Tub chairs, stacking chairs, banquet chairs or bar stools? Compare commercial chair types, standard dimensions & UK pricing. Bespoke, UK-manufactured.
Commercial Chair Types Compared: Which Style Suits Your Venue?
Once you know you need genuinely commercial-grade chairs (we cover what that means in our general chair buyer’s guide), the next decision is shape and function: tub chair, stacking chair, banquet chair, or bar stool. Each commercial chair type is built for a different job, and picking the wrong one usually shows up later as damaged flooring, awkward storage, or a dining room that just doesn’t turn tables the way it should.
This guide compares the main chair types used across restaurants, bars, hotels and event spaces, with standard dimensions and typical UK pricing to help you brief a fit-out accurately.
Tub Chairs
Tub chairs — upholstered, rounded-back armchairs — are the go-to choice where comfort and a residential feel matter more than speed of table turnover: hotel lounges, boutique restaurants, and lobby seating areas.
- Best for: hotel lounges, boutique dining, café seating areas
- Typical seat height: 420–460mm
- Typical overall width: 600–700mm (armchair footprint)
- Stacking: rarely stackable due to the enclosed frame
- Fabric: velvet, boucle, or contract vinyl depending on the venue’s positioning
Stacking Chairs
Stacking chairs commercial venues rely on are built for spaces that need to reconfigure fast — banquet halls, function rooms, conference venues, and any dining room that doubles as an event space.
- Best for: banquet halls, conference rooms, multi-use event spaces
- Typical seat height: 440–460mm
- Stack height: most commercial stacking chairs stack 8–15 high depending on frame design
- Frame: welded steel or aluminium for repeated handling without loosening joints
- Fabric: wipe-clean vinyl or contract fabric, since these chairs see the heaviest rotation
Banquet Chairs
Banquet chairs UK venues use for weddings, conferences and formal events tend to prioritise a neat, uniform appearance across large quantities, alongside genuine stackability for storage between events.
- Best for: hotels, wedding venues, conference centres
- Typical seat height: 450mm
- Typical seat width: 430–480mm
- Stacking: designed for dense stacking and trolley transport
- Fabric: consistent contract fabric across large order volumes, often colour-matched to venue branding
Dining & Restaurant Chairs
Standard restaurant chair dimensions balance guest comfort with efficient use of floor space — the most common category for day-to-day dining rooms rather than banquet or lounge use.
- Best for: restaurants, cafés, gastropubs
- Typical seat height: 440–460mm
- Typical seat depth: 400–450mm
- Backrest height: 850–950mm
- Frame: solid timber, metal, or a mix, depending on interior style
Bar Stools
Bar and counter seating runs to different height standards entirely, so it’s worth checking against your counter or bar height rather than standard dining dimensions.
Best for: bars, kitchen counters, high tables Typical seat height (bar height): 750–800mm Typical seat height (counter height): 650–680mm Footrest: essential at bar height — check placement against leg length, not just chair spec Frame: metal frames are most common for durability under constant mounting and dismounting
Dimensions at a Glance
| Chair Type | Seat Height | Best Use | Stackable |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tub chair | 420–460mm | Lounges, boutique dining | Rarely |
| Stacking chair | 440–460mm | Events, banquet halls | Yes, high |
| Banquet chair | 450mm | Weddings, conferences | Yes, high |
| Dining chair | 440–460mm | Restaurants, cafés | Sometimes |
| Bar stool | 650–800mm | Bars, high counters | No |
What Drives the Cost Difference Between Chair Types
- Frame complexity — tub chairs and upholstered armchairs generally cost more to manufacture than simple stacking frames due to the upholstery volume involved.
- Order volume — banquet and stacking chairs are usually ordered in bulk, so per-unit trade pricing tends to be more competitive than smaller runs of tub chairs.
- Fabric grade — contract vinyl sits at the lower end of cost; velvets, boucles, and premium leathers increase the price across any chair type.
- Frame material — welded steel and aluminium frames typically cost less than solid hardwood, though hardwood often suits higher-end dining concepts better stylistically.
As with all our furniture, chairs are made to order, so the most accurate figure is a fixed-price quote against your actual order — venue type, quantity, and fabric choice all move the number more than the chair category alone.
Fire Safety & Compliance
Whichever chair type you specify, confirm the upholstery meets Crib 5 fire rating requirements under the Furniture and Furnishings (Fire) (Safety) Regulations — non-negotiable for UK commercial and contract use. The British Contract Furnishing Association is a useful independent reference for fire safety and contract furniture standards more broadly.
Frequently Asked Questions
What’s the difference between a banquet chair and a stacking chair? Banquet chairs are a specific style of stacking chair designed for formal events like weddings and conferences, usually with a more uniform, tailored appearance. General stacking chairs cover a broader range of styles built primarily for fast reconfiguration and storage.
Are tub chairs suitable for high-turnover restaurants? Not usually. Their enclosed frame and lack of stackability make them better suited to lounges and boutique dining where guests stay longer, rather than fast-turnover dining rooms.
What seat height should I use for a bar area? Match seat height to your counter height — typically 750–800mm for standard bar height and 650–680mm for lower counter height, with a footrest positioned accordingly.
Can chair types be mixed within one venue? Yes — many venues use tub chairs in a lounge area, dining chairs in the main restaurant, and stacking or banquet chairs in an event space, all upholstered in coordinated fabrics for a consistent brand look.
Get a Trade Quote on Any Chair Type
We manufacture bespoke tub chairs, stacking chairs, banquet chairs, dining chairs and bar stools in the UK, in any fabric and finish to match your venue. Browse our Chairs gallery for recent installations, or pair your chair order with matching tables and booth seating for a complete fit-out.
Get a trade quote today.
