Isn’t it strange that no matter where a desk is, be it spare room, bedroom or cupboard under the stairs, a space around it is instantly transformed into an office? The rest of the room can be whatever it needs to be, but the area around that desk – that’s an office. This is especially true if your desk is actually in an office building… obviously.
Anyhow, wherever there’s a desk there needs to be a suitable chair – a dedicated office chair, with all the padding, support, tilts and adjustments possible to make any work that’s carried out as comfortable as possible. This is true, no matter how often it’s used, whether it be for causal shopping of an eve, or working from home as so many of us are now doing. An office chair keep you in the best position for viewing your monitor and manipulating your computer mouse and keyboard with low joint and muscle strain.
If you’re looking for an office chair, you’re sure to have realised by this point how many options are available – it’s a little overwhelming, especially when you know that many of them are making promises they can’t possibly keep. To help you find the right desk chair, we’ve scoured the internet and selected some of the best for every situation and budget.
Before we go on, it’s important to remember that padding isn’t everything. While a huge and extravagantly padded chair might seem like the obvious choice for comfort, such a design tends to store up body heat, which makes them increasingly uncomfortable over prolonged use. Couple this with some unbreathable material and you’re in for an unpleasant time. For these reasons, contemporary office chairs tend to focus on utilising meshes, breathable materials and ergonomic shaping to provide a high standard of comfort that can accommodate extended working day use. Another benefit of mesh backing is that, unlike traditional padding, its bounce and comfort doesn’t degrade over time.
Without further ado, here’s our selection of the best office chairs:
Best Office Chairs
1 of 9Life Carver Mesh Middle Back Office Chair
**Pros:**This mesh-backed chair from Life Carver is ideal for casual use in home offices, music rooms or student dorms. It'll easily fit under a desk and is unobtrusive in a room. The cushioned seat to comfortable, and there's a curved lumbar support to assist in body positioning and the seat's height is adjustable. If you're looking for a simple chair, this'll do you well. **Cons:**There are no armrests or back adjustment.
£29.99
2 of 9HomyLink Office Chair with Ergonomic Arms
**Pros:**This ergonomic chair is made up of a simple but sturdy structure, with a mesh back offering airflow and comforting lumbar support. There's height adjustment and well-positioned fixed armrests. It's a no-frills, reliable office chair that would suit a typical home office.**Cons:**No armrest adjustment.
3 of 9Hbada Ergonomic Gaming Chair
**Pros:**This offering from Hbada can recline between 90 and 135-degrees and offers modular lumbar support (which can be removed if you'd prefer). The thick sponge padding is extremely comfortable, and the inclusion of the retractable footrest is a real boon – you'll be using it much more than you think, it's very comfortable. If you work and play in your home office, then seriously consider this model.**Cons:**Material isn't breathable, so can get a little warm and the seat isn't bucketed.
4 of 9mfavour Office Chair Ergonomic Office Chair
**Pros:**The subtle mesh S-shaped backer offers coccyx, lumbar and shoulder support, and the adjustable headrest supports the neck. The seat is gently curved to offer comfort and leg support, and the armrests are height adjustable. The chair has tilt, arm, and height adjustment, and the attractive chromed alloy-aluminium base is a welcome touch. Overall, a great solution for working from home and professional usage. **Cons:**The seat is not memory foam as stated in the description.
5 of 9Reficcer Bonded Leather Office Chair
**Pros:**This mid-height chair comes with a double padded backrest, which is curved to assist in reducing shoulder and arm fatigue. The curved armrests are also well padded, comfortable and unobtrusive. The anti-skid pads on the base are a nice touch, as you can rest your feet on them without sliding off. **Cons:**Despite the breathable faux-leather, the double-padding upholstery can get very warm during longer periods of use, and does not offer as much support as ergonomic chairs. Fixed armrests.
6 of 9BTM High Back Executive Office Chair
**Pros:**This highbacked jumbo executive chair is very comfortable, with the double padding, neck support and curved back operate to reduce strain on the lower back, shoulder and neck. The armrests are wrapped in vert thick padding. The chair has tilt and height adjustment. **Cons:**The abundant padding and unbreathable materials heat up quickly and over an extended period of use is no more comfortable than a mesh chair alternative. Fixed armrests.
7 of 9IntimaTe WM Heart Office Gaming Chair
Pros: Gaming chairs work as a good alternative to more traditional office chairs because they're designed specifically to be used for extended periods of time, and so are shaped to increase endurance and reduce muscle fatigue. This particularly chair offers a subdued and durable design, with a bucketed and curved seat providing a lot of comfort. The padded neck support cushion is comfortable, and the lumbar cushion firm and supportive – both can be removed if desired. The chair has tilt and height adjustment.**Cons:**The aesthetic is a little plain for a gaming chair model. No armrest adjustment.
8 of 9Hbada Ergonomic Office Chair with Lumbar Support
**Pros:**Hbada's S-shaped mesh backrest offers great lumbar support, while the adjustable headrest and T-shaped adjustable armrests operate to reduce muscle strain and promote a comfortable, healthy seating posture. The textured nylon rollers are great for all surfaces as they don't slip. The overall design and execution of this chair makes it a compelling option for anyone who spends prolonged durations at their desk. **Cons:**Same price as a gaming chair.
9 of 9mfavour Ergonomic Office Chair
Pros: Angel Queen's ergonomic mesh back offers adequate lumbar and upper-back support and a sharp, comprehensive and robust design. The seat is well cushioned and constructed to relieve pressure on hips and evenly distribute weight. The chair has tilt and height adjustment. **Cons:**Fixed height armrests.
William Lobley is a Content Writer for WhatsTheBest, specialising in technology and outdoors. He also writes for Empire Online