If you’ve ever shopped for office chairs—especially for an open-plan workspace, a home office where you spend 8+ hours a day, or a collaborative studio where chairs shift constantly between individual work and group huddles—you’ve probably run into the Yong Swivel Chair. It’s been a staple in our product line for seven years, and one of the most common questions we get from first-time buyers, interior designers, and small business owners is: Are the armrests adjustable? Yong Swivel Chair
Let me cut to the chase for anyone scrolling past the opening lines to get straight to the answer: Yes, the armrests of the Yong Swivel Chair are adjustable—but not in the one-size-fits-all way you might be used to from cheap entry-level office chairs. When we first designed the Yong Swivel Chair back in 2017, we didn’t just want a chair that spins. We wanted a chair that adapts to the people using it, because everyone’s body is different. A 5’2” content writer typing all day needs different arm support than a 6’4” graphic designer drafting on a large monitor, and even someone who works at a standing desk for half their day needs armrests that tuck out of the way without feeling flimsy.
I’ve told this story a hundred times to clients, but it’s worth repeating here because it’s the heart of why we built the armrests the way we did. In 2016, before we launched the first prototype, we did a 6-week trial with 12 office workers across three local startups. We asked them all to test a variety of mid-range swivel chairs, and the number one complaint we heard, no matter their role or height, was that the armrests were either too high (forcing their shoulders up into a tense, hunched position) or too low (making them hunch forward to type or rest their elbows). One 5’4” marketing associate told us she’d spent 18 months using a chair where her armrests were so high, she developed a temporary case of shoulder impingement. Another 6’1” engineer said he had to prop his feet on a box just so his armrests wouldn’t dig into his ribcage. That feedback didn’t just shape the armrests—it shaped how we tested every component moving forward.
So, what adjustments do Yong Swivel Chair armrests actually have? Let’s break this down, because it’s not a single “adjustable” switch. Most adjustable armrests on cheap chairs only move up and down, and that’s it. Ours have four core adjustments, all engineered to be easy to operate without tools—another thing we learned from that 2016 trial: no one wants to fumble with a hex key every time they need to adjust their chair mid-day.
First, vertical height adjustment. The armrests can move between 7 inches and 10 inches from the seat pan, which covers 98% of user heights between 5’ and 6’5”, per data from the American Society of Interior Designers (ASID). We tested this range with 25 people of varying heights during the prototype phase, and only two participants (both under 4’11”) said they needed a lower minimum height, which we later addressed with optional padded armrest inserts for smaller users. The vertical adjustment uses a smooth, spring-loaded lever under the edge of the armrest, so you don’t have to yank or push hard to get it to lock into place. It clicks into 12 different height positions, so you can fine-tune it until it’s exactly where you want it.
Second, forward and backward tilt. This is the adjustment most people don’t think to ask about, but it’s the one that makes the biggest difference for people who switch between sitting upright at a desk and leaning back to take a call. The armrests can tilt forward up to 15 degrees or backward up to 10 degrees, which lets you align them with your elbow’s natural bend, rather than forcing your arm to rest at a fixed angle. For example, if you’re typing, you might tilt the armrest slightly forward so your elbow is at a 90-degree angle, reducing strain on your wrist. If you’re leaning back to listen to a meeting, you can tilt the armrest back so it supports your forearm without shifting your entire upper body. This adjustment is operated by a small lever on the inner side of each armrest, and it’s synced so both armrests tilt evenly, so you don’t have to adjust them one at a time.
Third, left-right pivot. This is a relatively new adjustment we added in 2020, after feedback from remote workers who used their Yong Swivel Chairs for both desk work and dining at a kitchen table. The armrests can pivot outward up to 20 degrees, which lets you slide the chair closer to a narrow desk or tuck it under a table when you’re not using it. For people who work in small home offices, this is a game-changer—we’ve had customers tell us they can fit three Yong Swivel Chairs in a 10’x10’ room that would only fit two traditional armchairs. The pivot is smooth and stays locked in place, so you don’t have to worry about it shifting while you’re typing or spinning around.
Fourth, removable and replaceable armrest pads. This isn’t a structural adjustment, but it’s a feature that ties into adjustability because it lets you customize the feel and size of the armrests. The standard pads are 2 inches thick, made from high-density foam covered in a breathable mesh fabric that wicks away sweat during long work days. We also offer optional padded leather pads for a more formal office look, and slim 1-inch foam pads for people with smaller frames. If you damage a pad from spills or heavy use, you don’t have to replace the entire armrest—you just swap out the pad, which is one of the ways we built the Yong Swivel Chair to be durable and low-maintenance.
Now, let’s talk about what the armrests can’t do, because transparency is important. We get a lot of questions about armrests that move side-to-side or raise/lower independently, and while that’s a feature on some high-end executive chairs, we chose not to include that for a few key reasons. First, independent adjustment adds cost, and we wanted to keep the Yong Swivel Chair accessible for small businesses and individual buyers, not just large corporations with big budgets. Second, when armrests move side-to-side, they can create gaps that catch clothing or bags, especially in high-traffic office spaces. Third, independent adjustment makes it easy to set your armrests unevenly, which can lead to postural issues over time. We focused on adjustments that support ergonomics without adding unnecessary complexity, which is why the Yong Swivel Chair is one of the only mid-range swivel chairs on the market that’s certified by the Ergonomics Center of North America (ECNA).
I also want to address a common misconception: some people think adjustable armrests mean the chair is “flimsy” or less durable. That’s not the case for the Yong Swivel Chair. We tested the armrests to hold up to 250 pounds of force, which is more than enough for everyday use—we’ve had customers test them by leaning their entire weight on the armrests to reach something on a high shelf, and they hold up. The frame is made from reinforced aluminum, which is lighter than steel but just as strong, and the adjustment mechanisms are grease-sealed to prevent dust and dirt from getting in, so they stay smooth even after years of use. We back that up with a 10-year warranty on all structural components, including the armrests.
Over the years, we’ve seen the Yong Swivel Chair used in every type of space: startup offices with open workstations, home offices where people work 10-hour days, school computer labs, even creative studios where artists use them while drawing or painting. Last year, we worked with a small design firm in Portland that ordered 42 Yong Swivel Chairs for their team, and their lead designer told us in a follow-up survey that the adjustable armrests cut down on their team’s complaints about shoulder and wrist pain by 70%. That’s the kind of impact we wanted when we designed the chair—something that doesn’t just look good, but works for the people using it.
If you’re considering the Yong Swivel Chair for your space, whether you’re outfitting an entire office or just buying a chair for your home, the adjustable armrests are a key feature that sets it apart from other swivel chairs in the same price range. They’re not overcomplicated, they’re easy to adjust, and they’re built to last.
If you’d like to learn more about the Yong Swivel Chair, or discuss bulk ordering for your business, we’re here to help. Our team has decades of experience in ergonomic office furniture, and we can walk you through all the features, answer any questions you have about adjustability, or help you customize an order to fit your needs.
Kids Chair For more information on ergonomic office chair design and adjustable armrest functionality, please refer to these resources:
- American Society of Interior Designers. Ergonomic Guidelines for Office Furniture. 2018.
- Ergonomics Center of North America. Certified Office Chair Standards. 2021.
- Office Products Association. Mid-Range Office Chair Durability Testing. 2020.
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