The Best Office Chairs
Table of Contents
It comes as no surprise to hear that sitting all day is not good for your overall health, especially your back. In fact, if you’re like most people — whether you are working from home or out in an office — you have probably experienced some form of discomfort sitting in your office chair working on a computer for eight hours a day.
Not all of us can take a break and walk around every hour or use a standing desk. That’s why it’s important to find a good office chair that is ergonomically designed to support your neck, spine, and hips to reduce any pain that might be caused by sitting all day while working on a computer. Because we all have different bodies, it’s important to find an office chair that can adjust to accommodate different body types. What's more, we also have different work environments.
The right office chair should allow you to adjust the height, the tilt of the back, and the position of the armrests. As well, the chair should be constructed from comfortable, breathable material with a secure base for durability and have swivel wheels to help you manoeuvre around your desk or office.
Below, you will find a list of our recommendations for the best office chair, along with helpful information on the different features that will benefit your specific situation. The one you choose will depend on your work space, your body type and of course, your budget.
1. Editor's Pick: FelixKing Ergonomic Desk Chair
Key Specs
Maximum Weight Recommendation: | 225 lbs |
Item Dimensions: | 62 x 59.2 x 27.6 cm |
Material: | Plastic, mesh, high-density sponge |
This ergonomic office chair features flip-up armrests so it can easily slip under the desk at the end of a workday. One of the reasons we like this office chair from FelixKing is its white and black colour contrast that will make a bold statement yet fit into any office décor. But that’s not the only reason it’s on this list. This affordably priced office chair has a host of features that make it a good choice for anyone who wants a certain level of comfort after spending long hours working at a desk.
The chair’s surface is composed of high-density natural sponge that is designed for the curve of your bum. The high-density mesh on the back of the chair has excellent elasticity and provides a comfortable support to help you maintain a relaxed posture as you work. It also offers ventilation while your lumbar spine and back remain protected.
The key to a good office chair is its ability to adjust to the specific needs of the user. With this chair, there is an adjustable butterfly-shaped part on the back of the chair that you can position up or down to support your waist. The height of the chair can be adjusted according to your height and the height of your desk and with a 360-degree rotation, you have smooth and easy access to the things you need around you.
When the workday is done, the armrests lift to 90 degrees so you can push the chair neatly under the desk. Easy to assemble, it should take about 15 minutes to put this office chair together.
2. Runner Up: NOUHAUS Ergo3D Ergonomic Office Chair
Key Specs
Material: | Wood, iron. mesh |
Item Dimensions: | 74.9 x 34 x 55.1 cm |
Maximum Weight Recommendation: | 275 lbs. |
An office chair that easily conforms to your work environment. When it comes to enviable features, this office chair from Nouhaus tops the list, but all that flexibility comes with a higher price tag. If you’re willing and able to loosen the purse strings, then you’ll love what this office chair has to offer.
Breathable ElastoMesh on the back of the chair provides optimal airflow to avoid sweating and sticking — something to think about on those long hot summer workdays. The headrest adjusts up and down and angles up and down to support your neck no matter what position you sit in. Designed with a dynamic 3D lumbar support system, the chair hugs your back completely, aligning your spine to minimize fatigue on your back and other parts of your body during long hours at your desk.
To maintain the best armrest position for your work situation, you can adjust the armrests in four directions and set them to your preferred height. The smooth hydralift function lets you move the chair up or down with ease, and when it’s time to sit back and think, you can tilt the back 135-degrees to create your own perfect alignment.
Unlike many office chairs that have a four-point base, this one offers greater stability and strength with a five-point base with dual castors. The strong iron base makes this heavy-duty office chair ideal for adults up to 275 lbs. and as an added feature, the chair comes with an extra set of blade wheels if your office has hardwood floors.
3. Best Budget Pick: AmazonBasics Mid-Back Desk Office Chair
Key Specs
Maximum Weight Recommendation: | 225 lbs |
Item Dimensions: | 64 x 61 x 102.5 cm |
Material: | Plastic, mesh |
This is a comfortable office chair with a contoured mesh back for breathability. If you don’t have any back or neck issues and are in need of a comfortable office chair, you may be interested in this model from AmazonBasics. While it has no fancy bells or whistles, it has a lot going for it in comfort and style with smooth contours and adjustable settings to give you all-day comfort.
Since every body is different, the key to comfort in an office chair is its ability to be easily adjusted to meet individual needs and this chair offers up a number of ways to position it for your specific comfort level. The simple pneumatic controls let you raise or lower your seat and rock back in your chair, or if you prefer, to firmly sit up straight.
You can raise or lower the seat by leaning forward and pulling up on the control handle. You also have the option of tilting the chair back by pulling out on the control handle, or you can choose to sit forward. A knob under the chair seat adjusts the tension so you can make it easier or harder to rock backwards.
Black mesh covers both the padded seat of the chair, as well as the back of the chair. In addition to lower-back support and border detailing, the gently curved back of the chair provides mesh-only sections for enhanced breathability. Black, nylon, T-shaped armrests offer added support and comfort. The weight bearing capacity of this office chair is 225 lbs. and the dual-wheel casters make it easy to roll from side to side, plus the chair has a 360-degree swivel.
4. Best Alternative Design: Dragonn Ergonomic Office Chair
Key Specs
Maximum Weight Recommendation: | 250 lbs. |
Item Dimensions: | 66.04 x 54.61 x 42.54 cm |
Material: | Metal, foam |
An alternative to a traditional office chair for people who suffer from back issues. Sitting all day at a desk can be bad for your body, but if you have frequent back pain then you know the frustration of finding the right chair to ease your discomfort.
This ergonomic tilted kneeling chair is specifically designed to give your posture the benefits of standing, while allowing you to still remain seated — well, seated and kneeling. It is the very structure of the chair, which is tilted at a comfortable 90-degree angle, that keeps your back at an upright position, distributing your weight evenly throughout your bum and legs while keeping your spine aligned. The kneeling chair has a mesh, three-inch thick cushion for comfort and support and features four casters so you have the freedom to move around just like you would on a traditional office chair, or use the front-locking wheels to stay in place for added stability.
The key to all good office chairs is flexibility. You can adjust the height of the kneeling chair to suit your needs, with a range of between 21 and 28 inches. Designed with a strong metal base, the chair can support up to 250 lbs. And while you may never go back to using the old-style chair, it is important to note that because you use different muscles with a kneeling chair, it will take some time to get used to it.
5. Also Consider: BestOffice Store Ergonomic Executive Office Chair
Key Specs
Maximum Weight Recommendation: | 400 lbs. |
Item Dimensions: | 63.5 x 76.2 x 105.4 cm |
Material | 62 x 59.2 x 27.6 cm |
A super comfortable office chair for tall and large men and women.
If you are a tall or big person, you have undoubtedly experienced the frustration of office chairs that are not designed to fit a larger body type. This can result in hours of discomfort as you try to concentrate on your workday.
This big and tall office chair has a unique appearance with an extra thick cushioned construction and a big, wide seat for extra comfort. Built to support up to 400 pounds, the back of the chair has six adjustable lumbar positions to support your spine and relax the natural curve of your spine and 11 adjustable positions on the PU padded armrests.
Pneumatic controls make it easy to adjust the height and a simple pull out on the control handle will tilt the back, and then push the handle in to sit forward. The heavy-duty metal base makes this chair super sturdy and with a 360-degree swivel and nylon smooth-rolling casters, you have the mobility to move around your desk and office with ease.
Whether you use this chair to sit at your desk all day or use it to relax after hours, it will give you the comfort and support you need to reduce back pain and stress.
6. Best for Gaming: BestOffice Gaming Chair
Key Specs
Maximum Weight Recommendation: | 250 lbs. |
Item Dimensions: | 88.9 x 127 x 127 cm |
Material: | Faux Leather |
Even if you aren’t a gamer, gaming chairs like this one are designed for optimal comfort, and they’re especially great for anyone who spends hours upon hours, either working or playing, in front of the computer screen. This chair is thickly cushioned and made from a breathable material, so you won’t get uncomfortably hot even after a few hours.
It has an ergonomic design with a heavy-duty metal base, and it’s equipped with casters that can swivel 360-degrees and a reclining back seat that can move between a 90-degree and a 155-degree position. The lumbar support is fully adjustable, and there’s also a headrest pillow to keep your spine and neck in a comfortable spot. You can also adjust the height of the chair based on how you feel the most comfortable, and it has a gas lift that moves up and down quickly.
There’s even a footrest on this chair, which isn’t something you’re likely to find in another model, and it’s available in six different colour options so you should be able to find one that’ll match your office space. It’s easy to assemble, too, and comes with all the tools and special hardware that you’ll need to put it together — it should only take you up to fifteen minutes.
7. Sleeper Pick: Hbada Office Task Desk Chair
Key Specs
Maximum Weight Recommendation: | 250 lbs. |
Item Dimensions: | 59.94 x 59.94 x 90.93 cm |
Material: | Mesh |
Here’s another great office chair to consider that has a sleek and modern design, is adjustable, and has an ergonomic backrest that matches the curve of your lower back for extra comfort. The back of the chair is made from a breathable mesh, which won’t feel as hot as other types of chairs after sitting in it for a long period of time, and it’s both flexible and supportive so you likely won’t feel any discomfort.
The maximum weight capacity for this chair is 250 lbs., which is decently high, and the height can be adjusted between 17.7 inches and 21.2 inches, so people of many heights can be accommodated. It also can be tilted up to 120-degrees, so you can recline comfortably whenever you feel like it, and the chair rotates around 360-degrees, so you have some freedom of movement.
When you’re all done working for the day, this chair has arms that can be flipped up, like some other options on this list, so that you can put the chair under your desk and save space while its not being used.
8. Honourable Mention: AmazonBasics High-Back Executive Swivel Office Desk Chair
Key Specs
Maximum Weight Recommendation: | 275 lbs. |
Item Dimensions: | 73.91 x 66.55 x 115.57 cm |
Material: | Bonded Leather, PVC |
The previously mentioned AmazonBasics chair had a mesh backing, but not everyone is into how they feel; this one is made from bonded leather and PVC, which looks professional and will be very comfortable on your back, and it also has a higher maximum weight capacity than many other chairs.
This one features a butterfly seat plate, and the backing has curved contours that match the curves of your body, which will keep your back supported and properly aligned when sitting at the desk for long hours. It can be heightened and lowered freely, so you can set it to whatever height feels comfortable for you, and the range it can be adjusted between is 41.34 inches to 45.08 inches.
There’s also a handle that can adjust the tension of your chair, which can make it easier or harder to tilt backwards. If you’re someone who needs to roll around your work area, or to and from a meeting room, this chair has durable nylon casters, which makes the roll smoother, and it has full range of motion with a 360-degree swivel.
What to Look for in an Office Chair
Seat height: When considering an office chair, look for one where it’s easy to adjust the height. A pneumatically controlled lever is the easiest way to do this. To know which height is good ergonomically, make sure your feet are flat on the floor with your thighs horizontal and arms even with the height of the desk.
Seat width and depth: To be truly comfortable, the chair you choose should be wide and deep enough to support your body. It should be deep enough so you can sit with your back against the backrest while leaving approximately two to four inches between the back of your knees and the seat of the chair. You should also be able to adjust the forward or backward tilt of the seat.
Back support: Supporting your back correctly is integral to staying comfortable and pain free because the lumbar spine has an inward curve. Sitting for long periods without support for the curve tends to lead to slouching which strains the structures in the lower spine. A good office chair should have a lumbar adjustment in both height and depth so you can adjust it to your body.
Armrests: Ideally you should be able to adjust the armrests on your office chair so your arms can rest comfortably with your shoulders relaxed. Your elbows and lower arms should rest lightly and your forearms should not be on the armrest while you are typing.
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We're always looking for more feedback! If you've purchased one of these sit-stand desks on this list and would like to share your experience, please comment below and let us know what you think about our picks.
About the Author
Marlene Eisner has spent the last 20 years working as a writer, editor, content producer, and product reviewer for home décor and renovation magazines and home and garden websites. She loves all things associated with indoor and outdoor spaces and enjoys sharing the newest trends, devices and products with readers.