Chair Stagger Methods

Irwin Seating Company can help optimize sightlines, but a building’s design is the most important factor. There are four distinct arrangements of staggered seating layouts typically used:

Alternating Chair Sizes: By alternating chair sizes within rows, a stagger is created that allows patrons to see between those seated in front of them.

Odd-Even Parallel: This method alternates the size and quantity of chairs in a row in order to improve sightlines. In the example shown above, alternating rows of 11, 20" chairs and 10, 22" chairs improve sightlines. Rows of nine or fewer chairs are very difficult to accommodate using this method.

Odd-Even Tapered: Pick a chair size, and increase the chair count by one in successive rows. Obviously, this offers limitations on chair counts.

Sawtooth Stagger: Simply shift alternate rows by a half chair total, or shift successive rows one-quarter chair each way.

The alternating chair sizes and the parallel odd-even methods are the most common methods used to create chair stagger. The saw-tooth stagger is not used often, because it creates uneven row ends.