Cafe Chair

How to choose cafe chairs when floor space is tight

A cafe lives on covers per square metre, so the chair that wins is usually the one with the smallest footprint that guests still find comfortable for thirty to forty minutes.

Three things decide it. Footprint first: a side chair typically needs 450–500mm of table edge per guest, while an armchair needs 550–600mm and eats a cover off every four-top. Weight second: staff set out and clear seating several times a day, and anything over 5kg slows that down, especially where chairs go outside each morning and come in at close. Stacking third: if the floor gets mopped nightly or the room turns into an events space, models built to nest save more time than any other feature on this page.

Match the seat to the table height

Cafes run more table heights than restaurants do, and mismatched pairs are the most common ordering error.

• Coffee or low tables at around 480mm take lounge and tub seating with a 450mm seat height and no legroom conflict.
• Standard dining tables at 760mm take a 450mm seat height, the height most models here are built to.
• Counter or poseur tables at 900–1100mm need stools at 650–810mm, not chairs.

Measure the tables you already own before ordering, since a 20mm error is visible across a full room.

Indoor, outdoor and pavement seating

Pavement and terrace seating asks more of a frame than an indoor room does. Polypropylene and aluminium handle rain and UV without swelling or rusting, and they rinse clean after pollen and traffic dust. Beech and other timber frames belong indoors unless the finish is rated for exterior use. Anything left out overnight also needs to be light enough to bring in quickly and stable enough not to blow over empty, which is where stacking metal and resin frames earn their place.

Cafe chair types compared

Prices as listed on 30 August 2026. Stacking is confirmed where the model name states it; check the product page for the rest.

Fire certification and commercial standards

Upholstered seating used in a UK commercial venue is normally specified to CRIB5 under BS 5852, and many landlords, insurers and local authority inspections ask to see it. Unupholstered polypropylene, metal and timber frames sit outside that requirement. Certification and any strength testing vary by model, so request the paperwork for the specific chair before a bulk order rather than after delivery.

Ordering, storage and volume pricing

Prices shown are per chair as listed on 30 August 2026, with fabric and finish options priced per variant. For a full site, send your seat count, table heights and whether any seating goes outdoors, and Great Albion Furniture will quote against current stock.

FAQ

How many cafe chairs fit around a 700mm square table?
Four side chairs fit a 700mm square table comfortably, allowing 450–500mm of table edge per guest. Swap to armchairs and the same table seats two, since armchairs need 550–600mm each. For four armchair covers you need an 800mm square or a 900mm round table instead.

Which frames can stay outside all year?
Polypropylene and aluminium frames tolerate rain, frost and UV without rusting or swelling, so they suit pavement and terrace seating. Timber and upholstered models are indoor products unless the finish is specifically rated for exterior use, and leaving them out shortens their life considerably.

Do my chairs need CRIB5 fire certification?
Upholstered seating in a UK commercial venue is normally specified to CRIB5 under BS 5852, and inspectors and insurers can ask for the certificate. Bare polypropylene, metal and wooden frames are not upholstered, so the requirement does not apply to them.