Even though I spent most of the work day sitting down, I never gave much thought to office chairs. In front quarantine I started last March and spent most of my work in the CNET Smart Home, which is a house where we test Security cameras, smart speakers and other products. I didn't submit stories of a traditional office chair, but of upright dining room chairs, upholstered couches, and numbing patio furniture. A comfortable chair to work from wasn't on my radar.
I've mostly stuck to my smart home method for the nearly 10 months I've been working from home. Some days I write from a sofa; Other days, I sit in a rocking chair on the porch. No two days are the same and I am slowly realizing that it is terrible for my back and my posture. My husband also worked from home at a desk that we rarely used before the pandemic. As it turns out, the unpadded seat cushion and the backless office chair that we use for this desk don't work well for it either.
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It was time to change something. So I tested 10 office chairs, priced between $ 32 and $ 1,395, and knew that when we finished, we'd buy some of the best for our own home.
I also spoke to an ergonomics expert for general tips on improving work attitudes, be it at home or in a more traditional office setting. Seat height, backrest, adjustable arms, adjustable height, adjustable lumbar support, inclination tension and seat depth help you get the most out of your computer chair.
For the purposes of this list, I've only tested conventional office chairs. So if you are looking for something like a play or drawing chair, or something else like a knee chair, this may not be the place for you.
Note: Product prices tend to vary on third party websites. As such, the prices I quoted at the time of writing may change slightly over time. I will do my best to update the list frequently to reflect the most accurate prices at the time of publication.
A great chair alone is not enough
Ergonomics is the "science of work," explains Gary Allread, program director, Ergonomics at Ohio State University's Spine Research Institute. However, this definition doesn't just apply to our jobs. Ergonomic principles can be used for pretty much any activity (that is, an ergonomic chair won't relieve your lower back pain immediately). Allread and his team provide advisory services for a variety of jobs, from manufacturing facilities to the auto industry and more. They even occasionally provide product design information to help companies better understand how products are created "to make sure they can interact with people as best they can," says Allread.
A less than ideal work structure can cause pain in your back, arms, hands or wrists. You could also fidget, make more mistakes, or take more breaks - all because you are uncomfortable - Allread says. Long-term tendinitis or carpal tunnel syndromes can occur.
Allread makes two main suggestions that anyone can try to improve the way they work:
- Sit with your back against your chair. ("You want the chair to do the job, not your back," he explains.)
- Support your feet. Either place your feet on the floor or use a box or other footrest to support your feet when they are not enough.
If your chair doesn't have lumbar support, you can roll up a towel, secure it with tape or elastic bands, and place it on your lower back to "keep your back in its natural curve". Allread also notes that companies are starting to introduce different chair sizes that support a wider range of body sizes. This is an important consideration when purchasing a new ergonomic office chair.
"One mistake people make is when they say, 'Well, if I get a great chair, I won't be sore anymore,' and that's not really the big picture of what it takes to make people comfortable and keep them productive at their jobs, "explains Allread. There are many factors, and a new chair is just one of many things that can make your work environment more comfortable.
So let's keep that in mind when weighing our options for the best office chair. I have a handful of good options here, including a leather armchair, mesh chair, and more, and I'll update the list regularly.
The best office chairs
Megan Wollerton / CNET
The Hbada Office Task Desk Chair wins as my favorite office chair in the group. This ergonomic office chair has a streamlined design that doesn't take up too much space. It also has good lumbar support and a supportive, breathable mesh backrest. At $ 130, it's pretty affordable too.
After trying all of the models, this is the chair I reached for the most common. While it lacks the padded comfort of my second favorite chair (scroll down to see the runner-up), it's the rounded model I tested that ticks almost every box.
Brief information::
- Price (Amazon): $ 130
- Finish: Black padding and mesh
- Weight Limit: 250 pounds
Megan Wollerton / CNET
It's not the most stylish chair, but what the Serta Arlington lacks in style it more than makes up for in comfort and adaptability. Serta is a mattress maker, and that goes with the extremely comfortable Arlington chair. This ergonomic chair is by far the most upholstered model I have tried. The headrest, the backrest of the chair and the seat are softly padded.
Despite its comfort, it also offers good support thanks to an adjustable lumbar lever under the seat.
It currently costs $ 250, compared to the list price of $ 300. If you are looking for a comfortable office chair with adjustable lumbar support, this is a great option.
Brief information:- Price (Amazon): $ 250
- Finish: black leather
- Weight Limit: 275 pounds
Megan Wollerton / CNET
I immediately liked the leather-padded AmazonBasics office chair. It was easy to assemble, the leather design looks nice, and the adjustable seat and backrest are padded and comfortable. At around $ 92, this AmazonBasics chair isn't cheap, but it's a great option that is relatively affordable without sacrificing much, with one exception - lumbar support.
If lumbar support is a must have for you, consider one of my other favorites.
Overall, the leather-padded AmazonBasics office chair is a comfortable, inexpensive ergonomic chair that is easy to assemble and easy on the eyes.
Brief information:- Price (Amazon): $ 84
- Finish: black leather
- Weight capacity: 275 pounds
Megan Wollerton / CNET
OK I know. This ergonomic office chair is very expensive, but it also has a lot going for it - great design, lots of adjustability, lumbar support and, bonus, comes in three sizes. I have a size B that fits my and my husband's size and weight ranges.
The only problem is the award which is why it didn't win for the best chair overall. Over $ 1,400 for a single chair, even one you use for hours every day, is not a reasonable price for most people, including us. I will be sad to see this one go.
Brief information:- Price: 1,445 USD
- Finish: Multiple color options, mesh
- Weight Capacity: Varies depending on chair size
Test office chairs
Here is a full list of the office chairs I tested:
How did I choose my favorites? First, I assembled each chair and found all of the issues with the process except for the Herman Miller Aeron Chair and Steelcase Gesture Chair as they arrived fully assembled (bonus points for that). Then I spent a work day, or about eight hours, in each chair and noticed the comfort, adjustability, and any issues I was facing. I also asked my husband to try each chair. For reference, I'm 5 feet 7 inches, he's 6 feet 2, and we're both average weights.
Of course, what might work for me or for him might not work for you, but I took into account all of the tips that Gary Allread of the Spine Research Institute had mentioned when I sat and asked Kevin to do the same:
- Was the chair designed so that I could comfortably rest on the back of the chair?
- Did my feet hit the floor with my back against the back of the chair?
- Did I fidget or stand a lot?
- Did I experience pain or discomfort while using a particular chair?
I immediately had to take the Hodedah Armless Task Chair off my run after I noticed a label inside the box that said "NOT FOR ADULT USE". Apparently, this chair, which regularly appears on adult office chair lists, has a 100 pound weight limit. I wasn't alone either - A number of customers have posted reviews online They expressed their frustration that this chair (which at first glance appears to be marketed to adults on the Home Depot website if not Amazon) broke while in use. If you are an adult under 100 pounds this chair could potentially work for you, but its limited features, including no armrests, still completely ruled it out for me.
So we had nine chairs. Although we looked pretty nice and padded, we both found the Executive Office Chair from the OFM Essentials Collection a bit stiff and uncomfortable. The lumbar support is also missing. The HON Exposure Mesh Task Computer Chair also lacks the lumbar support and it leans back too far for both of us, which makes it uncomfortable to sit with your back against the backrest, as Allread suggests. The ergonomic BestOffice desk chair with a medium backrest also leans too far back, although it had a little more lumbar support than the HON Exposure chair.
Most of the Humanscale Freedom Chair arrived; I just had to connect the top half and the wheelbase. Despite the simplicity of assembly, I tried hard to customize this chair without consulting the instructions. Even after I found out, my husband and I found the backrest and headrest oddly proportioned and extremely uncomfortable on our backs and necks. The Steelcase Gesture Chair is highly adjustable and feels robust. But even with its many customizable controls, including a seat depth adjuster set to maximum depth, the seat was way too short and angled downward for me to feel as though I could slip out of the chair.
The other four chairs that I added to my list of the best office chairs above kept us comfortable all day and offer some level of adjustability that sets them apart from the crowd.
