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How to choose the right draughtsman chair
Sitting at a high workbench or packing table? A standard office chair won't reach, so people end up perched on the edge or craning up at their work. A draughtsman chair is built for exactly that situation. Here's how to choose the right one for your team.
What is a draughtsman chair?
A draughtsman chair is a high-seated chair designed for elevated workstations such as packing tables, industrial benches and drawing desks. Most have a gas-lift seat, an adjustable backrest and a foot ring or footrest, so your feet stay supported even when they can't reach the floor.
You may also see them called factory chairs, workshop chairs or industrial chairs. They all do the same job: keeping you comfortable at height.
What height do you work at?
Start with your bench or table height. Our draughtsman chairs come in two kinds of seat height range:
• High models for standard workbenches and packing tables
• Low models for lower tables and counters
A good rule of thumb: when you're seated, your forearms should rest roughly parallel to the work surface. If you're still choosing a bench, our workbench buying guide will help.
Do you need a foot ring or footrest?
If your feet are dangling, your legs are doing a job the chair should be doing. A foot ring or footrest gives them somewhere to rest, which matters more the higher the seat goes.
ADELAIDE has an adjustable foot ring that suits different heights, and KILDA, DARWIN (high model) and RANDWICK also come with foot support. Low models usually don't need it, because your feet can reach the floor.
Glides or wheels?
Staying at one bench? Glides keep the chair steady, even at full height. ADELAIDE, CLAYTON and PALMER all have glides.
Moving between stations? Wheels let you roll without getting up. The low versions of BRISBANE, DARWIN and PALMER come on castors so you can roll without getting up.
Moving between stations? Wheels let you roll without getting up. The low versions of BRISBANE, DARWIN and PALMER come on castors so you can roll without getting up.
Consider your floor, too. Hard, smooth floors generally make it easier to move a chair on castors, while uneven surfaces or thick carpets can make rolling more difficult.
Which material suits your workplace?
The right upholstery depends on how clean, or how tough, your environment is.
- Fabric is comfortable and suits cleaner environments. See DARWIN and ADELAIDE.
- Vinyl or imitation leather wipes down easily. See DARWIN and AUGUSTA.
- Polyurethane foam is the tough one. It wipes clean, is flame retardant and resists oils, chemicals and welding sparks. See RANDWICK.
- Moulded plastic is durable, easy to clean and suitable for welding or chemical work. See CLAYTON.
How adjustable does it need to be?
If several people share the chair, look for an adjustable seat and backrest. DARWIN's backrest adjusts by 60 mm in height and 30 mm in depth, so it's easy to set up for different people. RANDWICK and CLAYTON also let you adjust the seat and backrest angle. An armrest kit is available for CLAYTON, AUGUSTA and RANDWICK, so you can add armrests to the chair you choose.
Our favourite draughtsman chairs
- Long days at a high bench on a sensible budget? ADELAIDE has an adjustable foot ring and glides, and it's the most affordable chair in the range.
- Sharing a chair between shifts? DARWIN comes in fabric or wipe-clean vinyl, in high and low versions, and the backrest adjusts to suit different people.
- Working near welding or chemicals? RANDWICK has flame-retardant polyurethane foam that stands up to the job. CLAYTON is a hard-wearing moulded plastic alternative.
- Need to move between stations? BRISBANE has wheels and a lower seat height.
- Want one range that covers a few setups? AUGUSTA comes in fabric or vinyl, in high or low versions.
Find your ideal draughtsman chair
| DRAUGHTSMAN CHAIRS | Seat height | Material | Base - low model | Base - high model | Low foot support/base | High foot support/base | Mechanism |
| 600–845 mm | Black fabric | no | yes | N/A | Adjustable foot ring and glides | Basic | |
 |
400-535 mm (low) / 555-815 mm (high) | Plywood | yes | yes | Castors | Glide feet and foot ring | Basic |
 |
420-540 mm (low) / 540–740 mm (high) | Polyurethane | yes | yes | Glide feet | Glide feet and foot ring | Basic |
 |
400–520 mm (low) / 560-810 mm (high) | Polyurethane | yes | yes | Castors | Glide feet and foot ring | Advanced |
 |
430–550 mm (low) /
635–815 mm (high)
|
Blue fabric or vinyl | yes | yes | Castors | Glide feet and foot ring |
Basic
|
 |
475–600 mm (low) /
650–900 mm (high)
|
Moulded plastic | yes | yes | Glide feet | Glide feet and foot ring | Basic |
 |
475–600 mm (low) / 650–900 mm (high) | Black fabric or vinyl | yes | yes | Glide feet | Glide feet and foot ring | Advanced |
 |
460–580 mm (low) / 630–860 mm (high) | Flame-retardant PU foam | yes | yes | Glide feet | Glide feet and foot ring | Advanced |
Looking for something different?
Not every job needs a draughtsman chair. If you work in static-sensitive areas, take a look at our ESD chairs. For perching or shorter spells of sitting, try our saddle chairs, support stools or wheeled stools.
Not sure which chair fits your workstation? Contact us and we'll be happy to help.
£99.00
Ex. VAT
- It should match your work surface. Choose a high model for standard workbenches and packing tables, and a low model for lower tables. When you're seated, your forearms should rest roughly parallel to the work surface. The seat heights in our range go from 400 mm to 900 mm, depending on the model.
- A draughtsman chair sits higher and has a taller gas lift and, usually, a foot ring or footrest. A standard office chair is designed for a normal desk height, so your feet rest on the floor.
- Some do. BRISBANE comes with wheels, while ranges such as ADELAIDE, CLAYTON and PALMER have glides for a stable seat at height.
- RANDWICK has a flame-retardant polyurethane foam seat that resists oils, chemicals and welding sparks. CLAYTON has a moulded plastic seat that is suitable for welding and chemical work and is easy to clean.
- All of our draughtsman chairs support up to 110 kg.
- Yes. Draftsman is the US spelling of draughtsman, and both words describe the same type of high-seated chair.
