Steelcase Amia Review
Our Verdict
Compare to Similar Products
This Product Steelcase Amia | |||||
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Awards | Best Overall Office Chair | Best Bang for the Buck | 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 | |||||
Star Rating | |||||
Bottom Line | This chair offers great comfort and is an all-around durable option, though we wish it had a bit more adjustability | Our favorite year after year, this is one of the highest performing chairs on the market | This chair boasts both comfort and high-quality features, though there is room for improvement in terms of providing additional adjustment options | It's not fancy, but this is our favorite budget-friendly chair for the money | With 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%) | |||||
Adjustability (35%) | |||||
Durability (10%) | |||||
Ease of Assembly (5%) | |||||
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.