If you need seating for your church, you may be considering church chairs. Many modern sanctuaries prefer using chairs for a church instead of pews. They provide comfort and allow you to preserve your personal space.
If you're considering chairs for your sanctuary, like the church chairs by ComforTek Seating Inc., it's essential to know the most common sizes, costs and benefits.
What's the Difference Between a Church Chair and Pew?
Many people assume that church chairs and pews are the same thing, and while they serve the same purpose, they describe two different things.
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Pews are traditional church seating. They consist of long rows of seating (much like benches).
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Church chairs are just what they sound like – chairs used in sanctuaries. They are just like any other chair you would find in a commercial or office setting. However, they are designed with sanctuaries in mind.
Many modern churches find that chairs are the better option because they offer flexibility. You can change your layout with ease, and if you need to make space for an event, you can easily stack and store your chairs away.
Common Church Chair Sizes
Church chairs come in a variety of sizes, and you can even choose a custom size if that's something you need for your sanctuary. Just keep in mind that custom sizes will come at a higher cost.
However, the most common chair widths are:
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21"
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20.5"
If you plan to purchase chairs with arms, it may be best to choose a wider seat to make sure that your members are comfortable during service. On the other hand, arms can make the chair feel a little tighter, so account for this by offering some additional room.
Which size should you choose? That really depends on how many members you have and the size of the sanctuary. If you're limited on space, then you'll want to stick to the smallest possible size. On the other hand, if space isn't an issue, then feel free to go with a larger width for maximum comfort.
Of course, you also have an option to choose a mix of widths to accommodate members of all sizes.
Another thing to consider with the size of your chairs is the layout. Some modern church chairs have ganging, which allows you to connect the chairs together and create pews. If the chairs don't have ganging or you want some separation between members, take this into account when choosing your chairs.
How Many Church Chairs Do You Need?
If you're looking to buy church chairs, one of the first things that you need to consider is how many you will need. Unfortunately, determining how many chairs you need can be challenging, especially if you're just starting out.
If your congregation is growing and you expect it to continue growing, you may want to prepare for that growth. The last thing you want is to have new members show up and have nowhere to sit.
How Much Do Church Chairs Cost?
Church chairs prices can vary significantly, depending on many factors, including:
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How many you need. Some manufacturers will give you a discount if you purchase large quantities of chairs at once.
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Quality. The higher quality of the chair, the higher the cost. Chairs made with premium materials will need to be replaced less often, which means that you'll ultimately save money on chair costs.
Generally, church chairs will cost about $30-$60 per chair. Therefore, most churches can expect to spend at least a few thousand dollars on their seating.
What are the Benefits of Church Chairs?
There are many benefits to using church chairs, including:
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Comfort: It's hard to be uncomfortable with church chairs. Compared to pews, chairs are far more comfortable, and members will be happy to stick around for your service.
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Affordability: Church chairs are generally more affordable than pews.
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Flexibility: With chairs, you have the option of changing your layout and making room for larger events with ease.
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Storage: Unneeded chairs can be stored away, and if you need to make room for an event or something else, then you can stack and store your chairs away.
Church chairs are a worthwhile investment. Not only will your members be more comfortable, but you'll gain the freedom and flexibility of being able to move and store your chairs.
Meta Description: Everything that you need to know about church chairs, from sizes to benefits and costs.
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