Sizing Up the Right Petite Chair for Smaller Users Just as with those individuals who are taller or heavier than the average body, petite people have a difficult time finding a chair that fits properly. Most chairs, even when adjustable, are designed to fit the 5th – 95th percentile. A 5’2″ female is technically right at the 5th percentile, but will still find that most chairs are really not scaled properly. An improperly sized chair can present genuine health risks. A seat that is too deep can create circulatory problems for the lower legs. A properly fitting seat has two to four fingers’ width of space between the front of the seat edge and the back of the knee. Too high a seat can also cut off circulation to the lower extremities; however if seat height is the only fit problem, a foot rest is a quick and inexpensive fix. Many chairs have a seated height that starts anywhere from 16″ to 19″ or more. Given that the correct seated height for a 5’ tall person is 14″ and only 15.5″ at 5’4″, too high a seat is a common problem.
Arms that are too far apart limit support for the shoulders and arms. Proper support of the arms is part of the solution to prevent hand, arm, thoracic, and neck problems, so improperly placed chairs arms can rule out an otherwise great chair. In addition to these fit issues, the lumbar may hit in the wrong place and the headrest miss the head if the chair back cannot be adjusted to fit the smaller person. Note to heavier people: a heavier, short person might not need as shallow or narrow a seat as their hips will require a larger space to fit comfortably and may be perfectly suited for a standard sized chair, provided it is equipped with a shorter cylinder to offer a lower seated height range. Great chair options for petite ladies Three chairs we’ve found that fit an amazing range of bodies are the Steelcase Amia chair, Steelcase Leap chair, and the Steelcase Think chair. In addition to having a generous seat depth range, these seats are narrower than many, and the standard arms can be slid inward, close to the body.
These chairs are especially well suited for corporate environments where one chair may have to fit many users over its lifetime. Neutral Posture, Bodybilt, Ergocentric and Via all offer chairs with the option of a small or even extra small seat. Seating Inc. has several models that offer a petite version that is scaled to fit a smaller body. Thus it is possible to offer an entire office a uniform appearance while fitting different body sizes. All of these companies offer arm options as well, that at a minimum are width adjustable. Some models have arms that will pivot inward or offer a double pivot, allowing the user to bring them closer to the body. Some of our favorites In addition to the Steelcase chairs named above, The Ergocentric GeoCentric chair is comfortable, well built and an excellent value. The Neutral Posture XSM Petite chair is designed for the ultra-petite, under 5’ tall person and can work well even for an extremely petite person – as short as three feet tall.
I’m 5’1″ and bought a Neutral Posture NPS8500 chair for my personal use (without the headrest) and absolutely love it. A great home office chair at a budget price is the ErgoCentric Saffron Apt chair, which starts just above the $200 mark. The Bodybilt J2406 chair or Bodybilt J3406 chair are the ultimate in comfort and are highly customizable, making them the best choice for those with serious pain issues. All of these can be customized into a drafting stool with height adjustable foot rings for leg support to accommodate a taller desk or a sit to stand workstation. In summary, just as with any other body size, getting a chair that fits the body correctly is the key factor to all day comfort and injury prevention. While it is more challenging for the petite person to find a good chair, there are excellent options out there. Ergonomic Chairs for Petite People Your Complete Guide to Ergonomic Chairs 3-Year Furniture Protection Plan 5-Year Furniture Protection Plan
Used & new (75) from $123.62 Want this professionally assembled? Alera Etros Series Petite Mid-Back Multifunction Mesh Chair, BlackDetailsKensington SoleMate Adjustable Footrest with Comfort Memory Foam (K56144USF) FREE Shipping. Buy "Alera Etros Series Petite Mid-Back Multifunction M...” from Amazon Warehouse Deals and save 67% off the $379.00 list price. An economical choice for mesh comfort. designed for the petite user, but adjustable to fit all. three-lever multifunction mechanism for complete control of the back angle relative to seat, seat slide and forward tilt. adjustable height back with adjustable lumbar support. height-and width-adjustable arms with soft polyurethane armcaps for ideal arm placement. black five-star nylon base with hooded casters. tilt lock and tilt tension controls rate of recline to accommodate any user. 28.4 x 23.8 x 15 inches 3.8 out of 5 stars #3,705 in Office Products (See top 100) #55 in Office Products > Office Furniture & Accessories > Chairs & Sofas > Desk Chairs
48 pounds (View shipping rates and policies) Amazon only ships this item within the contiguous 48 United States. Other Sellers on Amazon may ship this item to Alaska, Hawaii and US Territories. This item is not eligible for international shipping. Product Warranty: For warranty information about this product, please Alera Elusion Series Mesh Mid-Back Swivel/Tilt Chair, Black Alera Elusion Series Mesh Mid-Back Multifunction Chair, Black Modway Articulate Black Mesh Office Chair 5 star51%4 star16%3 star13%2 star12%1 star8%See all verified purchase reviewsTop Customer ReviewsThis is the one I was looking forAlera Etros Series Petite Mid-Back Multifunction Mesh Chair, BlackI love this chair/ It is the correct size for me with so many options to adjust for personal customization. I am a senior woman 5'3" and weighing 120 pounds. I worked for many years in a computer room on any number of chairs that were not to my size or comfort. Every office chair I have purchased for my home use is 'man size'.
Just try searching for women's or petite chairs and their won't be many. There are only a few reviews for this item on Amazon but you will find many great reviews for it if you simply search.This chair works for me, and works beautifully. The height adjustment is generous from low to higher than most of this type of chair. All of the other adjustments make the chair personal and comfortable to your satisfaction. It did take me several times of getting up & down to do all of the adjusting just the way I wanted it. Two people would make all of the back adjustments easier, especially the backrest up/down and also the lumbar adjustment capabilities. I could not slide the seat back and forth but my son came to my rescue and got it to move once quite hard and after that it was just fine. It is a heavy, sturdy chair and the mesh is nice and tight. The seat is a tad firm but I suspect it will soften up with use or I will add a cushion. I did not purchase this item here at Amazon even though I first found it here.
That was because to my amazement I found it quite a bit cheaper searching around the web.The assembly instructions are pictures with text, the parts are few with much of the chair already assembled. It took me less than a half hour because if you've assembled one, they all go together the same way. It rolls nicely and I sit 'well' in it. The arm's could be a more padded & softer for my taste but that is mostly my fault because I generally lean on my elbow. I highly recommend the chair, especially for someone my size and wanting to adjust seat height, lumbar and backrest height. It is advertised as a 'petite' chair so I can understand that a good size man would not have praise for it. It does it all for me!!Good chair for short peopleNot as petite as you would think|Hooray for the Little Guy!| What Other Items Do Customers Buy After Viewing This Item? Alera Elusion Series Mesh High-Back Multifunction Chair, Black See and discover other items: best office chairs, staples chair, desk accessories for women, office chair adjustable arms, conference room chairs on casters, ergonomic chair