Reviews You Can Rely On

Steelcase Amia Review

A comfortable chair that will likely last you a long time but a bit on the expensive side for the level of adjustments you get
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Steelcase Amia Review (We hope our review helps you find the perfect work companion.)
We hope our review helps you find the perfect work companion.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
Price:  $999 List
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Manufacturer:   Steelcase
By Benjamin Hickok and Austin Palmer  ⋅  Jul 12, 2023
81
OVERALL
SCORE


RANKED
#2 of 14
  • Comfort - 50% 7.7
  • Adjustability - 35% 8.1
  • Durability - 10% 9.0
  • Ease of Assembly - 5% 9.7

Our Verdict

The Steelcase Amia stands out as a top-tier office chair, delivering a premium level of comfort, versatility, resilience, and effortless assembly. Its performance across the board has earned it a spot among the finest chairs our team has tested. We tested the most basic version of the Amia, but there are several customizable upgrades if you want to spend more. Still, this chair falls within the higher price range, making it hard to justify, as a slight increase in price can afford you the absolute best office chair in our test lineup.
REASONS TO BUY
Incredibly comfortable
Easy to set up
4-way adjustable arm rests
Easy to adjust lumbar
REASONS TO AVOID
No tilt limiter
Tension knob isn't great for heavier users
Expensive for the adjustments you get

Compare to Similar Products

 
steelcase amia
This Product
Steelcase Amia
Awards  Editors' Choice Award
Best Overall Office Chair
Best Buy Award
Best Bang for the Buck
Best Buy Award
Best on a Tight Budget
 
Price $999 List
$999.00 at Amazon
$1,299 List
$1,039 at Amazon
$819 List
$617.60 at Amazon
$180 List
$132.00 at Amazon
$97 List
$76.99 at Amazon
Overall Score Sort Icon
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Bottom Line This chair offers great comfort and is an all-around durable option, though we wish it had a bit more adjustabilityOur favorite year after year, this is one of the highest performing chairs on the marketThis chair boasts both comfort and high-quality features, though there is room for improvement in terms of providing additional adjustment optionsIt's not fancy, but this is our favorite budget-friendly chair for the moneyWith this model, you get what you pay for, which isn't much
Rating Categories Steelcase Amia Steelcase Leap Steelcase Series 2 Modway Articulate E... Amazon Basics Class...
Comfort (50%)
7.7
8.7
7.7
6.0
4.0
Adjustability (35%)
8.1
9.1
7.6
5.5
4.9
Durability (10%)
9.0
9.0
8.9
4.5
2.9
Ease of Assembly (5%)
9.7
10.0
9.7
5.7
6.3
Specs Steelcase Amia Steelcase Leap Steelcase Series 2 Modway Articulate E... Amazon Basics Class...
Adjustable Seat Pan Yes Yes Yes No Yes
Adjustable Lumbar Support Yes Yes Yes Yes; the backrest moves up and down Yes
Adjustable Armrest Width 2" rotation, 2" front to back movement Option available Option available No Yes
Recline Lever Yes No No Yes No
Tilt Limiter Yes Yes; 5 stop points Yes; only locks in the upright position Yes; locks you into a position Yes; 3 stop points
Swivel Armrests Yes Option available Option available No No
Armrest Depth Adjustment Yes Option available Option available No No
Tension Knob Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Lumbar Support Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes

Our Analysis and Test Results

The Steelcase Amia would be an award-winning office chair if other more exceptional Steelcase models didn't outshine it.

Performance Comparison


steelcase amia - the amia is one of the best models money can buy, but is outshone by...
The Amia is one of the best models money can buy, but is outshone by another more premium Steelcase model.
Credit: Abriah Wofford

Comfort


Comfort is the most important factor when evaluating office chairs and our most heavily weighted test metric. Our team specifically compared and rated seat comfort, back comfort, armrest comfort, and the hours we felt you could sit comfortably in each chair. The Steelcase Amia did well in these evaluations and earned high marks for an exceptional level of comfort, on par with other top-rated chairs we've tested.

The Amia has a nice seat with medium-firm padding, which strikes a great balance of give and support. For our evaluation of back comfort, most of our test team found it excellent, earning higher marks than any other model we tested, with a notably comfortable and supportive lumbar. However, one of our taller and heavier testers had issues with limited backrest resistance, requiring him to stay upright while using this chair. Our general consensus is that the Amia offers plenty of backrest resistance for persons up to around 170 pounds but may not be as well suited to taller and heavier persons. The armrests feature an adjustable height, pivot, width, and depth, enhancing comfort for many sizes.

The lumbar height on the Amia is fairly easy to adjust while in a seated position.
Credit: Abriah Wofford

Finally, we took our testers' combined evaluations and opinions after sitting in each chair for long durations, establishing the reasonable amount of hours you can sit in each chair with an adequate level of comfort. We determined the Steelcase Amia to be a good chair for typical 8-hour days in a 40-hour work week. Bottom line, when it comes to overall comfort, the Steelcase Amia reigns in as one of the best our team has evaluated.

Arm rest adjustments allow for persons of any height to be comfortable.
Credit: Abriah Wofford

Adjustability


In the second test metric of our comprehensive assessment, we evaluated the overall adjustability of each chair. Specifically, we compared the Amia with other chairs, examining and rating how various components such as seat depth, backrest, armrests, and reclining position could be adjusted.

The Amia has an impressive amount of armrest adjustability.
Credit: Abriah Wofford

Our team specifically enjoyed the adjustable lumbar, which offers eight different height positions, although it, unfortunately, does not offer an adjustment for firmness. Also notable is the armrest adjustability that allows them to pivot, as well as move up and down, inward and outward, and forward and backward, and the easy seat pan depth adjustment.

The seat pan depth is quick and easy to adjust on the Steelcase Amia.

'photo-credit'>Credit: Abriah Wofford


Durability


In assessing durability, we focused our attention on each chair's construction quality and robustness. We thoroughly examined any indications of wear, tear, or notable damage throughout our rigorous testing procedures. Additionally, user reviews, particularly those highlighting common complaints and the duration of the included warranty, were considered to determine overall scores.

We found the Amia to be well made and durable, just as other consumers did. Less than seven percent of critical user reviews we examined expressed any durability issues and more commonly referred to unique quality control issues. We could not replicate issues or damage and are confident in the construction quality and longevity of this chair.

steelcase amia - the amia is a well-made chair with robust components.
The Amia is a well-made chair with robust components.
Credit: Abriah Wofford

Ease of Assembly


Our last test metric evaluated the level of effort required to assemble each model before it could be sat in and used. The Amia arrives nearly completely assembled, only requiring the insertion of a gas cylinder and then setting the chair on its base. The hassle of dealing with packaging will consume much more of your time than the minute it takes to put this model together.

steelcase amia - this chair provides adequate comfort for the typical eight hour work...
This chair provides adequate comfort for the typical eight hour work day.
Credit: Abriah Wofford

Should You Buy the Steelcase Amia?


The Amia is a premium office chair that offers exceptional comfort, durability, and ease of assembly. It is all-around one of the best chairs we've tested, with decent adjustability. However, it is rather expensive, and for just a little bit more, it would make good sense to acquire the top model we tested.

What Other Office Chairs Should You Consider?


While the Steelcase Amia is one of the top chairs in our lineup, it is nearly as expensive as the Steelcase Leap, which is a favorite among our test team. That said, the premium-level features, quality, and comfort come at a hefty price and may be beyond the reach of many. For those wanting to be a little more conservative when buying an office chair, the Steelcase Series 2 is a good option. It is less expensive than the Leap, but still offers great comfort and features, typically only present on much more expensive models, and is a great value overall. If you're on an even tighter budget, check out the Modway Articulate Ergonomic Mesh, though you'll sacrifice a noticeable amount of comfort and adjustability for the budget price tag.

Benjamin Hickok and Austin Palmer