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 | About Best Sellers in Office Desk ChairsHere you can discover the best Office Desk Chairs in Amazon Best Sellers, and find the top 100 most popular Amazon Office Desk Chairs.From hard-backed task chairs, to gaming chairs, to executive chairs and ergonomic ones, shop a wide selection of seating to complete your home office.Find the right office or ergonomic chair to fit your home office, choosing from a wide selection at Best Buy to suit various needs. From high-backed, cushioned leather executive chairs, to task chairs for your guests, and ones that provide additional lumbar support for your extra-long work days, there’s something for everyone. Opt for a larger, upholstered executive chair for a professional-looking home office, a simple task chair, or find a good middle ground with a mesh chair that adds the advantage of better air circulation.
If you have back problems or tend to be seated for long periods of time, there are ergonomic chairs that can help improve posture, offer additional lumbar support, and can tilt and/or have adjustable arms. Grab a few guest chairs so clients have somewhere to sit when they visit for short meetings, too.Consider features like material, swivel capability, and a footrest. If you have young kids at home, you might also want to consider a material that is easy to clean in the event of an accidental spill. Most office chairs also have adjustable heights and backs to help ensure your feet are resting flat on the ground, thus reducing strain. There are a number of questions you need to ask before purchasing the right office chair. How much room do you have in the office? Do you tend to get an achy back, or are you prone to carpal tunnel syndrome? If so, ergonomic features will be important. Do you work for long periods of time at your desk, or do you often move around?How important are features like the ability for the chair to swivel or tilt?
If you like to sit back while going over documents, you’ll appreciate tiltability. And if you’re often moving around, looking at multiple screens, turning to access a printer, shredder, or other device, a chair that can swivel would come in handy. Lastly, if you want a unique look and feel, consider choosing a gaming chair: it’s built for comfort and mobility, making it ideal for office duties.Make sure to measure a chair before choosing to ensure it fits nicely with your desk, and try out the chair for comfort and adjustability. This will be a seat you’ll be parked in for many hours, many days of the week. So choose wisely, and find the best one to suit your needs. But once selected, a great office chair can help the workday fly by!Everyone knows that sitting for hours in the office is bad for the back, but we rarely do anything about it. Backcare Awareness Week, which runs from 6 to 12 October, is a good time to change your usual office chair for one that offers better ergonomic support.
But there are a lot to choose from, so to help you out, here’s our pick. 1. Humanscale Freedom Office Chair, £999, John Lewis With a backrest that automatically adapts to your body shape and headrest that moves according to how far you recline, the Humanscale Freedom Office Chair offers the latest in ergonomic technology. Plus, the snug cushions mould to the shape of your body. At nearly a thousand pounds, it’s a lot to cough up for a chair, but worthwhile if you want one of the best on the market. 2. Herman Miller Aeron Office Chair, £925, John Lewis If you are a design buff, this is the one for you. The Museum of Modern Art in New York has an Aeron in its permanent collection, so its design credentials are well established. But this chair is not just pretty to look at – its cushions are made from Pellicle, a high tech material which avoids heat build-ups, helping prevent muscular discomfort. 3. Comfort Operator Chair, £49, Office Furniture Online
It’s not a thing of beauty, but the Comfort Operator Chair is good value for its specification. The three levers allow you to vary the height of the chair and tilt the back rest and seat. Also, the curved foam provides good ergonomic support. This is the reliable Volkswagen – rather than the flashy Ferrari – of the office chair world. Available with or without arms. 4. HÅG Capisco Saddle Chair, £291, Wellworking If you find yourself fidgeting in your usual seat, try the Saddle Chair. The unique design, modelled on a horse rider’s saddle, allows you to sit equally comfortably whether facing forward or turned to the side. Free movement does not have to cost the planet though – this product is made from recycled car bumpers. 5. Classic Balance Ball Chair, £80, amazon You are sure to be greeted with a few raised eyebrows when you bring this into the office, but bemusement could soon turn into envy. Not only is the Classic Balance Ball Chair comfortable, but the act of balancing on it also gives you a powerful core-strengthening workout.
6. Herman Miller Sayl Office Chair, £383, Wellworking Effective spine and neck support needn’t result in a sweaty back. Inspired by the design principles of suspension bridges and modelled on a ship’s sail, the webbed chair back allows good air circulation, keeping you cool. Comes in four colours. 7. Markus Swivel Chair, £130, Ikea This is one of the cheapest executive style office chairs on the market. Offering easy height adjustment and a lockable tilt function – plus a headrest for good neck support – you get all the basics for a reasonable price. Also, this product comes with a 10 year guarantee, so it won’t risk your hard earned cash. 8. Back App Ergonomic Stool, £556, Back2 When you sit on the Back App your feet are placed on the footboard rather than the floor. This allows the chair to rotate around as you move, allowing a greater freedom of movement than that offered by conventional office chairs. At first this can make your lower back feel tired, but after a week or so this should go away.