It may not feel important, but an office chair with wheels that roll well will make your life easier. Look for strong wheels or invest in an upgrade.
A chair with lumbar support will help keep your lower back from getting sore. If it doesn&#;t have support, roll up a towel and put it behind your back.
Avoid back, arm and wrist pain with good posture. Sit back in your seat and support your feet the best you can.
CNET&#;s expert staff reviews and rates dozens of new products and services each month, building on more than a quarter century of expertise.
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CNET&#;s expert staff reviews and rates dozens of new products and services each month, building on more than a quarter century of expertise.
What to consider
Posture
Avoid back, arm and wrist pain with good posture. Sit back in your seat and support your feet the best you can.
Chair posture
A chair with lumbar support will help keep your lower back from getting sore. If it doesn&#;t have support, roll up a towel and put it behind your back.
Wheel Quality
It may not feel important, but an office chair with wheels that roll well will make your life easier. Look for strong wheels or invest in an upgrade.
Whether you work from home or at an office, an ergonomic office chair will provide proper lumbar and back support and so much more, leaving your body feeling better at the end of the workday. From adjustable tilt to head support to recline angle, we found the best office chairs for working, gaming and more.
If you spend long hours at your desk, it&#;s important to have a chair that supports your body in all the right ways. The right chair can make a huge difference and leave you feeling better at the end of your workday. Getting one of the best office chairs means having lumbar support and comfort that avoids back and neck pain. There are many choices for how a chair looks and even many options within several budgets.
Are you a fan of gaming chairs? Do you want something fancier, like an ergonomic office chair from Herman Miller? Or maybe you&#;re looking for a budget chair? We've tested chairs in a huge range, anywhere from $50 to $3,000 and decided these are the best office chairs.
What is the best office chair of ?
If you spend time working, gaming or doing anything that involves sitting for a long time, you need a high-quality, supportive chair. Our top pick, the Branch Verve, is a great midprice option that's comfortable, durable and looks great.
Getting the right support while you're sitting can help with your posture as well as the muscle soreness that can stem from a bad chair. During the pandemic, many of us at CNET had to turn parts of our homes into offices, which gave us a chance to test a lot of office chairs. Today, remote and hybrid work is sticking around, making a good chair imperative.
We've been testing office chairs at CNET for over nine years, and I've been sitting on them for decades. That means we can help you make an informed decision about where to rest your rump.
Note: Prices vary on third-party sites, so prices quoted here may change. We'll regularly update this list of the best office chairs to reflect the most accurate prices.
Best office chairs of
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$549 at Branch Furniture
Pros
-
Fantastic build quality
-
Easy to assemble
-
Great wheels
Cons
-
Material gets dirty quickly
Lumbar support
Yes
Weight limit
275lbs
Headrest
No
Price
$$$
Adjustable arms
Yes
Type
Lumbar Support
$549 at Branch Furniture
Best overall office chair
The Verve chair by Branch
$549 at Branch Furniture
The difference between a cheap and a high-end chair can be amazing. I have spent years using a $100 chair and having back pain most of that time. The Verve chair by Branch costs more, but everything about it oozes quality. The heavy metal fittings, the quality of the fabric and the movement of the wheels show the care and attention put into making this chair.
Comfort rating: Super comfortable
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$300 at Amazon
Pros
-
Breathable mesh
-
Comfortable armrests
-
Excellent back support
Cons
-
Seat doesn't move in and out
Lumbar support
Yes
Weight limit
330 lbs.
Headrest
Yes
Price
$$
Adjustable arms
Yes
Type
Mesh
$300 at Amazon
Best low-price mesh back office chair
Sihoo Doro C300
$300 at Amazon
The Doro C300 is an extremely comfortable and fully meshed office chair. The headrest adjusts to fit my long frame, though I do find the seat a little shorter than I'd prefer for my legs. The armrests are very well-padded and move easily across a full range of motion, which is especially important when you are typing for eight hours a day. The lumbar support automatically adjusts as you lean back, which I found helpful, and the wheelbase is solid metal, not nylon, so there is less chance of it coming loose over time.
Build time was fairly low, around 20 minutes, and the entire chair feels very stable, especially for a lower price model.
Comfort rating: Comfortable
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$733 at Oak Hollow
Pros
-
Great ventilation
-
Comfortable for tall people
Cons
Lumbar support
Yes
Weight limit
300lbs
Headrest
Yes
Price
$$$$
Adjustable arms
Yes
Type
Large Build
$733 at Oak Hollow
Best mesh office chair
Oak Hollow Aloria Series
$733 at Oak Hollow
If you're a fan of a tall, well-ventilated back on a chair with plenty of adjustment options, Oak Hollow's Aloria Series offers an impressive option. It's simple to set up, feels incredibly sturdy, and the controls under the left and right side of the seat make it easy to set up for your body quickly.
This chair is available in Standard and Tall seat height options, and it's important to know that even the lower option sits high enough that at 6 feet tall my feet leave the ground when leaning back further than the first position in this chair. If that's not something you're worried about, this chair will keep you cooler than most and plenty comfortable.
Comfort rating: Very comfortable
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$93 at Amazon
Pros
-
Excellent price
-
Well-cushioned Good looking
Cons
Lumbar support
No
Weight limit
275lbs
Headrest
No
Price
$
Adjustable arms
No
Type
Easy Assembly
$93 at Amazon
Best value office chair
Amazon Basics leather-padded swivel chair
$93 at Amazon
I liked this Amazon Basics chair right away. This swivel chair was easy to assemble, the leather design looks nice, and the adjustable seat and back are cushioned and comfortable.
This chair is relatively affordable without sacrificing much, with one exception: lumbar support. If lumbar support is a must-have, consider one of our other favorites. Overall, this is one of the more reasonably priced ergonomic office chairs; it is easy to put together, comfortable and is easy on the eyes.
Comfort rating: Comfortable
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$300 at OdinLake
Pros
-
Fully adjustable
-
Well built
-
Good wheels
Cons
Lumbar support
Yes
Weight limit
460 lbs.
Headrest
Yes
Price
$$
Adjustable arms
Yes
Type
Headrest
$300 at OdinLake
Best low-price office chair with full control
OdinLake Upgrade 518
$300 at OdinLake
While $300 is still a lot of money for an office chair, it isn't a massive cost for something as comfortable as the Odinlake Upgrade 518. I'm a big guy, and having a chair that can easily take my weight while remaining comfortable and adjustable is a big deal. I like that the OdinLake has adjustable everything. From the arms to the seat and lumbar positions, it can all be tweaked to fit your sitting style.
I also tested the more expensive Ergo Max 747, and while it is as good as the Upgrade 518, I found the seat to be a little less comfortable over time. It's not that the Ergo Max 747 is a bad chair; it's just not significantly better than the Upgrade 518, which is a fraction of the cost.
Comfort rating: Very comfortable
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$240 at Eureka
Pros
-
Looks more expensive than it is
-
Great back support
-
Easy to build
Cons
-
Only one adjustment available on the arms
Lumbar Support
Yes
Weight Limit
275lbs
Head rest
Yes
Price
$$
Adjustable arms
Raise and lower only
Type
Executive
$240 at Eureka
Best budget executive office chair
Eureka Galene executive chair
$240 at Eureka
It's often hard to find an executive chair that looks great but doesn't break the bank. The cheaper ones tend to look underwhelming, while the truly expensive ones are great but out of the realm of normal people. The Galene from Eureka is an excellent balance between cost and quality. It looks good and is very comfortable to sit on for long periods. The build took about 20 minutes and it doesn't suffer from the wobbles that budget chairs often fall victim to. It feels like a much more expensive chair.
My only wish is that instead of arms that just raise and lower, it had more articulation so I could tailor them to my needs. Executive chairs are really designed for being comfortable on calls and meetings rather than extended typing, so having arms that can adjust more dynamically to my position would be great.
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$1,749 at Anthros
Pros
-
The most comfortable I've ever been at a desk
-
Very easy to build
-
Upper back support is amazing
Cons
-
It's prohibitively expensive
Lumbar support
Yes, via pelvis support
Weight limit
300lbs
Headrest
No
Price
$$$$+
Adjustable arms
Yes
Type
Easy Assembly
$1,749 at Anthros
The most comfortable office chair I've ever used
The Anthros chair
$1,749 at Anthros
The Anthros chair is amazing. The lumbar support helps stabilize your pelvis, and the wide seat is comfortable for all body types, including my 270-pound frame. The Anthros comes with a posture guarantee, so if you don't feel it has helped your posture or made you feel comfortable, you can get your money back. The Anthros feels high quality, and if money were no object, it would be my No. 1 pick (and I would tell you to buy one, too).
Money does matter, and the Anthros is downright expensive. A good chair for your office is an investment that should last a long time, but at $1,749, it's probably worth some serious thought before you take the plunge.
Comfort Rating: Super comfortable
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For more information, please visit Anji Fengge Furniture.
$527 at Amazon
Pros
-
Lightweight yet sturdy
-
Many points of adjustability
Cons
-
Lumbar support doesn't sit quite high enough
Lumbar support
Yes
Weight limit
300 lbs
Headrest
No
Price
$$$
Adjustable arms
Yes
Type
Lumbar support
$527 at Amazon
Best mid-price office chair
Hon Ignition 2.0
$527 at Amazon
Like the Branch above, the Ignition 2.0 is a well-constructed chair that looks sophisticated in my office. I'm a big guy, so I'm always concerned that chairs won't hold my weight, but the Ignition is designed with people like me in mind.
Adjustments can be made to the lumbar support, height and armrests, but my favorite is being able to move the seat in and out. Having the seat further forward supports my long legs much better. Overall, this is an excellent chair for the money. It's comfortable, easy to build and solidly constructed.
Comfort Rating: Very comfortable
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$400 at Flexispot
Pros
-
Mesh back reduces sweating
-
Well-cushioned armrests
-
Comfortable headrest
Cons
-
Lumbar doesn't move up and down
Lumbar support
Yes
Weight limit
320lbs
Headrest
Yes
Price
$$$
Adjustable arms
Yes
Type
Easy Assembly
$400 at Flexispot
Best office chair with a headrest
Flexispot C7
$400 at Flexispot
Like the OC14 before it, the C7 has an extremely comfortable headrest. You may not use it all day like your lumbar support, but it does make more relaxed moments much nicer. The mesh back is very comfortable as well. It's breathable but feels strong enough to support my weight without ripping.
I like the soft padded armrests, and they're adjustable in three ways: in/out, up/down and left/right. I wish the lumbar support was equally adjustable. It can move in and out, but it can't be raised to fit the curve of my tall back, so it never feels as supportive as I would like.
Comfort Rating: Very comfortable
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$1,072 at Steelcase
Pros
-
Customizable for your style
-
Rock solid movement
Cons
-
Seat wings are a little high
-
Insane pricing for a chair
Lumbar support
Yes
Weight limit
350 lbs
Headrest
No
Price
$$$$
Adjustable arm
Yes
Type
Lumbar Support
$1,072 at Steelcase
Best build-your-own office chair
Steelcase Karman
$1,072 at Steelcase
The newest chair from Steelcase wins a spot on this list not because it's comfortable -- although it is, especially in the lumbar region -- but because of its customization options. You can choose the color of the chair, but you can also add additional lumbar support (you'll want that), the additional movement for the armrests and wheels for hard floors or carpets.
I found the chair excellent over long periods, and I especially liked how well the locking system works. Some chairs feel like they lean back too far, even when locked, but the Karman was rock solid the whole time.
Comfort Rating: Very comfortable
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$210 at EasySMX
Pros
-
High weight limit
-
Lots of adjustment points
Cons
-
Gaming chairs can be uncomfortable after a few hours
Lumbar support
Yes
Headrest
Yes
Price
$$
Adjustable arms
Yes
Type
Large Build
$210 at EasySMX
Best office chair for bigger gamers
EasySMX Big and Tall gaming chair [Out of Stock]
$210 at EasySMX
I'm 6-foot-1 and 275 pounds, and finding a comfortable chair has been an issue for me for years. I've even had several chairs' wheels break while I've been using them. This gaming chair has a weight limit of 350 pounds and features adjustable armrests that go up and down and rotate. A tall back and wide base make this a comfortable pick for bigger frames. While this isn't strictly for the office, I have used the EasySMX for over a year as my primary seat, and it still works well.
Comfort Rating: Comfortable for short periods
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Staff picks and other office chairs we've tested
CNET staffers spend a lot of time sitting at desks. While we'd all love to own the best office chairs, we often have to make do with what we have, or we've found something we like and have stuck with it. These picks are not tested in the same way as the ones on our best list above, but here's what we're using regularly.
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$529 at Amazon
Pros
-
Durable and long lasting
-
Easy to clean
Cons
Lumbar support
Yes
Weight limit
330 lbs
Headrest
No
Price
$$$
Adjustable arms
Yes
Type
Easy Assembly
$529 at Amazon
Most comfortable high-end office chair
Herman Miller Mirra 2
$529 at Amazon
The Herman Miller Mirra 2 is expensive, but I justified the cost because I spend hours sitting in front of a computer screen. Boy, am I glad I did. Its mesh seat remains comfortable and supportive after five and a half years of steady use. When I sit down, I feel an actual moment of pleasure that it's still good. This is a huge step up from foam seat chairs that compress over time. The mesh is easier to clean and keeps cool, too. I like the adjustments, which I set up once and have left alone since then.
-- Stephen Shankland
Comfort rating: Super comfy
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$170 at Amazon
Pros
-
Helps with posture
-
Good for movement
Cons
-
No back support to lean back
Lumbar support
No
Weight limit
250 lbs
Headrest
No
Price
$$
Adjustable arms
No, but height is adjustable
Type
Backless
$170 at Amazon
Best office chair for posture
Nypot Premium ergonomic kneeling chair
$170 at Amazon
I bought a kneeling chair initially because of a torn hamstring and realized how much it helped my posture. It also forced me to stand up more and not slouch. Now, with this ergonomic desk chair, I move around conscientiously while working, which helps with neck and ankle stiffness. This brand stands out: It can rock, it has good padding for the knees, it's adjustable and it's definitely more affordable than others. When friends come over, they always try it and are surprised at how much they like it.
-- Laura Michelle Davis
Comfort rating: Good enough
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$290 at Ikea
Pros
Lumbar support
Yes
Weight limit
276 lbs
Headrest
Yes
Price
$$
Adjustable arms
No
Type
Easy Assembly
$290 at Ikea
Most durable office chair
Ikea Markus chair
$290 at Ikea
I am 6-foot-1 and this is the most durable, most comfortable office chair I've ever had. My previous one lasted eight years. I've sold enough of them that Ikea owes me some euros, and I recently bought a replacement that I expect to last almost another decade. Forget those gamer chairs that break in six months, the Markus is the real deal for those of us who can't afford a Herman Miller or a Steelcase.
-- Wesley Radcliffe
"Comfort rating: Super comfy
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$1,115 at Amazon
Pros
-
Versatile sitting
-
Standing desk compatible
Cons
Lumbar support
No
Weight limit
250 lbs
Headrest
No
Price
$$$$+
Adjustable arms
No, but height is adjustable
Type
Standing desk chair
$1,115 at Amazon
Best standing desk office chair
HAG Capisco adjustable standing desk chair
$1,115 at Amazon
You can sit in the chair in multiple ways. It's great for those with lower back discomfort. It has a unique design, it's comfortable and it offers lots of customization. It's especially fantastic for standing desks because it can raise up to bar-stool height.
-- Justin Eastzer
Comfort rating: Super comfy
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How to choose the right office chair
Ergonomics
Ergonomics is the "science of work," says Gary Allread, program director for the ergonomics division at Ohio State University's Spine Research Institute. That definition doesn't apply only to our jobs; ergonomic principles can be used for pretty much any activity (and that means an ergonomic office chair isn't going to immediately fix your lower back pain). Allread and his team offer consultations for a variety of workplaces, including manufacturing plants. They even provide input on product design to help companies better understand how to create products "to make sure they can interact with people as well as possible," Allread says.
Chair posture
A less-than-ideal work setup might cause pain in your back, arms, hands or wrists. You might also find yourself fidgeting, making more mistakes or taking more breaks, all because you're uncomfortable, Allread warns. Long-term, you might end up with tendonitis or carpal tunnel syndrome.
Allread offers two main suggestions we all can try to improve how we work:
- Sit with your back against your chair. ("You want the chair to do the work and not your back," he says.)
- Support your feet. Either plant your feet on the floor or, if they don't reach, use a box or other footrest to support your feet.
Lumbar support
If your chair lacks lumbar support, Allread recommends rolling up a towel, securing it with tape or rubber bands, and placing it at your lower back as a lumbar cushion to "keep the back in its natural curve." Allread also notes that companies are beginning to introduce different chair sizes, supporting a wider range of body sizes, which is an important consideration if you're shopping for a new ergonomic chair with the best seat height and seat depth.
"One mistake people make is they say, 'Well, if I get a great chair, then I'm not going to be sore anymore,' and that's not really looking at the big picture of what it takes to keep people comfortable and productive at their jobs," Allread says. A new chair is just one of many things that can make your work environment more comfortable -- so let's keep that in mind as we weigh our options for the best one.
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How we test office chairs
Like everything we test here at CNET, these office chairs have undergone a barrage of tests. First, we assembled each chair and noted any issues with the process, including how long it should take versus how long it actually took. Then we spent two workdays, or about 16 hours, sitting in each chair, noting the level of comfort, adjustability (such as adjustable height, adjustable backrest or adjustable arm features) and any issues we had.
We also tested what I like to call the "wibble wobbles." Because office chairs are often supported by just one rod, they can wobble left and right. That movement is more stressful on the chair, which can wear it out more quickly. It can also cause discomfort and even motion sickness.
I'm heavier and taller than average, and your experience may differ. That's why we asked our professional for questions you should consider when choosing your own chair. They are:
- Was the chair designed so you can rest comfortably against the back of the chair?
- Do your feet touch the floor with your back against the back of the chair?
- Did you find yourself fidgeting or standing up a lot?
- Did you experience any pain or discomfort while using a particular chair?
We let these questions guide us, and they helped eliminate a lot of chairs. Some felt OK, but in the long run, they didn't offer the advantages of the ones we ultimately chose.
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Office chair FAQs
How do you clean an office chair?
How you clean your office chair will vary depending on its materials. The chair's user manual should detail cleaning and general maintenance tips. If you tossed the paper version, check online. Many retailers provide digital versions or downloadable PDFs of their product manuals.
That said, most chairs should be fine to clean with a damp cloth and mild soap or detergent. Test a small area first and stay away from strong chemical cleaners.
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How do I make an office chair more comfortable?
Many office chairs are adjustable. You can change the chair height and move the arms, and some office chairs have adjustable lumbar support. Before tossing your current chair, make sure you're sitting optimally by trying out different positions.
I cover ergonomics above. Allread, the expert I spoke with, has two main suggestions:
- You want your back to touch the back of the chair.
- You want your feet to touch the floor (or you should use a box or footrest to prop up your feet).
Allread also suggests rolling up a towel to use for lower back support if your chair doesn't have lumbar support.
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How do I fix a squeaky office chair?
When dealing with squeaky office chairs, identify the source of the sound. Double-check that all screws are tight and that the chair is clean and oiled. You might also need to replace a spring. Some retailers sell replacement parts if a loose or old spring ends up being the culprit.
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