Great question—and honestly, you’re not the first to ask. Low armrests are one of those details that seem minor until you actually need to push yourself up from a bench or rest your arm comfortably. We hear it a lot from parks departments, senior living communities, and transit planners.
So, do our street benches have adjustable armrests? The short answer is yes. On select commercial lines we offer height-adjustable armrests. Instead of a single welded position, these armrests can be set at two or three height points during installation, usually in roughly one-inch increments. A few of our heavy-duty steel and aluminum models also use a slotted bracket system, so maintenance teams can fine-tune the height after the bench is installed if site conditions change.
If you need something more specific—say a higher armrest for bariatric or rehabilitation use, or a lower profile for a memorial garden—we can custom-fabricate the armrest height to your spec. It doesn’t cost as much as people expect, especially on larger orders.
The real reason we started offering adjustable armrests is simple: standard fixed armrests don’t fit everyone. A height that works for an average adult may be too low for a taller senior or someone with hip or knee issues. The right height gives people a stable leverage point for sitting down and standing up, and it also helps define personal space on longer benches.
One thing to keep in mind: adjustable hardware needs slightly more care than a fully welded fixed armrest. We recommend checking the bolts during routine park maintenance, but they are designed for outdoor weather and heavy public use.
If you want, I can point you to the specific models with adjustable armrests or send over a cut sheet with the height ranges. Just ask.