The best office chair can do wonders for your health and posture, making your home office more comfortable. The number of Britons working from home jumped from 1.5 million to almost 10 million in the early stages of the lockdown, and many have come to terms with the new change as permanent. So, if you haven’t bought yourself a new office chair yet, maybe now is the time to invest. It’s true that sitting in front of your laptop on a hard old kitchen chair – or worse, working on your couch or bed – can take a toll on your back and productivity.
Needless to say, it’s worth spending some of the money saved on a decent chair. You’ll find some expensive ergonomic options on our list of the best office chairs, but we’ll also show you some affordable options that will allow you to work without back pain and at no extra cost.
On the other hand, if budget is your priority and you can live without the many ergonomic bells and whistles seen here, we’ve put together an alternative roundup of the best office chairs, including just the £12 Static chair.
We spoke with Paul Simons, Director of Office Chair Specialists at Wellworking, to find out what key features you want from a quality office chair.
In the world of office chairs, you should buy the best you can afford. More expensive chairs usually provide superior ergonomics, more adjustment options, and a longer warranty, while cheaper chairs are often false economy. Having said that, very decent office chairs can sometimes be bought, and some chairs that cost thousands of pounds aren’t really any better for long-term sitting than those that cost hundreds of pounds.
What is your gender? Choose the right type of casters for your floor (hard, stone, carpet, etc.) so they don’t slip when you don’t want them to and can damage your floor.
What is the height of your table? A standard desk is about 710-740mm (28-29 inches) tall, which is fine for most of us, but if you’re short or tall, make sure the desk fits you. Ideally, set up your chair to optimize your posture and buy a desk that fits with your chair (not the other way around). For the ultimate customization, try a sit-stand desk that allows you to sit and stand throughout the day. For every 40 minutes of sitting, try standing for 20 minutes.
Screen and monitor. Your screen should be at arm’s length and the center of the screen should be at eye level. Do not change the chair setting – use the adjustable armrests or stands to change the height of the monitor.
Try it first: every person has a unique anatomy, and what a friend or colleague likes may make you uncomfortable, but be patient because new chairs always feel uncomfortable at first. Somewhat strange. Remember that if you buy online or over the phone, you always have 14 days to return an item in accordance with the distance selling rules.
Use a good supplier: he should show you how to use the chair upon delivery. Even the most ergonomic chair can be uncomfortable if used incorrectly.
Check the warranty: your chair should last a long time, so ideally it should be five years or more.
Price: £70 | Buy now from Habitat We don’t mince words: Habitat Brixham offers comfort and adjustability that can’t be matched by some of the fancier office chairs below. But while you get what you pay for, this chair certainly won’t break the bank, which is certainly a key benefit for those on a budget.
You get a faux leather swivel office chair with a gas lift mechanism to adjust the height. The armrests may seem a little stiff compared to upholstered chairs, but there are many office chairs in this price range that don’t have armrests at all. What’s more, the simple design of this chair also allows you to assemble it yourself.
Main Specifications: Width: 59cm, Seat Height: 59.5cm – 69cm (floor to armrest), Overall Height: 104cm, Warranty: 1 year.
Price: £479 | Buy now at Wellworking You can pay dearly for an ergonomic office chair that gives you plenty of adjustment for maximum comfort and support. But with Orangebox Do, you can get a comfortable mesh chair with the same functionality for less than half the price.
You can manually adjust the armrest and seat depth, but the best thing about the Orangebox Do is the weight-balanced tilt mechanism. This responds to your weight and movement as you use the chair, allowing it to automatically adjust to your posture without, as Orangebox says, “lots of knobs and levers to find and fight.”
The Verus is Herman Miller’s cheapest chair, and while it’s not the best in its class, it’s a good option if you want a brand name without breaking the bank.
It usually sells for around £480 and you can often get it even cheaper when it’s on sale. The version we tested had a “Triflex” plastic back that felt stiffer than the rubber back of the “Sail”. Alternatively, you can opt for the mesh version, which should be slightly softer.
Its height-adjustable armrests are very similar to the more expensive “Sile” armrests. When it comes to adjustment, you have all the features you need, including seat height and back angle, as well as recline limiter and forward recline options, making the Verus a very comfortable work-from-home chair.
Price: £200 Buy now on Amazon For the price, the Sihoo M18 is a very impressive office chair. It has an ergonomic seat and curved back made of breathable mesh fabric, as well as multiple adjustable features including a headrest, armrests, lumbar support and backrest tilt.
Sihoo is admittedly an obscure brand that makes a wide range of ergonomic office chairs available on Amazon. The M57 is generally more expensive, but aside from a few minor features such as 3D-adjustable armrests, it’s not much different from the M18.
The price of the Sihoo M18 has gone up recently. But even if it costs just over £200, you still get your money’s worth. It also comes with footrests and “upgraded roller skate wheels”.
Price: £1299 | Buy Now at Wellworking An icon of contemporary design (listed by the Museum of Modern Art as proof), the Herman Miller Aeron is one of the best office chairs we’ve ever tested. It offers a number of features including forward tilt and fully adjustable armrests, as well as important features such as seat height and tilt.
The mesh fabric covering the back and seat is breathable and buoyant enough to provide good support and comfort, although some may prefer a more upholstered model. However, the Aeron is a chair that works in all areas. The only snag is the price of a thousand pounds. It won’t be in everyone’s home office budget, but if you have the money, you really can’t go wrong with the Aeron.
Main specifications: width: 63/66.6/68 cm, seat height: 41-57 cm, total height: 97/110/119 cm, warranty: 12 years.
Price: £199 | Buying now from Wellworking Elite Team Plus might not sound particularly impressive, especially when compared to some of the flashy ergonomic chairs in this review. In fact, from the point of view of ergonomics, it is unremarkable.
However, it is still a very comfortable and supportive chair with many customizable features including backrest tilt, seat angle and most importantly seat height. They are easily operated via three clearly marked levers on the lower right side of the seat.
The default Team Plus at £180 is also a great choice. Its comfortable foam seat is upholstered in premium ‘Xtreme’ fabric and is available in a variety of colors including ‘Diablo’ (burgundy), ‘Ocean’ (navy blue) and ‘Sorano’ (orange). If you’re willing to pay a little more, you can also add height-adjustable armrests (£49), lumbar support (£35) and adjustable seat depth (£25).
Price: £799 | Buy Now from John Lewis Herman Miller Sayl’s unique suspension bridge-inspired design makes this office chair more than spectacular. It is not just a stylish piece of furniture, it is also comfortable to sit on. In fact, its rubber back is so comfortable that sitting on it is much more pleasant than it seems at first glance.
Sayl offers all the adjustments you need as standard, including seat height, armrest height and backrest tilt, as well as some convenient options like forward tilt and seat depth. Wellworking’s “Create Your Own” option gives you even more customizable options to add to your budget, including fully adjustable armrests and extra lumbar support. Of course, there are additional costs here, but they can be solved.
Finally, if you’re looking to invest in a chair but don’t want to take out a mortgage on new office furniture, Sayl is a great choice.
Price: £440 | Buy now from Wellworking This unconventional office chair may seem uncomfortable, but the Capisco Puls 8010 is actually a revelation. Competitor chairs pamper your back with soft padding, while the base model of the Capisco range has a small cushion surrounded by a wave of ergonomic plastic. Think of it like a saddle rather than a seat and you’re halfway there.
You can sit forward or backward and the backrest acts as an armrest. In addition to key adjustments such as seat depth, reclining and adjustable backrest, the standard 200mm gas lift moves the seat from a lower seated position to a higher standing position so you can sit comfortably at a desk, as well as sit on a drafting table or front desk. .
The standard model shown here is pretty much a starting point: the Capisco range can be customized in three heights with pneumatic lifters, saddle seats, headrests, leg rings and a variety of color and upholstery options. If you find it difficult to fit into a traditional office chair, the Capisco may be just right for you.
Main Specifications: Width: 56cm, Seat Height: 48.5cm – 66cm (air lift 200mm), Height: 88.5cm – 116cm, Warranty: 10 years.
Price: £849 | Buy Now John Lewis designer Niels Diffrient has outfitted this beautiful chair with an impressive array of ergonomic bells and whistles. It offers automatic, weight-sensing recline, a three-panel mesh back and permanent lumbar support – no matter how you sit. In other words, even for those who tend to fidget all day, it’s extremely beneficial and there’s no need to push and pull levers and dials because it works for you and your individual needs. We also love the minimalist aesthetic and modern color schemes.
Prices: from £814 | Buy now at Wellworking SoFi is one of the newest chairs on the market with unique features that make it stand out. There is an option to move the armrests back behind the chair, ideal for musicians who sit at a desk or want to perform using both a chair and an office chair, and for those who occasionally want the luxury of resting their arms. and sometimes not. Not in the mood. It also comes with or without a headrest and is available in two sizes as well as a variety of fabric options, roller types and base finishes. Made in Norway, SoFi is a heavyweight product, but it’s incredibly durable and feels like it’s built to last.
Main characteristics: width: 60–72 cm; seat height: 166 cm with gas lift 39.6-54.3 cm or 20 cm with gas lift 45-64 cm; overall height: 103-117 cm (without headrest); warranty: 10 years.
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Post time: Apr-22-2023