Standing Steady

Trimming chair legs to the floor

[Note: I have an upcoming class at Peter Galbert’s chair shop in Berwick, Maine, the first week of September. It has a few spots available, if you’re looking to make a contemporary ladderback chair.

Also, Galbert released his schedule for spring 2026 and opened registration. There’s some good stuff and talented makers headed his way. Tim Manney, Peter Follansbee, Chris Schwarz. I’m excited to head back in February for a Lounge Chair class. ]

1) #207 Chair. September 1-6, 2025. 2) Lounge Chair Class. February 16-21, 2026

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What follows is a short video on trimming chair legs to rest flat against the floor. I use the same process for ladderback, Windsor, and stick chairs.

I usually have the Windsor and stick chair front edges about 17.5” above the floor. It’s a little lower on a post-and-rung chair (about 17”), since the front rung can bother a shorter sitter. At worst, with a p&r chair that’s too high for the sitter, the seat rung presses against the hamstrings and cuts off circulation. Better to have the seat a little lower.

Of course, these can be altered later in the chairmaking process. Sometimes a little more needs to be removed, or the backwards lean needs adjusting. “Adding” height isn’t impossible, but a button or furniture pad only lifts the chair slightly.