The best office chairs

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A good office chair should be comfortable to sit in for hours at a time, and will support your body properly in different positions.
Office chairs have been in short supply as more and more folks continue to work from home.
We've tested multiple office chairs, and while we haven't been able to get our hands on every chair we intend to try, we talked to chiropractors and ergonomics experts on what to consider when buying an office chair.
Out of the office chairs we've tried so far, most people will get the best use out of the Steelcase Leap, as it strikes the perfect balance between design, features, and price.
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The adage about investing in anything that separates you from the ground is true. As more and more people find themselves working from home, office chairs have taken on a new importance.

The question is, how do we reduce the negative health effects of sitting for too long? One potential answer is to outfit your home workstation with an ergonomic office chair, but with a bewildering array of options, and top manufacturers offering models with only slight variations, it can be tough to choose. What are the key features you need to look for?

"It needs to be adjustable," Dr. Scott Bautch, president of the American Chiropractic Association Council on Occupational Health, said. "The average office chair for a male is made for a 5-foot 10-inch, 165-pound man, which is less than 6% of the population."

In order to write this guide, we tested a few of the top-rated office chairs, using each one for at least a week. Every chair was carefully assessed and rated for ease of assembly, construction, movement, adjustability, lumbar support, recline, and comfort in the short and long term.

We currently recommend two chairs, and you'll find sections on what else we tested and what we plan to test next. Keep in mind that many office chairs are currently out of stock, but we'll be keeping this guide up-to-date with the most current prices and availability.

Prices and links are accurate as of 11/25/2020. Many chairs are sold out right now, so we overhauled this guide with expert interviews and information about what to look for in an office chair.

What to look for in an office chair

Ideally, an office chair will allow you to fine-tune the height, seat depth, lumbar support, and arm rests according to your needs. It's also vital to set up your wider workstation correctly so that you aren't hunching or stretching, which is why we've included expert primers on the best way to sit and how to create an ergonomically sound home office, below.

What is the best way to sit?

Even with the best office chair in the world, you need to adjust it properly for your body and try to maintain good posture.

"There is nothing more destructive to our musculoskeletal health than poor sitting," says Dr. Scott Bauch, President of the American Chiropractic Association Council on Occupational Health. "You need to have some kind of a checklist to make sure your chair fits you." Here's his:

Adjust the height of the chair so that, ideally, your feet are comfortably flat on the floor. If that's not possible you may want to look at getting a footrest.
A waterfall front — curved edges that slope slightly downward — on the chair helps prevent pressure buildup and there should be some space between the front of your chair and the back of your knees.
Your knees should be slightly higher than your hips, and close to a 90-degree angle.
With your arms comfortably by your sides, your wrists can be slightly extended but should be at a 90-degree angle with the desktop.
Adjust the arm rests so that you can take some pressure off by resting your elbows on them when you're not typing. When you are typing, your arms should rest on the desktop.
Lumbar support should fit into the small of your back above your belt and, ideally, move with you to provide support throughout the day, whether you're sitting forward or reclining.
The headrest, if there is one, should adjust in height and position to support your neck.
Aim for a neutral posture where none of your body parts are awkwardly bent or twisted.
Be conscious of your position and resist the urge to lean forward or hunch.
Check your chair positioning and readjust from time to time. Perhaps someone else sat in your chair and tweaked it, you accidentally adjusted a setting, or you intended to change something temporarily and forgot to change it back. Both of our experts pointed out that it's common for office chairs to be set up incorrectly, or for them to stray from the right position over time.

To help you sit correctly and get the best from your office chair, it's also crucial to consider your wider work area.

What does an ergonomic workstation look like?

Best Office Chairs — Simon Hill/Business Insider

"Think of a computer workstation like the interior of a car," said Alan Hedge, a certified ergonomist and professor in the Department of Design and Environmental Analysis at Cornell University. "You have to be able to get your seat close enough that you can get your feet on the pedals, but not so close that you'll get squashed. You have to be able to see out of the windscreen and reach everything."

To help you set up your work area correctly, Hedge has created a free Home Office Ergonomics app for Android and iOS. It offers advice on different aspects of your home office environment with photos to illustrate what to aim for and what to avoid. Here are a few tips:

The top of your laptop or monitor screen should be in your direct line of sight.
Your keyboard and mouse should be in a straight line from your elbow. If you use a laptop, consider getting a separate keyboard and mouse, so you can elevate the screen to eyeline.
Do what you can to reduce glare and reflections on your screen but bear in mind that daylight and a view out of a window are positive things.
Ensure there's room under your desk to accommodate different positions, stretch your legs, and flex your ankles. Movement is good.

Because you can't see yourself working, Hedge suggests recording a short video of yourself, so you can see any potential problems and make changes.

Ultimately, both of our experts stressed the need to mix up your positions throughout the day and not to sit for too long at once. Hedge subscribes to a research-backed 20-8-2 pattern where you aim to sit for 20 minutes, stand for 8, then stretch or walk around for 2, and repeat. Bautch suggested microbreaks of a few seconds every 15 minutes or so. The main takeaway is that frequent short breaks to move, stand, walk, or even dance will benefit your health.

What we recommend: Steelcase Leap

With unparalleled adjustability, the Steelcase Leap is supremely comfortable and supportive, which makes it the best office chair for most people.

Pros: Incredibly comfortable, easily adjusts to fit your body, supports your back in different positions, built to last

Cons: Expensive, back and seat can get warm

A great office chair will react to support your body in different positions and allow for movement throughout the day. The Steelcase Leap does precisely that; it's endlessly adjustable, incredibly comfortable to sit in for long stretches of time, and built to last. While it is expensive, there's enough going on here to justify the price and its features are on par with much pricier office chairs'.

There are lots of customization options with the Steelcase Leap, so you can pick different frame finishes, as well as upholstery colors and materials. Most of this comes down to personal preference, but we do recommend opting for the fully adjustable armrests. There's also a Plus version of the Leap for heavier folks.

There's no assembly to worry about but adjusting your Steelcase Leap correctly for your body is vital. I was a little intimidated by the sheer range of options when I first unboxed my chair, and I recommend watching Steelcase's useful video tutorial as you work things out.

It requires some effort to set the right height, seat depth, lumbar support, resistance level, and armrest positions, but it's worth taking your time. The experts I spoke to also pointed out that it may take a while for your body to adjust to a better posture, so if you've been using a poor quality chair or hunching, sitting correctly can feel strange at first.

The Steelcase Leap is well-padded in the seat and back area, with firm arm rests. The initial comfort doesn't wear off, as it can with some chairs. I have often spent a full eight-hour workday in the Leap and continued to use it at night for gaming sessions. I like the fact that I can crank up the resistance and it encourages me to sit up straight for work, and then I can recline and put my feet up for breaks.

The build quality is excellent and there are no squeaks or clanks as you settle into this chair, or even when you adjust it. I can also attest to its durability as I've had it for around a year now and it looks and feels as good as new. Steelcase offers a limited lifetime warranty. This is the second version of the Leap, which is a bit lighter than its predecessor and has improved arm rests. I used the original Leap for around four years before upgrading; my son now uses it and it's still going strong.

Despite sitting in a lot of different office chairs over the years, I've never found one as comfortable as the Steelcase Leap. After testing some other office chairs for this guide, including the slightly more expensive Steelcase Gesture, I didn't feel they offered any substantial improvements.

Now, the Steelcase Leap is not perfect; the back and seat can get very warm, particularly on hot days. It's also not the most striking piece of furniture. It blends in quietly, rather than making a statement.

Suitable for anyone seeking a dependable and comfortable office chair, the Steelcase Leap is our top pick. It offers the best experience in its price bracket with no superfluous features. If it's beyond your budget, then consider buying a refurbished Leap, as there are lots of good deals out there.

Find out more about this chair in our Steelcase Leap V2 review.

What we recommend: X-Chair X3

The impressive X-Chair X3 has an eye-catching look and offers full adjustability with dynamic lumbar support, and some optional extras like a headrest, memory foam seat cushioning, and heat massage.

Pros: Extremely comfortable, intuitive adjustment options, dynamic lumbar support

Cons: Expensive, some extras aren't worth the additional cost

With an attractive design that offers cushioning and support, the X-Chair X3 boasts intuitive adjustments to fit your body and comes with a range of optional extras. The build quality is extremely good, it has all the essential adjustment options you need, and it's seriously comfortable, particularly when you recline.

There are a few customization options with the X3; you can opt for one of four colors, decide whether to add a headrest, add extended width or memory foam to the seat, and choose different casters. The big optional extra is the heat and massage module that sits in the lumbar support section. I tested the X3-HMT, which has the heat and massage feature, with a memory foam seat, a headrest, and X-Wheel casters, but I only recommend some of these features (more on that later).

Arriving in a very heavy box, the X-Chair requires some assembly and you'll likely want a second person to help you, at least with unpacking all the parts. It took me less than 20 minutes to unpack and build using the assembly video.

Adjusting the chair properly for your body is important if you want to feel the benefit, but the X-Chair is straightforward, and doesn't have quite as many options as the Steelcase Leap. To make it quick and easy, the company offers yet another video guide. The dynamic variable lumbar is a smart way of ensuring lower back support in different positions as it curves into your spine and encourages the right posture. The headrest and armrests can be pulled into your preferred positions.

The X3 is well-padded and I found the memory foam seat extremely comfortable to sit on for hours at a time. The seat and back are covered in a woven nylon that features something X-Chair calls Advanced Tensile Recovery. It's like the material is stretched over the frame, but has some elasticity to it, which feels supportive. It also means the back doesn't need padding, and because air can circulate, it doesn't get as warm as some chairs can.

A paddle on the side lets you lock position or recline, and the X-Chair X3 leans back far enough for you to put your feet up and potentially even take a nap. I found it comfortable for work, though not as comfortable as the Steelcase Leap in the upright position. For reclining and relaxing, however, the X3 is second to none.

This feels like a well-built chair, and it comes with a five-year warranty. The nylon covering is spill-resistant and feels tough, but because it's layered, lint and fluff, or pet hair, can get trapped in the material, which is a minor annoyance.

I've enjoyed my time with the X-Chair X3. I love the dynamic lumbar support, the added seat comfort makes the memory foam worth getting, and I was surprised to find that I really liked the headrest, which added support when reclining. I'm unconvinced by the X-Wheel casters, which made changing direction on my carpeted office floor awkward, though they are great on hard floors. While my kids loved the heat and massage unit and wanted to use it every day, I found it a bit gimmicky.

Even without some of the superfluous extras, this is a big investment, but I think it's one worth making. This is a comfortable and supportive chair and it's quite easy to adjust without a lot of fiddling. It's also good-looking without sacrificing practicality.

What else we recommend

Steelcase Gesture, from $999

Featuring a smart design that's comfortable and fully adjustable, the Steelcase Gesture is an excellent office chair. It offers good support throughout the day and has the most adjustable armrests of any chair we tested, though I found them a little too easy to bump out of position accidentally. It came close to claiming the top spot, but I feel the Leap offers better back support and a slightly more comfortable seat. If you prefer less cushy lumbar support the Gesture may suit you better. The differences between them are pretty minor, so ultimately the fact that the Leap is cheaper (even after adding the four-way arm rests) makes it a better pick for most people.

What we're looking forward to testing

Ikea Markus, from $229

This popular office chair graces many home offices and is hundreds of dollars cheaper than our top picks. We will be testing it out over the next few weeks to see how it compares to more expensive office chairs, and to find out if it's a good choice for people with limited budgets.

Humanscale Liberty Task Chair, from $1,069

As the manufacturer of a popular range of ergonomic office chairs, Humanscale was specifically recommended by Dr Bautch. The Liberty Task is the next chair we have lined up to test and it features automatic lumbar support, a mesh back, and mechanism-free recline, albeit at a premium price. We're looking forward to spending some time with the Liberty Task Chair to find out how it measures up.

AmazonBasics Mid-Back Office Chair, from $72.49

This popular option from Amazon is very affordable, but it's relatively bare-bones with minimal adjustment options. Can you get a decent office chair for less than $100? Though it's currently out of stock, we plan to call this chair in for testing as soon as it's available in order to answer that question.

Herman Miller Aeron, from $1,069

Long considered the office chair gold standard, the Herman Miller Aeron is our previous top pick. It comes in three sizes, offers a good range of adjustments, and blends solid functionality with desirable design. It's also very expensive, though you can save a lot of money by buying refurbished. Herman Miller makes chairs to order and we've been unable to test the Aeron out due to high demand, but we do plan to try it as soon as we can.

Check out our other office gear guides