Office side chairs do quiet but important work. They seat clients in a private office, give a coworker a place to sit at a workstation and fill the reception area where visitors form their first impression. Because they are often an afterthought, they end up mismatched, undercounted or ordered late. Planning them with the rest of your furniture fixes all three.
Where side chairs belong in an office
Before choosing a style, map out every place a guest or colleague might sit for a few minutes. Most offices have more of these spots than they expect.
- Private offices. One or two chairs across the desk for meetings and client conversations.
- Manager workstations. A single guest chair tucked beside the work surface for quick check-ins.
- Reception and lobby. A group of chairs, often with a table, sized for your busiest visitor period.
- Small huddle spaces. Two to four chairs around a round table for short meetings.
- Hallway waiting spots. Outside HR, interview rooms or a medical or legal consultation room.
- Break rooms. Durable side chairs that handle spills and constant use.
Side chair styles compared
Different rooms call for different builds. This comparison helps you match the chair to the job.
| Style | Best for | Trade-offs |
|---|---|---|
| Four-leg upholstered with arms | Private offices, reception | Comfortable and professional; takes more floor space and needs fabric care |
| Armless upholstered | Tight offices, beside workstations | Slim footprint and easy to slide in; less support for longer visits |
| Sled base | Offices and huddle rooms | Glides easily on carpet and looks clean; can mark some hard floors without proper glides |
| Poly or plastic shell | Break rooms, busy lobbies | Very easy to clean and durable; less formal |
| Wood frame | Executive offices, law and finance reception | Warm, traditional look; heavier and shows scratches |
| Casters | Shared meeting spots | Easy to move; can roll away on hard floors and read as less formal |
Matching side chairs to your workstation and reception order
The easiest way to get a finished look is to choose side chairs at the same time as your workstations and reception pieces. A few decisions keep everything consistent:
- Pick one frame finish. Match the metal or wood on side chairs to workstation legs, table bases or reception furniture.
- Choose a fabric family. Use one fabric color for reception and a complementary neutral in offices, or run one fabric throughout.
- Standardize on one or two models. Two models, an armed chair for offices and reception plus an armless chair for workstations, cover most offices.
- Count by room, then add a buffer. Add a few extra chairs for new hires and meetings that run larger than planned.
- Put everything on one quote. One order makes delivery and installation simpler to coordinate.
How volume pricing and delivery work
Side chairs are usually ordered alongside workstations, so it helps to understand how the larger order is priced. For a 6'x6' workstation, furniture-only prices are $615 liquidation-grade, $1,245 remanufactured and $1,920 new. These exclude electrical, delivery and professional installation.
- Volume pricing on workstations: 5% at 20 or more stations, 8% at 50 or more and 12% at 100 or more. Ask how side chairs on the same order are priced.
- Installation: $95 per workstation with a $495 minimum.
- Delivery in Greater Phoenix: $195 in the central zone and $295 across the metro.
- Delivery elsewhere: Nationwide freight is quoted per project.
- Space planning: Free, so you can see where side chairs fit before you order.
Lead times depend on the tier. In-stock liquidation-grade furniture can be ready in as little as 72 hours, remanufactured usually takes 7 to 14 days and new is typically 4 to 6 weeks. If you mix tiers, plan your move-in date around the longest lead time on the order.
Build a workstation and chair quote
Buying pre-owned side chairs
Office Station sells pre-owned furniture from lines 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.
Every item carries a condition grade: A is like new, B is very good and C is good. For side chairs, it often makes sense to buy A grade for reception and client offices, where appearance matters most, and B or C grade for break rooms and internal huddle spaces. When you inspect a side chair, check that:
- The frame does not rock on a flat floor and joints are tight.
- Upholstery has no tears, pilling or stains that will not clean.
- Arm caps and glides are intact, since missing glides can scratch floors.
- Chairs in a set share the same fabric and frame color.
See more on our pre-owned office chairs and pre-owned office furniture pages.
Moving or clearing out an old office
If new side chairs are part of a move, Office Station also handles corporate relocation and liquidation of the furniture you leave behind. You receive a written net offer based on resale value minus removal cost.
Average market rate Prices subject to availability and project pricing.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between a side chair and a task chair?
A task chair is built for hours of work with height, tilt and arm adjustments. A side chair is a simpler, usually non-swiveling seat for guests, meetings and short visits. Side chairs are lighter, take less floor space and cost less to buy and move.
How many side chairs does a typical office need?
A common starting point is one or two guest chairs for each private office, a pair at manager workstations that host frequent one-on-ones, and reception seating sized to your busiest visitor hour. Walk through how visitors actually move through your space and adjust from there.
Can side chairs be added to a workstation order?
Yes. You can request side chairs on the same quote as workstations and reception furniture, and free space planning is included. Volume pricing applies to workstations at 5% for 20 or more stations, 8% at 50 or more and 12% at 100 or more, so ask how chairs on the same order will be priced.
Do pre-owned side chairs match new furniture?
They can, but finishes vary by manufacturer and year. Ask for exact frame and fabric colors, and consider buying a full set of one model so reception and offices look consistent.
