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.