Two weeks ago I unboxed four Ballard dining chairs and almost sent them back. Not because they're bad – they're actually solid. Because I didn't check the seat height against my table first. The chairs looked right in the listing, but under my 30-inch table the seats sat at 18.5 inches, which meant knees up around my ears. That was the failed attempt. The fix? I swapped the table for a 29-inch one from a neighbor, and suddenly the same chairs felt perfect. So if you're about to buy Ballard chairs, here's what the first week actually looks like, and the one decision that matters most.
The One Decision: Seat Height vs. Table Height
Before you even add to cart, measure your table. Standard dining table height is around 30 inches, and most chairs sit at 18-19 inches. That's a 10-12 inch gap, which is fine. But if your table is lower (like some farmhouse styles at 28 inches) or you're using a counter-height table (36 inches), those Ballard chairs will feel wrong.
I've seen it happen more than once. People buy chairs based on style, forget to check the numbers, and end up with a dinner that feels like you're eating off a tray table. So the first decision is: what's your table height, and does the chair's seat height match? Ballard lists seat height in the specs – usually around 18.5 to 19 inches. If your table is 30 inches, you're good. If it's outside that range, look elsewhere or plan to adjust with a riser (which looks odd) or a different table.
The second part of that decision is seat depth. I'm 5'10" and these chairs have about 19 inches of seat depth. That's comfortable for a 30-minute meal, but if you're planning to linger for hours of conversation, you might want deeper seats. I didn't think about it until I sat through a two-hour dinner and my thighs started to complain.
So the one decision is not color or fabric or whether they match your decor. It's the height math. Get that right, and the rest is just delivery and setup.
Day 1: Unboxing and Assembly
Mine arrived in four boxes, each about 40 pounds. Assembly was simple – four legs, four bolts per chair, and a hex wrench included. Took me about 15 minutes per chair, mostly because I had to find my glasses. The instructions were clear enough, no cryptic pictograms.
One thing: check for damage before you start. The boxes looked fine, but on the second chair the backrest had a small scuff near the base – probably from rubbing during shipping. Ballard's customer service is decent, but you want to catch it early. I called, they sent a replacement backrest within a week, no hassle. But if you wait until day six to report it, you might have to argue.
Also, the boxes are heavy. If you're on a second floor with no elevator, bring help. I dragged mine up one by one, and by the end I was sweating like I'd done a workout.
Week One: Do This, Not That
Set up all chairs before you decide to keep them. Don't just unbox one and think it's fine. You need to see them in the room together. The wood tone might look different in your lighting than it does on the website. Mine were the 'saddle' finish, and under my warm light they had more red than I expected. Not bad, but different.
Sit in every single one. Not just the first. The foam padding varies slightly – at least mine did. One seat felt firmer than the others. It's probably just the foam not being broken in yet, but I noted it for the return window.
Don't remove the plastic from the feet until you're sure. I did, and then I slid a chair across the floor, scratching the hardwood. My fault, but it's a small scratch nobody will see unless they're crawling around.
The One Decision (Again)
I know I said it, but I want to be clear. The decision that decides whether you keep these chairs is whether the seat height works for you. I measured three times before I called for a return. Then I realized my table was the problem, not the chairs. I swapped tables, and now they're fine. So before you blame the chairs, measure your table. That's the one thing.
If you're still deciding between styles, check out some of the guides I've written on other dining chairs – or . They'll give you an idea of what to expect from different materials.
And if you're wondering about the Ballard chairs specifically, the short version is: they're decent. Not heirloom quality, but they'll hold up for a few years if you don't drag them. More guides in Dining Chairs
The Real Bottom Line
I kept mine. After the table swap, they're comfortable enough, and they look good. The fabric is a bit thin – I can tell it'll snag if I'm not careful – but for the price, I'm not crying over it. The one thing that made the difference was the height. If you get that right, you'll probably be happy. If you don't, you'll be packing them back up.
That's it. Measure your table, check the seat height, and you're done. Everything else is just details.