 | Terra Sanders |
 | December 4th, 2024 |
 | ~ 12 minute read |
Stretching your legs, rearranging your seat, arching your back, or resting your arms on the table are all ways we try to conform our bodies to sit in one spot for eight hours a day, five (or more) days a week. But no matter what we do, our bodies continue to tell us that sitting for that long without the proper support is not going to cut it.
While information on beneficial exercises and stretches to do on your break, suggestions on how often you should get up and take a walk, and the benefits of a standing desk are well-touted, office chairs remain among the most elementary and essential pieces of office furniture. This means we owe ourselves and our health to seek the best ergonomic chair options for our workday.
Therefore we've taken the time to test over 11 ergonomic office chairs with our local team and created a video to showcase the best features and flops of some of the ergonomic seating available at Madison Liquidators.
How We Tested
Our team purchased brand-new versions of the ergonomic office chairs listed below and prioritized a range of prices, features, and styles so that there would be a wide variety of options suited to individual tastes and preferences. We then asked participants to test each chair and fill out a comprehensive survey that used questions to determine what most look for in an office chair.
The survey was divided into three main parts: usability of features, comfort for different areas of the body, and overall quality and value.
These 14 questions each had a value between 1 (for unacceptable) and 5 (for excellent), allowing the data from the reviews to be quantifiable.
How to Use This Information
It can be daunting to try and purchase a new office chair when you have thousands of options and hundreds of websites to choose from.
Not only that, but a majority of people aren't sure what they even need, what most of the features are, and how they are useful. Plus, determining if the chair is comfortable enough to sit in for a long period of time, without trying it, is its own challenge.
While each individual has their ergonomic seating preferences and some of the experiences of the testers can be subjective, let the reviews below speak to your wants and desires for your office space and help give you a foundation for ergonomic office chair basics so that you can make the best and most informed purchasing decision.
The Top Ergonomic Office Chairs for a Healthier Work Experience
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$925.00
This is an ergonomic, high-back office chair for the modern office worker. Similar to the Argento, this ergonomic chair also offers a three-hundred-pound weight limit. Full ergonomic support is available for the entire body with adjustable lumbar support, armrests, and a height-adjustable frame.
Featuring mesh finish options of nickel, red, sky blue, silver, and classic black, the color options leave it minimal while offering variety.
This chair was ranked one of the highest among our team in ease/usability of features, meaning it's comfortable and simple to adjust to the perfect settings.
This chair is best for high-end budgets, big & tall individuals, and minimalist office styles
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$615.00
A striking ergonomic office chair full of character and support, the high-back CoolMesh ergonomic chair provides support to the shoulders, is height adjustable with tilt-lock and tension control, and includes lumbar support.
The mesh backing comes in white with seat upholstery that offers a wide variety of different colors, such as black, gray, jet black, lime green, olive green, orange, red, rust orange, sky blue, and smoke gray.
For our team, it's a great chair that ranked highest in comfort, while ease and usability fell slightly shorter. But overall impressions, including the value and appearance, also earned a higher-than-average rating for our list.
This chair is best for mid-range budgets with more personalized and colorful office styles who want to make simple adjustments.
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$240.00
The B6566-BK ergonomic office chair allows positioning for any body type, including height adjustability with a synchro-tilt mechanism that can adjust the seat and back angle in unison at a 2:1 ratio.
Boss Office Products also utilizes an injection-molded foam cushion seat to add comfort for prolonged sitting, while the horizontal mesh back features lumbar support and has a weight limit of two hundred seventy-five pounds.
Another one of our highest-rated, the team determined that the look and features were well worth the overall price.
This chair is best for a budget-friendly big & tall individual looking for comfort.
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$915.00
The Via 4U is perfect as a home office chair as it comes with minimal adjustments compared to standard office chairs. This means the most important features have been integrated, as those in home office or conference room settings may not sit for hours on end.
However, this ergonomic chair features height adjustment with an auto-adjust control mechanism that has a single-rotation, four-way tilt lock. It also includes an amazing four-hundred-pound weight limit, making it one of the highest weight limits for a heavy-duty chair on our list.
For styling, the conference chair features gray leather upholstery and a silver mesh back against a black frame. Its minimalism, modernism, and overall comfort score by our team make it one of the two overall favorites on this list.
This chair is best for high-end budgets that want a low-profile, two-tone design option for modern office styles.
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$730.00
This mesh back office chair features ergonomic systems such as adjustable lumbar support and a pneumatic seat height system with locking tilt tension, offering the tester fully adjustable body support. The Pro-Line II also features fully adjustable armrests.
This heavy-duty office chair with a three-hundred-pound weight limit is available in upholstery color options of black, green, grey, and red, which contrast against the white mesh of the backing and silver frame.
This office chair carries a lifetime guarantee on certain elements against wear and deterioration. For our team, the thickly padded seat cushion and slightly grooved armrests gave added levels of ergonomic comfort.
This chair is best for mid-range budgets looking for a long-lasting durable office chair that prioritizes lumbar and back support.
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$675.00
The CoolMesh/7700 ergonomic office chair has a white mesh back with adjustable lumbar support, and upholstery finishes can be chosen to contrast against the white mesh: black, gray, jet black, lime green, olive green, orange, red, rust orange, sky blue, and smoke gray. The fabric options add variety and unique pops of color to the oftentimes monotone office setting.
Adjustable features include height adjustment with tilt-lock for the perfect seated angle, tension control, and an adjustable headrest.
While our team reported the features of this chair to be easy to adjust, the overall impression garnered was just about average.
This chair is best for mid-range budgets that want more color choice and a fully-decked-out option.
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$405.00
The CD-26B is a high-back ergonomic office chair featuring lumbar support that allows for comfortable work throughout a long day at the office. The black upholstery and high back mesh are made using high-quality materials meant to last for years to come.
The impressive control mechanism functions include tilt-tension adjustment, seat depth adjustment, pneumatic height adjustment, four-position back-lock adjustment, backrest tilt-tension adjustment, forward synchro-tilt seat/backrest, adaptive lumbar support pressure, and a two-piece backrest with accentuated lumbar support.
Pair the high level of adjustability with the quality, breathable, and durable materials used; our team gave this ergonomic chair a 4 for comfort.
This chair is best for low-range budgets that want to prioritize customizable lumbar support.
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$440.00
A stylish mesh office chair with complete adjustable support for a comfortable workday, the Smarti-El is a budget chair with luxury comfort.
Starting from the high-density foam cushion that is upholstered in black fabric to match the mesh lumbar-supported backing to the DuroSoft high-density cushion, its highest score was earned in comfort.
Six-way adjustable armrests also ensure that arms can lay comfortably in multiple positions, thereby reducing strain on the wrists during long hours of typing.
This chair is best for budget-friendly individuals who want highly comfortable and adjustable options.
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$585.00
This is the perfect high-back office chair for working long hours in the office. Featuring a soft mesh fabric that supports the back and an awesome headrest, this mesh office chair offers complete ergonomic support. This comfortable chair is also fully adjustable, making it a great option for any body type.
With a long-lasting leather seat cushion and other adjustable functions, including pneumatic height adjustment, ratchet back adjustment, seat depth adjustment, tilt lock, tension control, and adjustable arms that can rotate from side to side and can move forward, backward, up, and down, it ranked well among the testers for adjustable chairs.
It also has the added title of heavy-duty chair with a three-hundred-pound weight limit and a comprehensive warranty, making it an option that adds confidence to the offices of a wide demographic of people.
This chair is best for mid-range budgets, executive offices, plus big & tall individuals
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$370.00
This mesh high-back office chair that provides support to the neck and head includes a button synchro-tilt mechanism to conform to the right angle. The B6033-HR also has a seat slider for depth-to-back adjustment with the back automatic recline at a 2:1 ratio to the seat angle.
The headrest is detachable, as what we found with our team is that it's not always a desirable feature. The black mesh and seat upholstery use contours to fit the body in the most comfortable position and are made using high-quality materials for durability.
This was the second lowest-ranking chair on our list, as ease of use, comfort, and overall impression fell far short of what our team expected from an ergonomic office chair.
This chair is best for low-end budgets that want the full range of features and a breathable option.
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$895.00
This Office Star Space Seating ergonomic chair features a gunmetal finish base with leather trim that adds style without the use of too much color. The high-end materials used also offer a strong foundation for a solid office chair.
The high back and headrest ensure the full body is supported while dual-wheel carpet casters allow it to glide easily over the carpet. It also offers adjustable lumbar support that helps care for the lower back throughout the day.
This mesh back office chair features a manufacturer warranty that protects it for years against normal wear and tear.
While it's a good chair in terms of style, it was the lowest rated among our team, who thought the features were difficult to adjust and that it was uncomfortable.
This chair is best for the higher-end of mid-range budgets with more refined and professional office styles such as executives.
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What is Ergonomics and Its Importance in Office Chairs?
Ergonomics is a scientific discipline that centers around the interaction between people and their workplaces to lessen the effect of workplace stresses. Ergonomic office chairs, therefore, are designed to support the human body and promote comfort, productivity, and overall well-being.
A well-designed ergonomic chair is important as it can help prevent problems that arise from hours of constant sitting, reduce eye strain, and improve posture.
Benefits of Using an Ergonomic Office Chair
Ergonomic chairs encompass a multitude of benefits, some of which include:
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Reducing the risk of back and neck pain
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Improving posture and reducing muscle fatigue
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Enhancing productivity and focus
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Boosting overall comfort and well-being
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Preventing long-term health problems
Key Features of an Ergonomic Office Chair
When looking at descriptions of office chairs online, it's hard to know what the features are and why they are useful. Here's a breakdown of a few of the most common:
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Adjustable lumbar support is used to promote good posture through a mechanism that allows you to adjust the height, depth, or angle of a lumbar pad or cushion. This supports the back in the most important areas.
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Breathable mesh or fabric keeps office workers cool while also reducing sweat and the build-up of dirt and microbes that cause smells.
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Adjustable armrests are supportive to the wrists and arms in order to reduce strain on shoulders, arms, and neck by placing them in the correct position in alignment with the rest of the body.
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Seat depth adjustment allows the seat to move forward and back to adjust how much a user wants to sit upright in relation to the backrest.
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Height adjustments allow users to set the office chair to different heights to ensure that for taller individuals, legs have enough room, and for shorter people, feet can be comfortably planted on the ground.
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The 360-degree swivel helps the chair to turn in a circle so that maneuvering between different tasks is effortless and causes no strain to the back or neck.
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Headrests are used to support the neck and shoulders, placing them in positions that align with the rest of the body.
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Dual-wheel casters allow easy rolling across carpeted surfaces, making moving the chair and switching between tasks and stations simple.
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The seat tilt allows the seat cushion and angle to be adjusted while the tilt lock keeps the setting in place.
Choosing the Right Office Chair for Your Needs
Here are some simple go-to tips for choosing the proper ergonomic office chair for your space:
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Consider your body type and size to ensure you get a chair that adjusts to your height, can hold your weight comfortably, or offers extra width.
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Think about your work style and regular tasks to ensure you choose a chair that not only has great quality and a great price but also will support the work you do regularly through its features.
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Because of the hours you will spend sitting and the years you will have the chair, look for adjustable features to customize the chair to your needs.
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Employ the power of the internet by reading reviews and trying out different chairs before making a purchase.
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Aesthetics is everything, so plan your office style and colors to ensure your new ergonomic chair complements your current office design.
Office Chair Price Points
Knowing where your budget starts and should end is a good starting filter in your search for an ergonomic office chair. Here's a quick list of what every price point will get you.
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Budget-friendly options: $200-$500
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Mid-range options: $500-$1000
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High-end options: $1000-$2000
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Luxury options: $2000+
This isn't set in stone, but instead is a good marker for the quality of chair you can hope to get for your perfect price point.
That being said, money doesn't always equal a quality office chair.
There were plenty of high-end options on our list with an average rating, while a few budget-friendly options were the favorites. Rather than thinking of a good chair in terms of price, think of it in terms of fulfilling your needs.
Office Chair Maintenance and Care
If you purchase the best office chair, it won't last long without proper care, no matter how durable the materials. Regularly maintain ergonomic chairs by:
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Cleaning and dusting the chair weekly. This will reduce dirt, microbes, and smells, which helps maintain a clean environment.
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Avoid over-tightening or over-loosening screws and bolts. It may go without saying, but this can damage the chair and over time weaken its effectiveness.
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Consider replacing worn-out parts or cushions. Most ergonomic chairs come with manufacturer warranties, so take advantage of them! Parts like cushions or fabric, which can wear out easily from repeated use, can easily be replaced, saving you the added cost of doing it yourself or buying a new chair.
Conclusion
Investing in a quality ergonomic office chair is an investment in your health and productivity. By understanding your specific needs, exploring various chair features, and considering your budget, you can find the perfect chair to transform your workspace.
Use this list and our tested ergonomic office chairs to guide you to the features, comfort, and ease of use that you want in your own office chair.
Remember that the ratings are the averages of the team, and for each chair, it suited some more than others, meaning your perfect chair may be the lowest rated on the list because of your own needs and personal preferences.
Here are a few points to remember:
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Ergonomic office chairs are essential for a healthier work experience.
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Consider your needs and preferences when choosing a chair.
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Look for adjustable features, breathable materials, and durable construction.
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Invest in a high-quality chair for long-term comfort and productivity.
And if you're looking to find the right ergonomic office chair for you, check out this page!
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About The Author
Terra Sanders brings years of experience in digital marketing, content strategy, and SEO to the Madison Liquidators team. As our on-page SEO lead, she ensures every blog post and press release is not only well-written but optimized for maximum visibility and value. Terra has a knack for making complex information approachable, helping customers find helpful insights and inspiration for their office furniture needs.
Terra Sanders brings years of experience in digital marketing, content strategy, and SEO to the Madison Liquidators team. As our on-page SEO lead, she ensures every blog post and press release is not only well-written but optimized for maximum visibility and value. Terra has a knack for making complex information approachable, helping customers find helpful insights and inspiration for their office furniture needs.
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