​Many hospitality chairs are stackable, and for good reason: stacked chairs take up less space when stored and can be easy to move around. On the flip side, stacking chairs also tend to pick up more damage as they are moved to and from storage. In the following article, we tackle all aspects of stacking chairs. 

Where are stacking chairs used?

Stacking chairs are particularly useful in these venues:

*Outdoor spaces: outdoor chairs must stack, as furniture is brought in when out of service.
*Schools and universities: lecture halls and classrooms may require stacking chairs that can be laid out in different arrangements and put away easily.
*Banquets halls: chairs are needed in large quantity; they need to be laid out in different seating plans.

The best (and worst) chairs for stacking

Chairs with thin metal legs tend to stack higher and so need less storage space. Typically, the chairs that stack highest are lightweight ‘conference or banqueting’ chairs. They tend to be used where furniture is required in large quantity and laid out in various seating plans. Sled metal chairs can stack higher than four-legged metal chairs because of the sled shape, and thinner metal can be used to allow neater nesting. The lightness of metal also allows for better mobility.

As a rule of thumb, wooden chairs are the worst for stacking. Not only because of the vulnerability of the material, which can chip/dent easily when knocked, but the construction of wooden chairs (using screws and glues) is much weaker than welded metal.  Wooden chairs tend to only stack 3-4 high. 

What are the best materials for stacking chairs?

Different materials affect the way chairs stack, here are some popular ones:

*Metal: Metal chairs can stack the highest, as the frame is thin & strong - about 8+
*Plastic: Plastic chairs are light and can stack about 6-8 high
*Wood: Stackable wooden chairs tend to only stack 3-4 high
*Upholstered: Upholstered chairs may have reduced stackability (depending on style) and may require additional protection - mentioned below.

Chair protection

When chairs are stacked, over time, marks and dents can form, especially on upholstered chairs. To protect the chairs, there are two main countermeasures:

*Interlays: Wooden interlays between the chairs can prevent the creation of pressure marks on upholstered seats as a result of stacking; see first image on the left.
*Rubber knobs: A good product will include rubber protection underneath to prevent damage when stacked; see image on the right.

What are trolleys?

Chair trolleys are available to purchase with many of the stacking chairs we offer. They enable chairs to be stacked higher,  transported and stored more easily. See how they work below:

How to find stacking chairs
Once you've determined the features you need, it's time to find the best stacking chairs for your design scheme. The Dining Chairs and Conference Chairs sections of our website have a few features that make it easier:

*The "Stackable" filter: tick this box to quickly narrow the range down.
*Stack height icon: how many chairs can you stack on top of each other? Depends on the chair! You can often find that number on the product pages in cases where the manufacturer has specified a maximum number that be stacked at once. 
*Sort by stack height: new feature coming soon! 

Why not use folding chairs?

Folding chairs are specifically made for storing, but despite this, they are not recommended for hospitality venues as these chairs are usually not robust and can be a finger-trap hazard.