The best office chairs let us work in comfort. Whether you’re at home or in the office, many of us spend far too long being sat down. But, if you have to sit for long periods of time, your experience shouldn’t be uncomfortable.
Not having the correct ergonomics when sitting at a desk can pose health risks. From muscle aches, soreness, and tightness, it’s not worth not having the right equipment. Unless you plan to work from a standing desk, you should purchase the best office chair (or best gaming chair) that’s suitable for your height, weight, and needs.
TL;DR – These are the Best Office Chairs
- Branch Verve
- Autonomous ErgoChair Core
- FlexiSpot OC3B
- Humanscale Freedom
- Razer Fujin Pro
- HÅG Capisco Puls
- Herman Miller Embody
- Varier Variable Balans Kneeling Chair
- Secretlab NeueChair
- Steelcase Gesture
Like a mattress, an office chair is a big investment, so shouldn’t be taken lightly. Ergonomics should be your number one priority when choosing an office chair. After all, why would you want to spend potentially over $1,000 on something that isn't comfortable?
1. Branch Verve
Best Office Chair
Pros:
- Adjustable lumbar
- Breathable 3D knit material
Cons:
- No headrest
Ditching the usual mesh material, the Branch Verve instead boasts a 3D knit design that’s not only breathable but incredibly comfortable too. Both are important things to consider when buying an office chair. It’s also available in a range of colors.
The back boasts an adjustable lumbar rest so you can get the best ergonomics out of your office chair. There are six points of adjustment to explore, including tilt, seat height, seat depth, armrest, lumbar, and tilt tension. Branch claims the chair is suitable for 8+ hours of continuous use, though we would always recommend taking a break to stand up or walk around every hour or so.
Despite not having a separate headrest, the Branch Verve is very comfortable. You can sit on it for extended periods should you have to, adjusting every aspect of the chair to suit your needs.
2. Autonomous ErgoChair Core
Best Budget Office Chair
Pros:
- Adjustable lumbar support
- Stylish design
Cons:
- Extras are available at an additional cost
Most inexpensive office chairs — the generic models you run across in office supply stores — are pretty sad affairs that aren’t comfortable and offer the bare minimum of adjustability. That’s why it’s great to encounter a chair like the Autonomous ErgoChair Core, which costs under $350, yet offers premium features like adjustable lumbar support, height, seat pan, and armrests. Those details help make the chair feel great, plus it looks like a classier, much pricier seat as well.
The Autonomous ErgoChair Core offers up every essential you look for in an office chair. The mesh backrest is comfortable, distributes weight evenly, and adds breathability, while a thickly padded foam seat has a high-quality polyester shell that holds up well over time. In addition, the chair has a balancing mechanism (which Autonomous emphasizes is Italian-designed), letting you switch from upright to an 18-degree recline in a single action. It also has the obligatory height and tilt controls under the seat. Since this is a budget chair, you can even add a headrest and footrest for a bit more than the base price, substantially amping up the Autonomous ErgoChair Core's comfort factor.
3. FlexiSpot OC3B
Best Ultra Cheap Office Chair
Pros:
- Inexpensive
- Adjustable seat height, backrest, and arms
Cons:
- Lacks many controls or features
At under $200, it’s hard not to love the FlexiSpot OC3B. This adjustable mesh office chair is not only ergonomic and comfortable, but it’s available in different colors and styles, too. For those with back issues or concerns, the passive lumbar support is a really useful feature, especially within this price range. The mesh design is breathable, so you can comfortably sit for long periods at a time without getting hot and sweaty.
The seat height is adjustable, as well as the backrest and arms, depending on your shape and size. If you need to take a rest and don’t want to leave the office, you can adjust the recline between 90 and 130 degrees, taking a break when you need it. With support for up to 300 pounds, this chair is suitable for a wide range of users.
If you want to ditch the fancy features and aren’t fussed by a more simplistic design, the FlexiSpot OC3B is a great office chair if you’re on a budget.
4. Humanscale Freedom
Best Ergonomic Chair
Pros:
- Extremely comfortable
- Wide headrest
Cons:
- Expensive
The Humanscale Freedom isn’t quite your typical office chair. It offers an almost magical ergonomic design to help you stay comfortable in whatever position you decide to sit. The back section can move vertically, upgrading over simple, sliding lumbar supports. The wide headrest pulls off the same trick to cradle your head. And that’s just a few of the helpful dial-in adjustabilities of the chair.
With the Freedom’s design, you can easily recline to relax, as it uses your body weight to automatically adjust recline support. The armrests are even attached to the back of the chair, so they’ll recline with you and still be handy when you’re kicking back. You also get a big 21-inch wide seat covered in foam for a soft palace to settle down. That seat’s height can go from 16.1 to 20.3 inches, while its robust frame holds up to 300-pounds, making it suitable for users of many shapes and sizes. Just be prepared to shell out a good chunk of change, as an office chair with this many features doesn’t come cheap.
5. Razer Fujin Pro
Best Office Gaming Chair
Pros:
- Incredibly comfortable
- Sturdy build
Cons:
- Expensive
Once you’ve taken a deep breath and come to terms with the price of the Razer Fujin Pro, you can start to appreciate its excellent build, healthy array of adjustments, and extreme levels of comfort. If you work during the day and game by night, this office gaming chair really is worth the investment. Heck, even if you don’t game, this chair is so comfortable, that you won’t regret it.
Integrated among the breathable mesh is an adjustable lumbar support. The gas cylinder lets you adjust the height of the chair, as well as the seat’s forward and backward motions. If you like a little give when you sit back in your chair, you’ll appreciate Razer’s adjustable resistance. But, if you prefer to lock into place, you can do this too.
The 4D armrests offer up, down, left, right, forward, and backward movements. You can switch between three angles, much like you can with the lumbar support and headrest. With Herman Miller-style comfort and ergonomics, this is the gaming chair of all gaming chairs.
6. HÅG Capisco Puls
Best Standing Desk Office Chair
Pros:
- Highly adjustable
- Comfortable for standing desk users
Cons:
- Lacks cushioning
So, you've invested in a standing desk, but after a few hours of work, you're regretting the decision. Sometimes your legs need a little rest, and the HÅG Capisco Puls solves this issue. This chair gives you an insane height range from 21.3 inches up to 30.9 inches with the 265mm gas lift. Therefore, it can be used as a regular seat at an average desk or be lifted up at your standing desk to be seated or partially seated, taking a bit of the weight off your legs. You can even add a foot ring for somewhere to rest your feet when you’re sitting in a higher position.
The HÅG Capisco Puls is much more comfortable than the stools you commonly find for standing desk users. First, it comes with a backrest, which includes small sides that can serve as armrests. You also choose between a fully upholstered seat for extra cushioning or can go for a partially upholstered seat to really take advantage of the chair's saddle seat design. And the casters make for easy movement but lock in place to ensure you’re not rolling around when you don’t want to. Beyond its utility, the chair is made from recycled materials, and the unique look also lends it a bit of style — heck, it was even the chair Dr. Robotnik used in the Sonic the Hedgehog movie.
7. Herman Miller Embody
Most Comfortable Office Chair
Pros:
- Incredible backrest
- Solid and sturdy
Cons:
- Very heavy
You may know the iconic Herman Miller Aeron chair, but the Embody is actually the model that Herman Miller stakes its reputation on for high-end, premium office seating. That’s apparent from the warranty and the substantial weight of the chair, which tips the scales at 50-pounds. Take a quick look at it, and you can see why it’s so heavy; there’s steel and aluminum everywhere, making it a robust and sturdy option capable of holding 300 pounds. But all this quality comes at a hefty price tag that might just be worth the splurge.
More than anything else, the Embody’s signature feature is the backrest, designed to mimic the human spine, with flexible ribs that adjust to align with your back’s curve. It works in concert with the seat, which offers a combination of materials toting breathability and support. Your body’s movement and weight should be perfectly distributed, helping aid in the feeling of floating that Herman Miller is aiming for. Beyond that, you get an insane amount of adjustments further catering the chair to your preferences, including seat height and depth, tilt tension, backfit, and armrests. Combine all those elements, and you get a graceful, comfortable chair that is easy on your back and bum, even after hours in the seat.
8. Varier Variable Balans Kneeling Chair
Best Kneeling Chair
Pros:
- Curved base
- Generous warranty
Cons:
- Expensive for what it is
Are you looking to switch things up a bit or just sick of plopping your butt down in the same old chair for eight hours a day? You can always go with a kneeling chair. This classic design has been around since the 1970s, and the Varier Variable Balans kneeling chair sticks with the original design from creator Peter Opsvik. Coming in at a higher price, you'll appreciate the sturdy wood used in the build backed by a seven-year warranty, and the included tape ensures you don’t get scratches on your hard floors, either.
The Varier Variable Balans features a curved base, letting you get a bit of rocking action into your seating. Your body remains slightly more active, attempting to balance while in this position, so if your spending eight hours or more working at a desk, that extra movement is a welcome addition. You’ll find this way of sitting a bit unusual at first, as when you’re seated, most of the weight is on your bottom and slightly on your shins, and there is no backrest, but the chair almost forces you to have better posture. However, it might not be the only seating option you want to have by your desk, but it could be helpful to your health to switch to using a kneeling chair like this once in a while.
9. Secretlab NeueChair
Best Mesh Office Chair
Pros:
- Sturdy
- Plenty of adjustments
Cons:
- Lower weight capacity than most chairs
Mesh might not scream "quality" like leather or other sturdy materials used for a chair seeing rigorous use in an office environment, but the Secretlab NeueChair makes effective use of it. With its abrasive-resistant three-layer mesh made from polyester fibers and DuPont, the seat and backrest hold up to long hours of use while remaining comfortable and breathable. That mesh seat rests on a sturdy aluminum alloy base with quiet caster wheels, which all support the decent 240-pound max load.
Comfort is at the core of the Secretlab NeueChair. You'll find adjustable lumbar support helps you keep the natural curvature of your spine while you sit. Padded armrests switch positions, letting you relax your shoulders while you work. If you want, there's even an optional headrest add-on for full support when you lean back. And you can lean back far with a 45-degree tilt. Adjusting the height and angle of the chair is also simple, and that’s thanks to controls built right into the armrests rather than underneath the seat.
10. Steelcase Gesture
Best High-End Office Chair
Pros:
- Very comfortable
- Highly customizable
Cons:
- Expensive
Steelcase is a formidable name in high-end office seating, and the Gesture is one of its most popular models. And that's for good reason. It is among the most comfortable and durable office chairs money can buy, competing closely with alternatives like the Herman Miller Embody and the Humanscale Freedom. If you order it directly from the Steelcase site, you can choose the upholstery (fabric or leather), color, frame color scheme, whether to include lumbar support, and even if the wheels should be optimized for carpet or hard floor.
Beyond its customizability, the Steelcase Gesture is comfortable. The backrest and seat are synchronized to move together, so when you lean back, the seat tilts along with the backrest. The overall effect is one that keeps your body in contact with the chair to optimally distribute your weight, contouring it to your lower back. There’s plenty in the way of adjustments too, including the seat pan, which can slide forward and back, the height, and four-way adjustable armrests. You’ll find this ergonomic approach extends to every aspect of the chair.
Where to Get the Best Office Chair in the UK
How To Pick the Best Office Chair
Picking the best office chair can be overwhelming. With so many chairs to choose from, different adjustments, and prices, where do you even begin?
First and foremost, if you want the best office chair that offers maximum comfort, you should consider ergonomics. If you get the chance to test out an office chair before you buy it - do so. If you don’t have this luxury, you can read our recommendations and reviews of the best office chairs. An office chair should be comfortable to sit in for long periods of time. If it’s not comfortable, it doesn’t offer good ergonomics.
Adjustability is another thing to think about. Can you adjust the chair’s height range? Can you adjust the armrests, lumbar support, or head support? These things matter since not every office chair is designed to a one-size-fits-all standard.
When purchasing an office chair, one of the specifications you might notice is the chair’s maximum height, width, and weight capacities. You should choose a chair that caters to your personal size and weight, whether you’re petite, large, or tall.
FAQs
How Much Should You Pay for a Good Office Chair?
A decent office chair can easily set you back anywhere between $200 to $1,000+. It depends on the brand of chair, features, materials, etc. If you’re looking for an office chair that comes with lumbar support, different levels of adjustability, and high-quality materials, you can expect to pay more.
Can You Sleep in an Office Chair?
While some office chairs have the ability to recline further than others, you shouldn’t see this as an opportunity to nap or sleep in your chair. Yes, you can recline your chair to take a few minutes to rest, but sleeping in an office chair is not recommended.
How Can I Sit in an Office Chair Without Pain?
Picking a chair with good ergonomics is key to being able to sit in an office chair without pain. You should be able to adjust the chair so that your feet remain firmly flat on the floor, with your knees in line with your hips. Your back should be straight, and your hips as far back in the chair as they will go.
Dave Johnson has been writing about gaming and tech since the days of the Palm Pilot. See him shout into the Twitter void @davejoh.
Danielle Abraham is a freelance writer and unpaid music historian.
