Back pain is one of the top reasons why employees call out from work, and having the right desk chair can be a vital improvement to your life whether you’re working from home, distance learning, or back in the office. The aesthetics may vary, but when shopping for the right ergonomic office chair, comfort and functionality are equally important. We all have different aesthetic styles but there are a few universal components that will help you pick a comfortable chair. For starters, built-in lumbar support is a must-have for any good office chair and it doesn’t hurt to add an extra cushion for increased vertebrae alignment. If you’re spending at least eight hours in one chair it’s important to keep your back supported but also maintain good posture. Adjustable armrests are another component to a comfortable chair that will help relax the muscles around your shoulders, neck, hands, and arms. It’s also a good idea to make sure that the seat has the right width and depth to support your bottom and your backside with ease. Office chairs with headrests protect your head, neck, and back, plus they come in handy when you’re working or studying for hours at a time.
One of the main perks to choosing the right office chair is that it could prevent you from having to make a trip to the chiropractor’s office. To get your started on the search for that perfect office chair we rounded up some of the best options on the web. Check out the list below, and for more recommendations check out our list of best desk organizers to help declutter your office space.
Furmax Ribbed Leather Desk Chair
At just $80, the Furmax Ribbed Faux Leather Office Chair is well worth the price tag. The chair has a high back design with built-in lumbar support to provide continuous comfort during extended work time. This 360-degree swivel chair adjusts from 16.7” to 19.9 inches to meet various height needs. If you’re not interested in a white chair, you can also get this model in black, brown, and orange. Writes user Melanie Holder, “I use my chair at home for college and [I’m] telling you, this thing is comfy. I do not have a problem moving around with wheels at all. The height adjuster makes a nice addition, because I am short, so I need a bigger boost up…lol my booster seat! But [overall] the white leather seat and the chrome makes one sexy chair I have to say!!”
Flash Furniture Black Fabric Chair
If you’re looking for a simple design that can accommodate different heights and weights, this fabric office chair from Flash Furniture is a good choice. The chair stands 44″ tall and swivels 360 degrees. It’s been tested to hold a capacity of up to 400 pounds and sits above a sturdy, chrome base with wheels. This chair design offers up a broader seat (22″ wide) and back width, while providing support to the mid-to-upper back. Other features include plenty of thick, 3″ plush padding, along with an adjustable seat, armrest, and knobs (to increase or decrease the amount of force needed while you rock or recline in your chair). You can also lock the seat in place using the tilt-lock mechanism. Several user reviews pointed out that the chair is extremely easy to put together, and of course, it’s pretty comfy. Writes user PB, “Best desk chair I ever bought. Very comfortable. Wish I had this one at the office as well.”
Anacci Ergonomic Desk Chair
If you’re in the market for something affordable and comfortable this ergonomic swivel desk chair makes a great option. The desk chair is made from a mixture of cotton and mesh fabrics, and features extra-layered cushioning, lumbar support, and armrests that can be adjusted for your height. User Kimazon writes, “This particular chair happens to be good for my issues. I have degenerative disk disease and need to sit upright with good lumbar and mid-back support. I’m short/small, so I like the adjustable back support and the fact that the seat isn’t way too wide and cumbersome.”
Union & Scale MidMod Fabric Manager Chair, Cream
With its stylish but sleek design, the Union & Scale MidMod Fabric Manager Chair is great for a home office — particularly if it’s sharing space with the living room or bedroom. Like others on the list, the chair is height adjustable with padded seating and the armrests that can be raised for extra comfort. This fabric chair has a weight capacity of up to 275 pounds.
Duorest Alpha Dual-Backrest Home Office Chair
Like Herman Miller chairs, Duorest is one of the higher-end options that’s more of an investment piece. The signature Duorest dual backrest chair design offers vertical support to the upper part of your body to help eliminate pressure on the lower backbone. Removing the heavy load on the lumbar vertebra, makes it easier to focus more on your work, especially if your sitting for long hours. The height adjustable office chair features a mesh seatpan with adjustable armrests, and a fully adjustable headrest. Writes user Elliot, “I found out about Duorest and their twin backrest chairs from a friend a few years ago, but I was never able to get my hands on one. I’ve literally waited years for this chair to come out in the USA, and now that I’m finally sitting on it, I must say, the wait was worth it!”
Sidiz T80 Highly Adjustable Office Chair with Headrest
Sidiz is an affordable brand among higher-end office chair designers such as Herman Miller and Steele Case. The Sidiz T80 office chair will give you the same type of comfort as more expensive office chairs for around half the price. The chair includes lumbar support and all of the bells and whistles to look for in a comfortable design. You can also adjust headrest, armrests, titling tensions, and just about every other part of the chair. Writes user Jon, “Is it a looker? Check. Ergonomics and a plethora of adjustment capabilities? Check. Doesn’t ask for half of my wages? Check. After reading the reviews, I decided to take the leap and purchase it. And I was not [disappointed]. The assembly is incredibly straight forward. It took 10 minutes. The packaging was secure and the product came without a scratch. When I first took a seat, I was pretty underwhelmed to be honest… until I investigated the user guide and found out how many adjustments [there] actually are.”
Ergonomic High-Back Leather Desk Gaming Chair
For just under $150, this ergonomic chair pays for itself after a few uses and it doesn’t skimp on the padding for increased comfort. The adjustable, leather swivel chair is available in black or white, and can be used as an office desk chair or a comfortable seat for gamers. The chair is designed to support your lumbar and improve posture. One user writes, “This chair is pretty comfortable. It has a great support and is ergonomic. Coming home from a long day at work and sitting on this chair is very relaxing. The assembly was pretty easy to do, had no issues.”
Branch Furniture Ergonomic Desk Chair
Branch Furniture’s ergonomic desk chair features a high-density cushion designed to accommodate people of many different shapes and sizes (it can hold up to 300 pounds). Designed in Italy, this stylish desk chair features breathable, double-layered nylon mesh, seven adjustment points, three-way adjustable armrests, tilt lock and hybrid casters, and, of course, lumbar support. Writes user Josh E., “Because of the pandemic, I decided to invest in this chair after having hours of back pain every single day from my old flimsy one. Since all classes are online, some days I’m sitting for up to 8 hours at a time. At first the lumbar support hurt because I wasn’t used to having that kind of support and my posture was very slumped. But after a couple days, all my back pain went away. I think [it’s important] to note that the main point of this chair isn’t to be super comfy (although it is). The main point is to fix posture and eliminate back pain from sitting wrong. This chair does exactly that and I love it.”
Vinsetto Executive Linen-Feel Fabric Office Chair
Most reclining office chairs are either leather, faux leather, or mesh material, so why not switch it up? This ergonomically designed reclining office chair is equipped with a fully rotational padded seat (the height can be adjusted for your comfort), a padded headrest, and more. One user writes, “I personally do not like pleather which is common place and ubiquitous in the executive high back chair market. The color and material really caught my eye. I do not like pleather because as it is sticky and makes me sweat. The only benefit of pleather is the ability to clean it easily. This fabric is soft to touch with firm support. The chair pillow is stiff and will not win any awards. However, it is a nice bonus, especially when leaning back.” Sign Up: Stay on top of the latest breaking film and TV news! Sign up for our Email Newsletters here.
