Drafting chairs are designed for people who alternate their workday between sitting and standing, like architects, engineers, artists and designers. Their tall design is built to match up with tall drafting tables that adjust for height and tilt.
A good drafting chair helps you focus on your work, is ergonomic, adjustable, comfortable and easy to use. If you are looking for a drafting chair that adjusts from a height of 26-29 inches and pairs nicely with a standing desk, the Boss Office Products Multi-Function LeatherPlus Drafting Stool is an excellent choice.
Although they were originally developed for professions that involve working at tall desks, drafting chairs are used in many different applications, including people who use standing desks and people who work behind raised counters or at freestanding kiosks.
The seat, back and armrests of a drafting chair come in a variety of materials that offer a range of advantages.
All but the most basic drafting chairs are adjustable to personal preference. Adjustability allows you to not only tailor the drafting chair to fit your size and shape but also to change the configuration throughout the workday to reduce stress and strain. The better the drafting chair, the more adjustments it will have and the greater the range of adjustments, too.
Choose a drafting chair with a seat that is wide enough and long enough to provide full support to your thighs, hips and buttocks. Bucket seats wrap around you; stool seats are round and usually have no back. The best ergonomic seats are waterfall seats with rounded front edges to reduce pressure on your legs.
Armrests support your forearms and reduce pressure and tension when you are working at a desk. They may be simple plastic or upholstered in the same material used in the seats and seat backs. Longer armrests are more comfortable and provide more support than shorter ones.
Simple drafting chairs with the basic adjustments usually cost between $75 and $150. Better chairs with more and greater adjustability run anywhere from $200 to $350.
A. Floor mats are great when the floor is carpeted because they prevent dents and impressions while making the chair easier to roll about. They are great on hardwood floors, too, because they prevent scratches, scuffs and repetitive wear and tear.
A. A seat back with a tilt mechanism allows you to shift your weight forward and back, much like a rocking chair. The tension is adjusted by a knob that controls the amount of resistance to the tilting. Larger, heavier people benefit from greater tension.
Boss Office Products Multi-Function LeatherPlus Drafting Stool
What you need to know: This black and chrome drafting chair has professional quality and feel at a reasonable price.
What you’ll love: The many adjustments allow you to tailor this chair to fit how you work. The back and seat angles lock into position. The seat height adjustment is a pneumatic gas lift. The bonded LeatherPlus seating surface has a high-quality feel and is quite durable. The support ring at the base is solid and the casters have double wheels.
What you should consider: LeatherPlus is not a breathable fabric.
Boss Office Products Ergonomic Works Drafting Chair
What you need to know: This budget-friendly drafting chair can be ordered with adjustable arms, loop arms or no arms at all.
What you’ll love: The contoured back and seating surfaces are upholstered in easy-care tweed fabric. The built-in lumbar support and waterfall seat design reduce stress on your legs by promoting circulation. The weight capacity is 275 pounds.
What you should consider: The lack of arms is tiring after long stretches of sitting.
What you need to know: This drafting chair hydraulically adjusts from a height of 20-29 inches and pairs nicely with a standing desk.
What you’ll love: This counter-height chair has more options and greater adjustability than most comparable products. The movable arms adjust to several different positions to offer extra support when needed. This chair has lower back lumbar support, seat tilt and a tension control knob.
What you should consider: This chair takes some time and effort to assemble properly.
Prices listed reflect time and date of publication and are subject to change.
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