What is the best office chair? A good office chair can save your posture and make life more comfortable when working or playing for long periods. If, like me, you sit down for a large part of the day and need the right chair to help your health, they’re an essential upgrade. We’ve been trying and testing the top options to help you find the right one.
Our top pick right now is the FlexiSpot C8/BS11 Pro, as it offers great comfort with good breathability and smart styling for a low price. Flexipost also gets our nod for the best budget office chair with its simple Flexispot OC3. Meanwhile, for peak adjustability, we recommend Sihoo Doro S300. For more options, check out the list below, and if you need more guidance on what to look for in an office chair, check out the how to choose section at the bottom of this guide, along with the FAQ that answers your office chair questions.
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Best office chairs:
FlexiSpot C8/BS11 Pro
Best office chair for most
| Height range | 118cm-126cm |
| Max weight | 130kg |
| Materials | Mesh Cloth: High elasticity filament Backrest: PU soft plastic material Chassis: Italy DONATI chassis |
| Warranty | 5 years |
| Colors | Black, Gray, Light Blue |
- Full-body support with head rest
- Mesh design is cooling
- Lots of customization
- Assembly required
- Some may want a more padded seat
- Hard to find in the US
This FlexiSpot chair is available globally, as the C8 in the US and the BS11 PRO in the UK. After several weeks of testing, we found it to be the best all-rounder for comfort, features, and value. It’s not the cheapest on this list, but if you want an ergonomic design that supports you for long periods of sitting, it’s ideal.
The chair takes about 45 minutes to assemble, but making adjustments to get a comfortable position is much quicker. You can tilt the back, headrest, and arms to suit your build, and all of the movements are smooth.
The C8/BS11 Pro looks futuristic and minimalistic, and its mesh build gives a look that’s less “heavy” than a traditional solid black chair, especially in a small room. FlexiSpot’s premium ergonomic chair provides real comfort and customization for an office.
Read our FlexiSpot C8/BS11 Pro review
Herman Miller Sayl
Best quality office chair
| Height range | 959 – 1035mm |
| Max weight | 159kg |
| Materials | Glass-reinforced nylon, die-cast aluminum frame, and Polyurethane foam seat cushion |
| Warranty | 12 years |
| Colors | Pastel shades of blue, green, brown |
- Great ergonomics
- Comfortable
- No assembly required
- Expensive
- Tension knob doesn’t work well
If you’re someone with a lot of back problems, the Herman Millar Sayl office chair will be a dream come true. The arms, backrest, and height are all incredibly easy to use and adjust, so you should have no trouble getting it just right for your unique body shape.
While sometimes the ergonomic choice isn’t all that comfortable, this chair proudly ticks both boxes. One particularly appealing feature is the mesh back – I’ve never felt too cold on it in the winter, but in the summer months, it means your back can breathe. You might think that it might not feel as nice as cushioned fabric, but actually, it’s wonderfully soft.
Nonetheless, it is a very expensive option and I’m sure there will be a lot of people for whom it has priced itself out of the market. It does have a 12-year warranty though, and when you think about how much usage you’re likely to get out of it, it’s a little easier to justify. There are pricier options too, like the Herman Miller Embody x Logitech, which we’ve got more details about below.
Read our full Herman Miller Sayl office chair review.
Sihoo Doro S300
Most adjustable office chair
| Height range | 47 – 55.5cm |
| Max weight | 136kg |
| Materials | Italian velvet mesh, DuPont TPEE |
| Warranty | Five years |
| Colors | Black, white |
- Extremely comfortable
- Great aesthetics
- Highly adjustable
- High price
- Armrests could be better
- Castors not perfect
The Sihoo Doro S300 is just about the best office chair offered by Sihoo. In addition to its premium materials (the Italian velvet mesh feels incredible), it also offers an extensive selection of adjustment options that include plenty of different recline locks, easy height, and depth adjustments, and even the option to change tension levels on the backrest.
The chair also features a fantastic Anti-Gravity Mechanism (as Sihoo calls it) which makes use of aerospace-grade glass fiber elastic plates in order to create am almost weightless feeling. Imagine sitting on a cloud (if it were possible to sit on clouds) – that’s pretty much how sitting on the Sihoo Doro S300 feels.
Of course, it’s not perfect – the armrests are a bit cumbersome and making changes to them can be pretty awkward. Meanwhile, it doesn’t glide as easily across the floor as you might hope while you’re sitting on it. Yes, it’s fine if you’re pushing it around empty, but we all like wheeling ourselves around without getting up, right? And you still can, it’s just not a seamless glide.
Ultimately though, we were very impressed by the Sihoo Doro S300. Usually, the super comfortable chairs don’t offer quite so many options to refine it for your body shape, so it’s really cool that this lets you adjust it in so many ways. Its high price tag might be off-putting for some, but we think it’s worth it and if you need something cheaper, check out the Sihoo Doro C300 below.
Read our full Sihoo Doro S300 review.
Sihoo Doro C300
Best mesh office chair
| Height range | 40cm – 45cm |
| Max weight | 136kg |
| Materials | Fully breathable mesh |
| Warranty | 3 years |
| Colors | Black and white |
- It’s very comfy
- Wonderfully breezy mesh
- Highly adaptable
- A bit expensive
- Armrests could be better
- Assembly instructions not great
Sihoo makes a wide range of office chairs, from luxury products like their S300, to cheaper models like the M57. The Sihoo Doro C300 sits squarely in the middle of the road, offering high levels of comfort and a decent build quality. It’s not going to be affordable to everybody, but it’s a lot cheaper than the likes of Herman Miller’s ready-made premium office chairs.
One of the biggest appeals of the C300 is its mesh back. Not only is it wonderfully comfortable, but it does an excellent job of keeping you cool even if you’re going to be sitting in it for a long time on a hot day. It’s simple aesthetic (available in both black and white) will fit wonderfully in just about any office space without the risk of clashing.
When the chair comes, it is flat-packed and so requires a fair amount of assembly. This isn’t hard, by any means, but it’s worth noting that the instructions aren’t particularly impressive, so it can feel quite daunting at first. Fortunately, once that’s taken care of, it’s not something you’re likely to worry about again – especially not for the next three years (the length of its warranty).
Though it has generally been built with good ergonomics, such as a lumbar support cushion that moves with you as you use it, and easy-to-use adjustments to height and recline levels, it could do better with the armrests. They’re just very difficult to adjust and could have been a bit bigger. Still, these are a small handful of problems with an office chair that has a long list of reasons to love it.
Read our full Sihoo Doro C300 review.
Boulies NUBI Series
Best value office chair
| Height range | 160 – 190cm |
| Max weight | 120kg (265lbs) |
| Materials | 100% polymer NUO fabric, steel and plastic frame |
| Warranty | 3 years limited |
| Colors | Charcoal, beige |
- Comfortable padding
- Understated design
- Simple assembly
- Less breathable than mesh seat
- Foam can get warm
- Limited US availability
The Boulies NUBI Series chair has many of the hallmark qualities of a good office chair; a plush foam base, smart design, and different seating adjustments to help you find the right seating position for long hours at a computer. It comes in a standard or “LITE” option (with a slightly lower backrest), but I’d suggest the full height for most people.
After testing the NUBI for several weeks, I found the chair incredibly comfortable (more so than the mesh seat of the FlexiSpot C8/BS11 Pro above), but the foam padding did get hot as we went into late Spring in the UK. The woven fabric also collected a lot of dust and hair and needed some regular hooving.
The armrests only move up and down, but they’re easy to adjust. You can also move the seat back and forward to improve the support on your lower back. For the price, the Boulies NUBI is great-looking, offers good value, and has customization for most people. It’s a great chair for smaller office spaces and looks modern enough for them too, but I’d avoid it if you’re larger in size or get hot on foam seat pads.
Read our Boulies NUBI Series review.
FlexiSpot C7 Ergonomic
Most supportive office chair
| Height range | 119.38 – 142.24cm |
| Max weight | 136.07kg (300lbs) |
| Materials | 119.38 – 142.24cm |
| Warranty | 43.18 – 48.26cm |
| Colors | 360 degrees |
- Excellent balance between support and comfort
- Easy to adjust
- Lumbar support is very effective
- Needs two people to assemble
- Looks are a bit corporate
- Not the cheapest in its class
FlexiSpot is well known for making some of the best standing desks, and its office chairs are just as good at providing a comfortable experience when you’re working or gaming. During our testing of the FlexiSpot C7, we found its back support to be excellent for full days of sitting, and on par with the more expensive Herman Miller chairs.
The C7 backrest features a tension adjustment with 4 different settings, and you also get an adjustable headrest, plus a 93-114-degree tilt range. The thick foam cushion is comfortable for all-day periods, while you can upgrade to a mesh seat for a small extra cost.
Although it’s not the cheapest option, the C7 Ergonomic office chair comes with a 10-year warranty and has been tested against thousands of daily uses to ensure it lasts well. We think it’s the best balance of comfort versus price on this list. And while it won’t win any awards for most exciting design, its neutral looks should fit in most environments.
How to choose the best office chair
The best office chair for you depends on your size and weight, how much you have to spend, how you usually sit, and what sort of design you’re looking for. While office chairs used to be black and bland, many chair brands such as Boulies, Branch, and Herman Miller now make gorgeous modern options in a spectrum of colors. If design is important, there’s a good chance you can find a chair in colorway that blends in with your office space.
Another aspect of the design is comfort and adjustability. Cheaper chairs generally offer less overall support and have fewer ways to tweak the chair’s height and angle, while premium offerings will allow you to tailor the lumbar support, change the tilt amount, and even shift the chair’s seat back and forward.
Also think about how you sit most while working. Is it on a laptop? On a desktop? A larger seat base means you can sit cross-legged, and a taller chair with a headrest can be comfortable if you plan to sit back in a reclined position to game.
Once you’ve chosen your chair, dedicate some time to adjust it to your proportions. Setting up most chairs should only take a few minutes initially – setting the seat height, lumbar level, and armrest position, for instance – but it can take a few weeks to fully get a sense of what’s right for you and your chair, so don’t be disheartened if you don’t get it right the first time.
Office chair FAQs
What’s the difference between office chairs and gaming chairs?
Broadly speaking, there isn’t really a meaningful difference these days, other than style. Gaming chairs tend to still have a car racing seat look with chunky build quality, but there are plenty of exceptions. Meanwhile, office chairs tend to have a lighter build, often using mesh seats and backs, and focus on ergonomics and adjustability, but again there are exceptions and plenty of cheap office chairs are very far from comfortable.
On balance, though, if you’re primarily looking for all-day-sitting comfort on a budget, a mid-range office chair will get you that for a lower price than a gaming chair. Options like the FlexiSpot C8/BS11 Pro and Sihoo Doro C300 offer fantastic comfort and adjustability for under $300 while many gaming chairs of the same price are built more sturdily but have less adjustment and support.
Does a good office chair make a difference?
Absolutely. You’re likely to spend a long time sitting down in your office chair each day, and it’s no exaggeration to say that an inferior product could reduce your quality of life and comfort. Over time, badly designed office chairs can genuinely be a leading cause of all sorts of aches and pains.
Is a hard chair better for your back?
Yes and no. If you go for a truly soft, unsupportive chair that you sink into, this will potentially do more harm to your back than a harder chair. However, good support doesn’t have to mean a chair is actually hard. Instead, a good office chair should cushion but gently support your legs and back in key areas. That’s one of the reasons quality mesh chairs are so good. Not only does the mesh provide breathability to reduce sweat but it can (if taught enough and properly shaped) provide an excellent balance of support and cushioning.
For the best support, look out for chairs that have a deep lumbar support curve, or adjustable lumbar support, along with a seat cushion that curves upwards in the middle and slopes off at the front. The latter helps distribute your weight evenly and stops pressure on the underside of your legs. The FlexiSpot C8/BS11 Pro and both Sihoo Doro chairs on this list offer these crucial features.
What makes an office chair ergonomic?
An ergonomic chair is one that is designed to support your body as much as possible. One that has been designed with no regard for ergonomics will likely be detrimental to your health. If you have back problems or any other health concerns, you should consult a medical professional about how best to tackle the issue, however, the following points give a useful overview of what ergonomic office chair design looks like:
Height adjustment
The absolute first consideration for an office chair is that is has height adjustment. Your legs should rest with your feet flat on the floor and your knees bent at a 90-degree angle. Most chairs will allow you to adjust the height of your seat to ensure that your legs and feet rest comfortably, but the range of heights that they offer varies quite a lot.
Lumbar support
Lumbar support is the next most important feature for an office chair. By curving towards your lower back, lumbar supports help to gently hold, well, support your lower back. This extra relief can seriously take the strain off your spine when sat for a long time. Look for chairs with a deep lumbar curve that’s ideally adjustable in both height and depth so you can tune the support to your spine.
Cushioning / mesh
Quality padding on a chair shouldn’t be overlooked as a crucial comfort consideration. Cheap office chairs have very thin padding that squashes down and feels hard after a very short time. For foam padding, you want deep padding that feels slightly firmer than you might is comfortable. This padding will hold up to long term sitting without squashing. Also make sure the seat padding curves away at the front edge so it doesn’t dig into the underside of your legs.
Mesh chairs are a great alternative to foam padding as they’re breathable but can also offer that same long terms soft support. Again, look for a curve seat and back mesh that it firmer/springier than you might think as this will offer the best long terms support – weak mesh will just give way.
Tilt and recline
Tilting and reclining a great options for occasionally sitting back and relaxing. Look out for chairs that offer a tilt function that also adjusts the angle of the seat, not just the back, and is properly balanced. These let you simply unlock the chair’s tilt mechanism and lean back for a comfortable recline.
4D armrests
Good armrests can be a great addition for some office chair users, though many users prefer to go without. Armrests can offer a little bit of support that just takes the strain off your arms and shoulders. However, they can also just get in the way, particulary if you like to tuck your chair in close to your desk. The best armrests offer a lot of adjustment so that you can tuck them out the way if not needed but be brought in to offer just the right height and positioning to support your arms. Also, look out for reports of armrests being particularly hard – a hard armrest is little better than no armrest at all.
There’s a lot more depth to the world of ergonomics, but this at least should give you a point of reference to consider when choosing a chair that’s good for your body.
Where next? If you want to reduce the time you spend sitting down, check out the best standing desks for gaming. Or, for more seating options, have a read of our best gaming chair guide.