Armless or armrests? Choosing a chair for a small desk

The short answer

Armrests are not good or bad in themselves. OSHA's chair guidance describes them as optional: whether you need them depends on how long you spend at the computer, any discomfort you notice, and personal preference. What matters at a small desk is whether they can be set to the right height and still let the chair slide close enough to the keyboard.

If they can, keep them. If they cannot, choose an armless chair, or one with arms you can lower, move or remove.

When armrests help

OSHA describes well-fitted armrests as ones that:

• just touch the undersides of your forearms when you sit with your arms relaxed at your sides and shoulders relaxed,
• are close enough together to support your forearms while keeping your upper arms near your body,
• are soft, with rounded edges.

Set like that, they let your arms rest between bursts of typing, and they help you sit down and get up from the chair. Mayo Clinic's office ergonomics guide describes the same position: arms resting gently on the armrests, elbows close to the body.

When armrests get in the way

OSHA lists the problems badly fitted armrests cause:

At a small desk, the "too large or badly placed" problem is the common one. Many desks are about 28 to 30 inches high, and many chair arms top out around the same height or higher. The arms hit the desk edge, the chair stops short, and you end up reaching forward to the keyboard. OSHA's advice is direct: remove armrests if they cannot be properly adjusted or if they interfere with the workstation.

Side by side

Check your own desk in two minutes

1. Measure the desk edge height from the floor to the underside of the desktop or any front rail. That is the height the armrests must pass under.
2. Measure your chair's armrest height at your normal seat height. Many listings give armrest height from the seat or from the floor; Steelcase's spec guide for the Series 1, for example, lists arm height as 6.5 to 11 inches above the seat.
3. Compare. If the armrests at the height that fits your arms are taller than the desk edge, the chair will stop short.
4. Test reach. Sit with your back against the backrest and your hands on the keyboard. If you have to lean forward, the arms are in the way.

Your options if the arms do not fit

• Lower them below the desk edge, if they adjust, and use them only when you lean back.
• Slide them back, on chairs with depth-adjustable arms.
• Remove them. Many chairs fix their arms with a few bolts under the seat. The Branch Ergonomic Chair, for example, has removable armrests.
• Raise the desk or use a keyboard tray. A keyboard tray under the desk lowers your hands so the armrests can stay higher.
• Choose an armless chair next time; see the armless options in our compact office chairs guide.

What about armless chairs for long days?

An armless chair works well when the desk supports your forearms: if the desk height is right and you rest your forearms lightly on the desk surface between typing. Keep the keyboard close to the edge so you are not reaching. If you find yourself leaning on one elbow, a chair with adjustable arms will probably suit you better.

Armrests and the way you work

How you use the desk matters as much as its size:

• Mostly typing: your forearms are over the keyboard most of the time, so armrests matter less, as long as they do not stop you getting close.
• Mostly mouse work: a resting place for the mouse arm can feel welcome; a height-adjustable armrest on that side, set level with the desk, is a good compromise.
• Lots of reading and calls: you lean back and rest your arms, which is when armrests are most useful.
• Short sessions at a shared or guest desk: an armless chair is simpler and takes less room.

If your work mixes all of these, adjustable arms you can lower out of the way while typing give you both.

If you are buying one chair to cover most situations, choose arms that adjust in height at minimum, and ideally in width and depth too, or that can be removed. Steelcase, for example, offers the Series 1 with fully adjustable arms, height-only arms, or none. That way the same chair works at your current small desk and at a different desk later.

Setting up the arms you have

Set the seat height and depth first, then the arms; our chair adjustment guide walks through the order. With the arms set, sit at the desk and check that you can reach the keyboard with your back supported and your elbows close to your sides.

Frequently asked questions

Do armrests make it easier to stand up? Yes, many people use them to push up from the chair, which is worth considering if that matters to you.

Can I add armrests to an armless chair? Only if the manufacturer sells an arm kit for that model. Universal add-on arms rarely fit well.

Are arm pads worth it? If your armrests are hard and you use them a lot, a pad helps; OSHA recommends soft armrests with rounded edges. Padding also raises an armrest that is slightly too low.