You spend eight (let’s face it, 10) hours a day in your office chair. Study after study has shown how the wrong desk chair can negatively impact your productivity and affect your health in myriad ways that are downright scary (remember when we found out sitting too long can kill you?). Sure you can switch to a standing desk, but standing all day long isn’t good for you either. There needs to be a balance between standing and sitting for maximum productivity and health.
A bad chair doesn’t just lead to a bad back. Sitting in an unsupportive seat can lead to fatigue, musculoskeletal injuries, poor circulation, heart disease, and even depression. According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), musculoskeletal injuries are the most commonly reported type of work-related incidents. This includes things like carpal tunnel syndrome, lower back injuries, and muscle strains, which can come about from working in an awkward position for hours on end.
Over the years, countless studies have shown the right chair can have a positive impact on your productivity and health. That’s a big deal considering how increasing both can lead to increased income over a lifetime and higher income has been linked to better health. So in a way, your office chair plays a role in achieving a healthy, prosperous life. Crazy, right? Are you second-guessing that standard-issue seat you’ve been sitting in for years? You should be.
If you’re ready to embrace a new beginning, check out these nine best office chairs that minimize discomfort, maximize productivity, add a dash of style, and make work-life just a little bit less damaging to your health.
Steelcase Gesture
Steelcase is the name in office furnishings. Since 1912, the company has been at the head of the pack in creating innovative and stylish desks, seating, and storage. With the Gesture chair, the folks at Steelcase decided to reinvent the wheel. Rather than starting with the chair, they studied the way people move in this new age of technology. Whether leaning over your phone, resting your tablet on your knees, or staring at a computer monitor, Gesture is designed to move with you, offering maximum support.
Along with being one of the most supportive chairs on the market, Gesture can be customized to fit any style and decor. Steelcase offers over 500 fabrics in a variety of styles and colors. At a hefty starting price of $1,405, the Gesture is certainly an investment for most. However, it comes with a 12-year warranty and is so durable, there's a good chance this is the last office chair you’ll ever buy.
Herman Miller Aeron Chair
You can thank (or blame) Herman Miller for inventing the office cubicle. Since the concept of the ergonomic office first came about, Herman Miller has been creating furnishings that are supportive and stylish. The brand's signature Mid-Century Modern aesthetic combines with high performance in the Aeron Chair. First launched over twenty years ago, the Aeron Chair started with the iconic shape of the Eames molded chairs and added adjustability and mobility to create the ideal office chair.
Available in three sizes, the Aeron Chair has options for adjustable arms, lumbar support, casters for easy rolling, and cooling mesh fabric. For those fellas out there that run hot, you know a mesh fabric office chair is a must. Color options are limited but the Mineral fabric with Polished Aluminum finish is sleek and futuristic, ensuring this chair stays in fashion for the life of its 12-year warranty.
HAG Capisco Chair
Capisco may have you scratching your head at first. It’s a chair that takes some getting used to. Capisco may look odd but it is designed to be the ideal chair for those who like to sit in unconventional ways. If you are a balancer resting on the edge of the chair at your standing desk, or a meditator sitting cross-legged, Capisco can accommodate you. Ideal for anyone of any size, it comes in three heights along with optional footrests. Colors and fabrics are also customizable. But that’s not all there is to love about this ultra-comfy seat. Fully believes in being eco-friendly so Capisco is made from 50% recycled materials and is 90% recyclable.
Humanscale Diffrient Smart Desk Chair
When searching for the healthiest office chair, look no further than the father of ergonomic seating, Niels Diffrient. One of the most awarded designers of ergonomic chairs, Diffrient became famous for the designs he created in collaboration with Humanscale. His final design, the Diffrient Smart, combines innovative technology with high style for the ideal office chair. Fully customizable down to the type of stitching, the Diffrient Smart features a Form-Sensing Mesh back and mechanism-free reclining.
ReGeneration by Knoll
When Knoll teamed up with Formway Design to create its Generation line of office chairs, the company had nearly perfected the ergonomic work seat. One of the first chairs to address the fact that we sit in a variety of positions throughout the day, Generation was built to move with you, providing constant back support. But Knoll didn’t think that was good enough and Formway Design went back to the drawing board to further enhance the design. The result is the Regeneration.
Regeneration features a taller back with a contour that more closely resembles the S-shape of the spine. The elastomer mesh backing has built-in lumbar support. The chair allows for 270 degrees of sitting, supporting you whether you lean back or forward. The arm supports are set back, allowing you a wider range of leg positions (go ahead and manspread — it’s your chair and you can do what you want). Regeneration comes with Knoll’s 12-year warranty and a stylish array of colors to choose from.
Herman Miller Sayl
Herman Miller makes the list twice because, frankly, the Sayl chair is just so damn stylish. But don’t worry, it still offers great ergonomic support and at a much better price than the Aeron. The backing is made from elastomer strands and is unframed, allowing you to stretch back and move around while still getting the full support your back needs. The construction of Sayl allows you to maintain a healthy posture, supporting the natural S-shape of your spine which helps prevent fatigue. The chair was also designed using minimal materials and is nearly entirely recyclable, meaning it isn’t just stylish and supportive, it’s also eco-friendly.
EuroTech Ergohuman Mesh
If you absolutely must have a headrest on your chair, look no further than the Ergohuman from EuroTech. While the bonus headrest may not be much to look at, it’s ideal for those who like to lean back, keeping your neck supported no matter your position. All of Eurotech’s chairs are designed with adjustability in mind, letting you change everything from height to tension (how soft or firm the support is). This chair is also 97% post-use recyclable making it good for your back and good for the environment.
Ikea Markus Swivel Chair
This may be the budget chair on the list, but it still gets the job done. Markus features adjustable height and tilt, built-in lumbar support, and the mesh fabric back that keeps you cool throughout the day. It comes with a 10-year warranty and has been subjected to rigorous testing to ensure it is long-lasting while remaining comfortable. Available in two color options, the Markus has a stylish, extra high back that feels like sitting in the captain’s chair on the Starship Enterprise.
Vertagear Triigger 275
It’s that time of year when most evening activities will involve being inside, and if you’re a gamer, that means even more time sitting down after already pulling eight hours at the office. Make sure your gaming chair is just as supportive as your work chair.
Put your racing-style chair days behind you and get one that’s stylish and supportive from Vertagear. The Triiger series was designed with speed in mind. Paddles in the handles let you adjust height and sitting angle in less than one second. Along with lightning-fast adjustability, the Triiger is ergonomic so don’t worry how late your Fortnite session goes, you’ll be comfortable and supported all night long.
