groups on the plan at their real depth, with the clearances.
3. Sit in the chair and stand up without pushing on your knees.
4. Check the coffee table sits level with the seat or slightly below.
5. If the chair is made to measure, approve the technical drawing before production.

Kadek's lounge chairs and sofas can be tried at the Madrid showroom, by appointment on weekdays. The lobby and lounge furniture page brings together the pieces designed for these spaces.