Desk chairs
Whether it’s shoes, tires, a mattress or a desk chair, you should never skimp on the things that separate you from the ground. A well-built ergonomic task chair minimizes the risk of repetitive stress injury and helps keep your hips, back, shoulders and arms in good health, even after long periods of seated work or play.
Our favorite home office desk chair is the Steelcase Leap, because it showcases the company’s straightforward yet thoughtful design and is made using premium materials and craftsmanship.
What to know before you buy a home desk chair
How much you’ll be using it
It’s not a great idea to sit or stand in any one position for too long. If you need somewhere to sit and browse the Internet for a little while after work, you might not want to make a huge investment in a high-end chair. On the other hand, anyone who spends long hours in a home office, whether for work or leisure, should consider springing for something that promises long-term durability, full-body support and a wide range of adjustments.
While you can get away with being awfully frugal when buying things like wrist rests and monitor risers, when it comes to ergonomic chairs, you generally get what you pay for, so to speak. To that end, we strongly recommend avoiding generic task chairs from unfamiliar manufacturers.
Chair back and seat material
The two most general types of back and seat covers are fabric and mesh. There’s a huge range of fabrics out there, and there’s a world of difference between many fabrics. The most affordable chairs usually offer relatively coarse, knit material or some sort of simulated leather. Neither offers out-of-this-world comfort, but they can both suffice if you’re on a tight budget. Nicer models offer high-tech, breathable fabrics with high elasticity and often stain resistance.
Every bit as important as the fabric, though, is the foam underneath it, which can make or break the sitting experience. The most budget-friendly chairs are generally equipped with low-density foam that loses its bounce in a few months or so. You can mitigate this with the addition of a seat cushion, but a truly premium chair should be able to stand up to full-time use for years.
Then there are mesh chairs. Their novel construction and ergonomics are polarizing to some, but a lot of people love mesh seats and many of the top chairs on the market have them. As we’ve mentioned before, you do get what you pay for to some extent, and low-cost mesh seats aren’t always incredibly comfortable or durable. If you opt for something high-quality, though, it should stay soft, responsive and resistant to tearing for years or even decades.
Home desk chair features
Tilt, recline and other adjustments
There are a few adjustments common to office chairs, and they might be the most important and the trickiest part of the choice. At the very least, every model has an adjustable height and even many inexpensive models have either a recline or rear-tilt function. A midrange task chair from a reputable manufacturer will usually have synchronized tilt mechanisms with custom tension levels, which lets you lean back without lifting your feet or throwing off your posture. High-end chairs often have a tilt lock feature that lets you fix the recline at a certain angle or specify a maximum tilt angle.
Some chairs also let you lean forward just a bit. If you spend long days typing, it’s in your best interest to change your posture a bit from time to time, and forward tilt lets you sit up straighter to help keep the blood flowing. Still, others have a dedicated lumbar support lever or arm, although it’s often sold separately from high-end models. Finally, if you plan on sitting for dozens of hours per week, seat depth adjustment is a very good feature to have.
Armrests
We recommend that most users get a chair with armrests. There aren’t any major benefits to chairs without armrests, and having them can significantly alleviate strain when typing, as well as let you relax more when browsing the web or watching videos.
That said, they’re not all the same. We don’t advise getting a chair with fixed armrests, although height adjustment is only part of the story. The best chairs on the market offer as many as four dimensions of adjustability, including height, width and rotation.
Home desk chair cost
Don’t be swayed by the ultra-low prices of some generic chairs; you’ll want to spend at least $150 on something that will remain comfortable for over a year, and you can spend as much as $1,000 if you need a premium seat for full-time use.
Home desk chair FAQ
Will the wheels damage my floors?
A. Most come with common carpet-style casters, which consist of two slim, plastic wheels. They work well on low-pile carpet but not so well on high-pile carpet and rugs. They’re also prone to scratching hardwood and even some synthetic floors. Your best bet might be to pick up a set of silent casters, which are essentially rollerblade wheels meant for use on chairs.
Should I get a headrest?
A. They might look stylish and seem practical, but it can be tough to get a chair with a headrest that works for you. They’re not always set far enough forward, and even if they are, there’s usually just a small range of heights that it works with. With careful research, you may be able to find a headrest with enough of an adjustable range to fit your needs. As you move toward the upper price range, headrests tend to be slightly more useful. For some top models, though, be aware that the headrest is sold separately.
What are some other ergonomic home office solutions?
A. Now more than ever, there are plenty of well-made products that focus on ergonomics and everyday health and safety. We recommend looking into standing desks and the drafting chairs that work well with them. You can also find purpose-built risers that convert normal desks into standing desks. If you go the standing desk route, we advise getting an anti-fatigue mat such as the CubeFit TerraMat to help keep your legs stretched and blood flowing all day.
Which home desk chair should I get?
Best of the best desk chair for home
Steelcase Leap: available at Amazon and Wayfair
Our take: This top-of-the-line option is no stranger to expensive corporate offices and offers extensive and precise ergonomic adjustments.
What we like: A combination of elastic fabric and a network of flexors provides plenty of back support and should do so consistently for years. The novel reclining hinge keeps your center of gravity in the center at all times and may reduce hip strain.
What we dislike: While it promises to remain comfortable for a long time, it’s definitely not cheap.
Best bang for your buck desk chair for home
Staples Hyken: available at Staples and Amazon
Our take: Durable, breathable mesh makes this a comfortable and long-lasting choice for any climate, and it offers a good deal of ergonomic support for the price.
What we like: The headrest is adjustable enough to work with a decent range of users. Lumbar support is included. Tilt tension and tilt lock are both easy to set.
What we dislike: The armrests only go up and down and the seat depth isn’t adjustable.
Honorable mention desk chair for home
Herman Miller Mirra: available at Amazon
Our take: Technically the midrange alternative to the iconic Aeron chair, the Mirra punches well above its class in terms of price and sports a comfortable and convenient design that many users prefer to its more expensive relative.
What we like: Extensive adjustability, breathable and comfortable mesh, an extra-low center of gravity, a smooth reclining mechanism — there’s a lot to like about this attractive and functional task chair.
What we dislike: At about 50 pounds, there are few others this heavy.
Chris Thomas is a writer for BestReviews. BestReviews is a product review company with a singular mission: to help simplify your purchasing decisions and save you time and money.
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