Seats

A seat is a piece of furniture or device designed to support a person in a seated position. Most seats include a surface to sit on and may provide a backrest and legs, though designs vary widely and can be stationary or portable. Seats range from simple stools to complex ergonomic chairs.

Common furniture seats include chairs, armchairs, benches, stools, and sofas. Specialized seating appears in vehicles and public venues, such as car seats, airplane seats, stadium and theater seats, and office chairs. Some seats are designed for portability (camp chairs) or for specific activities (gaming chairs, task seats).

Historically, fixed seating was a privilege of elites in many ancient civilizations. The modern chair emerged in Europe during the Renaissance and gained broad use with industrialization. Innovations in the 20th century emphasized ergonomics, adjustability, and materials science, leading to designs from molded plastic chairs to ergonomic office chairs.

Design and construction emphasize comfort, support, and durability. Key factors include seat height (roughly 16 to 19 inches for adults), depth, back support, padding, upholstery, and frame materials such as wood, metal, or molded plastic. Standards and guidelines exist in various regions, such as ANSI/BIFMA for office seating and EN 1335 for European office chairs.

The term seat also denotes a position or occupancy, such as a seat in a legislative body or the act of taking a seat. In larger spaces, seating is affected by allocation, accessibility, and safety considerations.