What to measure when choosing between two office chairs

Two office chairs can look similar but feel very different after an hour of work. Seat depth, height, armrests, and the noise a chair makes when you move all affect whether it suits your desk and daily routine.

Compare both chairs in the same room, using the same person and the same movements. The Noise Meter can help you compare how loud each chair sounds, while a tape measure helps check whether each one fits you and your workspace.

Compare the chairs step by step

1. Set up the Noise Meter on a computer or phone, allow microphone access, and place the device in a fixed position about 3 feet from the chair. Keep it there for both tests.
2. With the room quiet and nobody moving the chair, watch the noise reading for about 30 seconds. Write down the usual level as your baseline. This helps you tell chair sounds apart from background noise.
3. Sit in the first chair and repeat the same short sequence: sit down, shift your weight, swivel, recline, return upright, and roll the chair a few feet and back. Note any squeak, click, rattle, or rough wheel sound, along with the reading when it happens.
4. Repeat the sequence with the second chair. Keep the device, floor, room, person, and movement speed the same. If a sound happens only once, repeat that movement to see if it happens again.
5. Use a tape measure to note each chair's seat height and seat depth. Also check whether the armrests fit under your desk and whether your feet can rest flat on the floor when you are seated.

Write the results down rather than relying on memory. A simple note such as “chair A: one click while reclining, wheels roll smoothly” is often more useful than a single number.

What the measurements mean

One chair makes a louder, repeatable noise

If the meter rises at the same time as a squeak or clunk, and you can reproduce it with the same movement, that chair is likely noisier in your test. Listen for the type of sound too. A brief click during reclining is different from continuous wheel rumble across the floor. If you work in a quiet office or take calls nearby, repeatable noises may become distracting.

The readings are close, but one chair sounds worse

Trust your ears as well as the number. A browser-based meter gives a useful comparison, not a laboratory measurement. The microphone, the device's automatic audio processing, and the room can all affect the displayed decibel level. A sharp squeak can be irritating even if the overall reading barely changes.

Both chairs cause the reading to rise

Some of the sound may be coming from the floor, a desk, or the device microphone rather than the chair. Listen from beside the chair and check whether the sound follows a particular movement. A hard floor can make rolling wheels sound louder than carpet, so compare the chairs on the surface where you plan to use them.

One chair fits your body and desk better

Seat height should let you keep your feet flat or supported, with your knees comfortably bent. When you sit back, check that the seat does not press against the backs of your knees. Armrests should support your arms without forcing your shoulders up, and they should not prevent the chair from fitting under the desk. These fit checks matter more than a small difference in seat dimensions on paper.

How to get a fair reading

1. Keep the microphone position fixed. Do not hold the phone or move the laptop between tests. Even a small change in distance or direction can change the reading.
2. Reduce other sounds. Pause music and ventilation if practical, and ask other people not to talk during the test. If the background level changes, wait for it to settle before comparing chairs.
3. Repeat each movement. Test a suspected squeak or rattle two or three times. A sound that repeats with a particular action is a stronger clue than a one-off noise.
4. Check microphone permission if the meter has no reading. In the browser, open the site permissions from the icon beside the address bar and allow microphone access. On Windows 11, open Settings › Privacy & security › Microphone and enable microphone access for desktop apps. On macOS, open System Settings › Privacy & Security › Microphone and allow your browser.
5. Retest on the intended floor. Chair wheels can sound different on carpet, tile, or wood. Use the surface where the chair will actually sit, and avoid comparing one chair on a mat and the other directly on the floor.

Decibels use a logarithmic scale, and a small change in a browser reading does not prove that one chair is objectively quieter. Use the meter to support a controlled side-by-side check, not to certify a noise rating.

Check for a fixable noise before deciding

If a chair squeaks or rattles, check whether the sound comes from a removable part, a loose fastener, or the wheels. For a chair you already own, follow its assembly instructions before tightening anything. Do not force a fitting or dismantle a chair that is still under warranty. If you are testing chairs in a store, ask staff to check the noisy one rather than adjusting it yourself.

For the final choice, sit in each chair for at least 10 to 15 minutes if the seller allows it. Notice pressure, posture, and whether you can reach your desk naturally. A quiet chair that does not fit you is not the better option, and a comfortable chair with a minor sound may be acceptable if it can be resolved safely.