If you feel like you are reaching up to reach your keyboard and craning your neck to look at your monitor, your office chair is probably too short for you. Office chairs and desks are designed for people on the taller side, so if you are under 5’6” or so, you may struggle to find an office chair tall enough for you.
Luckily, you don’t need to completely replace your office chair. There are many methods to make your office chair, or make yourself, higher up relative to your desk and keyboard. But one of the best solutions is office chair height extenders.
These kits allow you to raise the height of your chair so you can work comfortably and create an ergonomic workspace for yourself. Read this complete guide to office chair heigh extenders and learn everything you need to know.
What Is an Office Chair Height Extender?
Office chair height extenders, also called height extension kits or chair raisers, are a device you can install on your pneumatic office chair. They allow you to increase the height of your chair if the factory height adjustment is not enough range for you.
Height extender kits usually cost anywhere between $20-100 depending on the quality and maximum height. Some even come with an extra foot ring for you to rest your feet.
Ideal Chair Height
The average height of a desk is 29 inches tall, which is ideal for people around 6’4”. If you are not 6’4”, you may be wondering how you’re supposed to use a desk made for a taller-than-average person.
This is why seat height is so important. It is the only way to even the playing field. To help you determine the proper chair height, you’ll need to fiddle with your chair a bit.
To achieve the perfect height you’ll need to raise your desk up and down until it reaches the ideal height.
Ideal height means you are eye-level with the top third of your monitor, this is where most focus for the majority of the workday. When you sit down and bend your arms at a 90-degree angle, your fingers should graze the top of your desk. So the top of your desk should be at about the same height as the bottom of your bent elbow.
Once you adjust your chair to a height where you can achieve this positioning with your eyes and elbows, you are at your ideal chair height. If your chair cannot go up high enough for you to achieve this position, you probably need an office chair height extender.
How to to Install Office Chair Height Extender
Tools Required:
- Screwdrivers
- Adjustable wrench
- Rubber mallet
- Extension kit
Installation Steps
- Remove the wheelbase from your chair. This can usually be done by loosening a few screws or removing safety pins, and it should slide right off.
- Remove the gas cylinder using a wooden or rubber mallet. It should just take a few gentle taps to slide off.
- Following the kit instructions, insert the extension kit onto the wheelbase.
- Once the extension kit is secure, you can reinstall the gas cylinder and wheelbase. The gas cylinder should slip right into place, and then you just replace the screws or pins to secure the wheelbase in place again.
It’s worth noting that if you have your chair’s user manual, you should consult it for directions on installing an extension kit. Some chairs have additional steps you need to complete when adding an office chair extender.
Alternatives
Seat Cushion
This is a simple and affordable solution. If you want to prop yourself up a bit in your chair, you can order a seat cushion for your chair that should add a few inches to your height. This is a quick fix and will likely make your chair less ergonomic, so if you have the means for an extension kit, you should opt for that.
Longer Casters
Casters are the park of the wheel that you insert into the legs of the chair. You can order new casters that are longer, and this will raise the height of your chair. Casters can be found in varying sizes and materials online, or you can contact your manufacturer to see if they can send longer casters made for your specific chair.
Taller Gas Lift Cylinder
Some chairs come with very short gas lift cylinders, but they can be replaced with taller ones to help your chair adjust higher. Gas lift cylinders range from 5 inches up to 22 inches, so there are plenty of options out there for you. Gas lift cylinders can be a slight nuisance to replace, but in the end, it’s worth it to sit comfortably.
Office Chair Mat
If you have a plush carpet under your chair, your wheels may be sinking into the carpet, making the chair feel lower. A solution to this problem is to buy an office chair mat. These mats are made of hard rubber or plastic materials that will prevent your chair from sinking into the carpet.
An office chair mat allows you to move your chair around more easily. Almost everyone knows office chairs don’t roll around well on carpeted flooring.
Bottom Line
Office chair height extenders are a great tool to fix your short office chair. While there are chairs out there specifically designed for shorter workers, a brand new chair can cost a lot of money.
To save money and fix your chair, buy an office chair height extender so you can achieve the proper chair height and sit ergonomically. When you neglect your comfort at work it can lead to strain on your neck, back, arms, wrists, eyes, and more.
Following ergonomic sitting positions is the best way to keep your body healthy, and you can’t do that with a chair that isn’t tall enough for you.
