00Overall
The outer size is IKEA's published size, the height as far as it adjusts.
01Elevations
Drawn from our 3D model, to scale. Point at a part to find it in the list below; click it to jump there.
02Parts / cut list
| Part | Name | Qty | T | W | L | Material |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | Star baseFive-armed high-arch die-cast aluminium base. It starts upside down on the rug so you can push the five castors straight down into their sockets before flipping it upright.90 × 560 × 560 mm | ×1 | 90 mm | 560 mm | 560 mm | Aluminium, epoxy/polyester powder coating |
| B | Gas lift cylinderPneumatic height-adjustment cylinder. Its tapered black lower body drops straight into the central hub of the star base without any screws; sitting on the finished chair wedges both tapers tight.53 × 53 × 350 mm | ×1 | 53 mm | 53 mm | 350 mm | Steel, pigmented epoxy powder coating, synthetic rubber |
| C | Seat cushionThickly padded seat cushion with a rounded waterfall front edge and pre-installed steel threaded inserts across its underside pan.72 × 460 × 510 mm | ×1 | 72 mm | 460 mm | 510 mm | Molded plywood pan, high-resilience polyurethane foam, 100% polyester Vissle dark grey fabric |
| D | Tilt mechanismSynchronised tilt and height control box with a round tension knob at the front and control stalks on both sides. The tension knob must face the rounded front edge of the seat.40 × 220 × 240 mm | ×1 | 40 mm | 220 mm | 240 mm | Steel, epoxy/polyester powder coating, reinforced polypropylene plastic |
| E | Mesh backrestTall breathable mesh backrest with built-in lumbar support, padded headrest and a heavy lower steel L-spine that bolts underneath the rear of the seat.120 × 450 × 920 mm | ×1 | 120 mm | 450 mm | 920 mm | Steel frame and spine, 100% polyester mesh, polyurethane foam headrest and lumbar pad |
| F | Left armrestClosed-loop aluminium armrest for the left side of the seat with a soft top pad and a two-bolt lower mounting flange.80 × 230 × 290 mm | ×1 | 80 mm | 230 mm | 290 mm | Die-cast aluminium loop, synthetic rubber pad |
| G | Right armrestClosed-loop aluminium armrest for the right side of the seat with a soft top pad and a two-bolt lower mounting flange.80 × 230 × 290 mm | ×1 | 80 mm | 230 mm | 290 mm | Die-cast aluminium loop, synthetic rubber pad |
The parts' sizes are our 3D model's own estimates: close, not measured. The curves of the aluminium star base, the mesh backrest, the padded loop armrests and the hole positions are our own estimates from IKEA’s manual and photos, so they are close, not measured. IKEA publishes only the outer size.
03Tools & materials
| Tools | ||
|---|---|---|
| Hex keyA 5 mm L-shaped hex key included in the box. It drives the 4 tilt-mechanism screws, the 3 rear backrest-spine bolts and the 4 armrest bolts. | In the box 108490 | |
| Materials | ||
| Aluminium, epoxy/polyester powder coating | A | |
| Steel, pigmented epoxy powder coating, synthetic rubber | B | |
| Molded plywood pan, high-resilience polyurethane foam, 100% polyester Vissle dark grey fabric | C | |
| Steel, epoxy/polyester powder coating, reinforced polypropylene plastic | D | |
| Steel frame and spine, 100% polyester mesh, polyurethane foam headrest and lumbar pad | E | |
| Die-cast aluminium loop, synthetic rubber pad | FG | |
6 steps · 7 parts · 20 pieces of hardware
IKEA MARKUS office chair, Vissle dark grey: interactive 3D assembly guide
Every step of assembling the IKEA MARKUS chair, built in 3D. Press play to watch a step, drag to look around, or switch to Drawing to see it in clean black lines.
What is in the box
The five-star aluminium base, the gas lift cylinder, the upholstered seat cushion, the synchronised tilt mechanism, the tall mesh backrest with built-in headrest, and two loop armrests. The hardware bag holds 5 safety castors (10121215), 4 seat-mechanism screws (120925), 3 heavy backrest bolts (110907), 4 armrest bolts (123451), 4 washers (100823) and the 5 mm hex key (108490).
- Build the chair on a rug so the aluminium base and armrests do not get scratched.
- Keep the three kinds of hex-socket screws and bolts apart before you start: 4 M6 × 17 mm screws (120925) for the tilt mechanism, 3 heavy M8 × 35 mm bolts (110907) for the backrest spine, and 4 M6 × 15 mm bolts (123451) with washers (100823) for the armrests.
All 6 steps
- 1
Push in the five safety castors
Turn the five-star aluminium base upside down on the rug and push the 5 safety castors (10121215) straight into the sockets at the ends of the arms until their snap rings seat all the way home. Then turn the star base upright onto its castors.
- 2
Drop in the gas lift cylinder
Take the plastic protective cap off the tip of the gas lift cylinder if fitted, then drop the tapered lower end of the gas lift straight into the centre hub of the star base.
- 3
Screw the tilt mechanism to the seat common mistake
Lay the seat cushion upside down on the rug and set the synchronised tilt mechanism over the four centre holes with the round tension knob pointing towards the front edge of the seat. Drive the 4 M6 screws (120925) with the hex key (108490). Common mistake: The four screw holes form a rectangle that looks almost square, so the tilt mechanism can be bolted on back-to-front. Make sure the round tension knob points towards the waterfall front edge of the seat before tightening the four screws (120925).
- 4
Bolt the mesh backrest to the seat
Tip the seat onto its front edge, set the steel L-spine at the foot of the mesh backrest over the three rear holes underneath the seat, start all 3 M8 bolts (110907) by hand so none cross-threads, and tighten them firmly with the hex key.
- 5
Bolt on the left and right armrests
Hold the left armrest against the left side of the seat pan, place 2 washers (100823) over its bracket slots and drive 2 M6 bolts (123451) with the hex key. Repeat on the right side with the right armrest, 2 washers (100823) and 2 bolts (123451).
- 6
Lower the chair onto the gas lift
Lift the assembled chair upper body upright, align the tapered socket underneath the tilt mechanism directly over the tip of the gas lift cylinder on the star base, and lower it straight down. Press down firmly on the seat—or sit on the chair—to wedge the gas lift taper tight. Done.
Questions
What tools do I need to assemble the IKEA MARKUS office chair?
No extra tools are needed: the 5 mm L-shaped hex key (108490) included in the box drives the 4 tilt-mechanism screws (120925), the 3 backrest-spine bolts (110907) and the 4 armrest bolts (123451), while the 5 castors (10121215) and the gas lift push in by hand.
Which way round does the tilt mechanism go on the MARKUS seat?
The round tension-adjustment knob on the tilt mechanism must point towards the rounded waterfall front edge of the seat cushion, while the three backrest-spine holes remain clear at the rear edge.
Why will the MARKUS castors not roll when the chair is empty?
IKEA safety castors (10121215) have a pressure-sensitive brake that locks the wheels when nobody is sitting in the chair so it does not roll away when you stand up; the brake releases automatically under weight.
Can I use the MARKUS office chair without the armrests?
Yes: the mesh backrest bolts directly to the rear of the seat with the three heavy M8 bolts (110907), so the two loop armrests are optional and can be left off or unscrewed later if you want the chair to slide under a low desk.
What should I do if the backrest or armrests start to creak?
Re-tighten the 3 rear backrest-spine bolts (110907), the 4 tilt-mechanism screws (120925) and the 4 armrest bolts (123451) with the 5 mm hex key (108490) after a couple of weeks of use.
Safety
After two weeks of use, check the three rear backrest bolts (110907), the four tilt-mechanism screws (120925) and the four armrest bolts (123451) with the hex key (108490) and tighten any that have worked loose.
About this guide
The part numbers and counts match IKEA's assembly instructions, so you can check each piece against your box. The outer size, 62 × 60 × 129–140 cm, is IKEA's published size. The curves of the aluminium star base, the mesh backrest, the padded loop armrests and the hole positions are our own estimates from IKEA’s manual and photos, so they are close, not measured. The 3D runs faster than real hands do.
IKEA says the chair has been tested for office use and meets EN 1335 and ANSI/BIFMA x5.1 for people weighing up to 110 kg.
The manufacturer's instructions are on IKEA's product page (PDF). If something here differs from the manual in your box, follow the manual.
The 3D models, drawings and text are our own. IKEA and MARKUS are named only to say which product this guide is for.