12 Dining Chairs With Armrests You’ll Love

The dining chairs with armrests that people enjoy most combine proper support with a size that suits their table. Carver chairs, tub chairs, curved upholstered designs and spindle backed timber chairs all offer that extra comfort, and each brings a different mood to the room. The key is choosing a style that fits your home and checking that the arms clear the table so the chairs are easy to use every day.

Armrests change how a table feels. They encourage people to linger, they support the elbows during long conversations and they give a helpful push when standing up, which many older relatives appreciate. Here are twelve styles worth considering, followed by the measurements that make sure they work in your space.

1. The Classic Carver

A carver is simply the armed version of a matching side chair, traditionally placed at the head and foot of the table. It is the most straightforward way to introduce armrests without changing the look of your set. Two carvers with four or six armless chairs is a long established arrangement in British dining rooms, and it works equally well in modern homes. Many ranges in our dining chairs UK sale collection offer both versions of the same design.

2. The Tub Dining Chair

Tub chairs have a rounded back that curves continuously into the arms, creating a cocooning, enclosed seat. They are compact for an armchair because the arms and back form a single shape rather than projecting outwards. In a small dining room or a kitchen diner, tub chairs give real comfort without overwhelming the table. Their softer outline also suits round tables well, since the curves echo each other. For inspiration on the shape, our modern tub chairs UK range shows how versatile the silhouette can be.

3. The Wingback Carver

A wingback carver brings height and ceremony to the end of a table. The projecting wings frame the sitter and create a strong focal point, which suits formal dining rooms and period homes with generous ceilings. Combine two wingbacks with slimmer side chairs so the table feels balanced rather than heavy.

4. The Curved Boucle Chair

Soft, rounded shapes upholstered in looped boucle fabric have become a familiar sight in contemporary interiors. The texture adds warmth and the curves make the chair feel relaxed and welcoming. Boucle armchairs suit neutral schemes in cream, oatmeal or stone, and they look particularly good against pale timber tables and plaster walls. They are best in homes where the chairs will not face heavy daily wear from young children.

5. The Velvet Channel Chair

Channel tufting, where the upholstery is stitched into vertical ribs, gives a velvet armchair a tailored, slightly retro look. The ribbing catches the light and shows off deep colours such as emerald, navy, ochre and dusky pink. These chairs bring a sense of occasion to evening meals and pair well with marble or dark wood tables. Our velvet dining chairs UK collection includes styles with and without arms in a range of rich colours.

6. The Leather Armchair

Leather dining armchairs feel substantial and age gracefully, developing a soft patina over time. Tan and cognac tones suit industrial and rustic rooms, while black and dark brown lean towards a more classic or contemporary look. Leather and faux leather are also easy to wipe clean, which makes them a sensible choice for everyday family meals. Browse our modern leather dining chairs UK range to compare finishes and frame styles.

7. The Spindle Back Timber Chair

Wooden armchairs with slender spindles in the back have deep roots in British and Scandinavian furniture making. They feel light, honest and enduring, and the open back keeps the table from looking crowded. They suit farmhouse kitchens, Scandinavian schemes and Japandi rooms alike. A seat pad adds comfort for longer meals. Our wooden dining chairs UK collection includes designs in oak and walnut tones.

8. The Rattan or Cane Armchair

Woven rattan and cane bring texture and a relaxed, summery feel to a dining room. The open weave lets light pass through, so even a chair with generous arms looks airy. Rattan armchairs work beautifully in conservatories, garden rooms and bright kitchen extensions, and they pair well with natural timber and linen. A cushion on the seat softens the frame and adds a note of colour.

9. The Swivel Dining Chair

Swivel dining chairs rotate on their base, which makes getting in and out of the table easier, particularly in tight spaces where there is little room to pull a chair back. They are practical in kitchen diners where people move between the table and the counter, and many designs combine a swivel base with a comfortable tub shaped seat. Look for a smooth, quiet mechanism and a stable, weighted base.

10. The Industrial Metal Armchair

Armchairs with steel frames and leather, timber or faux leather seats bring a sturdy, workshop inspired look. They are durable, easy to maintain and suit loft style apartments and converted spaces. Pair them with a thick timber table and warm lighting so the room feels welcoming rather than stark. Felt glides on the feet protect floors and reduce noise.

11. The Mid Century Armchair

Mid century armchairs often feature an upholstered seat and back with exposed wooden arms and tapered legs. The combination of fabric and timber feels warm and considered, and the shapes are compact enough for most dining rooms. Mustard, teal and rust upholstery suit the style, as do softer neutrals if you prefer a quieter look.

12. The Low Lounge Dining Chair

Some armchairs sit a little lower and deeper than a standard dining chair, blurring the line between dining and lounge seating. They suit relaxed households where the dining table is used for long weekend breakfasts, board games and conversation as much as for formal meals. Pair them with a slightly lower table, or check that the seat height still works comfortably with your current one.

Measuring for Chairs With Armrests

Armchairs need a little more planning than armless designs. These are the figures to check before choosing.

Arm height against the table apron: measure from the floor to the underside of the table frame. If the chair’s arm height is lower than this figure, the chair will slide under the table. If it is higher, the chair will sit slightly away from the table when not in use, which takes up more floor.

Width: armchairs are typically 55 to 65cm wide, compared with 45 to 50cm for many armless chairs. Allow roughly 65 to 70cm of table length per armchair so diners are not knocking elbows.

Seat height: a seat height of 45 to 48cm usually suits a standard table of around 75cm, leaving 25 to 30cm between the seat and the underside of the tabletop.

Clearance: allow at least 75 to 90cm between the table and the wall behind each chair, since armchairs are often deeper as well as wider.

If space is limited, consider armchairs only at the ends of the table, with armless chairs or a bench along the sides. This gives you the comfort of arms where it matters most without crowding the room.

Choosing the Right Style for Your Home

With twelve styles to consider, it helps to narrow the choice by thinking about how the table is used. For a busy family kitchen, practical finishes matter most: leather, faux leather, sealed timber and industrial frames will cope with daily meals and are easy to wipe down. For a dining room used mainly in the evenings and at weekends, softer materials such as velvet and boucle bring comfort and a sense of occasion.

Room size is the next filter. Tub chairs, spindle backs and rattan designs keep a compact room feeling open, while wingbacks, channel tufted velvet and low lounge chairs need a little more space around them. Finally, think about the architecture. Period homes often suit timber, wingback and velvet designs, while newer homes with open plan layouts tend to suit curved, mid century and swivel styles. There are no strict rules, but matching the chair to the room’s character usually produces the calmest result.

Mixing Armchairs With Other Seating

There is no need for every seat at the table to have arms. Many of the most comfortable and attractive dining rooms mix styles. Two armchairs at the ends, a bench along the wall and armless chairs opposite is a flexible arrangement for families. Armchairs in a contrasting colour or material can also give a plain table more character, as long as they share something with the other chairs, such as leg finish or seat height.

For more ideas on combining chairs, tables and storage, you can explore the full dining range at Furniture in Fashion and see how different styles work together.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do dining chairs with arms fit under a table?

They do if the arm height is lower than the table apron. Measure from the floor to the underside of the table frame and compare it with the chair’s listed arm height.

How much space does a dining armchair need?

Allow around 65 to 70cm of table length per armchair and 75 to 90cm of clearance behind it.

Are armchairs better for older relatives?

Many people find armrests helpful when sitting down and standing up. Choose a firm seat at a standard height for the easiest use.

Should all dining chairs have arms?

Not necessarily. A pair of armchairs at the ends of the table with armless chairs along the sides is comfortable, practical and space efficient.