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No dining space—whether it’s a formal room or that tiny corner of your kitchen—would be complete without at least one of the best dining chairs to serve the right vibes when you take a seat at the table. Listen, we’re not here to judge if you enjoy your meals from the comfort of your couch, but having a grown-up set of dining chairs on rotation will distract your guests from asking one too many intrusive questions while also providing you with some extra seating options.
In a world full of an abundance of chair types (and too many knockoffs), one can get overwhelmed, so we consulted our colleagues at Architectural Digest to tell us about what they’ve been sitting on—at the table and beyond. Scroll down for their unfiltered opinions on the best dining chairs that money can buy on a budget.
Wooden Chairs
Upholstered Dining Chairs
Metal & Leather Dining Chairs
Wooden Dining Chairs
Salt Chair
Designer: Tom Kelley for Ton
Specs: Solid beech wood, molded plywood, and wood seat
Dimensions: 33.2"H x 17"W x 18.5"D
I bought four of these chairs when I was moving into my new apartment in January 2021. At the time, these chairs were cheaper than their other offerings by a long shot and were therefore the only real option within our budget (although perhaps inflation has changed that). The chairs are thin and slim in a way that works perfectly for the (not huge) dining table in our Brooklyn apartment. When I bought them, I was worried that the black paint might chip. So far that hasn’t happened at all, but I am starting to think that the paint on some of the seats is thinning. We had to add felt pads to the bottom of the legs so that they wouldn't scratch our floor, and it was tricky to be able to cut the kind you can order on Amazon so that they were small enough.
If given the opportunity, I’d buy these chairs again! I could see myself having them for years and purchasing more of them down the line to build out my dining-chair set—if I ever have the space!– Madeleine Luckel, design editor
Comfort: B
Value: B+
Delivery and assembly: A
Overall chair rating: A
Style: A
Wishbone Chair
Designer: Hans Wegner for Carl Hansen & Søn
Specs: Solid wood frame, wooden legs, and paper cord seat
Dimensions: 29.13"H x 21.64"W x 19.68"D
I lucked out in finding a pair of Wishbone chairs at an antique sale in a small Maine town. Though the handwoven paper cord seats needed some repair, the Danish beauties—designed by Hans Wegner in 1949—still managed to be incredibly sturdy and comfortable in their age. After an attempt at restringing the seats (letting my partner do 99% of the work), I can say just how skillfully and thoughtfully the chairs are constructed. The sculptural frame is elegant, available in 48 material and color options and will absolutely last you a lifetime of dining delight. –Zoë Sessums, digital design editor
Comfort: A
Value: A
Delivery and assembly: N/A
Overall chair rating: A
Style: A+
Eames Molded Plywood Lounge Chair
Designer: Charles and Ray Eames
Specs: Molded plywood
Dimensions: 26.38"H x 21.65"W x 25.2"D
This chair has been bestowed with the honor of the best design of the 20th century by TIME, and if you’ve ever sat in one, it’s easy to understand why. This low-slung molded plywood chair has a feeling of effortless comfort yet makes such a structural statement. Available in three wood grains and two solid stains—plus now in an amazing emerald green colorway in collaboration with Hay—the Eames chair will never disappoint and never go out of style. Though it’s a lower profile and may not work with every standard dining table, the seat looks (and feels) great in every part of the home. –Zoë Sessums, digital design editor
Comfort: A
Value: A
Delivery and assembly: N/A
Overall chair rating: A
Style: A+
Rey Chair
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Designer: Bruno Rey
Specs: Beech wood frame, molded plywood seat and back, beech top, and veneer die-cast aluminum brackets
Dimensions: 31.5"H x 17.5"W x 19.5"D
I know I’m not the only one on staff who was a little too excited when Hay partnered with Dietiker to relaunch the full Rey Collection this past June with nine new colors. It’s important to choose function over fashion when it comes to seating in your dining area, because who wants to feel uncomfortable while they eat? Hands down this is one of the most comfortable wood chairs I’ve ever had the pleasure of sitting in. Trust me, you won’t find a better stackable chair with a screwless wood-to-metal connection. For people like me that live in small spaces where every inch counts, the Rey Chair is a godsend. (There’s also a junior version for kids!) It is truly a timeless piece that’s a must-have for fans of contemporary modern design regardless of what aesthetic you’re into. And if you really want to flex on all your friends, enemies, lovers, and haters, brag about how the Rey Chair is also featured in the Swiss Museum of Design in Zurich. –Sydney Gore, digital design editor
Comfort: A
Value: A
Delivery and assembly: N/A (It arrived full assembled from the warehouse)
Overall chair rating: A
Style: A+
Artek Aalto Stool 60
Designer: Alvar Aalto
Specs: Solid birch wood and veneer
Dimensions: 17.5"H x 15"DIA
This is the chair that I famously invited a man over to assemble—at the time, I didn’t even have a tool kit so he also bought me a screwdriver to start and finish the job. Since then, I returned the tool, but not the stool. There’s nothing I don’t like that was designed by the Finnish architect, and I am never not thinking about the remarkable story behind Armchair 41 (Paimio), because it reminds me that good design can change lives for the better! Stool 60 is an iconic seat that we’ve all surely seen countless dupes of throughout the years. For me, this is one of the most multifunctional pieces in my home because when it’s not being occupied by a person it can be used as a side table. Whatever gaps you have in your space can be filled with this seat. To this day, I still regret not getting the Supreme x Artek collab when it dropped…. No further questions please! –Sydney Gore
Comfort: B+
Value: A-
Delivery and assembly: A-
Overall chair rating: A-
Style: A
Metal and Leather Dining Chairs
Revolt Friso Dining Chair
Designer: Friso Kramer
Specs: Recycled plastic seat and backrest, steel frame and legs
Dimensions: 31.89"H x 17.71"W x 19.29"D
When Dutch designer Friso Kramer created the Revolt chair in the mid-1950s both ergonomics and economics were top of mind. In the innovative perch, two bent-steel sheets support a seat and back made from paper and resin. It was lightweight, elegant, and relatively easy to manufacture, making it a popular chair across the Netherlands. When I scored my black and white vintage ones on Craigslist back in 2014, I didn’t know much about Kramer. I chose them for their industrial schoolhouse vibe and Prouvé-ish qualities. But in the years since, Kramer has been ushered back into the spotlight—this chair and its sister, the Result, are now produced by Hay in a range of colors and materials (the back and seat now comes in oak or plastic, from $325). Assuming the new ones are made to the same discerning standards of the original, I can attest to their hardworking comfort. They’re not exactly cushy, of course, but there’s a slight flexibility in the back and a subtle curve in the seat that makes for easy, long-duration sitting, whether for a leisurely dinner or a day of work from home. –Hannah Martin, senior design editor
Comfort: A-
Value: B
Delivery and assembly: N/A
Overall chair rating: A
Style: A
Bertoia Side Chair
Designer: Harry Bertoia
Specs: Steel frame and base
Dimensions: 21.75"H x 19.75"W x 28.75"D
Though the Bertoia Side Chair is potentially an exquisite outdoor seat, I love the sleek piece for an industrial moment indoors. With welded steel grids that make up the seat, the icon of midcentury-modern design comes in a variety of colors (with powder-coated finishes to hold up outdoors) and has sturdy, changeable seat cushions that also suit any number of hue preferences. Designed in 1952 by Harry Bertoia, the Knoll chair holds up historically and—in my personal opinion—holds up as a perfect dining chair. –Zoë Sessums
Comfort: B+
Value: A
Delivery and assembly: N/A
Overall chair rating: A
Style: A+
MR Chair Armless with Leather Sling Seat
Designer: Ludwig Mies van der Rohe
Specs: Polished chrome frame, leather back, molded clear-plastic glides with twin-pin snap-in construction
Dimensions: 31"H x 19.25"W x 27.25"D
I’ve been obsessed with the Bauhaus era ever since I visited Dessau-Roßlau a few years ago, but what I’m even more of a sucker for is a seat in a corset, so the MR Chair really scratches that itch. A man of the mindset that less is more, Ludwig Mies van der Rohe did a take on the classic cantilevered chair and transformed it into a pure vision of beauty with the MR Chair. I have an authentic pair of vintage MR10 chairs that I purchased from Carefully Curated in 2021. Since I prefer not to work from a desk at home, I spend most of my day at the dining table sitting in this chair, and, once I take a seat, my cheeks are glued to it! Knoll claims that the MR chairs were intended to be “a modern derivative of 19th-century iron rocking chairs,” which means that you can really lean back while sitting in one of these without breaking them too. What has surprised me the most about this chair is that it’s as functional as it is beautiful, and that’s the power of good design. The MR Chair is an investment that is 100% worth making. –Sydney Gore
Comfort: A
Value: A
Delivery and assembly: N/A
Overall chair rating: A
Style: A+
Upholstered Dining Chairs
West Elm Wire Frame Upholstered Dining Chair
Designer: West Elm
Specs: Metal frame, upholstery
Dimensions: 18.1"W x 21"D x 31.9"H
I use this cushy velvet dining chair from West Elm as a desk seat in my home office/bedroom. Everyone always asks me how I can stand working from home without a proper office chair, but I swear it is quite comfortable! I never have back pain after sitting it in for hours. Furthermore, I appreciate the softness of the velvet fabric against my skin. It’s basically how I can pretend I’m relaxing on a sofa while actually at my desk in Zoom meetings all day. I tend to be more of a black and gray person, but the navy shade brings a nice subtle amount of color to my apartment. I’ve had it for a few years and it’s held up well—it’s easy to wipe down the performance velvet upholstery if I accidentally spill some coffee on it. All in all, it’s a sturdy but stylish chair that could work for dining or desking. –Allie Weiss, US digital director
Comfort: A
Value: B+
Delivery and assembly: N/A (I purchased it fully intact at a West Elm store)
Overall chair rating: A-
Style: A-
Lulu and Georgia Whit Dining Chair
Designer: Sarah Sherman Samuel
Specs: Ash wood with upholstery
Dimensions: 17"W x 20.5"D x 36"H
After moving into my new apartment, it was time to finally invest in furniture that did not come flat packed. We have a tulip-style dining table and the sculptural frame of these gorgeous, modern dining chairs from Lulu and Georgia’s collection with Sarah Sherman Samuel perfectly mimic the same curved shape of the table. They are elegant and minimalist, and the bouclé upholstery on the padded seat lends a touch of warmth. We love to continue sitting at the table long after we have cleaned our plates and these dining chairs are incredibly comfortable while still keeping a low profile in our small space. Plus they’re pretty enough to be an accent chair all on their own. –Kelsey Borovinsky, audience development manager
Comfort: A
Value: A
Delivery and assembly: B- Both chairs come in one big box which was very difficult to carry up five floors by myself. If you buy these chairs, call a friend to help you bring them upstairs.
Style: A-
Ascona Dining Chair
Designer: Heinz Meier for Landes Stendig
Specs: Chrome frame, walnut accents, upholstery
Dimensions: 22"W x 24"D x 32"H
When you know you know. Renewfinds posted a pair of Asconas on Instagram when I was headed out of town for a weekend retreat and I had a feeling that it would be gone before I got back and I knew I would regret not seizing the opportunity–since I had been wanting one for so long, I decided to go for it, and I’m glad that I trusted my gut! The frame is in overall great vintage condition and the newly reupholstered cushions are so plush it feels like sitting on top of a marshmallow. (The Maharam Minicheck fabric by Alexander Girard is also a nice touch, though I’m aware that not everyone is as enthusiastic about the checkerboard print as I am.) Regardless, I’m a chrome girl for life so this chair will always work for me, however I choose to curate my space. I currently have it in my living area where it is the star seat of the table, but I like the idea of playing musical chairs and moving it to different spots around my apartment. –Sydney Gore
Comfort: A+
Value: A
Delivery and assembly: N/A (I purchased it fully intact at Renewfinds)
Overall chair rating: A
Style: A+
