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We tested top office chairs at all price points from Herman Miller, Steelcase, Branch, EDX, Amazon Basics, and more to find the best option for your budget and needs
With this new update, we evaluate and recommend new office chairs at multiple price points, adding several lower-priced options to help you find options that match your budget.
We bought 18 top office chairs and took them to our lab to examine specifications, features, and how long we could comfortably sit in each model.
Our test panel of different sizes and shapes determined the Branch Ergonomic Chair is the best for most people. It balanced great comfort and adjustability at a reasonable price. That said, if you are willing to pay more than triple the cost, the top-scoring model is the Steelcase Leap. No other chair could touch its high scores across every test we subjected it to.
If you're looking for a dedicated chair for gaming, check out our favorite gaming chairs. If you're more interested in a comfortable accent chair for laptop working, check out our roundup list of the top chairs from different categories.
Editor's Note: On November 7, 2024, we included more affordable options and chairs that fit more body types and sizes to make it easier to find the chair that hugs your backside with the support you need.
The Branch Ergonomic Chair offers surprisingly competitive performance for the price point. In fact, it delivers such good comfort and adjustability ratings that it became abundantly clear to us that it would nab our coveted Editor's Choice award. In addition to its thick, high-density foam cushion, this chair is designed with 7 GearLab-tested adjustment points. The ability to refine the fit worked so well that we can reliably sit in this chair for up to 8 hours. The Herman Miller Embody and Steelcase Amia scored a similar time stamp but cost 3-6 times as much, giving you hope a high price tag is not required to get the comfort you deserve. The height-adjustable lumbar doesn't increase or decrease in intensity as it does on the Steelcase Leap, but it satisfied most of our testers, with only one noting that it could be more supportive. The seat height shifts easily up and down from 21.5 inches in its highest setting to 17.5 inches in its lowest, making it suitable for both short and tall people. Plus, you can adjust the seat pan depth while sitting in the chair, and if you have a wide upper body or want room to roam for your hips, the armrests adjust in width, too.
One design feature consistently annoyed us after long hours at work: the plastic armrests. They are incredibly hard. “The biggest downfall for this chair was the armrests for me,” one tester complained, noting, “I've even found some rocks more comfortable than these armrests!” While the Ergonomic Chair competes well against chairs that cost substantially more in most adjustment options, the mediocre 275-pound weight limit speaks to the relative strength of its components. As price decreases, max weight limits tend to also decrease. If you're a larger person, the Branch might not be rugged enough for you. One chair that bucks this trend and costs less than the Branch is the SIHOO M18 Ergonomic Big and Tall, which boasts a manufacturer-reported weight limit of 330 pounds. While it only has 5 points of adjustment, you're able to adjust the lumbar's intensity, helping you dial in that much-needed back support. Still, overall if you've had trouble adjusting chairs to your liking, the Branch has excellent range, and its GearLab testing scores shine bright as a result.
While the Branch's seat and back comfort are great, its overall adjustability makes it a top pick.
The SIHOO M18 Ergonomic Big and Tall wowed us with its surprisingly comfy W-shaped seat cushion and great lumbar adjustability. In fact, the 4-way lumbar adjustment was a standout feature when testing because it not only let us raise and lower the lumbar height but also dial the intensity in and out. You usually see this beneficial feature in the premium price range. Even our shorter testers were able to dial in the lumbar to fit their backs and preferences. Paired with the 16-inch minimum seat height, which is nearly an inch lower than our tested average, we found that this chair actually fits small and average-sized sitters as well as our largest 6-foot 2-inch tester. Even though it has a relatively low price point, we were pleased to see its higher-than-average manufacturer-reported weight limit of 330 pounds. Compared to the similarly priced BestOffice Mesh Office Desk Chair that has a 250-pound weight limit, the SIHOO is clearly a stronger value option. This ergonomic chair comes with a 2-way adjustable headrest that you can raise or lower 3.9 inches and pivot tilt, making this a great option for headrest fans who like to lay back. The low seat height and other lounge characteristics might intrigue the office-focused gamers and find the M18 a dual-purpose winner. In addition, the mesh back is breathable and airy, which can be particularly important for those of us who work in warmer, more humid environments.
Despite the above-average seat comfort rating compared to our tested chairs, the M18 has a few drawbacks. Our testers were annoyed when the wheels would catch as they tried to adjust their positions as they rolled in and out of working positions at their desks. While this chair has very good adjustability, actually making adjustments on the fly is difficult. We found the tension knobs difficult to turn, and the lumbar shifting was jerky. We were also surprised by the lack of seat pan adjustment, which can't be moved in and out, unlike most “ergonomic” office chairs we tested. This could pose some threat to proper circulation for people at the edges of the height range. It is hopeful to note that our shortest tester (5'3") and tallest tester (6'2") did not observe any problems when sitting for long periods of time. If there is a concern, the Branch Ergonomic and HON Ignition 2.0 Task are good alternatives that can shift the pan to your preference. This particular feature will cost you, however, since both jump into the next price tier, about 2-3 times the cost of the SIHOO. While this seat did score above average in comfort, the total number of hours in comfort averaged 7 hours, so you can gain another hour from the even cheaper Modway. Ultimately, those hours you do spend in the seat are not as comfortable when compared to each other. Despite the M18's flaws, it scored well in our tests, which is a remarkable feat considering its typical sub-$200 on-sale price point.
Despite its relatively low cost, the SIHOO M18 felt surprisingly comfortable to our testing panel due to its cushy seat and 4-way lumbar support adjustments.
Adjustable Lumbar Support: Yes | Adjustable Seat Pan: No
REASONS TO BUY
Inexpensive
Decently comfortable
Respectable adjustability
REASONS TO AVOID
Less durable
If you just need a very affordable office chair for student homework or the occasional work-from-home office day, the Modway Articulate Ergonomic Mesh could be the chair for you. For a budget chair, it has a generous 6 inches of seat cushion thickness that translates to a staggering 8 hours of comfort, we calculated from our panel of testers. This is impressive if you compare it in our lineup with only three other premium chairs, Steelcase Leap and both Herman Miller chairs, surpassing it for all-day comfort but costing nearly ten-fold the price. The best feature is its surprisingly comfortable back with a pleasant tilt range, clocking in at 62 degrees, and a beautifully responsive tilt resistance that provides you with a cradling embrace when leaning back. With a relatively stout manufacturer-rated weight limit of 331 pounds that far exceeds the common 275-pound weight limit found in most inexpensive office chairs, we're happy to report this chair can fit more body types without having to spend a fortune.
Although the Modway can go the distance of all-day comfort, while we were actually sitting, it didn't provide that high caliper support we received from top performers. There was nothing that made us wow with excitement to sit back in it day after day. “Nothing special, but it was comfortable enough,” noted one of our testers. The lumbar support was prevalent but often left most of us wanting a bit more support. Our shorter tester felt like a child in it. The seat height and armrests were both too tall, leaving their feet not fully touching the ground. If you need a lower seat height, go for the SIHOO M18, as it recorded the lowest seat height in our lineup at 16 inches tall. For just a slightly higher cost, it also includes a breathable mesh back, but its lumbar support is a notch ahead of the Modway. Meanwhile, if you're looking for an inexpensive office chair and want to venture beyond the standard black or gray, Modway offers its mesh chair in several alternative color options.
With its very good tilt adjustment options, the Modway is one of our favorite chairs for kicking back and rethinking difficult problems, which also makes it great for fidgety sitters who like to change positions frequently as they work.
The Steelcase Leap earns top marks in all of our testing metrics, earning it a spot as one of the best office chairs we've ever tested. The only drawback is the steep 4-digit price point, which transforms the Steelcase from a glorious all-day office workhorse to an inaccessible option for most people. Its outstanding adjustability lets us dial in comfort even though we have widely different body sizes and shapes here at GearLab. Due to this, our panel of testers rate this chair as capable of delivering up to 10 hours of perfect bliss, which makes it the best chair for anyone working long days. “I work 4-10s each week, so I really care about those extra hours of comfort,” one tester noted. While other office chairs offer similar adjustments, the Leap glides through its adjustment points with ease. If you're a fan of lumbar support, the Leap lets you raise and lower the lumbar while seated. Plus, in combination with Steelcase's LiveBack technology, you can adjust the intensity of the lumbar support to hug the curve of your back perfectly, and we can attest that it's legit and works well. The cushy seat pan adjusts in and out, and the height ranges from 17.5 inches at its lowest setting to 21.5 inches at its highest. With a manufacturer-reported 400-pound weight limit, the Leap is one of the strongest chairs we've ever tested. The Steelcase Leap is sometimes referred to as the “Leap V2” even though Steelcase simply calls it the Leap. The overall design between the V1 and V2 is similar, but the newer Leap has a thinner, taller back and flatter, less arched armrests. If you're in the market for a premium office chair and want something nearly as comfy but has a more breathable seat and back, check out the meshy Herman Miller Aeron.
The most notable downside to all this luxury is the steep price. That said, the Leap is offered in many fabric options and with several configurations, some of which are less adjustable and thus cost slightly less. If you want a strong chair but can't stretch your budget for the Leap, the Steelcase Amia is another great Steelcase chair that will save you a few hundred dollars — just know that doesn't deliver the same range of adjustability as the Leap, which makes it better for average-sized humans. A key difference is that the Amia uses LiveLumbar to provide flexible lumbar support as your back moves and you shift positions. It works well but lacks intensity settings for our lumbar support-loving testers. If you know you want tunable adjustability on a budget, check out the more affordable Branch Ergonomic Chair. Its adjustment features are not as liquid-smooth as the Leap, but when you finally dial in its competitive 7 points of adjustment, it's surprisingly comfortable. Of course, if you can afford the luscious Leap, you can expect your investment to last for many years. We have been putting this chair to the test for almost a decade and still find it our favorite. Plus, if your at-desk comfort leads to greater productivity, this investment might become your best possible buy over time.
Adjustable Lumbar Support: No | Adjustable Seat Pan: No
REASONS TO BUY
Ideal for unconventional sitters
Inexpensive
Super wide seat pan
Comfortable
REASONS TO AVOID
No lumbar support
Not very adjustable
Takes up more space than most office chairs
The EDX Armless Criss Cross Chair with Wheels is a super basic office chair that lets the user adapt to it. Instead of creating an ergonomic position for any body type, this EDX design ditches adjustability and perfect posture altogether. If you're confused, don't worry; half our testing crew was, too. The other half — those who like to eat applesauce and sit with their legs crisscrossed — darn near clapped in delight when it arrived at our testing lab. Basically, the EDX is a vibe of its own. You get a monster 26.5-inch seat pan that gives you enough room to sit with your legs crossed. For comparison, the next widest seat pans we measured were just 20 inches across. This expansive width lets you cross one leg over the other easily and sit at an angle to change the pressure on your backside or just change your position for the sake of better whole-body circulation. While some of us don't feel constrained by a standard 20-inch seat — or don't have the flexibility required to sit crisscross — all of our testers did appreciate the cushion quality.
While all this freedom-lovin' room to roam might sound great, there are some obvious drawbacks. It isn't particularly adjustable (only 2 points) in case you need to buckle down and focus with a well-supported posture. In fact, some of us — those who don't sit crisscross, like, ever — bemoaned the lack of lumbar support and poor adjustability. If you want to find a middle ground between a crisscross-capable chair and a traditional office chair design, you should consider the GABRYLLY Ergonomic Mesh High Back because you can fold its armrests back and completely out of the way. Meanwhile, if you're on the fence with the EDX, know this: Despite all that it lacks in terms of traditional office chair features, more than a few of our testers asked to take it home for a reason. The ability to move around however you want is, perhaps, a lesser-known comfort factor in and of itself.
If you're a fan of different sitting variations or want a wider chair, this armless EDX chair is for you.
Our team has tested dozens of office chairs since 2018 using our rigorous side-by-side testing approach. We evaluated each model's comfort through extended use and a targeted comfort questionnaire that covers the individual components of each chair. We looked at adjustability, focusing on adjustment points, range, and user-friendliness, utilizing each adjustment to give us an in-office feel for how it works. Lastly, to assess the ease of assembly, we graded the instructions, timed ourselves during setup, and noted any difficult steps along the way.
Because you'll likely end up spending more time in your office chair than any other furniture, we test and confirm critical measurements to make sure your purchase is a winner for you.
Credit: Natalie Kafader
We tested our selection of office chairs based on three weighted performance metrics:
Comfort (50% of total score weighting)
Adjustability (40% weighting)
Ease of Assembly (10% weighting)
But there is a lot more going on with our ratings than discreet scores. In addition to measuring key specifications and testing custom settings, our multi-sized testers sit in less-than-perfect postures to tease out seat foam performance when we cross our legs and spin our chairs. We evaluate how our backs feel when we sit with ergonomic awesomeness, as well as when we slouch in irritation while pounding our way through tedious tasks. In short, we move like every other human toiling away inside an office to make sure our recommendations always reflect reality.
We independently purchased every office chair for testing and accept no manufacturer samples or freebies, so you can be sure our award winners and recommendations are unbiased and based on test results and our direct experience with these chairs.
Credit: Natalie Kafader
Why Trust GearLab
We've tested more than 45 office and task chairs since 2018 to find the best models for every situation, sitting preference, and style. Our testers have logged thousands of hours of sitting between them, and we spent hundreds of hours in each chair collectively, comparing them side by side and on their own merits to find the best ones for your every budget and need. Our test team consists of folks of different heights, shapes, and sizes, which gives us the ability to not only compare office chairs to one another but also compare how comfortable and adjustable each chair is for different bodies. It's safe to say we have strong, deeply informed opinions about what constitutes a good office chair.
Our lead tester, Rachael Lamore, tests the Sihoo M18 for adjustability and ergonomics.
Credit: Natalie Kafader
Our lead tester for this review, Rachael Lamore, combines up-and-at-it testing with long hours compiling and evaluating data (while sitting) for her work at GearLab. Perhaps more importantly, though, Rachael is professionally trained in this area and is quite familiar with going to great depths and navigating through details and specs to find the best products at the right price. In fact, Rachael worked at the Marine Conservation Lab while at Cal Poly and became an expert in the scientific method, conducting tests in laboratories and amongst the lively corals of French Polynesia. Driven by scientific curiosity, Rachael's rigorous training spills into her tests for GearLab, where she applies a similar framework for investigation and evaluation of our products that she does her hypotheses, as well as effortlessly translates often confusing manufacturer's specs and qualitative data and actionable insights. With years of experience spanning laboratories, classrooms, and underwater realms, Rachael is more than equipped to handle the detailed demands of a thorough GearLab evaluation.
We double-check key manufacturer specs, such as seat pan width.
A snapshot of our testing measurements to help get you the facts on every component of these products.
Analysis and Test Results
To cover critical aspects of office chairs, we have divided our testing process into key metrics and sub-metrics for easy comparison. To determine the best chairs, we tasked a panel of testers with varying body types, heights, and sitting preferences to try out each chair for an extended period. Below is an in-depth analysis of our results.
What's the Best Value?
During your hunt for the top office chair, you likely noticed an enormous range in pricing. Budget chairs can retail for a hundred bucks or less, but your back may end up paying the price in return. Top-of-the-line models can retail in the thousands but tend to offer much more support and adjustability to improve your sitting experience. Despite the range, it's possible to get a great office chair for a good price.
If your budget isn't premium, rest assured you don't have to shell out anywhere near a thousand dollars to get good adjustability and support. In our testing, we were especially impressed with the Branch Ergonomic Chair because it offered a similar level of adjustability as chairs that are 2 or, heck, 8 times more expensive. Plus, it was also quite comfortable. The SIHOO M18 is a great budget option, especially if you're in the market for top-value back support. Not only is the M18 comfortable, but it also offers four-way lumbar adjustability at a reasonable price. If you're shopping on a super tight budget or looking to purchase several chairs for a conference room, the Modway Articulate Ergonomic Mesh is a basic, budget-friendly chair that fits the bill. Our testers were surprised by its affordable comfort and solid set of adjustments — though some also noted that it doesn't feel as well built as the top products we tested.
One of our all-time favorite chairs is the Steelcase Leap, but it comes at a very high price — and it costs even more if you load it up with extra premium options. While the expensive price tag is out of reach for most home office chair buyers, the investment may be worth it to help avoid any sitting-related health issues or help employees maintain comfort and productivity over long, hard days at their desks. If the Leap is out of your reach, but you want to keep the backing of a well-known brand, consider the Steelcase Series 2. It retails for significantly less than the absolute top models, is nearly as comfortable, and features most of the same adjustments.
While 'ease of spin' is not a true comfort factor, spinning does give us a sense of build quality, and more importantly, illustrates our team's excitement in sharing our testing results to help you find the right chair for you!
Credit: Abriah Wofford
Comfort
A cheap chair can leave you with aches and pains, affecting much more than your productive work day. That is why we focus so heavily on the comfortability of each product in our selection. In particular, we had our panel of testers rate the comfort of each chair's seat, backrest, and armrest. We paid close attention to the quality of the touchpoints and rated overall impressions of each chair's comfortability profile for testers with different body types. We also asked our testing panel, after having them sit in each chair for a full workday, how happy they would be to do it again . . . and again for that matter.
Comfort Breakdown
Product
Seat
Back
Armrest
Steelcase Amia
8.0
9.0
7.0
Steelcase Series 2
8.0
8.0
7.0
Steelcase Leap
7.0
8.0
8.0
SIHOO M18 Ergonomic Big and Tall
7.5
6.8
6.8
Steelcase Think
7.0
6.0
8.0
Herman Miller Aeron
7.0
7.0
7.0
GABRYLLY Ergonomic Mesh High Back
7.0
7.5
6.0
Branch Ergonomic
8.0
6.8
5.5
Herman Miller Embody
7.0
7.0
6.0
Steelcase Gesture
6.0
6.0
6.0
Modway Articulate Ergonomic Mesh
6.0
6.0
6.0
HON Ignition 2.0 Task
6.0
5.0
6.0
EDX Armless Criss Cross with Wheels
7.2
6.3
1.0
Amazon Basics Classic Puresoft
5.0
5.0
4.0
Union & Scale FlexFit Hyken Mesh
5.0
3.0
6.0
BestOffice Mesh Office Desk Chair
4.8
3.4
2.6
Furmax Office Mesh
4.0
3.0
2.0
Amazon Basics Low
3.6
2.8
0.8
While 'ease of spin' is not a true testing factor, spinning does give us a sense of build quality and, more importantly, illustrates our team's excitement in sharing our testing results to help you find the right chair for you!
Seat
We start at the bottom, our bottoms, and where they rest on these products, the seat. There's a Goldilocks range with seat cushions. Too soft of a seat doesn't adequately support your spine, leaving you with lower back pain that will inevitably creep up with time. At the other end of the spectrum, too firm of a seat can lead to pressure points on your sit bones, reduce circulation, and develop chronic pain that will last into your retirement years. There are pretty detrimental effects when it comes to poor performers, so we're here to share our favorites in this test metric to point you to that special sweet spot.
The comfy-yet-supportive Steelcase Amia seat cushion felt great with all of our testers, even after 8 hours of sitting.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
Our office testing crew all thought the Steelcase Amia delivered the softest, cushiest seat experience of all the high-performing Steelcase chairs. While it offers all-day support, it's softer than the Leap, which had a slightly firmer feel to our bottoms. For anyone who was forced to sit in the old, Steelcase Series 1 Chair — which felt like we were sliding out of a dump truck with its aggressive seat angle — rest assured that Steelcase rectified the problem with the newer Series 2.
This second version now has more forgiving bolsters that still feel supportive, which directly led to its strong GearLab Seat comfort score of 8.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
While the premium-priced office chairs we tested earned the highest seat comfort ratings, more affordable chairs ranked very well, too. The Branch Ergonomic wowed us with its overall seat comfort score, but we did see variations amongst the scoring, with one tester ranking the Branch seat a 10 out of 10 with another tester ranking it a 6 out of 10.
The cushion density is the cause. It tends to run a bit firm, an aversion to some that like to really sink into their chair. If you require more support to your backside, this chair is the way to go.
Credit: Natalie Kafader
Despite not having an adjustable seat pan, the SIHOO M18 seat comfort also ranked very well with our testing panel.
We loved the plush seat cushion. The W-shape cushion hugged all the right areas and prevented pressure points that we could feel in other chairs.
Credit: Natalie Kafader
There has been a long-standing debate between mesh and cushion seating. Which is better? Both strive to achieve the same outcome: that sweet spot of comfort. Over the years, we have tested dozens and dozens of different kinds of seating options. Our analysis doesn't come down to the type but rather the production. A tighter tolerance is required to fabricate a mesh chair. It's much more noticeable if a chair is strung too tight or loose when we sit in these chairs for hours at a time. Too loose, we feel the hard backbone components of the chair. Too tight; it feels like a rock. This is not to say that we do not like mesh seats; a few scored quite high in our testing. Just know that you'll be relying on the company's quality assurance when producing these types of chairs.
The seat pan is plenty wide for most people, but we do think the mesh could be a bit tighter to help keep you from feeling the edges of the seat pan frame.
Here are different shots of the wide variety of seats that are out on the market today.
Both the premium Herman Miller Aeron and sub-$300 Gabrylly Ergonomic Mesh High Back have springy mesh seats that scored solid 7 ratings from our testing panel.
The minimalist mesh seat design on the Aeron offers surprising relief despite the lack of traditional foam cushioning. “It feels a little strange at first, but quickly became super comfy,” noted one of our testers.
Credit: Jenna Ammerman
In contrast to supportive comfort, the Amazon Basics Low has one of the least enjoyable seats we've ever tested. The squishy foam doesn't give much resistance when we plopped down on the seat. We found ourselves slouching to compensate, which can lead to poor posture over time.
Even from us pushing down, we could tell that this seat wasn't going to turn out well in our testing. In addition, its narrow 18-inch measured seat pan width gave us less overall surface area to fully embrace us. It felt more like a cheap toy chair.
Credit: Natalie Kafader
Measured Seat Pan Width
Product
Width
EDX Armless Criss Cross with Wheels
26.5
Modway Articulate Ergonomic Mesh
20.0
Branch Ergonomic
20.0
GABRYLLY Ergonomic Mesh High Back
20.0
SIHOO M18 Ergonomic Big and Tall
20.0
Steelcase Leap
19.5
Steelcase Think
19.5
BestOffice Mesh Office Desk Chair
19.0
Amazon Basics Low
18.0
The EDX Armless Criss Cross is our standout wide seat pan leader. EDX designed — and named it — for crisscross-sitting enthusiasts who also happen to work in offices. We have a few of those sorts of people at GearLab, and they loved this playful chair. In fact, one of our smaller testers was even able to scootch over to one side to make room for her dog to sit by her.
At 6.5 inches wider than typical 20-inch seats, this armless EDX chair evoked an expansive, freedom-loving feel every time we sat in it.
Credit: Natalie Kafader
For the most part, typical seat pan widths are around 20 inches, regardless of price point. For most people, 20 inches seems to be comfortable for traditional feet-on-floor office postures, but it's smart to keep an eye out for two risk factors here: 1) narrow seat pans tend to be uncomfortable for larger sitters, and 2) tight, non-adjustable armrests can make narrow seat pans feel claustrophobic.
Back
Not surprisingly, premium, top-end office chairs stood out in all-day comfort, with Steelcase chairs taking our top spots. The Steelcase Amia leads the pack with its medium-firm back padding.
The Steelcase Amia's back, with its lumbar height adjustment, was very comfortable for most of our testers, but it might not deliver enough lumbar intensity for those who need extra lower-back support.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
Sitters who appreciate more aggressive lumbar support for their lower backs should look for chairs that offer 2-way lumbar adjustments that let you move the lumbar support up and down as well as in and out. This vertical and horizontal intensity adjustment lets you really dial in the back comfort to match your preferences and needs.
The Steelcase Leap (left) and SIHOO M18 (right) have 2-way lumbar support that lets our lumbar aficionados add intensity as well as height.
The Aeron has a unique lumbar system. The PostureFit SL has two independent pads that can adjust out toward your back until it replicates the curvature of your back.
Although this seems like an intriguing technology in the lumbar support sector, we didn't like the stationary height of the pads, preventing us from moving them up and down along our backs. They never seemed to be just right for any of us.
Credit: Jenna Ammerman
One top performer in back comfort that surprised us during testing came from the GABRYLLY. “Even though there isn't any real lumbar support on this chair,” notes Rachael, “The mesh weave is pretty comfy.”
The GABRYLLY mesh stretched and conformed to our backs in all the right places, getting positive remarks on its scorecard.
Credit: Natalie Kafader
The ability to shift your upper body forward and backward, even slightly, during your work day at your desk can be a key factor in long-term comfort. Slight movements can improve blood flow and reduce the aches that nearly all of us have felt when sitting in non-ergonomic office chairs. Chairs that have tilt-lock, tilt-limiters, and tilt-resistance controls all tend to help improve long-term comfort by letting you lean back with support.
In addition to tilt limiters, some chairs, like the Union & Scale FlexFit Hyken Mesh, have tilt lock features that stop the recline angle in place.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
One example of a great chair with a tilt-limiter is the Herman Miller Embody, which lets us lean back to 4 different positions, locking in the furthest point we wanted to rest backward. We could then sit upright with back support and lean back against a bit of resistance until we hit our selected stopping point. When we returned to our usual upright position, the back returned with us.
It's easy to reach all of the adjustments on the Embody.
The adjustment levers on the Modway are very clearly marked.
The Herman Miller Embody (left) and Modway Articulate Ergonomic Mesh (right) both offer good tilt options but limit and lock differently.
In contrast to the Embody, we could set the tilt-lock on the Modway Articulate Ergonomic Mesh at many angles, but unlike the Embody's tilt-limiter, the Modway's system locks the back in place at a recline angle.
Similarly, if you like to lean back or rock back and forth at your desk, you'll want to pay close attention to each chair's tilt resistance because it determines how much opposing force it will provide when you are pushing with your back. If the tilt resistance is too little, you'll sacrifice upright support. If it's too hard, you simply won't be able to lean back with comfortable ease.
Here are the multiple mechanisms working together on the Modway to get you a wicked recline angle to fall back on.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
While most gaming chairs have incorporated headrests, most office chairs do not have this consideration. However, some office chairs are now shipping with headrests or make them available as add-on options. We primarily find headrests handy for those times we need to sit through long presentations. If you're a home office worker who also likes to game, the ability to lean back fully supported could make a headrest a make-or-break feature.
Our favorite headrests have 2-way adjustments: vertical adjustments to fit your head and neck appropriately and a tilt or horizontal adjustment to dial in the position relative to the back of the chair.
While the headrest is comfortable, one tester wished it could be adjusted a bit higher for optimal comfort.
For our taller testers over 5'4", the included headrest was a comfort winner.
The SIHOO M18 has a vertical adjuster along with the ability to rotate the curved headrest, but the rotation doesn't move forward and backward nearly as easily as the headrest on the GABRYLLY.
Armrests
At some desks, we might rest our wrists on the surface of the desk while typing on a keyboard, but at other desks with lowered keyboards, we might rest our forearms on the armrests while typing. For the latter user, we believe that armrests are sometimes the unsung heroes. As you choose an office chair, consider how the armrests might fit your workstation.
The Leap has a helpful key to show you what all the adjustments do.
Credit: Jenna Ammerman
Once again, the premium Steelcase test chairs scored well with our testing panel as we considered armrest comfort. In general, Steelcase armrests were padded with 4-way adjustability. You'll often see 4D written on manufacturer sites. Thinking about an actual fourth dimension with respect to armrests has our brains rattling, but what it amounts to is the additional swivel that is incorporated in the adjustability.
Depending on your posture and body type, some office workers appreciate armrests that can swivel, like the Steelcase Think armrests shown here, to allow fuller forearm contact to reduce pressure points for improved all-day comfort.
Credit: Jenna Ammerman
If armrest comfort is absolutely critical to you, definitely consider the Steelcase Leap or Think, which were our testers' favorites, and both scored an 8 in our rating metric for their soft, supple nature.
At one-fifth the cost of premium Steelcase chairs, the SIHOO M18 wowed our testers with its cushy, comfortable armrests.
Credit: Natalie Kafader
Of course, some chairs skimp on the armrest comfort.
The Furmax provides minimal lumbar support.
The hard plastic lumbar support is not adjustable, nor are the armrests, which are also too low for most of our testers to appreciate.
The Furmax (left) and BestOffice Mesh (middle) chairs have unadjustable armrests, making them hit or miss if they will fit you. The Amazon Basics Classic Puresoft (right) armrests don't adjust, but we did appreciate the extra bit of padding to give some level of comfort.
Meanwhile, despite having 3-way adjustable armrests, the Branch Ergonomic armrest plastic is inexplicably too hard to be comfortable for more than a few minutes. As one of our testers noted, “If they could make the armrests softer, this chair would be near perfect for the price.”
A side shot of the armrests by Branch. The biggest standout to poor comfortability for this chair.
Credit: Natalie Kafader
Comfort Hours
One of our favorite GearLab office chair metrics is Comfort Hours, which pulls together our experience with every design element of the chair that helps or hinders our ability to remain sitting, relatively comfortably, while working away at our desks.
As this video featuring our lead tester at work shows, increased comfort means you can focus longer. Sihoo M18 on the left, BestOffice Mesh on the right.
Credit: Natalie Kafader
To help you evaluate how long you might be able to work in an office chair, we log multiple office days in each chair, recording what we noticed and appreciated, including reporting the average time our testers felt comfortable sitting in each chair over full work days.
As expected, premium-priced luxury office chairs tend to outperform in this metric. The Steelcase Leap nabbed 10 hours of comfort rating, making it the best office chair for anyone who has to work long 10-hour days. While we expect the most expensive office chairs to score well in comfort, one of our lowest priced chairs, the Modway Articulate, surprised us with its average rating of 8 comfortable hours.
Despite not having the ergonomic adjustments to compete with chairs that cost 5 times as much, the Modway's relatively thick seat cushion seems to be a key to its comfort.
Credit: Jenna Ammerman
Earning the highest marks out of the entire group, the Leap is our testers' favorite regarding comfort. Most of our testers rated this chair exceptionally well — the most comfortable over multiple years — with only one person scoring other chairs higher. This lone dissenting voice was also our tallest tester (6'2"), so you may want to consider this if you're a taller individual, especially since there is not a sizing selection for this product. However, our testers unanimously agreed that this was one of the most comfortable regarding the backrest.
Despite new competition this year, the Leap remains one of the most comfortable chairs we have ever tested.
Credit: Jenna Ammerman
The Herman Miller Aeron received positive comments from most of our testers, with only two testers rating it as below average, primarily due to its backrest. This chair encourages the user to sit correctly — no slouching, slumping, crossing your legs, etc. Some judges were fine with this, while others thoroughly disliked the lack of freedom. The armrests, however, received positive marks across the board, and all of our test crew could sit in this chair for a full workday without too much of an issue.
The Aeron gets the nod for its superior breathable mesh suspension, but the design focuses more on your back and posture. With Herman Miller's PostureFit SL back support technology, this chair encourages the user to sit correctly, which can reward you with long-term comfort when you get it right.
Credit: Jenna Ammerman
With similarities to the Steelcase Leap, the Steelcase Amia and Steelcase Series 2 also set themselves apart as really comfortable chairs. Both of these are close runner-ups to the Leap, with comfortable seat padding and lumbar support, as well as 4-way adjustable armrests.
Our team agreed that the Herman Miller Embody has comfortable armrests, though one particular judge found the seat and backrest rather uncomfortable. “The back feels pokey, and the lumbar is God awful. It hits my belt, so there is zero support,” he noted in his questionnaire. Consequently, that individual could only sit in the chair for 3-4 hours at most. The rest of our panel rated this chair very highly regarding seat and back comfort and were more than happy to use it for a full workday.
The Embody has a unique backing. The “pokey” feeling by one of us was due to the “I” shapes seen here.
Credit: Jenna Ammerman
Some of the newer, less expensive chairs we tested are starting to compete with premium chairs—a trend most home office workers will likely appreciate, too. For example, the Branch gains positive comfort hours due to its outstanding adjustability, letting you make sure it fits your body and sitting style.
While the Branch isn't as quite as refined as its high-end competition, it blows away most of the entry-level and mid-range options.
Credit: Natalie Kafader
The SIHOO M18 and the Gabrylly Ergonomic both scored very respectable comfort ratings. The M18 boasts 2-way lumbar support, and both the M18 and Gabrylly mesh chairs include a comfy headrest, making both chairs a sweet choice for office warriors who understand the rejuvenating boost of a good power nap.
The Amazon Basics Low is a compelling value if you only need to use your office chair for quick tasks.
Credit: Natalie Kafader
If you only need to sit in an office chair for a couple of hours, almost any chair will work, but we must warn you: There is a major difference between being able to sit in a chair comfortably for 6 hours versus 2 hours. For example, while the very inexpensive Amazon Basics Low will let you check email and chime in on your channels, none of our testers felt it was suitable for any serious attention-critical work lasting more than a couple of hours. Please do yourself a favor and invest a few more dollars to see a substantial boost in performance. Your body will appreciate you.
Adjustability
According to the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), a well-designed office chair that is appropriately adjusted is “an essential element of a safe and productive computer workstation.” Through our extensive testing, we learned that OSHA is spot-on with its sitting postures recommendations.
To test adjustability, we compared all measured points of adjustment on each chair, using adjustments for each seat, armrests, backrest, lumbar support, reclining levers, tilt limiters, and headrests.
Credit: Natalie Kafader
We rated and scored each chair on its ease of adjustability and capability to fit multiple testers of different heights, weights, and body types so you can better identify which chairs might work best for you, too. We'll now break down all our measured points of adjustability in the following sub-sections to review which aspects might be prudent for your sitting needs.
Seat
One of the most important seat adjustment options is height so that your buttocks and upper legs are fully supported. If your feet dangle, then the back of your knees can feel pressure from the chair, reducing circulation and potentially causing numbness or tingling in your legs. Yikes. For taller users, when your knees are positioned well above your hips, you can feel knee discomfort and increased back strain from overextended back muscles. You can also exhibit similar reduced blood circulation that comes with its own additional problems.
Seat Height Range
Lowest
Highest
Modway Articulate Ergonomic Mesh
17.5 in
21.0 in
Steelcase Leap
17.0 in
21.5 in
Steelcase Think
16.5 in
21.0 in
Amazon Basics Low
15.5 in
21.5 in
BestOffice Mesh Office Desk Chair
16.5 in
20.5 in
Branch Ergonomic
17.5 in
21.5 in
EDX Armless Criss Cross with Wheels
18.0 in
21.0 in
GABRYLLY Ergonomic Mesh High Back
17.5 in
22.0 in
SIHOO M18 Ergonomic Big and Tall
16.0 in
20.0 in
Short people, as expected, often appreciate lower seat heights to let them place their feet level on the floor and maintain good seated posture. However, we know some office workers who are above average in height and have longer torsos and shorter legs. If you've got a body like this, seat height adjustability could help you dial in the perfect fit as well.
With its lowest setting measuring just 15.5", the Amazon Basics Low Chair adjusts low enough for smaller students needing a homework chair.
Credit: Natalie Kafader
Also, if you're looking for an office chair a kid can grow into, having a lower seat height option can be a smart move. While the Amazon Basics Low dropped down to just 15.5" to lead the pack, the SIHOO drops nearly as low to 16", which is one reason even our shorter testers rated this 'Big and Tall' model favorably.
Most office chairs, even inexpensive options, have simple and effective seat height adjustment controls.
Credit: Natalie Kafader
The reasonably priced Gabrylly Ergonomic Mesh High Back rose up the highest with a seat height of 22 inches, but three other options covering important price points all performed well in the 21-inch range, too. If you're looking for higher seats, consider the premium Leap, the midrange Branch Ergonomic, and the entry-level Amazon Basics Low.
Another invaluable seat adjustment is the ability to shift the seat pan forward and backward relative to the back of the chair. Most of the worry here is the pressure that can be felt when a seat cushion is too deep and hits the back of the knees. Again, when we feel these obstructions, health problems will develop as a side effect.
The Amia has a liquid smooth seat pan adjustment.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
All the Steelcase Series provide an adjustable seat pan. The Embody, HON Ignition, and Branch Ergonomic also provide this option, so if you have a shorter stature, look to this selection to prevent these pains.
Back
There are several key factors that contribute to effective backrests. Lumbar versatility lets you position support for your lower back, which is a common area for aches when you slouch unsupported for hours. Tilt locks and tension controls are important because they determine tilt and recline characteristics that let you lean back and adjust your position over time, which improves blood flow and security. While most office chairs don't include headrests, some do — or offer them as add-on options — and we find them particularly nice for kicking back and watching training videos or online presentations. As you can see below, there's a wide range of adjustability. To take a deeper look, be sure to venture into the individual reviews of each chair you're interested in.
Back Adjustments
Lumbar
Tilt Lock
Tension Knob
Headrest
Steelcase Series 2
✖
✖
Furmax Office Mesh
✖
✖
Amazon Basics Low
✖
✖
✖
✖
Union & Scale FlexFit Hyken Mesh
GABRYLLY Ergonomic Mesh High Back
✖
✖
SIHOO M18 Ergonomic Big and Tall
Amazon Basics Classic Puresoft
✖
✖
✖
While all the Steelcase chairs we tested have height-adjustable lumbar support, only the Leap lets you dial in the firmness. And while many of the Steelcase chairs share common design attributes, options, and premium pricing, Steelcase changes some of the adjustment options. For instance, while the Leap, Gesture, and Amia have tension knobs that let you personally adjust the tilt recline tension, the Think and Series 2 don't have tension knobs at all. Instead, these chairs forego the manual adjustment with an automatic weight-activated mechanism that increases recline tension based on your body weight. Since this feature doesn't have a true tension knob, you can “boost” the recline tension if you prefer a bit more resistance.
The Steelcase Series 2 has very good overall adjustability but lacks the lumbar intensity and tilt refinements available in higher priced Steelcase series.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
In general, as the price goes down, so does the number of available adjustments. The Union & Scale and SIHOO kick this trend by providing a surprising number of adjustments. However, it's important to note that the Union & Scale tends to have a lower range of adjustability compared to premium chairs. For example, you can only move the lumbar support up and down into four positions over a few inches. In comparison, the SIHOO gives us an extended range of movement and allows you to increase or decrease the lumbar intensity forward and backward.
Although we gave a respectable score to the range of adjustment, we docked the SIHOO M18's tilt adjustment knob because it's difficult to access while sitting and requires many turns to create effective tension changes. In comparison, the luxury Herman Miller Aeron has an easy-to-reach and easy-to-turn tension knob.
Credit: Natalie Kafader
Tilt Limiter Stopping Points
Product
Stopping Points
Steelcase Leap
5
Herman Miller Embody
4
Steelcase Think
4
Steelcase Gesture
4
Herman Miller Aeron
3
HON Ignition 2.0 Task
3
Union & Scale FlexFit Hyken Mesh
3
GABRYLLY Ergonomic Mesh High Back
3
Steelcase Series 2
2
If you like to set your recline angle to a specific stopping point, it might be worth investing more in a premium office chair. However, in our experience, most of our testers felt they could usually find a comfortable tilt limit position with 3 options. In this case, the HON Ignition 2.0, Union & Scale FlexFit, and GABRYLLY Ergonomic Mesh chairs offer good tilt limiter functionality at relatively inexpensive price points.
Maximum Recline Angle
Product
Angle
Steelcase Leap
154
Amazon Basics Low
84
Modway Articulate Ergonomic Mesh
62
Branch Ergonomic
56
GABRYLLY Ergonomic Mesh High Back
56
SIHOO M18 Ergonomic Big and Tall
52
BestOffice Mesh Office Desk Chair
49
Steelcase Think
45
EDX Armless Criss Cross with Wheels
42
Similar to the tilt limiter adjustably, our maximum recline angle measurements give you an idea of how far back you can recline. If you like to recline and think or put your feet up on your desk, this metric might help you make your decision. As the chart above shows, the Steelcase Leap is the standout recline angle winner here, but the low-cost Amazon Basics Low reclines surprisingly well, too. Of course, if you believe you'll be reclining often, our testers tended to appreciate high-back chairs with headrests, like the GABRYLLY Ergonomic, for the extra support coverage in recline.
We measure each chair's recline angle to help you identify how far back each chair lets you recline.
Credit: Natalie Kafader
Armrest
One of the ergonomic benefits of armrests is to reduce pressure on your spine and shoulders. With a properly adjusted armrest, the weight of your arms is supported, letting your shoulders and back remain neutral with less slump.
If you want your armrests to adjust to nearly any workstation and body type, the 4-way Steelcase armrest system was an outstanding performer during our tests.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
Steelcase's category-leading adjustable armrests not only adjust up/down, in/out, and forward/back, but they also have a swivel option to let you match the angles of your arms.
Armrest Adjustments
Up/Down
In/Out
Back/Forth
Swivel
Herman Miller Embody
✖
✖
Herman Miller Aeron
✖
Furmax Office Mesh
✖
✖
✖
✖
HON Ignition 2.0 Task
✖
✖
Steelcase Series 2
Union & Scale FlexFit Hyken Mesh
✖
✖
✖
Branch Ergonomic
✖
In general, premium chairs offer better adjustability, but we were surprised when we realized the Herman Miller Aeron doesn't let you increase or decrease the width between each armrest — an adjustment option that is particularly important for smaller or larger than-average sitters. The much more affordable Branch Ergonomic armrest versatility is above average among the chairs we tested, but a reminder that adjustability is just part of the story here. The Branch armrests require a bit of padding to improve the comfort factor.
Overall Adjustability
Our overall Adjustability score is an average of scores assigned to back, armrest, and seat functionality and effectiveness. Even though other chairs compete well in total measured points of adjustability, none are as easy to adjust, smooth to set, and deliver the range of motion as the Steelcase Leap.
Even when competing with other Steelcase chairs with 8 points of measured adjustability, the Leap just pulls every option together with easy effectiveness that's hard to top. For instance, you can easily adjust both the position and firmness of the lumbar support with a wide range of motion. We believe this level of adjustability is the key reason the Steelcase Leap has been a top-selling corporate office chair for years.
If adjustability excites you but the jump to premium pricing is too much, you'll definitely want to consider the Branch Ergonomic, which is easily the most adjustable chair we've tested in the $300 price range. In our experience with the Branch, we found the adjustment controls occasionally sticky and hard to use compared to the Leap, but if you're the only one using the chair, you won't have to make many alterations once everything is lined up to your liking.
We measured 7 points of adjustability on the Branch, which is only one point away from the best. Not bad!
Credit: Natalie Kafader
The actual functionality in adjustments is sometimes counterintuitive. For example, the Herman Miller Embody impressed us with its great overall comfort, and it even scored well in adjustability. When we took a closer look during our long-term testing process, though, there were a few head-scratching design issues you should know about. The main flaw we found with the Embody is the inability to adjust the lumbar support height. You can engage or disengage it and adjust its curvature, but some of our testers felt it would have been better at a different height.
While most of us thought the Embody's armrests were comfortable, they unfortunately don't move forward or backward. For some desk heights, this meant we needed to drop the armrests too low to use in order to get close enough to our desks.
Credit: Jenna Ammerman
If you're looking for improved lumbar adjustability, consider the Leap if you want a premium chair or the SIHOO M18 if you're looking for a more affordable, budget-friendly option.
Weight Limits
In general, office chairs with higher manufacturer-recommended weight limits correspond with increased quality and greater fit ranges. They're more likely to have wider seat pans and/or adjustable armrests that extend a bit wider than average to accommodate larger bodies.
Manufacturer Weight Limit
Product
Weight Limit
Steelcase Amia
400.0
Steelcase Leap
400.0
Steelcase Think
400.0
Steelcase Gesture
400.0
Steelcase Series 2
400.0
Herman Miller Aeron
350.0
Modway Articulate Ergonomic Mesh
331.0
SIHOO M18 Ergonomic Big and Tall
330.0
HON Ignition 2.0 Task
300.0
EDX Armless Criss Cross with Wheels
300.0
Herman Miller Embody
300.0
GABRYLLY Ergonomic Mesh High Back
280.0
Amazon Basics Classic Puresoft
275.0
Union & Scale FlexFit Hyken Mesh
275.0
Amazon Basics Low
275.0
Branch Ergonomic
275.0
Furmax Office Mesh
250.0
BestOffice Mesh Office Desk Chair
250.0
Steelcase brand is the clear winner here. If you're a larger parent planning to work from a home office, be sure to add your weight to that of any of your children who might want to sit on your lap for a minute or two in the morning. The parents and aunts and uncles among us haven't experienced any catastrophic breaks with office chairs, but more than a few lightweight camping chairs have collapsed under such conditions over the years. If you're close to a manufacturer-rated weight limit, we recommend that you err on the side of caution and choose a more robust option.
Ease of Assembly
Our final metric focuses on the effort required to go from unboxing each chair to sitting in it. We looked at both the actual assembly process and the quality of the included documentation to determine scores. Since most people will only have to go through this process once, we placed relatively little weight on this metric—but we've all had nightmare stories of poor installation directions and want to prevent these low moments in our lives for you.
We found the Leap, Think, Gesture, and Aeron were all supremely easy to set up. These chairs essentially came fully assembled or took us less than five minutes of work to get them ready to go. The Amia and Series 2 are also incredibly fast to set up, just requiring sliding the gas cylinder into place. The seat also needs to be slid into place on the Series 2, but you will spend more time breaking down the packaging these chairs came in than anything else.
The affordable Branch Ergonomic arrived mostly disassembled, but it only took us about 12 minutes to get it together.
Credit: Rachael Lamore
Most inexpensive office chairs take a little longer to set up due to sloppy tolerances and confusing instructions, but we must call out the premium Herman Miller Embody, which took us over 40 minutes to assemble. “Somehow, the chair with the least parts to assemble took the longest,” noted our tester, Austin. The process was simply incorrect. Backed by multiple testers, the directions were misleading and out of order. We were finally able to finish the job by taking the backrest off first for the rest of the procedure to work.
No matter how you sit at your desk, we hope our side-by-side comparisons help you choose the right office chair for you.
Credit: Natalie Kafader
Conclusion
An ergonomic chair can make all the difference between having a productive work environment or a day plagued with stiffness and backaches. There's nothing better than walking over to our desk, a mug of coffee in hand, and sinking into a chair that we adjusted to our own particular body type. We hope our side-by-side comparisons of the top office chairs have given you the tools you need to find the perfect chair that matches your sitting needs and budget.
And, if you want to keep upgrading your office space, we also tested a variety of office essentials like the top cordless phones and paper shredders, assessing each product via a series of side-by-side comparisons. We've thoroughly analyzed our favorite standing desk converters to help get you up and out of your chair.
