Office chairs

Under-Desk Footrest or a Chair With a Built-In Footrest: What Each Costs and When You Need One

Published · By Ergocrew · Specs and guidance as of that date, from the pages under Sources

Summary

For seated desk work, use a separate footrest if your feet cannot reach the floor after you set the chair for the work surface. CCOHS asks for support that keeps both feet "flat and firm." A chair's pull-out leg rest serves reclining instead. As a separate-footrest price example, Mount-It!'s MI-7802 was $29.99 at its US store, checked 2026-11-01. Among the matched Sihoo options below, adding a built-in leg rest cost $30 to $50, checked 2026-10-13.

When guidance calls for a footrest

Both agencies tie the footrest to one situation: the chair has been raised to suit the work surface, and your feet no longer reach the floor. CCOHS, Canada's occupational health agency, says to use a footrest if you cannot place your feet flat on the floor after setting the chair height so your elbows are about level with a fixed-height work surface. OSHA's chair guidance says to use a footrest when the seat cannot be lowered.

At a fixed-height desk, supporting your arms at the work surface may require a higher seat than your legs alone would need. If you can lower both the seat and the desk, you may not need a footrest at all. Our guide to the order of chair adjustments walks through that sequence.

Under-desk footrests: height, angle and size

CCOHS describes the footrest it has in mind as adjustable and wide enough to support both feet, with the feet kept flat and firm on it. OSHA adds that a footrest may raise the knee slightly to relieve pressure on the back of the leg.

The height to aim for comes from your own measurement. Measure the gap between the floor and the soles of your feet while you sit at your set chair height. Use the gap as a starting point, then adjust while seated so both feet are supported. Check the result against the CCOHS foot position rather than choosing by a product's maximum height. Separately, CCOHS's chair guidance mentions keeping about 2 inches, a clenched fist, between the front of the seat and your calves; check that space again once your feet are on the rest.

The width needs to take both feet with some room to shift position. The depth needs to suit the space under the desk without pushing the chair back from the keyboard. For a cost reference, Mount-It! listed the MI-7802 Adjustable Ergonomic Footrest at $29.99 at its US store, checked 2026-11-01, with an 18 x 13 in footprint, 3.25 in listed height and tilt up to 30°. The listing was marked unavailable; confirm stock with Mount-It! before choosing it. Those dimensions are not a prescribed setting, so check support at the height your setup needs.

Built-in leg rests and what they are for

The pull-out leg rest on a "Footrest Version" chair does a different job. Sihoo's product page for the B100 says that "When reclining up to 135°, the footrest can be extended for more leg support." Sihoo lists three lockable recline positions for that chair, up to 135°.

That is a reclined position, away from typing posture. For reference, OSHA's neutral-posture guidance describes reclined sitting with the torso and neck between 105 and 120 degrees from the thighs. A leg rest that holds your legs out in front of the seat does not put your feet flat under the desk, so it does not stand in for the footrest CCOHS and OSHA describe for desk work.

What the Footrest Version costs

Sihoo sells several chairs in both versions. This table matches color and seat type within each model; the prices were at Sihoo's US store, checked 2026-10-13.

Model and matched optionStandard, Sihoo's US store, checked 2026-10-13Footrest, same store and dateDifference
Sihoo B100, Black / Mesh Seat$219.99$259.99$40.00
Sihoo B300 Pro, White$269.99$299.99$30.00
Sihoo C300, White$289.99$339.99$50.00
Sihoo C300 Pro, White$369.99$409.99$40.00
Sihoo Doro C300 Pro V2, Black$429.99$469.99$40.00

A lower starting price may include another change. The B100's $199.99 cushioned standard seat and $259.99 black mesh Footrest Version differ by $259.99 - $199.99 = $60, but that includes a different seat surface. Holding the black mesh seat constant gives $259.99 - $219.99 = $40. The C300 Pro also needs a same-color comparison: its white Footrest Version adds $409.99 - $369.99 = $40, not the $50 difference from the black standard option.

For the B300 Pro, white-to-white gives $299.99 - $269.99 = $30. For the C300, white-to-white gives $339.99 - $289.99 = $50. Neither difference compares white with black. These dated figures are useful for setting a budget, but confirm the selected chair's price and available versions with Sihoo before ordering.

The C300 Ultra V2's black Footrest Version was $609.99 at Sihoo's US store, checked 2026-11-01. Ask Sihoo whether a comparable standard version is available and what it costs.

Which one fits your setup

Browsing for one? Browse chairs in the feed →

Related guides

Sources

  1. Mount-It!, MI-7802 Adjustable Ergonomic Footrest
  2. OSHA Computer Workstations eTool, Chairs
  3. OSHA Computer Workstations eTool, Neutral Working Postures
  4. CCOHS, Office Ergonomics - Adjusting the Chair
  5. Sihoo, B100 Ergonomic Office Chair
  6. Sihoo, B300 Pro Ergonomic Office Chair
  7. Sihoo, Doro C300 Ergonomic Office Chair
  8. Sihoo, Doro C300 Pro Ergonomic Chair
  9. Sihoo, Doro C300 Pro V2
  10. Sihoo, Doro C300 Ultra V2

We have not tested these products. Specs and guidance are as published on these pages on the date above and can change; the manufacturer's page for your model has the current details.

More office chairs guides

Office chairsWhat Should You Look for When Choosing an Office Chair?An office chair has to fit two things at once, your body and the desk you already own. Compare the seat-height range, seat depth and seat width first…Read the guide →Office chairsWhat Makes an Office Chair Ergonomic?An ergonomic office chair fits your body and desk through adjustable seat height, seat depth, back support and armrests. The label alone does not…Read the guide →Office chairsWhat Order Should You Use to Adjust an Office Chair?Start at the floor and work up: seat height, then seat depth and the backrest, then the armrests, and only then the monitor and the things you reach…Read the guide →Office chairsWhere Should Lumbar Support Sit on an Office Chair?Lumbar support should meet the inward curve of your lower back while you sit back with your feet supported. Its position depends on your body and the…Read the guide →Office chairsShould You Choose a Mesh or Leather Office Chair?Choose by fit first and material second. Mesh lets air through and flexes under you; leather and leather-look covers sit over foam padding that air…Read the guide →Office chairsWhich Office Chair Features Matter Most for Long Workdays?For eight-hour days, the chair has to support more than one position. OSHA's workstation guidance says that "working in the same posture or sitting…Read the guide →Office chairsIs a Weight Rating Enough When Choosing a Big-and-Tall Office Chair?No. A weight rating is the manufacturer's upper limit for the load, and you should stay under it, but it says nothing about whether the seat is wide…Read the guide →Office chairsWhat Should You Check in a Cross-Legged Office Chair?A cross-legged chair is a wide, often armless seat built so you can fold your legs under you. Check that it still works when you sit normally: the…Read the guide →Office chairsDo You Need a Built-In Footrest on an Office Chair?For desk work, the footrest you may need is a separate one on the floor. It solves a specific problem: the chair has been raised to suit the desk and…Read the guide →Office chairsHow Do You Choose an Office Chair Mat for Carpet or Hard Floors?Choose a chair mat rated for your floor surface and, for carpet, its pile depth. Many plastic carpet mats use grippers, while hard-floor versions use…Read the guide →Office chairsWhat Office Chair Works Best in a Small Space?In a small room the chair that works is the one that fits under the desk and rolls back far enough for you to stand, not the one with the smallest…Read the guide →Office chairsWhat Does an Ergonomic Office Chair Cost, and What Do You Get at Each Price?The chairs compared here ranged from $159.99 to $609.99 at the makers' US stores, checked 2026-10-13. A larger budget does not automatically buy a…Read the guide →Office chairsIs an Office Chair's Sale Price a Real Discount?A crossed-out price does not, by itself, establish a real saving. For a seller's former-price comparison, the FTC looks at whether the higher price…Read the guide →Office chairsWhich Armrest Adjustments Matter on an Office Chair (2D, 3D, 4D, Flip-Up), and Can You Upgrade Them?Start with height and width: OSHA asks for armrests low enough for "relaxed shoulders" and close enough to support the lower arms. Forward-back travel…Read the guide →Office chairsDo Seat Cushions and Lumbar Pillows Fix an Office Chair, or Make It Worse?A cushion can change how a chair fits, but it does not repair its adjustments. It raises your sitting position by the thickness left under your…Read the guide →Office chairsWhat Should You Check Before Buying a Used or Refurbished Office Chair?A used or refurbished chair is worth considering only after you identify the exact version, check its condition and read the guarantee that applies to…Read the guide →Office chairsWhat Do BIFMA, ANSI and CAL 117 Labels on an Office Chair Mean?ANSI/BIFMA X5.1 is a test standard for general-purpose office chairs; a listing that says only BIFMA does not identify which standard was used or…Read the guide →Office chairsWhat Do PU, Bonded and Genuine Leather Mean on a Chair Listing, and What Is a Double-Rub Count?Genuine leather refers to hide, while bonded material contains leather fibers mixed with other substances. PU identifies polyurethane, but the label…Read the guide →Office chairsIs a Gaming Chair Worse Than an Office Chair for Desk Work?Not because of the label; for desk work, compare the chair's adjustments. OSHA's chair guidance asks for an adjustable seat depth, height-adjustable…Read the guide →Office chairsKneeling Chairs and Saddle Stools: Who Are They For, and What Are the Trade-Offs?Kneeling chairs and saddle seats offer different ways to sit and change position, but the category name does not establish fit. A kneeling design uses…Read the guide →Office chairsHow Should an Office Chair Recline (Synchro-Tilt, Knee-Tilt, Tilt Lock)?Look for a recline you can move into and hold, with controls that suit your use. OSHA asks for at least 15 degrees from vertical and a backrest that…Read the guide →Office chairsHow Do You Fix an Office Chair That Sinks or Rolls Badly (Gas Cylinder and Casters)?For a chair that sinks, first ask the maker to check the height-control mechanism and identify a compatible replacement cylinder if needed. Replace…Read the guide →Office chairsDo You Need a Headrest on an Office Chair?A headrest is worth checking if you regularly recline and want support in that position. OSHA's purchasing guide calls for one when a backrest…Read the guide →Office chairsWhat Does an Office Chair Warranty Actually Cover?A chair warranty covers the failures, parts and purchasers specified in its terms, rather than everything that happens during the headline number of…Read the guide →Office chairsWhat Should a Short Person Check in an Office Chair?Check the lowest occupied seat height and the shortest usable seat depth first. You need foot support and enough space between the seat edge and your…Read the guide →

All office chairs guides · All guides and search