The Real Reason Plastic Chairs Have Holes
If the hole was removed, the grip would be so strong and the surfaces so smooth that they would create suction, making it extremely difficult to pull apart. The opening allows air to escape as you lift one stool off the other. Simple physics. But brilliant.
In addition, when you wish to move the stool, simply lift it up by the hole. This is a ready-made handle. Who knew your stool had built-in ergonomics?
Drainage Matters
Assume you’ve left your stool outside. It’s raining. Without a hole, that top would be a birdbath. Nobody wants to be the one who sits in a pool of terrible rainfall. The plastic stool hole also allows water to pass right through, allowing the surface to dry faster and avoiding the uncool act of having your jeans soak up more water than your sponge.
In food booths or houses where cleaning is done with spilled buckets of water competing for mopping gold, that hole is an excellent way to drain the water and save your stool from becoming a proverbial slip-and-slide.
Molding and Efficiency in Manufacturing
Here’s an interesting side note from the realm of injection molding (yes, it exists!): The hole helps to cool and set the stool while it is being produced. The center, where the hot plastic is poured, is usually thicker and cools slower. Making a hole instead of a peg saves material while also speeding up production. Less plastic, faster cooling, more stools for everyone.
It’s the IKEA-level minimalism of stool design.
Weight Loss (while Maintaining Strength)
Plastic stools are designed to be lightweight, portable, and stackable. What about the little hole in the middle? It saves on materials. When you multiply it by thousands or millions of devices, it becomes a major concern for manufacturers. Chipping away at cost, weight, and carbon footprint, each so minutely.
Bonus: Mischief Magnet.
Let’s not lie, youngsters enjoy sticking their fingers in it. Hey, some adults do (don’t say you haven’t tried). And somehow, that chasm is a terrific topic of discussion in group settings. I like this essay.
You will never be able to unsee it. You are welcome.
