Working from your couch or bed sounds comfortable, but try doing it for hours at a time. It simply isn’t practical to have your computer and anything else you need right in front of you while you try to sit back all nice and comfy. If you’re working from home for any substantial amount of time, you should set up an ergonomic workspace that you can use without hurting your arms, back, or neck. That means you need a proper chair, ideally in front of a desk or table.
Office chairs are meant for long periods of productive sitting; they should enable you to keep your hands on your keyboard and mouse without stretching awkwardly. You have plenty of options to choose from, starting at around $100 and easily surpassing $1,000. With that in mind, these are our top picks for office chairs (and gaming chairs), and what you should know before buying yours.
Deeper Dive: Our Top Tested Picks
Cooler Master Caliber X2
Best Overall
Why We Picked It
Gaming chairs can make great office chairs, and Cooler Master has proven it can make great gaming chairs. The Caliber X2 is a well-built, premium option with supple faux leather and dense foam that feels exceedingly comfortable. Although it doesn’t have some of the high-tech internal tweaks of the Secretlab Titan Evo, it’s just as pleasant to sit in and costs less.
Who It’s For
This is one of your best options if you want a sturdy, high-backed chair replete with solid padding and smooth, soft upholstery.
PROS
- Rock-solid build with dense foam
- Supple and breathable PU leather
- Comfortable sliding lumbar support
CONS
- Head cushion position is a bit awkward
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Secretlab Titan EVO (2022 Series)
Best Customizable Chair
Why We Picked It
Secretlab’s gaming chairs have long been among our favorites. Their build quality and materials are excellent, and the company tends to throw in some clever bits of engineering, too. The large and sturdy Titan EVO 2022 features adjustable lumbar support as well as a magnetic head pillow, making it one of the most comfortable chairs we’ve sat on in quite some time. While it’s pricier than the Cooler Master X2, it’s available in far more colors, including licensed designs from properties like Diablo, League of Legends, and Star Wars.
Who It’s For
If you want to go beyond the typical black look for your chair, the Titan EVO 2022 is one of the best out there. It isn’t cheap, but it’s a substantial upgrade over the gaming chairs you typically find in stores for half the price, and there are dozens of options to choose from.
PROS
- Excellent build quality
- Comfortable
- Several clever design elements
- Easy assembly
CONS
- Magnetic head pillow can be nudged off
- Faux leather is vulnerable to cats
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Herman Miller X Logitech G Embody Gaming Chair
Best Luxury Chair
Why We Picked It
Did you think the Aeron was Herman Miller’s most comfortable and expensive office chair? Think again. The Embody is even more ergonomic and pricey. Its taller seat back features dozens of “pixel” points that conform to the shape of your back, offering ideal support from your shoulders down and supreme comfort.
Who It’s For
This is for gamers, content creators, and other well-off workers who need to seriously consider long-term ergonomics. If you spend a lot of time on the keyboard, gamepad, or microphone, this is the chair to beat. Herman Miller also notably provides a 12-year warranty, which is the longest we’ve seen in the category.
PROS
- Arrives fully assembled
- Very comfortable
- Many adjustable elements to personalize the feel
- Lengthy 12-year warranty
CONS
- Extremely expensive
- Fairly low-key look for such a pricey chair
Razer Fujin Pro
Best Aeron Alternative
Why We Picked It
Razer takes a swing at Herman Miller with the Fujin Pro, and it mostly succeeds. It offers sophisticated, back-pleasing ergonomics, with a very sturdy build featuring dense but soft mesh and an aluminum alloy frame. It’s a bit more expensive than the Vantum, though, and Razer’s 1-year-for-mesh, 5-years-for-everything-else warranty lags far behind Herman Miller’s 12-years-for-everything coverage.
Who It’s For
This is a chair for anyone looking to splurge a bit on a very comfortable, breathable seat with a slightly beefier skeleton than the Vantum’s (still sturdy, but light) nylon. It’s supportive and stylish, with only a bit of green text hinting at its gaming origins.
PROS
- Exceptionally comfortable
- Sturdy aluminum alloy frame and breathable, dense mesh
- Good selection of adjustments
CONS
- Expensive
- Underwhelming warranty for the price
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Anthros Chair
Best Posture-Enhancing Chair
Why We Picked It
The Anthros Chair joins the Herman Miller Embody as one of the priciest chairs on this list, but for good reason: It can potentially improve your posture and reduce back pain. Instead of a lumbar support against the small of your back, the Anthros uses a pelvic support that keeps your hips stationary and properly aligned below your upper back, encouraging you to sit up straight. It’s also very well-made and quite comfortable.
Who It’s For
If you’ve been struggling with lower back pain from sitting in a conventional chair for long periods of time, the Anthros Chair might be the answer. It’s unique, expensive, and not for everyone, but it might be just what you need if nothing else has helped. Anthros provides a 30-day return policy, free return shipping, and a 12-year warranty, which helps make the price a bit easier to swallow.
PROS
- Promotes good posture and reduces back pain from sitting
- Comfortable and supportive
- Free video consultation before you buy
- 30-day return policy and 12-year warranty
CONS
- Expensive
- Requires a learning curve
- Fabric upholstery feels a bit rough
Learn More
Herman Miller Aeron Ergonomic Chair
Most Iconic Office Chair
Why We Picked It
The Herman Miller Aeron is iconic and plenty swear by it as one of the best office chairs of all time. As such, no list is complete without a mention of it. We haven’t tested this model for ourselves, however, and think the Herman Miller X Logitech G Embody (which we did test) is better.
Who It’s For
The Aeron is the standard for high-end office chairs. It’s certainly pricey, but if you see an office in the tech space moving or closing, you might be able to get one on the cheap.
Ikea MARKUS
Best Ikea Gaming Chair
Why We Picked It
Ikea is always a go-to option when you’re shopping for furniture on a budget. The Markus is a tall but otherwise minimalist office chair; it has a simple, slim mesh back that breathes as well as built-in lumbar support. And while you’re at Ikea, you can pick up a Kolon floor protector to go with it.
Who It’s For
Are you already in the Ikea warehouse with that big flat cart for furniture and have space in your car? Go for it.
Staples Lockland Office Chair
Best for Trying in Person
Why We Picked It
Ideally, you should go see and feel furniture before you buy it. That isn’t an option with most gaming chairs, which is why our reviews are so useful. You might be able to sit in a generic office chair before you take it home, however. Your local big-box office supply store like OfficeMax or Staples should have a bunch of desk chairs of various builds and prices available for testing, like this Lockland chair from Staples. Try one out yourself!
Who It’s For
This is a chair to consider after you’ve sat in it. Go to Staples or anywhere else that has this chair or a chair like it on display, and try it. Then, decide if you want to spring for a more premium option.
Amazon Basics and Other Inexpensive Chairs Online
Best Ultra-Cheap Options
Why We Picked It
Countless cheap office chairs are available online, with hundreds listed on sites like Amazon (including the Amazon Basics model here), Walmart, and Wayfair. There’s nothing wrong with considering any of these models, but it’s a bit of a gamble: You might end up with a comfortable, sturdy desk chair, or you might get stuck with a hunk of junk that hurts your back. You can’t do much about trying chairs from Amazon or Wayfair before you buy them, but you might be able to find some at Target or Walmart. The in-store selection won’t be nearly as good as the store’s website, but you can probably find some options you can take for a spin.
Who It’s For
This is the type of chair to get if you’re on a tight budget and willing to roll the dice in hopes of scoring something comfortable on the cheap.
Buying Guide: The Best Office Chairs for 2024
Office Chairs vs. Gaming Chairs
What’s the difference between office chairs and gaming chairs? Not much. Gaming chairs, in general, are bulky office chairs with more considerations for sitting in different positions for longer periods. They usually have tall backs with head and lumbar cushions, and often provide more support than cheap office chairs. They also tend to be better made, with higher weight limits and more considerations for larger users. Gaming chairs typically offer a wider range of colors and designs, too.
Cooler Master Caliber X2 (Credit: Will Greenwald)
Most gaming chairs also have a recline function that office chairs lack. A lever on the side of the seat lets you tilt the back and recline while the seat stays level. You shouldn’t use this feature while you’re on video calls with your boss, but it’s a nice option to have when you’re done with work (or between meetings) and want to sit back.
Gaming chairs tend to cost more than office chairs, but the extra money is usually worth it, as the additional support and better build quality go a long way. Gaming chairs also usually have warranties of several years, while cheaper office chairs might have one that lasts just 90 days.
This is all to say that if you like a gaming chair’s design and features, don’t worry that it isn’t called an office chair. It should work in your office just fine.
Office Chair Ergonomics: Weight Limits, Height, Support, and Tilt
Chair dimensions on Wayfair (Credit: Wayfair)
A cheap chair might look good on paper, but it might not be a good fit in person—literally. If you’re pushing past 200 pounds, check the weight capacity of any office chair you’re considering. You should also see if the product listing shows the seat width and depth. Even if it can support you, you don’t want your hips squeezed by the armrests, or to perch on an uncomfortably narrow seat. If you’re particularly short or tall, verify that the seat height range works for you too. Almost all office chairs have a gas cylinder that lets you adjust the height, but some have a larger range than others.
In addition, office chairs can have low or high backs (we’ve even seen a couple with no backs), which can make a big difference in how they feel. Cheaper chairs tend to have low backs that end around or just under the shoulders. They might support your lower half, but they won’t do much for your upper back and head. Still, if you mostly work by leaning forward rather than sitting upright or slightly back, that level of support should be sufficient.
Lumbar support is also important, but this is harder to test. Most office chairs claim to have some form of lumbar support, but it might be as simple as a slight arc against your lower back. Try to get a close look at the chair design in order to gauge how much support it can provide.
Tilt is a helpful feature that adds to your overall comfort and range of movement when you sit for long periods. Few office chairs have the reclining function of gaming chairs, but you might still be able to sit back a bit on them. Many models have an adjustable tilt that lets the entire seat move backward across a limited angle when you lean; it typically springs back to the upright position when you lean forward or stand up. This tilt mechanism often uses a scissor hinge located at the base of the chair where it attaches to the gas cylinder. It adjusts seat height and usually features a knob that lets you fine-tune how freely it moves. You can often restrict the tilt completely via a lever.
Recommended by Our Editors
What’s the Best Office Chair Material?
Herman Miller Aeron (Credit: Herman Miller)
Chairs come in a variety of materials including fabric, leather, and mesh. The best material ultimately depends on your taste, but there are a few factors to consider.
Leather, even the PU leather that most affordable “pleather” chairs use, tends to look the nicest, but it also wears down the fastest. It scratches and tears easily, especially if you have a pet. Fabric is usually more hardy, but is the easiest to stain and can collect the most odors. Mesh chairs are the lightest, most springy, and the least likely for pets to want to sit on. The mesh material serves as the chair’s entire support structure, unlike the foam padding in fabric and leather chairs, and may not provide all the support you need.
(Credit: Westend61/Getty Images)
Complete Your Home Office
You can also improve your experience by purchasing a standing desk, a new webcam, a best-in-class headset, or any of our other must-have home office devices. Once your setup is in place, make sure to check out our 20 tips for working from home.
