Best Office Chair 2021: Our Top Picks For November


Getting the best office chair can be of major benefit if you want to improve productivity, add a statement piece to your setup, and of course reduce the chances of any seat related back pain.

There's plenty of options on the market at all sorts of prices, and knowing which one is best for you can be quite difficult.

We've done some of the hard work for you by looking through spec sheets, reviews, and additional features to help kick off your search in the best way possible.

So, whether you're looking for the ergonomics of the Humanscale Freedom Desk Chair or you're after plenty of adjustability with the Steelcase Gesture Chair, we've got you covered.

Let's get to it!

Best Office Chair

Best Office Chair - Herman Miller Aeron

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Image Credit: Herman Miller

Manufacturer: Herman Miller | Tilt Angle: Recline: "As far as you like", Forward: 5 degrees | Supported Height: A: 4ft 10-5ft 4, B: 5ft 2-6ft, C: 5ft 10-6ft 6 | Max Weight: A: Up to 300lbs, B: Up to 350lbs, C: Up to 350lbs | Adjustable: Yes

If you're looking for one of the best office chairs around, then we think the Herman Miller Aeron definitely fits the bill.

Its entire construction for the seat component is made of mesh as opposed to the usual padded leather that more executive chairs go for, which gives it its minimalistic look, as well as looking to be rather comfortable, too.

Moreover, the mesh on the seat conforms to your own position, making the Aeron a chair that's personal to its own user. This is also evident in the vast swathes of adjustment options on offer including lumbar support, forward tilt and seat height.

You'll be pleased to find the Aeron is available in three sizes dependent upon how tall you are, with supported heights ranging from 4ft 10 on size A to 6ft 6 on the size C.

There are also three different mesh colour options, including a classic black, or white for a more modern look.

Best Budget Office Chair - IKEA JÄRVFJÄLLET

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Image Credit: IKEA

Manufacturer: IKEA | Recline Options: Free Recline with 3 settable positions | Pre Assembled: No | Max Weight: 110kg | Adjustable: Yes

For a more pocket-friendly solution, the modern-looking IKEA JÄRVFJÄLLET doesn't appear to disappoint.

It operates as a modernised and revised MARKUS chair, bringing with it the gains of an adjustable headrest, seat depth and lumbar support. In essence, this is more of a customisable chair.

The JÄRVFJÄLLET also looks to be sturdily built thanks to a metal frame and the combo of mesh and fabric offering a nice amount of comfort. Having a mesh back can also be useful in warm weather as opposed to leather. There is also a leather option available.

For getting an ergonomic experience on a budget, this is a good option, but the gains of comfort don't stop there. Combining an upright posture with one of the best monitor arms that can be adjusted to your preferred viewing angle can have large gains, for example.

In addition, JÄRVFJÄLLET can be bought in either black, grey, blue, or intriguingly, an off-white colour.

Best Ergonomic Office Chair - Humanscale Freedom Desk Chair

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Image Credit: Humanscale

Manufacturer: Humanscale | Recline Options: Auto-leveling, adaptive backrest | Pre Assembled: Yes | Max Weight: 300lbs | Adjustable: Yes

We think the Humanscale Freedom looks to be a fabulous choice for those looking for a truly ergonomic office chair.

What you'll find with this chair is a raft of features that means it's been engineered specifically for all-day office workers. For instance, there's an automatically adjusting headrest as well cushions that are contoured specifically to fit your body.

You'll also find an adaptive backrest that adjusts when you recline, or most pertinently, a recline function that maintains eye level when you do want to kick back.

In addition, the Humanscale Freedom can come in all sorts of colours, be it the standard black or blue as well as red, which is fun. We think it offers a nice blend of classic office chair looks with a modern twist.

Best Adjustable Office Chair - Steelcase Gesture Chair

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Image Credit: Steelcase

Manufacturer: Steelcase | Tilt Angle: 98-116 degrees | Pre Assembled: Yes | Max Weight: 400lbs | Adjustable: Yes

Maybe you're after an incredible amount of adjustment, and on that front, the Steelcase Gesture Chair delivers.

It does offer a more typical 'office chair' look about it, but that's no bad thing - the corporate looks that Steelcase have employed make this chair look rather professional indeed.

On the front of comfort, the seating on offer with the Steelcase Gesture Chair looks to be rather padded and therefore comfortable. The cushion and back are usually made of premium fabric but can be configured to a leather material if preferred.

Where this chair wins though is on its vast amount of adjustment and configuration. All the controls are intuitive and within easy reach, and there's quite the feature set on offer. You'll find infinitely adjustable arms, as well as a clever seat slider and reclining mechanism.

There isn't any back height adjustment here though, but considering the way in which the Gesture Chair is meant to work, we don't think it's that much of a sore miss.

Best Gaming Office Chair - Razer Iskur Gaming Chair

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Image Credit: Razer

Manufacturer: Razer | Tilt Angle: 90-101 degrees | Recommended Height: 5ft 6-6ft 2 | Max Weight: 299lbs | Adjustable: Yes

Razer make loads of gaming accessories and feature heavily in some of our best headset, best keyboards, and even best speaker lists, so it's no surprise that they've turned their attention to chairs too - and blown it out of the park.

The Razer Iskur offers what looks to be voluminous levels of firm padding, but remains breathable thanks to the multi-layered synthetic leather that Razer have used.

Even with this being a 'gaming' chair that is among the best gaming chairs, the Iskur still manages to carry a certain professional look to it, largely thanks to its high-class black colouring with the usual green accents for logos and stitching.

There are also some handy adjustable 4D armrests that can be configured so you can find a setting that suits you. When combined with one of the best gaming desks, the Razer Iskur can offer one of the top hybrid gaming-office setups around.

For more customisation, be sure to look out for the adjustable lumbar curve that can mould to fit your back - a feature usually reserved for more premium-priced chairs.

And, if leather isn't your thing, but you still want the looks of Razer's chair, then you'll be pleased to know that the Razer Iskur Fabric is available.

Best Kneeling Office Chair - DRAGONN by VIVO Ergonomic Kneeling Chair

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Image Credit: Vivo

Manufacturer: Vivo | Height Adjustment: 21-31 inches | Seat Angle: 90 degrees | Max Weight: 250lbs | Adjustable: Yes

There are office chairs out there specifically designed and built with ergonomics and comfort in mind, and the DRAGONN by VIVO Ergonomic Kneeling Chair is certainly one of them.

As a kneeling chair, it promotes a different posture to usual chairs which helps to maintain the curve of your lower back. In contrast, also, there isn't the usual high-back that means you can slouch in your chair, as a kneeling chair is all about being supportive.

The DRAGONN also features some thick leather cushions which we think go hand in hand with it being a comfortable chair. Moreover, there's a mesh backrest that can be adjusted.

Its height can also be configured from 21 to 31 inches which also means this chair works for a range of heights, as well as the fact users can find what works best.

Frequently Asked Questions About Office Chairs

Do I need an ergonomic office chair?

Having an ergonomic chair with a contoured shape such as the Herman Miller Aeron can help to relieve back pain and improve posture.

We'd say they're almost a must-have for most people working at home or in offices, especially for jobs that require a ton of desk time.

Are gaming chairs good for posture?

In short, some of the best gaming chairs out there can be used as office chairs, like the Razer Iskur since they've got a high back and plenty of padding.

For office work too, the likes of the Iskur present a good case thanks to its breathable leather and memory foam cushions.

You'll want to think about professionalism though, especially if you're having a number of video calls. As much as we love a great gaming chair, they can be quite bombastic when it comes to design, so it's worth keeping in mind when you make your decisions.

How much should I spend on an office chair?

This all really depends on what you're budget is, but as a rule of thumb if you want something with more adjustment options and configuration, then you can easily spend $1000 or over.

However, that's not to say that something within the region of $150 and $300 doesn't provide good support, adjustability and looks, case in point, the IKEA JÄRVFJÄLLET.

Spending in the region of $400 to $700 will offer you a decent middle ground.

Chairs and the desks (especially some of the best standing desks) are more investments than anything, and in many ways, they're investing in your health - which does make it harder to argue with the price tag in our eyes.

Read More: The Best Ergonomic Mice

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