“Contract furniture” is the trade term for furniture built and sold for commercial use – restaurants, bars, hotels, cafés, venues and other commercial spaces – rather than for the home. Contract seating in particular has to survive daily use by many different people, frequent cleaning and constant movement. This page explains what contract grade means at Contract Seating For Less, how it differs from residential furniture, and who it is meant for.
What “contract grade” means
There is no single label that makes furniture contract grade, but there are clear markers. For the seating we sell, those are:
- Tested to 400 lbs. Every chair and stool is tested to hold up to 400 lbs.
- Built to meet ANSI/BIFMA standards. ANSI/BIFMA standards are the commercial furniture industry’s benchmarks for safety and durability testing.
- Joinery and welds. Most wood pieces use mortise-and-tenon joinery, where a shaped end of one part fits into a cavity in another, rather than relying on screws alone. Metal frames are welded rather than bolted, so there are fewer fasteners to loosen over time.
- Warranty. Seating carries a 3-year warranty on frame structural integrity and 1 year on finish and upholstery, from the ship date.
Contract vs. residential furniture
A dining chair at home might be used a few times a day by the same few people. A restaurant chair can be sat in, dragged, tipped back and stacked many times per shift. That difference drives most of the design choices in contract seating:
- Frames: contract frames are built around load testing and repeated stress; residential frames are usually built for lighter, occasional use.
- Surfaces: contract finishes, upholstery and table tops are chosen to handle frequent cleaning. Our wood tops, for example, carry a commercial-grade PU coating.
- Consistency: contract pieces are produced as repeatable models so a project can order 40 identical chairs now and more of the same later.
- Components: contract tables are usually built from separate tops and bases so each can be sized to the room. Our bases have adjustable glides on most models to deal with uneven floors.
Contract seating examples
Contract seating covers a wide range of styles. A few examples from the in-stock range:
- The Cortland Side Chair has a metal frame with a solid European beechwood seat and back.
- The Sheffield Side Chair is built on a solid European beechwood frame with an upholstered seat.
- The Quarry Side Chair uses a black metal frame with a walnut or oak HPL (high-pressure laminate) seat and back.
- The Isle Side Chair is a stackable polypropylene chair suitable for indoor and outdoor use, offered in eight colors.
- The Saddle Bar Stool is a solid European beechwood bar stool with a wood or upholstered seat (seat height 30.5″). Frames are stained to order in the finish you choose and ship in 2–3 weeks; stained-to-order pieces can’t be cancelled or returned.
- The Whitby Backless Stool has a metal frame with a solid ash wood seat and an adjustable seat height of 28.25–32.75″.
Browse all contract chairs and contract bar stools.
Contract tables: tops and bases
Commercial tables are typically specified as two parts. Table tops come in laminate, HPL, solid wood, aluminum-frame and stone options. The Meadowbrook White Oak Butcher Block Table Top is 1.5″ solid butcher block with a commercial-grade PU coating, for indoor use. Table bases are sized by spread to the top they carry; the Crest Steel Table Base (Indoor/Outdoor) is offered in cross and 2-prong configurations in dining and bar height, and its black base is treated for outdoor use. Bases ship unassembled with hardware included.
Who buys contract furniture
Contract Seating For Less sells for commercial projects: restaurants, bars and breweries, cafés, hotels and resorts, casinos, clubs, venues, corporate dining and similar spaces in the U.S. and Canada. Our products, pricing and warranty are set up for commercial use, not for residential or personal use. If you are furnishing a commercial space, you can order directly online.
How ordering works
- Most seating has a minimum of 4 pieces per item; finishes or options of the same item can be mixed. Tops and bases have no minimum.
- Price per piece drops automatically at higher quantities (seating tiers 1–5, 6–19, 20–59, 60–99, 100+).
- In-stock items typically ship in 2–3 days from order and payment. Custom finishes, fabrics or COM are available by quote, typically in 14–20 weeks.
- Returns must be requested within 3 days of delivery and authorized before return; stained, upholstered or customized-to-order items are not returnable.
Frequently asked questions
What does contract grade mean?
It means furniture built for commercial use. Our seating is tested to 400 lbs, built to meet ANSI/BIFMA standards, uses mortise-and-tenon joinery on most wood pieces and welded metal frames, and carries a 3-year frame warranty.
What is the difference between contract and residential furniture?
Contract furniture is built for heavy, repeated use by many people and frequent cleaning, and is produced in consistent models for multi-piece projects. Residential furniture is generally built for lighter use in the home.
Can I buy contract furniture for my home?
Our products, pricing and warranty are set up for commercial projects such as restaurants, bars, hotels and venues, not for residential or personal use.
What warranty comes with contract seating?
3 years on frame structural integrity and 1 year on finish and upholstery, from the ship date.
Is contract seating available in custom finishes?
Yes. Custom finishes, fabrics or COM are available by quote, typically in 14–20 weeks. The in-stock range typically ships in 2–3 days.
Shop contract seating, tops and bases with volume pricing built in, or contact us for a volume quote on 100+ chairs, stools or bases, or 50+ tops.