The 10 Best Desk Chairs For Kids
Special Honors
Pottery Barn Kids Swivel Round Chair Durable and stylish, the Pottery Barn Kids Swivel Round Chair comes with either a faux fur cover or cotton twill upholstery and has a steel base with a brass finish. The seat contains supportive polyurethane foam, and the wheels roll smoothly. Its hydraulic lever lets you adjust the height from 33 to 38 inches. potterybarnkids.com
Crate&kids Class Act Desk Chair Though it may be a children's item, the Crate&kids Class Act Desk Chair has a bonded leather seat and gold base that make it sleek enough to look good in any room of the home. It's height adjustable from 16 to 19.5 inches and swivels 360 degrees. There are five color options to choose from, making it easy to match with most decor. crateandbarrel.com
Editor's Notes
November 24, 2020:
In selecting our kids' desk chairs, we looked for durable construction, since young students can be rough on their belongings. We also sought out playful designs that would attract little ones, as well as features that enhance comfort to minimize the chances children quit their studies early.
In the longevity category, the Giantex Home Study stood out because of its large weight capacity and iron base, as did the Flash Furniture Task BT-61 with its tough vinyl upholstery and stable base. The Techni Mobili RTA-KS40 cannot stand up to the slightest roughhousing, so we eliminated it.
The construction of the Coavas Flying-18 is fine, but it has a boring aesthetic that won't inspire many children to stay at their desks, so we removed it. We prefer more kid-friendly looks, like that of the DM Furniture Colorful Animal, with its furry unicorn cover, and the cartoon-themed Delta Children TC8.
We appreciated features that allow a chair to accommodate a range of ages and tuck into desks of most heights, which is why we like the highly-adjustable SitRite Study. While the Anji EuroStile was durable and attractive, we took it off the list to make room for the ApexDesk Little Soleil DX Series, which is far more customizable to accommodate growing children.
Though the Flash Furniture Plastic Stackable offers a good value because of its multi-pack options, it doesn't feel very sturdy, so we removed it during this update. We replaced it with the AmazonBasics 310-APP, which is also lightweight and stackable, making it great for classroom use.
July 24, 2019:
It is important to note that, while this is a compilation of chairs specially designed for kids, kids is a broad term that encompasses toddlers as young as three, as well as 15- and 16-year-old teenagers. Because of this, not every model here will be the ideal choice for your child. You must do your due diligence to ensure you are buying a model well-suited to the age and development level of your child. For example, we generally recommend that wheeled options are not suitable for younger children, but cannot give you an exact age of when to make the switch since each child develops balance and motor skills differently. Whichever model you do decide to go with, we can patently state that you should never let a child stand on the seat, as this creates the potential for injury.
You may notice that wheeled models dominate this list, and for good reason. Just as you find them to be more convenient at your desk, we believe you child will too. Of all the wheeled options on our list, the SitRite Study is without a doubt our favorite. We believe most parents will appreciate the many thoughtful elements that allow it to grow with your child, or perhaps be shared between two siblings of different ages. We also like the versatility of the Techni Mobili RTA-KS40, which doubles as a gaming chair, so there is hopefully one less thing you need to buy your progeny.
Of the wheel-free models on our list, the Flash Furniture Plastic Stackable is ideal for toddlers, whereas the Flash Furniture Student can be used for children at a variety of ages. If you have an extremely active kid on your hands, the Kore Wobble can be a very good choice, since it allows for active sitting and can help them focus. There are some claims that it even helps with posture and core strength too, though there is little evidence to back this up.
If you don't already have a desk in your home, you may want to forgo all of the models here and take a look at our list of the best desks for kids, many of which come with matching chairs.