The quality and comfort of your office chair affects your health and productivity. With so many options, though, picking the right one for you isn't easy. This graphic from Office Chairs Unlimited can help. Most of the pointers are ones we've noted before in our guide to ergonomically optimizing your workspace: Arm rests should keep your elbows bent 90 degrees, seat height and back rest height should be adjustable, etc. The graphic lays it all out visually so you can see what you need to look for in an office chair at a glance (or even print this out and take with you when chair shopping). In addition, I found this guideline on proper seat depth helpful: A good guideline is while seated to have three- or four-fingers width distance between the back of your knees and the front edge of the seat. Seats that are too long for you could make you sit forward, straining your legs and back. Seats that are too close to your knees, on the other hand, can cause circulation problems, Lifehacker reader nacoran notes.
So be like Goldilocks and find the "just right" office chair for you (or take a look at the five most popular office chairs): Infographic: Looking for a New Office Chair | Click on image to zoom Designers: Bill Stumpf and Don ChadwickWhen Bill Stumpf and Don Chadwick designed the Herman Miller Aeron Chair, they combined a deep knowledge of human-centered design with never-before-seen technology to create a task chair unlike any other. Now Aeron has been remastered in practically every way to create an office chair that better supports people and the types of work we do today. Configure Your Aeron Chair While its iconic form has remained largely unchanged, the Aeron Chair has been remastered from the casters up. With the help of Don Chadwick, the chair’s original co-designer, we updated Aeron to incorporate more than 20 years of research on the science of sitting, as well as advancements in materials, manufacturing, and technology. “It’s going to be a whole new experience, and yet the chair is still going to be an Aeron chair.”
Get into the Zones Across Aeron's 8Z Pellicle elastomeric suspension seat and backrest, eight latitudinal zones of varying tension envelop you as you sit, delivering greater comfort and ergonomic support. The new 8Z Pellicle also allows body heat to pass through to help maintain an even and comfortable skin temperature. A Stance Worth Backing An active body is at its strongest when standing, chest open and pelvis tilted slightly forward. PostureFit SL supports your spine to give you the same benefit while seated. Adjustable, individual pads provide lumbar support and stabilize the base of the spine for a more powerful seated posture. If You're So Reclined Sitting in one position reduces the natural pumping action of the muscles that deliver nutrients to the spine. As you sit in Aeron, however, the tilt allows the chair to move seamlessly with your body, so shifting between forward and reclining postures is smooth and balanced throughout the entire range of recline.
A Whole New Aeron Aeron is available in three tightly curated, holistic material expressions. Graphite is the darkest, a modern rendition of the classic Aeron look. Carbon offers a balanced neutral for a modern chair that works equally well in both warm and cool environments. Mineral is the lightest, with a fresh, ethereal quality that borders on translucence. One Size Does Not Fit All With chairs, one size does not fit all people. Based on an ends-to-the-middle design approach, Aeron comes in three sizes (A, B, and C) to provide an inclusive fit that delivers the same level of comfort to the largest range of anthropometric body types of any office chair. For individuals sitting in Aeron, cross-performance design means the ergonomic chair fully accommodates the widest possible range of activities and postures people adopt while working, from intense, forward-facing focus to relaxed, contemplative recline.When setting up a workspace, whether it is at home or in a dedicated office, there are many different factors to consider.
An office needs to be set up in order to maximize productivity, creativity, and comfort. For many people who work in an office on a day-to-day basis, much of the time is spent at a desk. This means that the desk and its corresponding furniture have to be specifically comfortable and functional. The desk chair is perhaps the most important of all office furniture because it is supporting the body for the majority of the day. Having the wrong style office chair can mean putting oneself at risk for stress injuries and can actually make workers less productive. Conversely, with a comfortable office chair that is designed with the user in mind, workers are more productive, less likely to call in sick, and less likely to experience job dissatisfaction. This is why purchasing an ergonomic office chair is good business not just for employees, but also for companies and bosses. Luckily, there are many options for affordable and comfortable ergonomic office chairs available on eBay. When shopping on eBay, it is always a good idea to determine a price range or budget before beginning your search.
Not only will this help you to find the office chair that is within your grasp, but it will make narrowing results much easier. The eBay interface makes it simple to sort through listings using a price filter, which will help to find the most relevant results. Although an office chair is an important part of any working environment, it does not necessarily need to cost an arm and a leg. Office chairs, particularly ergonomic chairs that are favored by many business and industrial offices, can be quite expensive. One way to find an ergonomically-designed chair while still staying within budget on eBay is to consider purchasing a used or refurbished office chair. Using eBay's filters, browse through listings for used office chairs. You will quickly find that many are in very good shape and available for a fraction of the price of a brand new chair. This is a good way to save a few dollars while also saving your back from a non-ergonomic chair. In order to find the best ergonomic office chair for your particular needs on eBay, it is important to start with the chair's user in mind.
This is because without proper knowledge of the final user, it is impossible for a chair to be ergonomic at all. A chair is only ergonomic for a certain range of people and the best chair for one person may not be the best choice for another. Take into consideration the person's height and weight, specifically, when choosing chairs. Use these measurements to narrow your eBay search results and to determine if a chair is appropriate for that person. For instance, a tall person may need a chair that is adjustable to a certain height, so you can search for whatever the necessary measurement may be to find a taller or shorter chair. It is fairly common for office chairs to be adjustable when it comes to height. Most have a lever underneath the chair that allows the user to move the seat up and down. This is an important feature for any ergonomic chair because it allows the person to set the height where it is most comfortable. To find these types of adjustable chairs on eBay, you can browse the listings of all office chairs for their descriptions, or you can use a search phrase such as "adjustable office chair" to narrow the results.
While adjustable height may be a common feature in many office chairs, lumbar support is not always standard. However, having proper lumbar support is an integral part of what makes a chair ergonomic. Many chairs offer adjustable lumbar support that moves in conjunction with the rest of the chair's back. For those that need specific lumbar support for previous injuries or weaknesses, it is better to have the lumbar support move independently of the rest of the chair so that it can be placed by each individual. On eBay, search in the office chair category for "adjustable lumbar support" to find this type of ergonomic chair. It also may not be obvious if the lumbar support operates separately from the product listing, which means it is a good idea to ask the eBay seller directly in order to clarify that question. The armrests of a chair may not be as widely discussed as lumbar support, but can actually have an important impact on the ergonomics of a chair. This is particularly true when the chair's user is typing at a computer workstation for a large portion of the day.
Having adjustable armrests that can suit the user's height will alleviate stress not only on the arms but also on the back and shoulders, which will be better supported. One feature that can make an office chair more comfortable that is often overlooked is ventilation. When a chair does not allow for proper airflow, it can make the user too warm and even sweaty. Many ergonomic chairs, like the famous Aeron chair for instance, alleviate this problem by making the back of the chair out of mesh. This fabric has tiny holes throughout so that it allows for plenty of ventilation and therefore a more comfortable chair. To find these types of chairs on eBay, search for "mesh office chairs" or "mesh back chairs." If either the look or feel of mesh is not your preference, there are many other materials from which to choose when looking for ergonomic office chairs on eBay. Many executives choose leather office chairs, which are durable and attractive but usually pricier than other options.
Faux leather, which is made to appear like leather but is actually synthetic, is one such option, as is upholstery or canvas. Each has its own advantages, although the material of the chair is less important to its ergonomics than the structure. Finally, when you have narrowed down your options and found a selection of office chairs that will suit your needs, you will have to consider shipping. Any listing on eBay should clearly explain the shipping costs of the chair being sold. Because office chairs can be quite heavy, these charges can really add up if the chair is being shipping a great distance. This is exactly why eBay allows you to filter search results by geography. The perfect chair may be just around the corner, in which case it may be possible to arrange to pick it up rather than pay for shipping. If you do decide to do this, be sure to communicate with the seller first to make sure that this is an acceptable arrangement for all parties. When you have taken the time to sort through the many different office chairs that are available on eBay, you can finally begin to go through the eBay transaction process.
Any listing that you find should have a clear description of the product as well as the acceptable payment methods. If there are any questions remaining about the condition of the chair, the payment process, or anything else, you can use the eBay interface to contact the seller directly. He or she can then get back to you quickly so that you may complete your purchase with confidence. Any time that you purchase something online, it is important to be informed about the seller with whom you will be dealing. This is no different on eBay. Be sure to review the past sales of the seller before committing to your purchase. The best way to do this is to look through seller feedback that has been left for the seller by previous buyers. Those sellers with a high feedback rating offer the best opportunity for hassle-free purchases. Shopping for a new office chair on eBay may not be quite as exciting as some other shopping categories. However, the truth is that having an ergonomic office chair can improve your life, or that of your employees, in surprising ways.