The conference room is where clients form an impression and where your team sits through long planning sessions. Mismatched or worn-out chairs undermine both. Pre-owned designer seating is one of the most practical ways to fix that, provided you know what grade you are buying and size the room correctly.
Why pre-owned designer chairs make sense here
Conference chairs get far less daily use than task chairs. A chair from a meeting room that was booked a few hours a day often shows less wear than a desk chair of the same age. That makes conference seating a strong category for pre-owned buying.
Office Station sells pre-owned furniture from brands including Herman Miller, Steelcase, Knoll, Haworth, Humanscale, Teknion, Allsteel, Kimball, AIS and Friant. We are an independent reseller, not an authorized dealer, and manufacturer warranties generally do not transfer to pre-owned pieces. What you get instead is a clear condition grade.
A, B and C grades for conference chairs
| Grade | What it means | Where it fits best |
|---|---|---|
| A: Like new | Little or no visible wear on upholstery, arms or base | Boardrooms, client-facing rooms, executive suites |
| B: Very good | Light cosmetic wear, not noticeable at normal distance | Standard meeting rooms and team huddle rooms |
| C: Good | Fully functional, with visible wear such as scuffed bases or faded fabric | Training rooms, internal project rooms, overflow seating |
Sizing chairs to the table
Most conference rooms are either overcrowded or under-seated because chair count was guessed. Use table edge length as the guide.
- Per seat: allow about 28 to 30 inches of table edge for a typical conference chair with arms.
- Behind the chair: leave at least 36 inches from the table edge to the wall so people can pull out and walk behind seated colleagues. More is better in rooms people move around in.
- Arm height: check that the chair arms slide under the table apron. Chairs that bump the table get left pushed out, which clutters the room.
Typical seat counts
- 6-foot table: 4 to 6 chairs
- 8-foot table: 6 to 8 chairs
- 10-foot table: 8 to 10 chairs
- 12-foot table: 10 to 12 chairs
Request conference chairs by room
Choosing a conference chair style
Mid-back swivel with casters
The default for most meeting rooms. Low enough to keep sightlines clear across the table and to a screen, adjustable enough for hour-long sessions.
High-back conference chairs
A more formal look for boardrooms. They block sightlines in smaller rooms, so reserve them for larger tables and generous clearance.
Sled-base and four-leg chairs
Good for huddle rooms, rooms with glass walls where a tidy look matters, and rooms without the clearance for rolling chairs. Less comfortable for long meetings.
Mesh vs upholstered
Mesh backs stay cooler in long sessions and show wear less. Upholstered or leather-look chairs feel more formal but show stains and fading, which is where the A, B and C grade matters most.
What to check on pre-owned conference chairs
- Tilt and tension: the chair should recline smoothly and return upright.
- Height adjustment: the cylinder should hold its position without sinking.
- Casters: all five roll freely and suit your floor type.
- Arms: pads intact, no cracks at the mounting points.
- Upholstery: check seat fronts and arm pads, where wear shows first.
- Set consistency: same model, color and base finish across the room.
How to request conference chairs
The fastest way to get an accurate answer is to describe each room rather than send a single total. For every room, include:
- Table size and shape: length, width and whether it is rectangular, boat-shaped or round.
- Chair count: the number you want at the table plus any wall seating.
- Grade: A, B or C, based on who uses the room.
- Style preference: mesh or upholstered, mid-back or high-back, casters or sled base.
- Color matching: whether chairs must match exactly or just coordinate.
- Location and timing: your address and move-in date, so delivery can be planned.
Greater Phoenix delivery is $195 central or $295 metro. Freight elsewhere nationwide is quoted per project. Send the details to hello@officestation.com or use the contact form.
Conference chairs as part of a larger project
Conference seating is often one piece of a move or a refresh. If you are furnishing workstations too, a 6'x6' workstation runs about $615 liquidation-grade, $1,245 remanufactured or $1,920 new, furniture only, excluding electrical, delivery and installation. Space planning is free. Browse task seating in pre-owned office chairs and the full pre-owned office furniture range.
Moving out of an existing office? Old conference tables and chairs can be included in office furniture liquidation, and a full corporate relocation can coordinate the move and the new furniture together.
Average market rate Prices subject to availability and project pricing.
Frequently asked questions
How many chairs fit around a conference table?
Allow roughly 28 to 30 inches of table edge per chair for task-style conference chairs with arms. An 8-foot table typically seats 6 to 8, a 10-foot table 8 to 10 and a 12-foot table 10 to 12, depending on chair width and whether you seat people at the ends.
What do the A, B and C grades mean?
Grade A is like new, with little or no visible wear. Grade B is very good, with light cosmetic wear that most people will not notice from a normal distance. Grade C is good, fully usable with more visible wear such as scuffed bases or faded upholstery.
Do pre-owned designer conference chairs come with the manufacturer warranty?
Generally no. Office Station is an independent reseller of brands such as Herman Miller, Steelcase, Knoll and Haworth, not an authorized dealer, and manufacturer warranties generally do not transfer to pre-owned furniture. Inspect or ask about condition before you buy.
Can I get a matching set of conference chairs?
Matching sets are common when chairs come out of a single office, but availability varies. Tell us the room count, chair count and whether exact color matching matters, and we will confirm what can be matched before you commit.
Should conference chairs swivel and roll?
For most meeting rooms, yes. Casters and swivel make it easy to turn toward a screen or a speaker. Boardrooms with tight clearance or formal rooms sometimes use sled-base or four-leg chairs instead to keep the room tidy.
