Office chair armrests: 2D, 3D and 4D explained

The movements behind the labels

There are five common armrest movements. Height moves the pad up and down. Depth slides the pad forward and back. Pivot rotates the pad inwards or outwards. Width moves the whole arm in towards you or out away from you. Flip-up folds the arm back out of the way. The D labels simply count how many of these a chair offers, starting with height.

What each movement is for

Height is the most important. Set it so the pads support your forearms lightly with your shoulders relaxed, at or just below desk height. Too high and your shoulders lift; too low and they do nothing.

Depth lets you slide the pads back so they do not hit the desk edge when you pull in close. Without it, armrests often stop you getting near enough to the keyboard. Pivot angles the pads inwards for typing on a narrow keyboard or outwards for a wide mouse area. Width brings the arms closer for slim users or wider for broad users. Flip-up gets the arms out of the way entirely, which helps at a low desk or when you want to sit cross-legged.

How armrests should meet the desk

The HSE display screen equipment guidance says armrests should not stop you getting close to the desk. In practice that means either the arms drop below the desk top, slide back far enough to clear it, or flip up. If your armrests are the same height as the desk, the pads can sit level with the desk surface so your forearms are supported along their length.

Check the arm height range against your desk. A chair with 7 cm of arm travel may not drop low enough under a standard 72 to 75 cm desk if the seat is set high.

1. 1

   Set seat height first so your forearms are roughly horizontal at the keyboard.

2. 2

   Raise or lower the armrests until they meet your forearms with shoulders relaxed.

3. 3

   Pull the chair in. If the arms hit the desk, slide them back, lower them or flip them up.

4. 4

   Pivot the pads inwards slightly if you type with elbows close to your sides.

5. 5

   Adjust width so the arms sit close to your body without pressing on your hips.

Do you need armrests?

Not everyone does. Some people prefer armless chairs because they can get very close to the desk and move freely. Others like armrests for support during calls, reading or using a phone. If you choose arms, adjustable ones are far better than fixed ones, because fixed arms are often at the wrong height for your desk.

For long days of typing, look for at least height and depth adjustment. 4D arms are worth having if several people share the chair or you switch between keyboard, mouse and tablet. Our ergonomic chairs guide lists the arm type for every chair.

Compare chairs by armrest type →

Gaming chairs and armrests

Gaming chairs range from simple 1D arms to full 4D arms. Corsair's T3 Rush and Razer's Enki list 4D arms; the Anda Seat Novis Max lists 1D. Some arms are linked to the recline so they move with the backrest, which keeps your arms supported when you lean back. See our gaming chairs guide for the arm type on each chair.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need armrests on an office chair? No, but adjustable arms help many people relax their shoulders. If you have arms, make sure they do not stop you getting close to the desk.

Is 4D worth it over 3D? If you share the chair or switch tasks a lot, the extra width or pivot helps. For one person at one desk, good 3D arms are usually enough.

What does 5D mean? Usually 4D plus a flip-up or extra pivot. Check the listing for the actual movements.

Can I replace armrests? Some chairs sell replacement arms or pads. Check the maker's parts list and the mounting pattern first.