Folding chairs are a small-space superpower when they disappear neatly between gatherings and still feel steady when someone sits down. The right set can turn a studio, apartment dining nook, home office, or patio into a place that handles guests without becoming permanently crowded. The wrong set becomes a stack of uncomfortable, wobbly metal in a closet.
Measure the storage space before shopping. Then choose a chair for the kind of sitting it will do: a quick extra seat for dinner, a long game night, a home-office backup, a balcony meal, or a temporary outdoor gathering. Price matters, but a $15 chair used twice a year is a different purchase from a $50 padded chair used every weekend.
Our picks at a glance
- Best budget extra chair: IKEA GUNDE. At $14.99, the indoor GUNDE has a galvanized-steel frame, polypropylene seat and back, open-position lock, carrying cutout, and a 220-pound tested limit. It is the right choice for occasional guests when low cost and small-space storage come first. Check current Amazon alternatives.
- Best all-around indoor chair: IKEA VIHALS. The $25 VIHALS is a lightweight powder-coated steel and plastic chair tested for 243 pounds. It is preassembled, has a shaped seat and back, and measures 16 7/8 by 18 1/2 inches when open. This is our practical pick for small apartments that want guest seating that does not look purely temporary. Check current Amazon alternatives.
- Best comfort upgrade: IKEA FRÖSVI upholstered folding chair. At $50, the FRÖSVI adds a solid-hardwood frame and padded seat and back, with a 243-pound tested limit. It is a better choice for dinner, cards, or a longer visit when thin plastic seating will be a distraction. Check current Amazon alternatives.
- Best basic outdoor extra chair: IKEA FEJAN. This $15 outdoor folding chair uses powder-coated steel and plastic, has a slim lightweight design, and is tested for 220 pounds under the outdoor seating standard EN 581. It is for patio, balcony, and picnic seating—not an indoor dining chair you happen to move outside. Check current Amazon alternatives.
Prices, colors, and local availability can change. The models and specifications in this guide were checked on August 6, 2026. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions and rated-use guidance for the exact chair you buy.
Measure two versions of every chair
The open chair is only half the story. You need its width, depth, height, seat height, and the space a person’s knees need at the table. Then you need its folded thickness and length, plus the path it takes to storage. A set of four that fits neatly against a wall in a product photo may still block a closet door or make a narrow apartment hallway feel unusable.
Start with the storage slot. Behind a bedroom door, inside a hall closet, under a bed, on a wall hook, and beside a refrigerator all have different limits. Measure the clear width and height with a tape measure. Allow room to lift a stack in and out without scraping a wall. If you plan to hang chairs, use hardware rated for the chair’s weight and the wall material; do not hang a stack from a decorative hook that has never been tested for the load.
Then measure the table. Seat height and leg clearance determine whether a folding chair feels normal at dinner. The VIHALS, for example, has a 17 3/4-inch seat height; the GUNDE is also 17 3/4 inches, while the FRÖSVI is 18 7/8 inches. A higher seat may be welcome at some tables and awkward at others. A chair that folds flat but puts guests at the wrong height is not a successful small-space purchase.
Finally, think about how the chair will move. A lightweight option is easier to retrieve for surprise visitors. A more substantial upholstered chair may be worth the extra pounds for planned dinners. The people who will actually set up the chairs matter more than an abstract promise of portability.
Best budget extra chair: IKEA GUNDE
The IKEA GUNDE is our budget choice because it does the basic job cleanly. At $14.99, it is an indoor folding chair with a galvanized steel frame, polypropylene seat and back, a cutout handle for carrying, and an open-position lock intended to prevent accidental folding. IKEA lists a 220-pound tested limit and says the chair has been tested for home use under EN 12520 and EN 1022.
The dimensions explain its appeal in a tight apartment: 16 1/8 inches wide, 17 3/4 inches deep, and 30 3/4 inches high, with a 17 3/4-inch seat height. It arrives preassembled, wipes clean easily, and does not ask you to preserve a padded surface or wooden finish. For an occasional holiday dinner, a board-game group, or a child’s desk visitor, that is enough.
The trade-off is comfort. The seat is relatively compact, and the plastic-and-steel construction is not the chair we would choose for a long working session or a marathon game night. That is not a failure at this price. It is a reason to buy GUNDE for short guest seating and use the saved money on the things that make a small gathering work—an open table, good lighting, and perhaps a few board games rather than more furniture.
Open the chair fully until the lock engages and inspect the feet periodically. Add appropriate floor protectors if the chair will sit on wood, tile, or another easily marked surface. Do not stand on it, lean it against a wall as a climbing aid, or use it as a step stool. A folding chair is seating, not a substitute for a ladder.
Best all-around indoor chair: IKEA VIHALS
The IKEA VIHALS is the better choice when you want a simple folding chair that feels more at home in a dining nook or living space. At $25, it is still affordable, but its shaped seat and back, high-strength powder-coated steel, plastic components, and 243-pound tested limit make it the more rounded indoor option. IKEA says it comes preassembled and is recommended for indoor use only.
It measures 16 7/8 inches wide, 18 1/2 inches deep, and 31 1/2 inches high, with a 17 3/4-inch seat height. Those numbers are useful because the chair is a little deeper than GUNDE. Check that extra depth against the table and the storage spot. The chair’s design is light enough to carry, while the frame and simple wipe-clean surfaces make it practical for regular guest use.
Choose VIHALS for a small apartment that occasionally needs a fourth dining chair, a compact home office that turns into a guest room, or a table used for meals and crafts. It is not padded, so it is still not the right answer for someone who needs ergonomic all-day desk seating. But for dinner, homework, a short meeting, or a casual gathering, it has the right balance of cost, appearance, and storage.
The main reason to skip it is not quality; it is use case. If the chair will support long evenings, choose the FRÖSVI’s padding. If it will live on a balcony, choose an outdoor-rated chair. Buying a chair for its intended environment will always be better than trying to make one indoor plastic seat work everywhere.
Best comfort upgrade: IKEA FRÖSVI upholstered folding chair
The IKEA FRÖSVI upholstered folding chair is the pick for a small home that wants temporary seating without making guests feel temporary. The $50 version has a solid-hardwood frame, upholstered seat and back, and a 243-pound tested limit. IKEA says the fabric has been tested for abrasion resistance and that the chair can be hung on a wall when not in use.
The important difference is not visual polish alone. Padding makes a greater difference once a meal extends into conversation, cards, or a long tabletop game. The chair measures 16 7/8 inches wide, 19 1/4 inches deep, and 30 3/4 inches high, with an 18 7/8-inch seat height. That higher seat can feel excellent at a kitchen table or too tall at a low table, so measure before committing to a set.
Storage remains compact: the listed package thickness is about three inches. But padded upholstery changes the care routine. Keep drinks and messy art supplies away from it, vacuum or spot-clean according to the care instructions, and avoid stacking chairs in a way that crushes or rubs the fabric. A padded folding chair is still a folding chair; it should be folded slowly and never forced against a swollen cushion or caught object.
Spend up for FRÖSVI if your folding chairs are used often enough that comfort affects the gathering. Do not spend up simply because you assume fabric means luxury. A basic plastic chair is easier to wipe after children’s crafts or a backyard-adjacent meal. The best chair is the one whose maintenance matches the people using it.
Best basic outdoor option: IKEA FEJAN
The IKEA FEJAN is the appropriate low-cost choice for a small balcony, patio, picnic, or garden gathering. At $15, it uses powder-coated steel and plastic and is tested for 220 pounds under the EN 581 outdoor seating standard. IKEA describes it as slim, lightweight, easy to fold, and easy to care for.
Outdoor and indoor chairs should not be treated as interchangeable. FEJAN is made for an outdoor setting and casual mobility. That makes it good for an extra balcony chair or a simple row of seats around a portable table. It does not turn into a weatherproof heirloom just because it is sold for outside. Bring it in or protect it when conditions call for it, and inspect the frame, finish, feet, and hinge points for wear.
Its low cost makes it tempting to buy a large set. Resist that urge until you measure. A small balcony needs clear paths and enough space to pull a chair out from a table. Four $15 chairs that force everyone to squeeze around railings and doors are less useful than two comfortable chairs and open floor space. For a bigger outdoor gathering, retrieve only the chairs you need and fold the rest back immediately afterward.
Choose FEJAN for a genuine outdoor use case. For indoor dinner guests, a GUNDE or VIHALS is better suited. For a longer outdoor meal, consider a chair with more support or add a weather-appropriate cushion that does not interfere with the folding mechanism.
What to look for beyond the product photo
Open-position lock or brace: The chair should reach a clear, stable open state. Follow the model’s opening instructions, and never sit before the frame is fully opened. A lock does not remove the need for common sense; keep hands away from pinch points while opening or folding.
Seat size and height: A chair can meet a rated-use standard and still be uncomfortable for a particular person or table. Compare seat depth, width, and height with the chairs you already use. A compact guest chair is fine when it is honestly compact. It is not fine when you expect it to replace a generous dining chair for several hours.
Frame and feet: Powder-coated or galvanized steel is practical for easy-clean seating. Wood can feel warmer and more furniture-like. In either case, inspect the feet and add floor protection when needed. A sliding chair can damage flooring and make a person feel unstable even when the frame itself is sound.
Folded thickness: The difference between three inches and five inches is substantial when four chairs must sit in a closet. Use the folded measurement, not an optimistic product photo, to plan the stack. Be especially careful with padded models, which may need more clearance to avoid compressing upholstery.
Actual carrying weight: Lightweight is a benefit when a smaller person or an older relative will set up chairs. A heavier chair may feel more substantial but is only worth it if it can be stored and moved without hassle. Always choose for the person setting up the room, not only the person sitting down.
Set up a flexible room without making it feel crowded
Small spaces work better with fewer useful chairs than many mediocre ones. Keep the everyday room layout uncluttered. Store guest seating in one designated place, and bring out only the number needed. Put chairs around the table with enough clearance to sit and stand without blocking a doorway, kitchen route, or bathroom access.
For a dinner, decide where coats, bags, and drinks will go before people arrive. For a game night, test the layout with the board and the chairs before filling the room. A narrow table with a few well-placed folding chairs is more welcoming than a crowded circle where everyone is wedged against a wall. A flexible room is not one that holds the most furniture; it is one that can change use without friction.
Never stack occupied chairs, balance a folded chair against a wall where it can fall, or let children play with the folding mechanism unsupervised. Keep fingers clear while opening and folding, and make sure the chair is on a level surface before sitting. These are simple habits that matter more than any brand promise.
Care and storage
Wipe plastic and powder-coated steel chairs with a damp cloth and mild cleaner, then dry them. For wood and upholstered chairs, follow the manufacturer’s specific care instructions. Do not soak a padded seat, leave outdoor steel wet under a cover for long periods, or use harsh abrasives on finishes. Clean chairs before storing them; grit in hinges and moisture between stacked frames accelerate wear.
Every few months, open each chair and inspect the hinge, rivets, brace, lock, feet, and seat. Retire a chair with a cracked frame, bent leg, failing lock, loose hardware, or damaged seat that affects stability. Do not attempt improvised repairs with tape, zip ties, or a block under one leg. Folding furniture is under load when someone sits in it, so a questionable chair is not a safe “good enough” chair.
How we chose folding chairs
For this update, we reviewed current product dimensions, stated tested-use limits, materials, folding and storage details, intended environment, cleaning needs, and price. We did not rank chairs solely by reviews or by the number of units in a multipack. A $15 chair, a $25 indoor all-rounder, a $50 upholstered chair, and a basic outdoor chair solve different problems.
The GUNDE is the low-cost occasional guest choice. VIHALS is the best simple indoor balance. FRÖSVI earns its higher price when comfort matters for longer visits. FEJAN is for outdoor use. That framing helps a small home buy exactly what it needs rather than storing a large set of chairs that never feels right.
Frequently asked questions
How many folding chairs should a small apartment keep?
Keep the number you will genuinely use. Two to four extra chairs cover most small dinners and game nights without eating all the storage space. Start with two good chairs, test the setup, and add more only if your room and routines support them.
Can I hang folding chairs on a wall?
Some models are designed to hang, but use hardware rated for the chair’s weight and the wall construction. Space hooks correctly and make sure the chair cannot slip off. Do not hang multiple chairs from an untested decorative hook or use a wall-storage idea that blocks a required path.
Are folding chairs safe for children?
They can be used safely when opened fully, placed on level flooring, and supervised appropriately. Keep children away from the hinge and folding mechanism, do not allow climbing or standing on the chair, and follow the maker’s specific instructions and weight guidance.
Should I buy plastic, metal, or wood folding chairs?
Choose by use. Plastic-and-metal chairs are light, easy to clean, and economical. Wood and padded chairs feel more furniture-like and can be more comfortable for dinner. Outdoor chairs need materials and care appropriate to weather. The best material is the one that fits the room, storage, and maintenance routine.
Our approach: SuperGrail explains the trade-offs behind every recommendation. If you buy through a link, SuperGrail may earn a commission—our research remains independent.