Everything you need to know to find the best office chair for your needs including ergonomics, price, aesthetics and functionality.
People have long predicted the death of the seat. Because of the many published articles claiming that an inactive life is shorter and more troublesome, the main solutions are many – standing desks, frequent breaks, stretching, walking, and so on. But no one paid attention to the simple fact that sometimes, in order to do something, we just need to sit on a chair and grab it.
Fortunately, many companies are trying to create the best office chair even though they all know it’s impossible. No chair fits all, so check out our guide. If you can, go to stores and showrooms in your area and sit, lean back, lean forward, pull a lever, and ask questions about everything—your back, muscles, joints of all kinds, and your brain will thank you.
Every office chair should have a certain level of adjustment as every chair needs to be suitable for different types of people, whether in terms of height or weight. Office chairs should at least be height adjustable. But if that’s all the chair has, then it probably isn’t the best office chair for you (or anyone else). See what other adjustment points the chair has, such as adjustable armrests, backrest height, reclining position, and seat depth. Keep in mind that the better the chair adjusts, the more expensive it will cost.
The lumbar spine refers to the part of the spine that is located in the lower back. If you have lower back pain (or even if you don’t), you definitely need to find a chair with lumbar support. It usually refers to some sort of horizontal attachment to the chair – be it a pillow or a piece of hard plastic – that helps provide support to the lumbar region. The lumbar support should be adjustable so you can adjust it depending on where you need to focus the extra lumbar support.
Office chairs can be made from almost any material, from leather to fabric. Upholstered chairs are usually cheaper than leather chairs, but they are more difficult to clean. In addition, the brand is constantly inventing new and innovative materials that provide better support and breathability than more classic materials.
While most of us probably didn’t have the experience of assembling our own chairs before the pandemic, working from home has now become much more common, if not the norm. After lugging a huge box out the door, the last thing you want to do is spend hours poring over a complicated manual, so it’s more important than ever to invest in an office chair that comes with simple, intuitive assembly instructions.
Whether you’re spending $100 or $1,000 on an office chair, there are a few tweaks that will make your WFH setup comfortable and injury-free. Karen Losing of Ergonomic Expert recommends that your arms and legs are bent at 90 degrees, your feet flat on the floor or a footstool, your back is slightly tilted at 105 to 110 degrees, and your forearms are level with the table. “You don’t want to be completely upright at 90 degrees, as people think, that is, sitting on the back of a chair all the time,” Loesing said. Jonathan Puleio, Humanscale Global Vice President and Certified Professional Ergonomist, said via email that there should be at least 2 inches of space between the back of the knee and the front of the seat.
While you may be happy to spend a long day in your new chair, it’s still important to take a break. “Prolonged sitting has been associated with poor cardiovascular and circulatory health, as well as spinal disease,” Puleio writes. He recommends taking 2 to 3 “micro-breaks” from sitting every hour, each lasting 30 to 60 seconds, while making sure you don’t sit for more than 45 minutes at a time. If you can, Loesing recommends pairing breaks between exercises with the 20-20-20 rule of vision, which says that every 20 minutes you should spend 20 seconds looking at something 20 feet away.
You’ve probably heard about the dangers of sitting too long, but changing your posture is important, too, says Jean A. Kay, chairman of the Occupational Ergonomics Certification Board. “If we were to walk by every 15 minutes during the work day and watch you, we would like (you) to be in different places and doing different things during the day.”
Size, comfort, and adjustment are all important factors in choosing the right chair for you,” Kay says, adding that choosing a chair is like Goldilocks or the Sorting Hat in Harry Potter: “The chair is supposed to choose the person.”
The features we tested were based on notes obtained from interviews with several ergonomics experts in the category, including ergonomics expert and President of Human Innovation Designs Dr. Brock Walker. To illustrate the need for body-friendly tables and chairs, Walker suggests imagining your head as a bowling ball. “How will your body lift that bowling ball? If you lean back, hunch or slouch, you are asking your muscles and soft tissues to lift a bowling ball all day long,” he says.
Over the years, we have tested dozens of office chairs in our homes and offices. Each chair in this guide has been tested by editors or authors for at least one month, but most chairs are used for three months before they are evaluated and, if they score well, are added to the guide. The testers’ notes about shipping, fit, comfort, issues, benefits, and any other niggles they had were recorded and weighed against the product’s price and warranty, and the brand’s customer service response time. For the latest edition of this guide, we ranked over 60 examples and narrowed them down to 24 of the best office chairs.
Steelcase’s entry-level office chair, Series 1, combines looks, comfort and ergonomics not often found in chairs costing just over $500.
The chair is simple and compact, which is incredible considering how many intuitive controls are built into the chair. The Series 1 features a breathable mesh base called 3D Micro Knit for flexibility and support. Then comes the list of adjustments: armrest height, waist height, seat depth, tilt control and, of course, seat height. Our testers found the Series 1′s main highlight to be its 4D adjustable arms. As with most office chairs, the height of the armrests can be adjusted by the user. Steelcase went a step further and made the temple covers – the soft support arms – also movable. It can slide back and forth, side to side, and rotate about 40 degrees. The only caveat is that its compact design makes it less suitable for larger nannies, and we hope Steelcase fixes this issue with a slightly larger version in the future.
If Mount Rushmore existed in office chair design, it would have Steelcase on it, and the Gesture chair would be its sculptor. It has all the obvious ergonomic features, but it also boasts a synchronous recline system that raises the seat slightly as you recline, keeping your feet on the ground to keep your blood circulating. Materials are also taken into account. Hold the seat body; most non-touching chairs are made of hard plastic, and the body of the seat can move and flex depending on how you sit. Best of all, it’s customizable – with dozens of fabrics, colors, and materials to choose from.
Branch, formerly a B2B stationery business, makes furniture that can withstand the rigors of the workplace while keeping prices low enough for customers to buy in bulk. It has maintained this spirit ever since it moved from a B2B model to a consumer-facing model. The Task Chair isn’t the cheapest chair (the $219 Daily Chair owns that name), but its built-in adjustable lumbar support, wide mesh backrest, adjustable armrests, responsive customer service, and solid warranty put it in a class of its own. value in the product.
Our testers found the chair surprisingly easy to assemble and comfortable even for sitting all day. This, along with silent swivel, adjustable options and a sleek design, makes this chair a great choice for working from home. You will be hard-pressed to find a chair for less than $300.
This high back mesh chair from Flash Furniture is the best and most versatile chair we’ve found on Amazon that isn’t owned by any of the big companies (like Steelcase or Humanscale). It has an adjustable headrest (perfect for those who like to lean back), holds more weight than most very cheap options, has a tilt tension adjustment knob, and provides a secure waistline that looks good. If there’s anything missing (besides premium materials that drive up the price) it’s adjustable armrests, but that’s the fewest major compromises you’ll find in a chair at this price point.
Autonomous is not a new company, but it has found its niche in the world of inexpensive yet smart office chairs. With its adjustable mass, the ErgoChair 2 is the chair you should be sitting in for eight hours a day: the armrests move, the seat bowl moves, the seat cushion moves, and most usefully, the lumbar support slides up and down the chair’s spine. The base models of most office chairs do not have headrests. When headrests are an option, this is an additional cost and adding them can ruin the overall look of the chair. For the ErgoChair Pro, an adjustable headrest comes as standard (although already included in the price, of course) and has 45 degrees of flex to help relieve pressure on your neck.
It looks as simple as any other chair you’ll find at Staples, but it’s not. The Alera Elusion chair borrows features such as a full mesh back for breathability, a waterfall seat cushion to maintain normal leg circulation levels, and a custom design that is more comfortable than a chair five times the price. The only limiting factors are the aesthetics (looks boring) and the use of cheap materials, which means it might not be the best seating option in the long run.
In 2022, Herman Miller has released a brand new office chair. As the manufacturer of arguably the best office chair on the planet, that in itself is a big deal. But Zeph is a special chair, even for Herman Miller. The Zeeland, Michigan company has always had two halves, each living separate lives. Half of designer furniture is associated with many iconic mid-century modern designers, and half of office furniture is associated with the popularization of ergonomic tables and chairs. Zeph is the first chair that truly combines two halves, and it costs less than almost any other office chair that Herman Miller makes.
Our tester has been working on Zeph for several months now and is an absolute fan of it. Frankly, this chair is hard not to love. It’s striking and quirky to look at, but not so much that it looks out of place in any home office setting (it’s also available in dizzying color combinations). The Kinematic Monoshell design gives you the look of a classic Shell chair, but with built-in ergonomic recline angles that move with you with little to no effort. It’s very smooth (although it definitely feels like you’re falling the first few times), and with it, our tester never felt the need to adjust any of the tilt mechanism (none, anyway). Zeph is ergonomic and has a flexible back, but it’s still not the most comfortable office chair out there. Even with the extra 3D knit cover, the Zeph’s seat was barely padded, and after 8 hours our tester wished there was a seat cushion. He also says you should buy a version without armrests – the optional armrests are too low for most people and don’t adjust, so they get in the way.
Designer Yves Beart based his designs on suspension bridges such as San Francisco’s Golden Gate Bridge. Our testers found the chair’s Y-back and ventilated elastomers to provide support and ventilation, which is why the Sayl chair has received numerous design awards since its release in 2010. However, the back of the chair is not quite frontal due to the large hole in it. In our test, it turned out that it lifts objects too well. Our tester dropped a button on the back of his pants after standing up quickly. in the chair Prove it.
Sayl is also highly customizable for more personalized support. While the unique design may not be for everyone, for Herman Miller, the chair’s list price of $695 is a steal.
From the makers of one of the best standing desks and standing desk converters, this chair offers a brighter alternative for those who work from home. I’ve been testing this chair for about two months now and it’s as comfortable as it is stylish. The chair has a minimalistic design, and the S-shaped back provides excellent lumbar support. The breathable mesh also provides good cushioning, but I recommend adjusting the tilt controls (it’s easy enough) to make sure you don’t feel like you’re falling when you lean back.
The most refreshing thing about this chair is that it’s available in eight colors, which is the perfect choice if you’re looking for a vibrant color in a WFH setting (which is harder to find than you might expect). Tilt and height are conveniently adjusted using the same lever. My only major issue with this chair is that I wish it had more seat cushioning, but if you prefer a firmer seat then this might be for you.
For those looking for an office chair to take the stress out of working from home (in many ways) without breaking the bank, look no further than the Branch daily chair. There are many office chairs on the market for the same price or less, but the Daily Chair is truly a chair you can sit on every day. Its clean and elegant appearance is pleasing to the eye and a pleasure to sit in. The chair is light and, unlike other chairs, does not feel cheap. However, he is not very large, which may explain his weight of 225 pounds.
From an ergonomic point of view, the Daily Chair is ideal for sitting. It has basic office chair adjustment—adjustable tilt, seat height adjustment, and armrest movement—without over-adjusting. The cushions are firm and comfortable, and the nylon back is light and comfortable. In addition, our testers found the Daily Chair to be quite easy to assemble, as it doesn’t have many parts.
Few manufacturers have chosen to produce office chairs specifically for tight spaces. This chair, designed by Nils Diffrient, has armrests that can be raised or lowered to slide under the table when not in use, a backrest high enough for you to lean back comfortably, and some width at the slimmer end.
Unlike most work chairs before it, which required manual adjustment via knobs and levers, the Diffrient World automatically adapts to the person sitting on it (it was one of the first work chairs). It uses your body weight as a counterweight for a smooth and stable lean, and the whole thing is a stretchy mesh that sinks just enough without sagging or stretching. It is also guaranteed to last 10 years.
If you’re still working from the couch, then this desk chair might finally convince you to fully furnish your home office. Branch’s Verve chair has a stylish design that fits in (if not elevates) the WFH space. According to our testers, the chair’s best feature is the 3D knitted back that stretches slightly to support your back. Let’s face it – it looks pretty cool too. The chair is also excellent in terms of ergonomics, offering adjustable lumbar support and armrests.
Assembly is easy and the chair itself is comfortable even after long periods of sitting. One issue our testers found was the armrest. They feel too fragile to climb and can be finicky when it comes to accommodation if you don’t pay attention to them. But overall, our tester found the chair to be good for his body and his performance over the course of two months of testing.
Humanscale’s commitment to sustainability in its home office products has led to the creation of the Path Chair: the world’s most sustainable office chair. And this is no joke – half of the Path is made from recycled plastic. In addition to the eco-friendly design, the chair is durable. The path requires minimal tweaking because it basically adjusts to you, the sitter, as you sit in your chair. Your own weight acts as the balance of the Path, and from our testing experience, we felt a sense of weightlessness. The chair we tested was upholstered in Humanscale’s FormSense Eco Knit fabric, which molds to the body and stretches so it feels like it’s working with you, not against you. If Eco Knit isn’t your thing, there are over two dozen other materials—from leather to fabric—to choose from.
If you value the breathability of the mesh, the X1 chair might be for you. The chair’s stainless steel chassis provides a solid foundation for a host of ergonomic features, the most impressive of which are the armrests that can be moved and tilted up, down, sideways at will, as well as lumbar support. The brand calls it DVL, which stands for Dynamic Variable Lumbar, and it’s basically the bottom third of the chair attached to the middle of the backrest. The DVL is tight enough to resist inward bending without serious stress, but not so tight that it can’t bend at all. Our reviewers found it to be the perfect balance between overly aggressive lumbar support and one you barely notice.
Aside from the aesthetics and size (high-backed kosmos are great both online and live), the main functional difference between the two is the one completely unique innovation—the ability to use your body weight to adjust the tension while you don’t have to slide your body forward or lift you up. This sliding and lifting lifts the leg slightly, increasing tension in the body.
This is a nuance, but no other company has done this before Cosm. In fact, the only reason Herman Miller didn’t introduce the self-adjusting chair sooner was because he couldn’t solve the problem of lifting the legs.
Most IKEA tables and chairs are made for aesthetics, not performance. Avoid those. The Markus armchair is a product of the Swedish company that takes care of the body the most. Its high mesh back is perfect for tall people and those of us who are constantly hot, and despite IKEA’s cheap reputation, it’s better than most modest options. Plus, since it’s from IKEA and not from the unnamed robot-driven company Amazon, you’re more likely to get customer service if things go wrong.
American industrial design legend Niels Diffrient has created many very important products, but this is his masterpiece. The Freedom chair marked the beginning of the transition from manually adjusting office seats (mainly because most people don’t really know how to properly adjust a chair) to automatic chair adjustment.
In particular, the Freedom chair itself does all the reclining and reclining functions, while still allowing you to slide the seat back or forward and move the armrests up and down. Since its release, over 100 self-adjusting chairs have appeared, but few are as elegant as the Freedom Chair.
Uncomfortable design truth (office chairs, etc.): If your needs don’t fit in the middle of the bell curve, you can be fooled. In terms of seating position, this is reflected in weight restrictions, chair back height, static armrests, and poor quality materials that do not support a larger body. Most of the chairs on this list are ergonomic and designed to safely hold around 250 pounds, and in our testing we found that many chairs rated above the standard 250 pounds lacked significant adjustment or build quality. Fully’s table and chair can support up to 330 pounds without losing weight.
It won’t win any awards for its looks, but the HON Ignition 2.0 chair is still worth the money. For just $300, you can get a breathable mesh back, comfortable foam padding, adjustable armrests, basic up and down adjustment, and dynamic lumbar support. The only downside to the price is the size; the cushion is slightly taller than the standard cushion, making it better for seaters 5’9″ and taller.
Blu Dot’s motto is to make good design available to as many people as possible. As a result, Midwestern’s designs, more than any other contemporary furniture brand, follow the “if I want it, I can afford it” philosophy, and they are all original and durable. The Daily Task Chair isn’t a loud or ostentatious piece to bring into your home, but it’s fun, a bit retro, and has some major ergonomic benefits.
If you’re willing to spend a little more, Knoll’s ReGeneration makes a great upgrade to the Steelcase Series 1 chair. The back of the chair flexes with the user so you never struggle with the chair for comfort, but it doesn’t offer much by sacrificing structure or support. While chairs with mesh backs tend to be quite breathable and stretch the person sitting on them a bit, mesh can stretch and sag over time. Knoll opted for a flexible yet durable elastomer back that retains the breathability of the mesh and provides durability for years of use. This chair has won multiple design and sustainability awards and comes with a solid 12-year warranty. If you can forgo the $713 base price, it’s hard to find a better price.
Aeron is the chair by which all other chairs are measured. Even the most worthy competitor on this list cannot challenge its status as the most influential office chair of the modern era.
Launched in 1994, the Aeron marked a shift in work seat design from a form-driven industry to a function-driven industry. His critical, commercial and cultural successes are numerous. It introduced clean lines, favoring shapes that fit the contours of the body, and was the first mesh chair to achieve great success. This is one of the most customizable designs ever created. It has earned a permanent place at the Museum of Modern Art. It is even 94% recyclable and this feature was years ahead of its time.
Although the Aeron chair is no longer a popular seat, its importance and strength are unmatched in terms of style and function.
It’s not a luxurious skin, a skin, a blinding luxury, it’s a luxury in its effectiveness in what it does. Here is a quote from Herman Miller: “So smart it makes you think.” again helps to work better.
Conceived by the late great Bill Stumpf (father of the Aeron Chair), designed by Jeff Weber and run by a team of 20 Physiotherapists and Physiotherapists, Ergonomics and Biomechanics, it is modeled after the human body— A spine with flexible ribs that bend and turn and redistribute pressure to relieve stress.
Post time: Apr-11-2023