Office chairs for heavier people, and what weight ratings mean
A weight rating is only as good as the test behind it. Here is what each standard assumes, and what each maker actually publishes.
Updated By The Best Office Chairs Europe editorial team15 sources
The European standard for office chairs, EN 1335-2, is built around users up to 110 kg. The American ANSI/BIFMA X5.1 tests with a 275 lb (about 125 kg) user, and X5.11 for large occupants up to 400 lb (about 181 kg).
In our register, 12 task chairs publish a rating of 150 kg or more; 11 publish none at all.
What do the weight figures actually mean?
| Basis | User weight | What it is |
|---|---|---|
| EN 1335-2:2018 | 110 kg | Safety, strength and durability for 8 hours a day |
| EN 16139, EN 1022 | 110 kg | Visitor seating and stability |
| ANSI/BIFMA X5.1-2017 | ≈125 kg | 275 lb test user (253 lb in 2011) |
| ANSI/BIFMA X5.11-2015 | ≈181 kg | Large-occupant chairs, 400 lb; adds a minimum seat width. Not a bariatric standard |
| DIN 4573 | over 110 kg | German requirements for heavier users, cited by the industry body IBA |
Which chairs publish a weight rating?
| Chair | Rating | Maker's note | EN 1335 | Lowest price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Steelcase Amia | 160 kg | Store spec: 'Supported user weight range 160 kg'; FAQ: 'The Amia weight limit was tested up to 160 kg'. | Declared | €1,019 DE |
| Herman Miller Sayl | 159 kg | – | – | €794 DE |
| Herman Miller Aeron | 159 kg | – | – | €1,451 UK |
| Herman Miller Mirra 2 | 159 kg | – | – | €1,239 UK |
| Herman Miller Cosm | 159 kg | – | – | €1,516 UK |
| Haworth Zody | 150 kg | – | Declared | €1,050 DE |
| Steelcase Leap | 150 kg | Steelcase Shop UK: 'Supported user weight range 150 kg'; FAQ: 'The Leap weight limit was tested up to 150 kg'. Leap Plus is a separate model. | Declared | €1,240 DE |
| RH Logic 400 | 150 kg | RH default max user weight 'unless otherwise specified' (Flokk warranty page) | Declared | – |
| Haworth Fern | 150 kg | – | Declared | €1,178 UK |
| Interstuhl EVERYis1 (EV216) | 150 kg | – | Declared | – |
| Dauphin Indeed mesh (ID 7056) | 150 kg | 'up to around 150 kg'; 'depending on the configuration'. | Declared | €545 DE |
| Interstuhl JOYCEis3 (JC216) | 150 kg | – | Declared | – |
| Herman Miller Embody | 136 kg | – | – | €2,120 DE |
| Sedus se:flex | 130 kg | 'up to approx. 130 kg (with aluminium base up to approx. 150 kg)' | Declared | €780 DE |
| Kinnarps Capella Classic (Capella X family) | 130 kg | 'tested for 130 kg'; Capella XL approved for 150 kg | Declared | – |
| Sedus se:motion | 130 kg | 'Recommended for a user weight of up to 130 kg' | Declared | – |
| Löffler Figo Air (1N) | 120 kg | Product page 'Supports up to 120 kg'; counter-pressure 45–120 kg. | – | €876 DE |
| Löffler Lezgo 72 (LG 72) | 120 kg | Product page 'Supports up to 120 kg'; backrest counter-pressure 45–120 kg. | – | – |
| HÅG Futu Mesh 1100 | 110 kg | Flokk default HÅG max user weight 'unless otherwise specified' | Declared | – |
| HÅG SoFi Mesh 7500 | 110 kg | Flokk default HÅG max user weight 'unless otherwise specified' | Declared | – |
| Kinnarps 8000 (art. 8130) | 110 kg | 'Lifting Capacity 110' on product page | – | – |
| IKEA JÄRVFJÄLLET | 110 kg | Listed as 'Tested for: 110 kg'. | Declared | €199 IT |
| IKEA MARKUS | 110 kg | Listed as 'Tested for: 110 kg'. | Declared | €139 NL |
Steelcase publishes its ratings only in its online stores, not in its brochures: 150 kg for the Leap and 160 kg for the Amia. The two are compared figure by figure, including seat width, in Steelcase Leap vs Amia.
No published rating: Herman Miller Setu, Humanscale Freedom, Interstuhl PUREis3 (PU213), Steelcase Gesture, Steelcase Karman, Steelcase Please, Steelcase Series 2, Vitra AC 5 Work, Vitra ID Mesh, Wilkhahn IN (184/7), Wilkhahn ON (174/7). Wilkhahn, for example, publishes a tension range (45–120 kg for ON, 45–140 kg for IN) rather than a maximum user weight.
What to check before you buy
- The basis of the rating. Ask whether it comes from a named lab test (BIFMA X5.11, DIN 4573) or the maker's own testing.
- The warranty's weight limit. Flokk's warranty assumes 110 kg for HÅG chairs and 150 kg for RH unless a model says otherwise; Haworth rates Fern and Zody to 150 kg but warranties them for users up to 145 kg.
- Seat width and armrest spacing. For Type A chairs, EN 1335-1 requires adjustable armrests whose clear distance spans 410–510 mm, and at least 480 mm of hip clearance between them. A wider build needs armrests that open to the top of that range, or no armrests.
- The gas lift and base. These carry the load. Ask about replacement parts: see repair and spare parts.
Tall as well? Read office chairs for tall people.
Questions buyers ask
What is the weight limit of an EN 1335 office chair?
EN 1335-2:2018 bases its tests on people up to 110 kg using the chair 8 hours a day. It is a design basis, not a maximum printed on the chair. A manufacturer rating above 110 kg comes from additional testing.
Is a 150 kg office chair safe for me?
If the maker publishes a 150 kg rating, ask what it is based on: a lab test to ANSI/BIFMA X5.11 (up to 400 lb, about 181 kg) or DIN 4573, or the maker’s own testing. Also check the warranty: some warranties assume a lower user weight than the headline rating.
Sources
- UNMS preview of EN 1335-2:2018: normy.normoff.gov.sk/norma/128442/nahlad
- IBA: product standards (DIN 4573): iba.online/en/knowledge/space-planning/regulations/product-standards/
- Micom Lab: ANSI/BIFMA X5.11: www.micomlab.com/micom-testing/bifma-x5-11/
- Micom Lab: ANSI/BIFMA X5.1-2017: www.micomlab.com/blog/furniture-testing/new-ansibifma-x-5-1-standard-for-office-seating
- Flokk: warranties and product quality: www.flokk.com/support/warranties-and-product-quality
- Steelcase Amia: manufacturer data: eu.steelcase.com/products/amia
- Herman Miller Sayl: manufacturer data: www.hermanmiller.com/en_gb/products/seating/office-chairs/sayl-chairs/
- Herman Miller Aeron: manufacturer data: www.hermanmiller.com/en_gb/products/seating/office-chairs/aeron-chair/
- Herman Miller Mirra 2: manufacturer data: www.hermanmiller.com/en_gb/products/seating/office-chairs/mirra-2-chair/
- Herman Miller Cosm: manufacturer data: www.hermanmiller.com/en_gb/products/seating/office-chairs/cosm-chairs/
- Haworth Zody: manufacturer data: www.haworth.com/eu/en/products/office-chairs/zody-1.html
- Steelcase Leap: manufacturer data: www.steelcase.com/eu-en/products/office-chairs/leap/
- RH Logic 400: manufacturer data: store.flokk.com/global/en-gb/products/rh-logic
- Haworth Fern: manufacturer data: www.haworth.com/eu/en/products/executive-chairs/fern.html
- Interstuhl EVERYis1 (EV216): manufacturer data: www.interstuhl.com/I/ia-en/every.php
All sources checked 21 October 2026. Where a manufacturer does not publish a value, we say so rather than estimate it.
Cite this page
Best Office Chairs Europe, “Office chairs for heavier people, and what weight ratings mean”, https://bestofficechairs.eu/guides/office-chair-for-heavy-people/, updated .