Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, office workers have been spending most of their lives seated in their desk chairs for 40 hours a week. This meant that they are sitting in their chairs for an estimated 2,085 hours a year. With a work from home scenario, these working hours have increased.
Because an inappropriate desk chair can wreak havoc on one’s health, it is important for anyone working from home to have the best, ergonomically designed chairs that will not only safeguard your posture and prevent neck, shoulder, and back pains, but will also allow you to work long hours in a sitting position comfortably.
Here is a complete buyer’s guide on what the specific qualities that you need to look for in a desk chair as well as 15 of our recommendations for the best desk chairs in the market today.
Why Should You Get the Best Desk Chair for You?
The choice of the best desk chair is largely dependent upon your personal needs. There are so many different kinds of chairs that are available, each with their own design and distinctive attributes, but it all boils down on your body – in particular the comfort for your back, neck, shoulders, and butt – and the support and comfort that it will give you when you work long hours at home. Simply put, the best desk chair should not only improve on your productivity, but also safeguard your overall well-being.
So, before you buy a desk chair, you need to know the exact benefits that you want to derive from using it. Such benefits include the following:
- Total body support
- Comfort
- Freedom of movement within the desk space
- Allowances for relaxation, particularly letting the chair lean back without tipping over
Qualities To Look for in The Best Desk Chairs
If you are working from home, here are the qualities that you need to look for when searching for the perfect desk chair for your use.
1) Adequate body support
Usually when you think about appropriate desk chair support, you only think about lower back support. However, the desk chair should not only support your lower back, but also your neck and shoulders. If you are prone to back pain while working, get a desk chair that follows your spinal curvature, particularly in the lower back. The back of the chair should reach or, better yet, be inches above your shoulder blades. Get a chair with a headrest to support the back of your neck and head.
To prevent pain in your butt, make sure that you get a chair with memory foam in its seat or any material that follows the contour of your backside when you sit down. These will provide maximum comfort and prevent pressure strain on your butt.
2) Take note of adjustability
Most ergonomic desk chairs allow you to adjust certain features of the chair to match your needs. Among the adjustable features include chair height, lumbar support, arm height and width, lean back width and height, back and seat angle, and tension control. These adjustments can be done through click and rotation controls, or a handheld bulb pump or lever.
When it comes to chair height, it should be at a height wherein your feet can rest flat and comfortable on the floor. For better comfort, you can also add a footstool to rest your feet on when you want to stretch back. In addition, the chair height should allow you to view the middle of your computer screen, so that you don’t strain your neck or slouch.
For the arm rests, it should be adjusted to match the height of your desk to maximize comfort and so that you don’t end up straining your shoulders while working at your computer. The armrests should also be positioned close to the body to keep your shoulders relaxed.
Check the lean back of the chair. Adjust the tension control so that you can move the chair far back without causing it to fall over backwards.
3) Check the swivel base
The swivel base allows you to move within the limited space of your desk. This is important especially if you often reach out for certain items, like a pen, a file, or your printer, that you need while working. This will eliminate shoulder and arm fatigue. Many desk chairs allow for 360-degree rotation, so you can easily turn the chair around and stand up from your desk if you need to do another chore.
4) Consider the wheelbase
If you want some mobility in your desk chair, you should take a closer look at its wheelbase. Ball wheels are more appropriate for tiled, wood, or other hard surface floors. For carpeted floors, caster wheels are the best. Casters not only allow for greater movement; these rubber wheels will not create deep grooves in the carpet.
5) Take note of the Desk Chair Fabric
Those who have used leather desk chairs soon discover how hot it can become when sitting on it for long hours. So that you don’t get hot and sweaty on your chair, make sure that the desk chair fabric is breathable. One good option is to get a chair with mesh fabric especially if you sweat a lot.
The Best Desk Chairs in the Market
Are you looking for a great desk chair for your work from home set up? Here are the Top 15 Desk Chairs that are readily available for ordering online today!
1) YouToo Ergonomic Chair
Available in many colors and breathable fabrics, the YouToo Ergonomic Chair is the top choice because of its great adjustability. Among its ergonomic settings are lumbar support tension, tilt control, seat slider which moves the seat back and forth while the back rest stays in position, adjustable/removable armrests, chair height, and back height.
2) Herman Miller Embody Chair
The Embody Chair is the first of three Herman Miller desk chairs that are in our list. The Embody Chair is especially designed so that it mimics the human back with its sturdy central spine and flexible ribs. There are six ergonomic functions to promote full body support, allowing for better spinal alignment, improved pressure distribution, and natural movement.
3) Autonomous ErgoChair2
The ErgoChair2 by Autonomous is arguably the most adjustable ergonomic desk chair in the market today. With its numerous adjustable settings, it is easy to achieve the best support for your body with the greatest convenience. It has a 360-degree rotation and can carry weight as high as 350 pounds. In addition, the ErgoChair2 comes with a 30-day trial so that you can get a full refund if you are not happy with the chair’s performance. It also has a two-year warranty.
4) SIHOO Ergonomics Desk Chair
Highly recommended by the Ergonomics Application Association, the SIHOO Ergonomics Desk Chair offers a highly adjustable 120-degree backrest, and lumbar and head support pillows for maximum support and comfort. Its seat is made out of soft cotton and it also has adjustable handrails.
5) EuroTech Ergohuman High Back Swivel Chair
The Ergohuman High Back Swivel Chair was designed for maximum comfort. Its eight ergonomic adjustment controls include tilt tension, tilt lock, seat height, seat depth, arm height, back height, back angle, and synchro tilt. The backrest and seat are covered with breathable mesh for better support and air circulation.
6) HOMEFUN Ergonomic Office Chair
The HOMEFUN Ergonomic Office Chair is one of the more affordable desk chairs available today. The chair can be adjusted to 16-20 inches in height and the backrest by 90-135 degree, enabling you to achieve the best and most comfortable position for work. It also has a sponge padded seat and mesh fabric for better support and comfort.
7) Herman Miller Aeron Chair
The Aeron Chair is the second Herman Miller product in our list. Like the Embody, the Aeron also comes with great adjustment features, particularly lumbar support and tilt tension. It also has a breathable mesh backrest. One of the oldest desk chairs in the Herman Miller catalogue, the Aeron continues to be a popular choice among offices today.
8) Alonte Task Chair
One of the more affordable desk chairs, the Alonte Task Chair offers full lumbar support with great air circulation, thanks to its open mesh design. It also has a synchro tilt so that you can tilt both the seat and the backrest if you want to lie back a bit while working.
9) Steelcase Leap Office Chair
The Steelcase Leap Office Chair offers a number of ergonomic adjustments for full support of various body sizes and shapes. In fact, the chair itself adjusts in support of any movements you make, especially the movement of your spine. Even when you lean forward, the edge of the seat flexes for pressure relief on the back of your legs. If you are living a healthy “green” lifestyle, the Steelcase Leap Chair is the best choice for you because it is 98 percent recyclabale.
10) CLATINA 247 Ergonomic High Swivel Executive Chair
The CLATINA 247 series chairs are ergonomically designed for working long hours at your desk or computer. This BIFIMA certified chair has a patented Synchro Movement Technology which guarantees comfortable and healthy seating while you work.
11) Herman Miller Mirra 2
The third product Herman Miller product on our list is the Mirra 2. The chair has standard ergonomic controls to control tilt, lumbar support, and armrests. It comes with a breathable mesh backrest for improved air circulation and an excellent seat support cushion.
12) SPACE Seating Professional AirGrid
The SPACE Seating Professional AirGrid looks like a simple desk chair, but it offers great back support and is also one of the more affordable chairs. Its convenient seat adjustments and angled arm rests promote total comfort. In addition, it is not a bulky chair so it is appropriate to all work spaces.
13) High-Back Racing Style Bonded Leather Gaming Chair
If you are a gamer or know someone who is, you may already know the many long hours spent sitting on a gaming chair while playing. Well, chairs that are good for gamers are also just as good for folks who are working from home. A good example is the High-Back Racing Style Bonded Leather Gaming Chair. One of the most comfortable chairs you can use for work and gaming, it is heavy duty and highly adjustable. It also comes with a 360-degree ergonomic swivel.
14) Serta Faux Big Office Chair
If you want a big, leather office chair and be like a CEO in your own home, then the Serta Faux Big Office Chair is the best desk chair for you. It has broad, thick cushions for maximum comfort and support. It also comes with built in neck support. Capable of carrying weights of up to 350 pounds, it also has a dual caster wheel design for improved rolling and mobility.
15) AmazonBasics Bonded Leather Chair
The AmazonBasics Bonded Leather Chair is one of the affordable chairs that you can buy on Amazon. It comes with a high back rest for better back support. While it has minimal ergonomic settings, you can adjust the chair to your preferred angle. AmazonBasics has a soft brown leather cover so that it can match all types of interiors.
If you are presently in the market in search of the best desk chair for you, it is highly advisable that you get the opportunity to test the chairs you are thinking of getting. Ask friends about their favorite desk chairs. If the chairs are available in your local home improvement store, request if you could sit on it in order to know if it feels right and comfortable to you. When ordering online, make it a point to ask questions about certain features you don’t know about or are looking for. Check if they have trial or return offers in case the chair does not meet your needs.
Let this complete buyer’s guide help you in finding the best desk chair for working from home!
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