EN 1335: the European office chair standard, explained

What are the parts of EN 1335?

• EN 1335-1, Dimensions. Current edition EN 1335-1:2020 (+A1:2022), replacing EN 1335-1:2000. Measurement now follows ISO 24496:2017 (loaded with 64 kg template). The 2020 edition added Type Ax, moved the dimensions into the main text and links its purpose to the Display Screen Equipment Directive.
• EN 1335-2, Safety requirements. Current edition EN 1335-2:2018, which superseded both EN 1335-2:2009 and EN 1335-3:2009. Its tests come from EN 1728 (strength and durability) and EN 1022 (stability).
• EN 1335-3, Test methods. No longer a separate standard. If a chair is described as "EN 1335-1-2-3", the claim refers to the pre-2018 set.

The standard's reference posture is feet flat on the floor, roughly 90° at ankle, knee and hip, and an upright trunk. EN 1335-1 itself says this is a reference for applying body measurements, not an ideal posture, and that a chair should allow frequent changes of position.

What do Types Ax, A, B and C mean?

The Type describes how much a chair adjusts, and so how wide a range of people it can fit.

• Ax and A: adjustable seat depth, seat and backrest inclination, height-adjustable lumbar support, and armrests adjustable at least in height and width. Ax reaches higher.
• B: backrest inclination must adjust; seat depth, seat angle, lumbar support and armrests may be fixed.
• C: the minimum dimensions, with the same adjustments as B.

The EN 1335-1:2020 dimension table

Values in millimetres, as reproduced by SGS in a 2022 test report. "Adjustable" ranges give the minimum and maximum the chair must reach and, in brackets, the minimum travel. Fixed variants are allowed only for Types B and C.

Two caveats. The report reproduces the 2020 text before the 2022 amendment, which a test institute describes as non-substantive; we could not read the amended text. And in the earlier 2000 edition Type A was 420–510 mm with 100 mm of travel, so older spec sheets quoting those figures are not wrong, just out of date. Figures such as "Type A: 400 mm with 120 mm range" match neither edition.

What does the 110 kg basis mean?

EN 1335-2:2018 states that its requirements are "based upon use for 8 h a day by persons weighing up to 110 kg". The tests are drawn from EN 1728 and include, per the Italian test institute CATAS:

• a combined static load of 1600 N on the seat and 560 N on the back, and 1600 N on the front edge;
• a seat and back durability sequence totalling about 240,000 cycles;
• armrest durability at 400 N for 60,000 cycles;
• stability tests to EN 1022:2018, still the dated reference even though EN 1022:2023 has been published.

The 110 kg figure is a design basis, not a limit printed on the chair. When a maker rates a chair for 130 or 150 kg, that comes from extra testing: the German institute IBA points to DIN 4573 for users above 110 kg, and the US large-occupant standard ANSI/BIFMA X5.11 tests for 400 lb. See office chairs for heavier people.

How do you check an "EN 1335 certified" claim?

1. Ask which part. Part 1 is dimensions only; part 2 is safety and durability. Many reports cover one.
2. Ask which edition. 2000 or 2020. The Type ranges differ.
3. Ask which Type. A claim without a Type tells you nothing about fit.
4. Ask who tested it. A named, accredited lab (SGS, TÜV, LGA, CATAS, FIRA, Intertek…) and a report number.
5. Look for the GS mark. It combines a type test with factory inspection and ongoing checks, and lasts at most five years. Quality Office requires GS as a precondition.

The standard also requires the user documentation to state the chair's Type and intended use, include adjustment and care instructions, and warn that only trained personnel may replace gas-spring parts. If the manual doesn't state a Type, ask why.

Chairs in our register that declare EN 1335

24 of the 38 chairs we profile carry an EN 1335 declaration in the maker's own documents. Several premium American designs declare BIFMA instead; that is not a fault, but it means you have no EN 1335 Type to check against.

Note that "seat-height span covers" is our check of one dimension against the table, not a certification. Work out the height you need with the office chair height calculator.

Questions buyers ask

What is the difference between EN 1335 Type A and Type B?

Type A must cover a seat height of 400–520 mm with at least 130 mm of travel, and must offer adjustable seat depth, backrest inclination and lumbar height. Type B covers 420–510 mm with at least 100 mm of travel, and may have a fixed seat depth, seat angle and lumbar support.

What is EN 1335 Type Ax?

Type Ax was added in the 2020 edition to cover a wider range of people than Type A. Its seat must reach 400–540 mm with at least 160 mm of travel, which may need a telescopic or second gas cylinder.

Can I download EN 1335 as a free PDF?

No. EN 1335 is copyrighted and sold by national standards bodies such as BSI, DIN, NSAI and NEN. Free official previews show the scope and foreword only. This page summarises the requirements from published test reports and test-institute articles.

Does EN 1335 have a maximum user weight?

EN 1335-2:2018 bases its requirements on users up to 110 kg for 8 hours a day. It is a design basis, not a weight limit printed on the chair. A higher rating comes from additional tests chosen by the manufacturer.

Sources

1. UNMS preview of EN 1335-1:2020: normy.normoff.gov.sk/norma/131206/nahlad
2. EVS: EN 1335-1:2020+A1:2022 consolidated: www.evs.ee/en/evs-en-1335-1-2020-a1-2022-consolidated
3. SGS test report SDHL2209019075FT reproducing Table 2: www.centrufficio.it/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/Play_certificazione-EN1335-1-2020-tipo-B.pd
4. SGS test report to EN 1335-1:2000 (earlier edition): assets.ccntr.pbsnetwork.eu/assets/5790002617126/sertifisering_en1335a_-_dna_kontorstol.pdf
5. CATAS: EN 1335-1:2020 explained (PDF): catas.com/uploads/media/catas-en-1335-eng.pdf?v3.0
6. UNMS preview of EN 1335-2:2018: normy.normoff.gov.sk/norma/128442/nahlad
7. CATAS: EN 1022 and EN 1335-2 loads (PDF): catas.com/uploads/media/articolo-1022-eng.pdf?v2
8. IBA: product standards, DIN 4573: iba.online/en/knowledge/space-planning/regulations/product-standards/
9. ProdSG § 20 (GS mark): www.gesetze-im-internet.de/prodsg_2021/__20.html
10. Quality Office: www.quality-office.org/

All sources checked 20 October 2026. Where a manufacturer does not publish a value, we say so rather than estimate it.

Cite this page

Best Office Chairs Europe, “EN 1335: the European office chair standard, explained”, https://bestofficechairs.eu/standards/en-1335/, updated 20 October 2026.