Like so many others, the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has me working from home for the foreseeable future. While my method of typing away from the kitchen table or my sofa worked at first, once it became apparent that I wasn’t going back to the CNET Smart Home, an actual house where we test smart speakers, security cameras and other products, anytime soon, the quest for an excellent office chair began.
I have tested out 10 office chairs, ranging in price from $32 to $1,495, knowing we’d be buying a couple of the best office chair options for our own home when I finished.
I also spoke with an ergonomics expert for general tips on how to improve work setups, whether that’s at home or in a more traditional office setting. Seat height, backrest, adjustable height, adjustable lumbar support, tilt tension, headrest, seat depth and adjustable arm features all factor in to getting the most from your computer chair.
For the purposes of this list, I only tested traditional office chairs, so if you’re looking for something like a gaming chair or drafting chair, or something more out there, like a kneeling chair, this might not be the right place for you.
Note: Product pricing tends to vary on third-party sites, so the prices I quote as of writing this may change slightly over time. I’ll do my best to update the list often to reflect the most accurate prices at the time of publishing.
An awesome chair alone isn’t enough
Ergonomics is the “science of work,” explains Gary Allread, the program director for the ergonomics division at Ohio State University’s Spine Research Institute. That definition doesn’t just apply to our jobs, though; ergonomic principles can be used for pretty much any activity (that means an ergonomic chair isn’t going to immediately fix your lower back pain). Allread and his team offer consultation services for a variety of workplaces, from manufacturing plants to the auto industry and more. They even occasionally provide input on product design to help companies better understand how to create products “to make sure they can interact with people as well as possible,” Allread says.
A less-than-ideal work setup might cause pain in your back, arms, hands or wrists. You might also find yourself fidgeting, making more mistakes or taking more breaks — all because you’re uncomfortable — says Allread. Long-term, you might end up with tendonitis or carpal tunnel syndrome.
Allread makes two main suggestions anyone can try to improve how they work:
- Sit with your back against your chair. (“You want the chair to do the work and not your back,” he explains.)
- Support your feet. Either plant your feet on the floor or, if they don’t reach, use a box or other foot rest to support your feet.
If your chair lacks lumbar support, Allread adds, you can roll up a towel, secure it with tape or rubber bands and place it at your lower back as a lumbar cushion to “keep the back in its natural curve.” Allread also notes that companies are beginning to introduce different chair sizes that support a wider range of body sizes, which is an important consideration if you’re shopping for a new ergonomic office chair and looking for the best seat height and seat depth for your needs.
“One mistake people make, is they say, ‘Well if I get a great chair, then I’m not going to be sore anymore,’ and that’s not really looking at the big picture of what it takes to keep people comfortable and productive at their jobs,” explains Allread. There are a lot of factors and a new chair is just one of many things that can make your work environment more comfortable.
So, let’s keep that all in mind as we weigh our options for the best office chair. I have a handful of good comfortable chair options here, including a leather chair, a mesh chair and more — and I’ll update the list periodically.
The best office chairs
Megan Wollerton/CNET
The Hbada Office Task Desk Chair wins as my favorite office chair of the bunch. This ergonomic office chair has a streamlined design that doesn’t take up too much space. This task chair also has good lumbar support, armrest and a supportive, breathable mesh backrest. At $100, it’s pretty affordable too.
After trying out all of the models, I found myself reaching for this task chair most often. It does lack the cushioned comfort of my second favorite chair (scroll down to see the runner-up winner), but it’s the most well-rounded model I tested that ticks nearly every box.
Fast facts:
- Price (Amazon): $110
- Finish: Black upholstery and mesh
- Weight limit: 250 pounds
Megan Wollerton/CNET
It isn’t the most sleek-looking chair around, but what the Serta Arlington lacks in style it more than makes up for with comfort and customizability. Serta is best known as a mattress-maker, and that tracks with the supremely comfortable Arlington chair. This ergonomic chair is by far the most cushioned model I tried out, with layers of soft cushioning on the headrest, the chair’s backrest, the seat and padded armrests.
Despite its comfort, it also provides decent support thanks to an adjustable lumbar lever under the seat.
It currently costs $200, down from the $300 list price. If you’re looking for a comfortable office chair with customizable lumbar support, this is a great option.
Fast facts:
- Price (Amazon): $200
- Finish: Black leather
- Weight limit: 275 pounds
Megan Wollerton/CNET
I liked the AmazonBasics Leather-Padded Swivel Office Chair right away. This swivel chair was easy to assemble, the leather design looks nice and the adjustable seat and back are both cushioned and comfortable. At about $73, this AmazonBasics chair isn’t cheap, but it’s a great option that’s relatively affordable without sacrificing much, with one exception — lumbar support.
If lumbar support is an ergonomic feature that’s a must for you, consider one of my other favorites.
Overall, though, the AmazonBasics Leather-Padded Swivel Office Chair is a comfortable, reasonably priced ergonomic chair that’s easy to put together and easy on the eyes.
Fast facts:
- 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 — a great design, lots of adjustability, lumbar support and, bonus, it comes in three sizes. I got size B, which fit within the weight range and height adjustment needs of both me and my husband.
The one issue is its price, which is why it didn’t win for best chair overall — the price just isn’t reasonable for most people, us included. I will be sad to see this one go.
Fast facts:
- Price: $1,495
- Finish: Multiple color options, mesh
- Weight capacity: Varies based on chair size
Testing office chairs
Here’s a complete list of the office chairs I tested:
How did I pick my favorites? First, I assembled each chair and noted any issues with the process, with the exception of the Herman Miller Aeron Chair and the Steelcase Gesture Chair, since they arrived fully assembled (bonus points for that). Then, I spent one work day, or about eight hours, sitting in each chair, noting the level of comfort, adjustability (such as adjustable height, adjustable backrest or adjustable arm features) and any issues I had. I also asked my husband to try out each chair. For reference, I’m 5 foot 7 inches, he’s 6 foot 2 and we’re both average weight.
What might work for me or for him may not work for you, but I kept in mind all of the tips Gary Allread from the Spine Research Institute had mentioned as I sat and asked Kevin to do the same:
- Was the chair designed so I could rest comfortably against the back of the chair?
- Did my feet touch the floor with my back against the back of the chair?
- Did I find myself fidgeting or standing up a lot?
- Did I experience any pain or discomfort while using a particular chair?
I had to immediately cut the Hodedah Armless Task Chair from the running, after noticing a label inside the box that read “NOT FOR ADULT USE.” Apparently this chair, which regularly appears on lists of adult office chairs, has a 100-pound weight limit. I wasn’t alone, either — a number of customers have written reviews online expressing frustration that this chair (which at first appears to be marketed to adults, on Home Depot’s website if not Amazon) broke while they were using it. If you are an adult under 100 pounds, this chair could potentially work for you, but its limited features, including no armrest, completely ruled it out for me regardless.
So we were down to nine chairs. Despite looking pretty nice and cushioned, we both found the OFM Essentials Collection Executive Office Chair a little stiff and uncomfortable. It also lacks lumbar support. The HON Exposure Mesh Task Computer Chair also lacks lumbar support and leans back too far for both of us, making it uncomfortable to sit with our backs against the backrest as Allread suggests. The BestOffice Mid-Back Ergonomic Desk Chair leans back too far as well, although it did have a bit more lumbar support than the HON Exposure chair.
The Humanscale Freedom Chair arrived mostly assembled; I just had to connect the top half and the wheelbase. Despite the simplicity of putting this Humanscale chair together, I struggled to adjust this chair without consulting the instructions. Even after figuring it out, my husband and I both found the backrest and headrest oddly proportioned and extremely uncomfortable on our backs and necks. The Steelcase Gesture Chair is highly adjustable and feels sturdy. But even with the Steelcase chair’s many customizable controls, including a seat depth adjuster set to maximum depth, the seat was much too short and angled downward, making me feel like I could slide out of the chair.
The other four chairs I included in the best office chair list above kept us comfortable all day and offered degrees of adjustability that set them apart from the pack.
