You may not realize it, but your office chair plays a huge role in making your work environment more productive!
A good office chair provides excellent pelvic and lumbar support for better posture. This results in a chain reaction of better breathing, less fatigue, and relaxed back muscles.
An ergonomic office chair is just what you need to increase your workplace productivity.
One of the most crucial factors when choosing an office chair is the height of your seat. To find the correct seat height, you’ll need to find a gas cylinder that corresponds to your height.
Ideally, when seated on your office chair,
In this article, we’ll discuss how you can find the ideal cylinder size for your chair.
Before we get into detail about the steps to find the right gas cylinder replacement, let’s find out how a gas cylinder works and if it’s universal for all office chairs.
Let’s begin!
Table of Contents
What’s the best office chair height?
A gas or pneumatic cylinder is responsible for moving your chair seat up and down.
With the ideal ergonomic chair height, your legs should be supported at all times. The right cylinder adjusts your office chair to your height so that:
- Your feet lie flat on the floor
- Your knees are bent at a 90-degree angle
How does an office chair cylinder work?
Gas cylinders take the pressure from compressed gas and force it through a chamber. The pressured power then moves the piston to the desired position.
When you engage the lever on your office chair, it activates the cylinder.
When you press the lever while releasing your weight from the seat, the piston shoots out of the chamber and raises your seat.
Once you push down the lever and apply your weight to the chair, the seat will lower.
Parts of a Gas Cylinder
Stand Pipe or Outer Column: This connects the cylinder to the chair’s base. Standard pneumatic chair cylinders have a standpipe diameter of 2 inches. According to the manufacturer, standpipe heights may vary in length, but the two-inch diameter is the same for most office chairs.
Piston or Inner Column: The piston connects to the seat base and is responsible for raising or lowering your chair height. It has a diameter of 1.1-inch, and the top connects to the seat base (swivel unit).
Actuator: This button on top of the piston pushes and activates the cylinder to raise or lower the chair.
Retainer clip: This prevents the bottom of the piston from sliding out of the outer column.
Are office chair cylinders universal?
Now that you’re familiar with the parts, you’re probably wondering if all office chairs share the same gas cylinder size.
Most office chair gas cylinders are universal. The main difference between standard gas cylinders is how high they make your seat.
Most gas cylinders will be five inches long. However, other cylinders range from four to ten inches depending on the chair type. Most chair manufacturers will offer gas cylinders between four, five, and six inches.
Step-by-step Guide: How to find the best cylinder size for your office chair
To find the ideal ergonomic chair height for you, you will need to choose a gas cylinder that corresponds to your height.
Here’s how:
Step 1: Measure your Height
The best cylinder size corresponds to your height:
If you’re less than 5 ft. 4 in., get a four-inch cylinder.
If your height is between 5 ft. 4 in. to 6 ft. 2 in., get a five-inch cylinder.
If you’re taller than 6 ft. 2 in., get a six-inch cylinder.
Step 2: Measure your Seat Height
The next step is to measure your seat height.
Sit on the chair with your feet planted on the floor. Your knees should be at a 90-degree angle and your thighs parallel to the floor.
To get your seat height, get the measurement from the base of your knee cap to the floor.
Step 3: Measure your Seat Height With Different Shoe Types
When finding your minimum and maximum seat height, wear flat shoes and high-heeled shoes.
Step 4: Measure Chairs from Different Manufacturers
While different manufacturers share a universal and standard gas cylinder size, some will have different seat heights.
Now that you know your ideal seat height and gas cylinder size, you’ll be able to find the ergonomic office chair of your dreams!
Step 5: Find a Gas Cylinder Replacement
The next step is to find a replacement gas cylinder for your office chair. Then insert it into your wheelbase and seat.
Confirm if your office chair cylinder is the standard size of two inches. It will be easy to find a universal gas cylinder on Amazon.
Best Gas Cylinder Replacement
If your office chair cylinder is worn out or if you’d like to improve your chair’s comfort, get a universal gas lift cylinder replacement.
Gas lift cylinders don’t have parts you can replace, but the good news is that the complete cylinder unit is affordable on Amazon.
Here are some of the best gas cylinder replacements:
Pneumatic Shock 5” Replacement Gas Cylinder
This standard gas cylinder has a width of two inches and a height of 9.25 inches. These dimensions mean that the cylinder will work for most ergonomic office chairs. It can move a chair up and down five inches, which is a flexible choice for most heights.
With a 5-inch piston travel, the whole cylinder measures 16.25 inches when fully extended. We found the cylinder to be smooth and precise in our tests.
This cylinder will last for years with its robust construction made of steel and hard plastic.
This gas cylinder is a great choice if you’re looking for an affordable option with reliable performance.
Pros
- Fits most office and executive chairs
- High quality and robust materials
- Easy installation
- Affordable
Cons
- It may not fit other chairs as it’s not fully universal.
Oasis Office Chair Cylinder Replacement
This replacement kit is the complete package! The gas lift cylinder comes complete with a manual, gloves, and removal tools.
You will love the easy five-step installation process that’s made even easier with the manual and kit.
This universal gas cylinder measures two inches (outer) and 1.1-inches (inner) in diameter. When fully extended, the piston measures 15 inches.
This product is a Class 4 cylinder, which means that it’s durable and can support more than 1000 pounds! What’s more, the cylinder is supported by a 6-year warranty.
If you’re looking for a no-frills cylinder with easy installation and high-quality parts, the Oasis Office Chair Cylinder Replacement is the ultimate choice.
Pros
- Easy removal and installation
- The kit is complete with removal tools, gloves, and manual
- Robust build (class 4)
- Universal fit and industry standard
- Can support up to 1000 pounds
- Six-year warranty
Cons
- Expensive than most cylinders
Conclusion
There you have it!
To find the ideal office chair for you, figure out the ideal gas cylinder size for you.
Most gas cylinders are universal, with a diameter of two inches. Office chair gas cylinders from manufacturers will only differ in height. The ideal cylinder height for you will be based on your height.
We hope this guide helps you to have a productive workspace!
My name is Vance, and I am the owner of To Ergonomics. Our mission is to improve your workflow by helping you create a supportive and welcoming environment. We hope that you’ll find what you’re looking for while you’re here.