The 9 Best Office Chairs, Based On Hours Of Remote Work
As a remote team, Forbes Vetted writers and editors are experts at finding the best office chairs for your WFH setup. We combined our personal experience with guidance from medical professionals to assemble this list, all of which are staffer favorites. Our top pick (also popular among our readers) is the Branch Verve—it’s adjustable, stylish and comes with a breathable back and a thick seat cushion for added comfort. And our budget choice, the Mimoglad, doesn’t skimp on lumbar and neck support despite ringing up at hundreds of dollars less. There are plenty more on this list that are suitable for a variety of office setups.
We asked our remote-working editors and writers which office chairs keep them comfortable all day … [+]
While styles and preferences differ, experts agree: The best office chair for any desk worker should be ergonomic. “An ergonomic chair has adjustable seat heights, adjustable arm support, seat depth adjustment, tilting or reclining mechanism and back support,” explains board-certified orthopedic spine and neck surgeon Dr. Rahul Shah. So, look for a model that offers enough customization options to cater to your specific comfort level and stature (in other words, a wooden kitchen chair is not the ideal choice). Below, see the best office chairs according to Forbes Vetted staffers who use them every day. For more specialized comfort, we’ve also rounded up the best office chairs for back pain, the best big and tall office chairs and the best office chairs for short people.
We like the Branch Verve because it’s one of the most comfortable office chairs you can buy, plus it’s attractive and attainably priced. Fitted with an adjustable seat, armrest and lumbar support, it comes with plenty of features to tailor it to your comfort preferences and workspace. (We especially recommend the Branch Verve for shorter people since the seat can be lowered to 16.5 inches.) Those looking for an office chair with a headrest needn’t fret: You can purchase one separately and in a color that matches your chair. Another plus for the Branch Verve: It has a soft-knit back and is available in five sleek colors, making it a practical and beautiful addition to your office space.
The Branch Verve’s foam-filled seat cushion and adjustable armrests “provide support everywhere you … [+]
What our editors say: “I don’t think I fully grasped the benefits of working in an ergonomic desk chair until I added the Branch Verve to my WFH setup a year ago,” says Amanda Arnold, Forbes Vetted senior home and kitchen editor. “Between the foam-filled seat cushion, adjustable armrests and breathable knit back, this chair provides support everywhere you need it. My only complaint is that my cat loves it, too.”
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When you need an office chair in a pinch, we recommend shopping on Amazon to take advantage of the speedy delivery. And out of the hundreds of office chairs on the site, we appreciate the ergonomic features of the Mimoglad chair the most. It features a mesh back to help keep you from overheating, while its ergonomic backrest—which fits snuggly against your spine—provides great support. Our updates writer also enjoys the chair’s thick foam cushion and how the armrests flip up, which helps save space, particularly for apartment-dwellers.
“I really appreciate this chair’s adjustable lumbar support and wide headrest,” updates writer … [+]
What our writers say: “As someone with a history of back problems, I really appreciate this chair’s adjustable lumbar support, wide headrest and 4-inch thick foam cushion,” says updates writer Alexandra Garrett. “I’ve had it for a several months, and I’ve noticed that my lower back is less stiff at the end of the day. Plus, it comes in a bunch of fun colors.”
When you sit for hours at a time—like our team of fully remote editors—you’ve likely experienced some aches and pains. That’s why we recommend the Sayl chair from Herman Miller for remote workers with back pain. Built with a unique seat back made from flexible elastomer, the Sayl excels at supporting spine alignment. Plus you can add adjustable lumbar support (for an extra cost). It comes with nearly a dozen optional customizations, including your choice of color, upholstery and armrests, which earned high praise from reviews editor Anna Perling. Note: These add-ons aren’t included in the base price.
“The curved back support is both firm and flexible,” says senior reviews editor Anna Perling … [+]
What our editors say: “My favorite part about the chair is how adjustable it is—it’s a cinch to change the armrests, back and height,” says reviews editor Anna Perling. “The curved back support is somehow both firm and flexible; it feels like a hug for my back. Herman Miller also offers an awesome 12-year warranty, which made me feel confident in my purchase.”
An office chair and a task chair may seem like they’re one in the same, but they’re actually quite different. A task chair is specially designed to help aid your productivity, so it’s usually more compact and relatively bare-bones when compared to the other feature-packed office chairs on our list. But where a task chair lacks in features, it makes up for in style. This is especially true of the Elliana Task Chair from Wayfair. Available in six different colorways and two fabrics—velvet or polyester—you can customize the design based on your preferences. Our senior travel editor uses her Elliana everyday, and appreciates the chair’s beautiful fabrics, dense sponge seat and comfortable armrests.
“It’s super comfy and looks a lot more expensive in real life,” says senior travel editor Astrid … [+]
What our editors say: “It’s super comfy and I love its arm and back support,” says senior travel editor Astrid Taran. “It’s also super affordable and looks a lot more expensive in real life! I actually attached the seat the opposite way the instructions said to, so not sure if that was a mistake on Wayfair’s part, but it’s way more comfortable this way.”