Sanctuary seating comes in a range of prices depending on the quality, materials, warranty, and design. Here, we’ll break down the different factors that determine the cost of church chairs. If you’re looking to get a rough estimate, we’ll also provide the most common price range.
How Much Do Church Chairs Cost?
Church chairs cost $35-$75 per seat. So if your sanctuary holds 100 people, you will pay approximately $3,500-$7,500 for your chairs. If your church seats 1,000 people, you’ll spend $35,000-$75,000, and so on.
If you want to get a rough estimate of how much your seating purchase will cost, simply multiply your seating capacity by the lower range price of $35 and the higher range price of $75. This will give you an approximate range, and you can decide how to plan your church seating budget accordingly.
Of course, some chair models will cost more or less than the numbers presented here. But most suppliers in today’s market price their seats in this range.
What Determines Chair Price?
There are several different factors that contribute to the cost of church chairs.
Materials
The raw materials that go into each chair have a big impact on the price. High quality materials will naturally have a higher cost to the manufacturer, so they need to build this into the price of the chair. While cheaper materials may translate to a lower price tag, the quality will suffer from these inferior materials.
Some examples of high-quality materials include 16-gauge steel, dual-layer foam, and industrial grade plywood. Low-quality materials may include weaker (18-gauge) steel, remanufactured wood, and single-layer foam. Ultimately, it is worth investing in high-quality materials to some degree because cheaper materials will wear out faster and provide a less enjoyable seating experience.
Warranty
Another cost factor is the chair’s warranty. If a company offers thorough protection for their products, this may contribute to a higher price. However, the alternative is to purchase chairs with inadequate protection and then be left with no recourse if something breaks. Any reputable chair manufacturer will provide a fair warranty on their chairs and honor it.
It’s important to evaluate the length, inclusiveness, and enforceability of the warranty. Be sure to carefully read the details of what is included in the warranty, and also research the reputation of the company. For more information on what your church needs to know about warranties, check out our video:
Procurement Costs
Procurement cost refers to the cost of obtaining the materials to make the chair. If a chair uses hard-to-find materials, such as a rare type of wood or reclaimed or recycled wood, this increases the price. On the other hand, chairs made with commonly available materials will usually have a lower price.
Design
Higher priced chairs tend to have a better design. The manufacturer likely paid attention to ergonomics and comfort. These are both important factors since they can greatly impact the health and happiness of the people sitting in the chairs.
Seating that uses poor ergonomic design can lead to serious health effects like spinal degeneration and respiratory dysfunction. Of course this is much more likely in seating that is used on a daily basis, like office chairs. But poor ergonomics also leads to discomfort that can distract people from your worship service or fellowship event.
Size and Features
Chair size may also factor into the cost to some extent. A larger seat requires more materials to produce. And if there are any extra features such as arms or a contoured back, this influences the price too.
Labor and Production Methods
Any type of furniture requires labor and specialized equipment to produce. Labor and production costs lie on a spectrum. Custom, hand-crafted pieces are the most expensive, while standard mass-produced chairs are cheaper.
Most church chair models lie somewhere in the middle. The manufacturer may have a unique design that sets their chairs apart but use special equipment to mass produce this design.
Order Quantity
While most manufacturers set a fixed price for a single chair, they may be willing to give their customers a better price for large bulk orders. Looking at it from the seller’s perspective, it is far better for them to sell a guaranteed 100 church chairs at a lower rate than a single chair at a higher rate.
Before you order your church chairs, speak with a sales representative to see what kind of deal they are able to give you based on your order quantity.
What Are Some Other Costs to Consider?
Here are some other costs to keep in mind before making a church seating purchase:
- Sales tax (varies by state)
- Shipping costs
- Delivery fees (if applicable)
All of these additional charges need to be accounted for in your seating budget.
Related: How to Budget for Church Chairs
The actual price of your church chairs will vary by manufacturer and model. Hopefully this gives you a better understanding of the many different factors that go into determining the final cost of your church seating. It’s important to find chairs that fit into your budget, but also keep in mind the importance of buying a quality product. Well-built chairs with good materials will serve your congregation well for many years.
When it’s time to buy church chairs, ChurchPlaza is happy to guide you through the process. Contact our sales representatives to let us know what you’re looking for, and be sure to ask about a free sample chair!
