The Best Office Chairs

Good news! The office supply industry has evolved, and more companies have ergonomic, good-looking chairs available. While places of work have changed a lot in the last few years, with more remote or hybrid setups, employees still sit at desks for at least part of the day. 

Buying Guide for the Best Office Chairs

Why buy an office chair?

It pays to sit in a chair that suits the job. A formal, ergonomic chair could be the functional prop you need to do great work if you work in an office. If you suffer from lower back, neck, or shoulder pain or tight hip flexors, your ability to focus may suffer too. Physical discomfort may be part and parcel of labor positions, but not office work. Plus, many chairs are surprisingly attractive. Why not take a look?

What should you look for in an office chair?

• Quality: You want a chair that will perform well over time. Buying an office chair simply because it’s low cost leads to buying another chair. Consider the quality of the parts, even the textile covering the seat. And don’t worry, you don’t have to spend much on quality. There are numerous budget-friendly, well-made office chairs to choose from.
• Comfort: Most individuals will feel better physically over the long haul with an ergonomically designed office chair. There are also office chairs on the market that provide great ergonomics and fit specific statures and sizes. If you sit in it all day long, you’ll want your chair to support you well.
• Style: Some customers consider the aesthetics of office chairs a low priority. However, it’s worth considering in terms of your work environment. If you’re buying an office chair for your eyes only, then looks might not matter. But if you’re an employer, it might be worth considering nice-looking and functional office chairs. A good-looking chair and other office accents create a pleasant ambiance, and a pleasurable workplace can impact job performance.

How should you sit to prevent pain from sitting in an office chair?

Well, buying an ergonomic office chair is a great start! When muscles tense up, pain is a likely consequence. If shoulder and neck pain is a daily nuisance, you may be clenching your jaw or rounding your shoulders, which causes shallow breathing, which leads to more tension, and so on. Take regular breaks, preferably outside, to get some fresh air. Being outdoors for just 15 minutes gives your eyes a break from the computer and your brain respite from all the stress at work. You should also try to keep good posture in your chair, with your feet flat on the ground, your shoulders back, and your back straight. You should position your computer monitor about an arm’s length away from you and at slightly lower than eye level so that you don’t strain your eyes or your neck from staring at a monitor that’s positioned too close, too far, too low, or too high.

Our Picks for the Best Office Chairs

Pros: This high-back, plush, black PU leather office chair makes an impression—if you sit it in, you become the executive, the CEO. It swivels 360 degrees, reclines from 90 to 105 degrees, and bolsters the spine. The S-Shape back supports the lumbar region, and the thick neck rest works like an ergonomic pillow, cupping the neck where needed. The padded armrests further support the body and encourage optimal posture. Adjust the durable, 300-pound capacity chair between 42.9 and 45.7 inches tall to fit your body.

Cons: Though ergonomically designed, this high-back chair will not fit every body size.

Bottom Line: This exclusive accent chair looks professional and will likely make whoever sits in it feel more competent. It takes practice to feel the part, which is okay because the ComHoma is so comfortable; you’ll have no trouble putting in the hours.

 

Pros: The BestOffice office chair is available in eight colors, which is quite a variety compared to similar office chairs. Color options can be especially enticing if you have a home office. For example, you can choose orange if it’s your favorite color and not worry about clashing with the company aesthetic. The high-density foam seat is quite comfy, and the mesh back promotes airflow.

Cons: The chair’s armrests sit too low for many builds and can’t be adjusted. Consequentially, the armrests can dig into the hips and legs. While the seat provides comfort, the mesh fabric wears down relatively quickly. The seat height is adjustable, but if your mid-back sits lower or higher than the chair’s lumbar support, you might find it unsuitable.

Bottom Line: The quality of the parts and material is good enough to make a functioning chair, but it isn’t the best out there. This chair might work great for you depending on your build and the value you put into having a wide color selection. Petite individuals might find it ideal.

 

Pros: What sets Gabrylly apart from other office chairs? It’s not the recline function, though it does allow you to tilt backward 90 to 120 degrees or sit straight up. No, it’s the mesh seat, back, and headrest. Like a screen door, the mesh material is somewhat see-through, a visual effect that catches the eye. Also, the high-density material is breathable and makes a great choice for folks who sweat easily or simply like the feel of air circulating. The office chair offers support for the head, back, hips, and hands, not to mention the lumbar. It’s fully adjustable; you can even flip up the armrests and push the chair under your desk to make more space.

Cons: The Gabrylly fits individuals between 5 feet, 5 inches to 6 feet, 2 inches best. It’s almost certainly not your chair if you’re shorter or taller.

Bottom Line: It’s such an accommodating chair that the five-pointed base and quiet-rolling PU wheels create a smooth ride that won’t leave floor marks. The Gabrylly is simply an excellent choice for its winning design and comfortable fit.

 

Pros: The most notable feature of the Duramont office chair is its high weight capacity of 330 pounds. Additionally, the adjustable lumbar allows users to move the support up and down as well as in and out. Its padded seat, back, and armrests perform well compared to similar chairs. The mesh backing fully supports the spine, and the headrest is positioned to do its job. Additionally, the rollerblade caster wheels roll smoothly across soft and hard surfaces.

Cons: While it is an ergonomic, adjustable chair, the Duramont offers no depth adjustment, which is unfortunate for people whose knees might not reach the edge of the chair. The result is a poor fit for the hips and the knees, and over time, this mismatch could impact the back, the neck, and the shoulders.

Bottom Line: The Duramont is worth a look if you need lumbar support. It won’t appeal to everyone, but no single office chair does. This office chair does quite well if you tally up the pros—quality padding, adjustable lumbar support, easy-glide caster wheels, and high back support. In short, the features that it does have are great. It’s the missing features that can be a drawback.

 

Pros: The four wooden legs of this chair are made of authentic beechwood. The polyester-cotton upholstery that covers the padded seat and sturdy metal frame looks nice and is durable. Also, you know the chair’s dimensions upfront: 22.8 inches wide by 23.6 inches deep by 33.5 inches high. There are no adjustable features, so there’s no room for disappointment on that end. It does swivel 360 degrees, though. Plus, it comes in several colors and a faux leather version. 

Cons: It might be too small for some users. Again, check the dimensions to decide whether this Art Leon chair will suit you. It does swivel, but it doesn’t have wheels on the bottom like many other office chairs, which could be great for some but not-so-great for others.

Bottom Line: Do you like how this mid-century modern chair looks? Are you looking for one with no wheels? If you like its presentation, functionality, and size, this might be your new favorite chair.

 

Pros: It’s called a drafting chair for a reason. It’s meant for people who sit at high desks, such as architects, engineers, and artists—professionals who draft designs by hand. Of course, drafting tables and the accompanying drafting chair aren’t used exclusively by people in these professions. Whatever field you work in, the Boss Office chair will prove to be a solid product. The contoured seat, seat-height adjustment feature, and brass ring footrest provide a comfortable seat for your work hours. And although armless standing desk chairs are most common, the Boss chair gives you options: armless, looped arm, and standard armrests.

Cons: While the chair features a 27-inch base on the wider side, some people might feel wobbly since the seat is higher. Another drawback is simply that this tall desk chair isn’t adaptable to desks of average height.

Bottom Line: This high desk chair is a winning product for the people who need it. This chair is a solid option if you’re looking for a chair for your standing or drafting desk.

Final Thoughts

There are so many variations on the standard office chair that most shoppers will find something with a good look, ergonomic features, and an ideal price range. And with some creative thinking, there are ways to personalize any office chair purchase to improve comfort and appearance. For example, you could add another seat cushion, office chair mat, or other office amenities (like a footrest) to elevate your work setup.