You spend hours at a time sitting at your desk, so you want to have the most comfortable chair you can get for your money. If you get aches and pains while you work, it might be time for an upgrade. This week we're checking out five office chairs that offer the best combination of value, comfort and ergonomics. The Aeron chair set a new standard for ergonomics and comfort when it was first released, making it one of the most famous office chairs in the world. It also set a new bar in terms of cost: new models having a starting retail price of $1200, although they can usually be found for less if you buy second-hand. The Aeron's design is so popular that companies around the world order them by the hundreds, and the chair even has a permanent instalment at the Museum of Modern Art in New York. It was initially designed in 1994, so even though it still looks modern and comfortable, recent studies have pointed out that the Aeron may not be the best ergonomic choice over long sitting sessions.
But there's no doubt the Aeron is comfortable, adaptable, highly customisable and still has a huge fan base. The Embody is Herman Miller's next-generation office chair, and it was designed by one of the original designers of the Aeron. It takes a more modern approach and hones in on ergonomics and full back support. Any complaints about the Aeron's ergonomics were largely addressed in the Embody, which can be independently adjusted and moved separately from the base and arms. It's still a pricey model at over $1700, but it's easily one of the most comfortable chairs you'll ever sit in. The back conforms to your shape using what Herman Miller calls "Pixelated Mesh" and multiple points of flexibility all along the length of the chair back. Some people complain the Embody has subpar lumbar support and more complicated settings compared to the Aeron, but most will tell you it's the best chair they've ever owned. The Steelcase Leap earned praise for affordability, superior construction and customisability.
It's a bit more of a task chair than others, but the design makes sure your whole back is supported. Its design includes a special breathable foam padding that airs itself out through special slots that ensure you won't get too hot during long work sessions. Rather than conform to you, Steelcase designers give you individual control over everything from the arm height to the seat depth. They retail for around $1000, but they can be found for less, especially if you buy second-hand. I was lucky enough to sit in a Leap every day at my last job, and it's just as sturdy and customisable as the marketing promos say. The Raynor Ergohuman series was designed primarily for people who sit in their chairs for long periods of time. The design may not win any artsy awards, but its customisable components, add-ons and independent control over the seat height, arm height, headrest and rocker tension are impressive. It has breathable mesh and leather upholstery, a high back and comfortable headrest.
The Ergohuman also features a slightly wider seat pan than most chairs, and it's ideal for taller folks who want decent back support. Raynor just unveiled the Ergohuman v2, which offers a number of improvements in design, ergonomics and weight capacity. The v1 will run you around $900 at retail, while the v2 has a list price of around $1000. The $399 IKEA Markus is a high-backed chair that comes in a variety of colours and your choice of leather or padded fabric. The Markus lacks some of the features and customisability you'll find in the others, but it has been praised for being remarkably comfortable (I was thinking about getting one myself before I got my Embody). It's height adjustable with tilt and lock, but don't expect to independently adjust the armrest or change the seat depth. The curved design, mesh back and shallow seat pan enforces good posture, making it a great bang-for-your-buck office chair. This week's honourable mention goes to the simple exercise ball for its comfort (once you're used to it), flexibility, and the fact that it naturally enforces proper posture.
Plus, the fact that they're widely available for little cash (at least compared to the other five mentioned here) makes them an attractive option for home office workers on a budget. Also worth mentioning is the Herman Miller Mirra, one of the more affordable Herman Miller chairs that also has space-saving and comfort options. Have something to say about one of the contenders? Want to make the case for your personal favourite, even if it wasn't included in the list? Let us know in the comments below. You can temporarily lift this restriction by proving that you're human:Our mission is to manufacture the best value ergonomic seating Our mission is to manufacture the best value ergonomic seating, to develop and nurture long term partnerships with our customers and suppliers and to enhance the lives of our valued employees by providing them with a rewarding and respectful work environment. Modern-day office ergonomics is the science of providing furniture, tools, and equipment that improve the comfort, safety, and health of the office worker.
Our mission is to manufacture the best value ergonomic seating, to develop and nurture long term partnerships with our customers and suppliers and to enhance the lives of our valued employees by providing them with a rewarding and respectful work environment.Finding the best office chair 2017 is no simple affair. In fact, it’s much like buying a bed – you’ll spend a good chunk of your life on it so spending the time to research, test, and test again is well worth the investment. To that end, the best ergonomic office chairs aren’t all built the same. While one may work for one person, it may not be a fit for another. So good thing that we’ve done the bulk of the research and expedited the process to reaching a more productive and comfortable work life. Which is why we’ve picked a variety of chairs in the hopes that one will suit your needs, as well as price point. Making our top pick is Herman Miller’s Embody Chair. Not only is it aesthetically beautiful, it boasts advanced technology to support on posterior.
WHY IT’S A TOP PICK: High tech good looking body support. This easily ranks as one of the best office chairs thanks to it’s unique and well thought out design. It also looks damn cool and should complement even the most finicky of shoppers. Pay close attention to the back of this chair, as that’s it’s key to magical seating. Okay, that might be an overstatement, but according to Herman Miller Herman Miller The Embody’s back has something they call a “dynamic matrix of pixels” that is designed to stimulate your body’s blood and oxygen flow simply by reducing the pressure on your body when seated. Additionally, The Embody is built to automatically adjust to its user back, even when they move allowing lower back support to never dither. All said and done, The Embody is supposed to be so effective it reduces stress and blood pressure. The Herman Miller Embody chair retails for $1,229.Read Full Review: Steelcase Leap Office Chair Review | WHY IT’S A TOP PICK: Tried and true chair design provides support and comfort.
Billed as Steelcase’s number one selling chair, you’d be a fool to not consider this office chair during your hunt for sitting bliss. Using something called livelumbar technology, which flexes with your body’s movements, the Leap is a cut above the average office chair. And while it make look simple there is a great deal of research and development that has gone into building this top rated office chair. Other features include a natural glide system that allows you to recline but remain upright and still naturally reach your work, all without hindering posture or pressure on the back. And if that isn’t enough to persuade you, you can take comfort in the fact that the Leap is almost 100% recyclable, and is made from up to 30% of recycled materials. The Steelcase leap chair retails for $919.00.Read Full Review: Steelcase Gesture Office Chair Review | WHY IT’S A TOP PICK: Increased productivity and comfort makes it pay for itself. At close $1,000 you might be questioning the efficacy of this chair.
But fear not, it’s worth every penny, as shown in our Gesture chair review. After a study of 2,000 people in 11 countries, Steelcase has developed a chair that suits the needs of not just any person, but any device. Which is to say they’ve addressed more than just using a computer, or pad and paper at the desk. The Gesture chair is built to support those that use a tablet or smartphone, and based on my experience it does just that. The arm rests, unlike many other office chairs, can be easily manipulated to accommodate almost any seating style or position. Moreover, the back of the chair, called 3D Liveback, automatically adjusts to your spine and mimics the natural motion of the body. And it also features the furthest recline of any office chair, all without losing its footing. If you’re thinking about getting this chair, make sure to check out the color choices, the stool version (in case you sit a high desk) and the two back types. WHY IT’S A TOP PICK: Breathable with support in all the right places.
Then you’ve come to the right place. Or in this case the right chair. The Ergohuman High Back Mesh Chair is specifically designed for those that will be seated for more than 5 hours a day. And it can be adjusted in a variety of places/manners, including the seat depth, back, lumbar area, spin area, back angle title, base and more. Really there is no adjustment you can’t make, allowing the Ergohuman mesh chair fit a variety of folks and with that temperaments. WHY IT’S A TOP PICK: A proven winner with a strong track record. The Herman Miller Aeron chair is the grand daddy of them all. But that isn’t to say it’s without some flaw. Nevertheless, it’s still a top contender as it offers exceptional support, creating that magical S, and adjustability. On top of that the Aeron is mostly mesh, providing that cool feeling while you sit and work. And not for nothing it’s pretty evident that the Aeron will last the test of time, as it’s been on the market since 1994.
You’ll find many of these for sale on sites like Craigslist, and while they’ll be at a discount, they still hold their price, further attesting to their quality and desirability. When you go shopping for an Aeron, pay attention to the fact there are different sizes to accommodate different people. The Herman Miller Aeron chair retails for $939.00. WHY IT’S A TOP PICK: Promotes standing without the pain. Full disclosure: this isn’t exactly a chair. Though, you can purchase just the chair. I’d suggest getting both to maximize the results. The Locus combines a chair and if so desired a standing desk. The result is probably the ideal position, as it’s half standing half sitting, allowing for more motion throughout the day which is helpful for blood circulation. And because the seat is pneumatic, and at an angle, it adjusts with you as you you make micro movement throughout the day. And another plus is that the desk portion – which can be ordered separately – has a height range of 36″ to 48″, making a number of other chairs compatible with the setup.
As the desk is controlled via a hand crank, ensuring that there is no motor to break or parts to replace. WHY IT’S A TOP PICK: Negates manual controls and looks top tier premium. If you require both looks and functionality, look no further than the Freedom Task Chair designed by Niels Diffrient for Humanscale. That and an exceptionally high price tag. But with that comes a chair that is designed to automatically adjust to its users’ weight using a set of internal mechanisms that negate the need for manual controls. So in theory you just sit and get comfy. Though, if you’re of the particular type you can set the chair and seatback’s height, or move the seat forward or back to adjust depth and seating style. There is also a dedicated lumbar support which will help maintain that much sought after S curve that I mentioned at the beginning. The Freedom chair starts at about $1200. WHY IT’S A TOP PICK: The budget pick that has solid reviews. Don’t balk at this chair because of its price, $69.99 as of the time of this writing.
It’s super highly rated by Amazon customers, scoring 4.5 stars. Sure, there is no way it can compete in terms of quality, longevity and all-together support as the more expensive options mentioned here, but it’s at such a massively discounted price it’s worth a look. Features include a pneumatic adjustable seat, a padded seat that is reportedly thick and plush and 5 casters. Okay, the 5 casters shouldn’t be a massive takeaway, but note the mesh back for added breathability and comfort. This chair retails for $69.99 (currently on sale as of Nov 2015). WHY IT’S A TOP PICK: Affordable, stylish and yes, it works. With a 10-year warranty (albeit limited) and looks that Dr. No would approve, the Ikea Markus chair should be at the top of your office chair list, especially if you’re working with a smaller budget. It lacks the feature set as found in much more expensive chairs. However, it’s been applauded as an exceptionally comfortable chair, is height adjustable, comes in a variety of fabrics of your choosing, and did I mention that it costs just $200?!
There are many things to evaluate when you’re looking for a top office chair. These are the key indicators what separates the good from the bad. Which is the right chair for most people will probably boil down to three factors: looks, price and ergonomics. That said, our list of office chairs should provide you with a wide enough range to suit just about anyone’s needs. At the end of the day I’m a big proponent of standing, and the Locus will get you there. But there is no disputing how damn cool the Herman Miller Embody looks and the tech that has gone into that chair. If you’re wallet doesn’t have that kind of padding, Ikea and Amazon are always a good back up, but odds are you’ll be replacing those chairs 3-4 times faster than some of my top picks. If you have any questions, or would like to nominate a chair to be in our next top 10 office chair list, please leave a comment below. And don’t be shy – we encourage you to bookmark us and read more of our cool furniture reviews to find other items for your office or home.