The Very Best Office Chairs That Prevent Back Pain *Before* It Starts
When you're glued to a desk for most of the day, having the best office chair for back pain (rather, for relieving or preventing back pain) is not a luxury, but a must. Sitting for long periods without the right support can wreak havoc on your back muscles, reinforce bad posture and end up causing a lot of pain and potential damage. But while so many office chairs promise to be ergonomic and comfy, how can you really tell if a chair is good for supporting your back?
- 01What to look for
- 02FAQs
- 03Best budget
- 04Best with headrest
- 05Best frameless
- 06Best basic
- 07Best body-conforming
- 08Best with flip arms
- 09Best spurge
- 10Best with leather seat
- 11Best with footrest
- 12Best ergonomic
- 13Best mesh
- Joel Giffin, PT, DPT, CHT, physical therapist and owner of Flex Physical & Occupational Therapy
Best office chairs for back pain, at a glance
- Best budget: BestOffice Ergonomic Home Office Chair, $39
- Best with headrest: Gabrylly Ergonomic Mesh Office Chair, $270
- Best frameless: Autonomous ErgoChair Plus, $399
- Best basic: Inbox Zero Ergonomic Polyurethane Task Chair, $128
- Best body-conforming: Humanscale Freedom Task Chair, $1,416
- Best with flip arms: Office Star Space Seating Chair, $180
- Best splurge: Herman Miller Aeron Chair, $1,410
- Best with leather seat: Oak Hollow Furniture Aloria Series Office Chair, $780
- Best with footrest: Autonomous ErgoChair Core, $399
- Best ergonomic: Branch Ergonomic Chair, $296
- Best mesh: HON Ignition 2.0 Mesh Back Task Chair, $399
A comfortable office chair can help make spending all day in front of a computer slightly less painful, especially if you already experience some kind of back pain, whether that's from an uncomfortable mattress or chair, a previous injury, strain from exercise, or even stress. Especially if you already have back pain (consider pillows for back pain). With the right materials, cushion, and ergonomics, an office chair can not only keep your back from overheating but also support it in all the right places, so you sit with better posture and are less likely to have aches and pains after all those video calls. Everyone's body is different, so having features (height of seat, armrests, etc.) that you can adjust is also important.
What to look for in an office chair for back pain
Adjustability
One main feature to consider is adjustability. Adjustable office chairs are key in helping keep pressure off of your lower back, according to Joel Giffin, PT, DPT, a physical therapist and founder of Flex Physical Therapy.
"You need to make sure the seat can adjust up and down, because you want your feet to be flat ideally on the ground...," Giffin says. "If your feet are just dangling, it pretty much puts direct pressure onto the low back, and, believe it or not, even up into the neck, so that’s why the seat height is important," Giffin adds.
Support
Additionally, finding a lumbar-supporting office chair is important if you want to prevent back pain. This is going to help check your posture and keep you from slouching, which is something that can ultimately lead to pain in your back and neck in the long run. That means avoiding backless chairs and stools at your desk. Sleeping on a pillow for back pain may also help.
"You don’t need a lot of [lumbar support], but you probably need more than what the average chairs [have]. Some chairs say [they have] lumbar support but [there's] really hardly anything there. So you want something real. If you have a distinct back problem like a herniated disc, you might want more back support." In that case, Giffin says you can use something like a back cushion or lumbar support pillow to tack onto your chair as a substitute lumbar support if your chair doesn't have any.
Materials
Depending on your preference and style, you can get an office chair in faux or real leather, mesh, plastic, fabric, and more. Keep in mind that certain fabrics like mesh will be more breathable, if that's important to you. Also look for a chair that's made with a sturdy base, such as aluminum or steel. If you like a bit of movement during the day, smooth-rolling wheels are a good addition, otherwise you can opt for a desk chair without wheels.
Cost
Office chairs can range anywhere from below $100 to over $1,000. Decide what fits best for your budget, but also when it comes to your back, you might want to consider spending a little more. The higher cost chairs often have more premium materials and features, and given how many hours you're probably sitting at a desk, a good office chair is an investment.
FAQs
What are the best office chairs for back pain?
The best office chairs for back pain combine a number of the above factors, and support your back and body ergonomically regardless if you're sitting for a few minutes or several hours.
What is the best type of office chair for sitting long hours?
Matt Cavanaugh, DC, Louisiana-based chiropractor at Cavanaugh Chiropractic, recommends either the Steelcase Gesture or Herman Miller Aeron chairs for sitting long hours. "Both chairs will provide support in a variety of positions, and they are both highly customizable. Ultimately, the best chair for sitting long hours will depend on your specific needs, which may include your height, weight, and degree of back pain."
Why does my back hurt in an office chair?
There could be a few reasons that explain why your back may hurt in an office chair. The first is the lack of lumbar support. This may cause you to slump or slouch, says Cavanaugh. "Over time, this bad habit will cause back muscles and spinal ligaments to stretch, leading to pain and discomfort," he adds. Cavanaugh recommends taking breaks to stand, stretch, and move around.
What is the difference between a chair that only supports lumbar spine and an ergonomic chair?
“Lumbar-supported chairs focus specifically on your lower back, your lumbar spine,” says Cavanaugh. “It will have a curved design in the lower part of the backrest to support the natural lordotic curve in your lumbar spine.” Having this support is helpful because it takes the pressure off of the joints, ligaments, and muscles that normally have to provide that support and allows them to relax, he adds.
On the other hand, ergonomic chairs are specifically designed for overall whole body comfort and support, not just the spine. “These chairs will have many more features like swivels, adjustable armrests, headrests, and adjustable height, just to name a few,” explains Cavanaugh. Because of these features, these chairs may come at a higher price point.
We curated a list of the best office chairs for pain of every budget, materials, and adjustability. Scroll down to learn about the chairs that got your back (pun intended).
Best budget
If affordability is your top priority, then this Amazon pick is a worthy buy at $49. Although it has a pretty standard design, it’s perfect as a simple task chair to put in your home office or to station at your makeshift work desk. Additionally, it has some lumbar support and mesh backing to help with breathability to keep you cool. Plus, you can adjust the stem of the chair by 3.5 inches to accommodate different heights.
One helpful reviewer writes, “After facing WFH for the foreseen future, I decided I needed to finally upgrade from a wooden kitchen chair to a proper office chair to minimize back pain. I was also looking for something fairly small and compact to fit in my space as well as affordable and comfortable. I wasn’t sure about this chair given the price, but decided to take the chance and I’m glad I did! It’s surprisingly study and comfortable, and has held up to daily use for 8+ hours every day for the last three months.”
Materials: Mesh, metal base
Weight capacity: 250 lbs
Assembly required: Yes
Colors: 8
Size: 19.7 x 18.9 x 38 in
Pros:
- Affordable
- Mesh back
- Cushioned seat
- Easy to set up
Cons:
- Seat may be short for some
For someone who likes flexibility, this Gabrylly chair is one that may meet your needs and then some. It gives you four supporting points (for head, back, hips, and hands), so your entire body actually feels comfortable for longer. As one major plus, you can flip up the armrests to create more area space around you if you’re in a tight spot. Additionally, the seat cushion is pretty spacious and can actually hold up to 280 pounds. One happy customer says, “This is by far one of the best chairs I’ve ever sat on. The mesh is super comfortable as it is firm and quite supportive of my back. I also love how breathable the mesh is eliminating hot spots on my back. I’ve sat in chairs more expensive than this that were not breathable and it could get kinda hot sometime when my back is pressed against the chair.” Materials: Mesh, nylon, metal base Weight capacity: 280 lbs Assembly required: Yes Colors: 2 Size: 22 x 25.2 x 45.3 in Pros: Cons: Best with headrest
Best frameless
Part of the reason for the high price tag here is because of the chair’s high-tech design. The backrest completely adjusts to you and applies pressure based on the unique shape of your body. In this way, your back gets a balanced amount of pressure and support at all times. The chair also has 11 lockable reclining options in case you want to kick back and relax.
Materials: TPE or mesh
Weight capacity: 300 lbs
Assembly required: Yes
Colors: 6
Size: 28 x 28 x 40 in
Pros:
- Adaptive spinal support
- Adjustable seat, tilt, armrests
- Frameless design
- Caster wheels
- More breathable and durable than traditional fabric
Cons:
- Seat is hard
- Armrests may slide around
In terms of simplicity, you can’t go wrong with this Inbox Zero chair. It’s equipped with all the basics, including lumbar support, adjustable height and ergonomic design. Additionally, you can hide the armrests and tilt the backrest 90 to 125 degrees if you like to rock back and forth as you work. Materials: Mesh, plastic, polyurethane upholstery, steel base Weight capacity: 250 lbs Assembly required: Yes Colors: 2 Size: 39.78 x 23.62 x 20.07 in Pros: Cons: Best basic
Best body-confirming
If you’re looking to splurge, then this Freedom Task Chair is fully stacked with a lot of cool specs to help make sitting at a desk job a breeze. Case in point: The chair doesn’t come with any knobs or levers, or any other manual adjustments. Rather, it automatically conforms to your body to help give your spine the right adjustment as you sit.
Materials: Plastic, aluminum, steel, mesh, cotton
Weight capacity: 300 lbs
Assembly required: Yes
Colors: 5
Size: 27.25 x 25 x 36.7-41.5 in
Pros:
- Contours to the body
- Intelligent recline mechanism
- Adjustable arms
- Available in a variety of colors
Cons:
- Expensive
Best with flip arms
Apart from the unique built-in lumbar support that helps form to your back’s natural curve, and its synchro tilt that encourages better circulation and weight distribution, this chair also is GreenGuard Certified for low chemical emissions to help promote good air quality inside your living space. “Love this chair and well worth the money. I work from a computer for many hours a day my neck and back will hurt. With this chair, I can sit in it all day without having pains and a headache. This is a huge change in my day,” one reviewer writes.
Materials: Polyester, nylon, foam, alloy Steel, polypropylene
Weight capacity: 250 lbs
Assembly required: Yes
Colors: black
Size: 26.38 x 24.5 x 41.25 in
Pros:
- Breathable seat and back
- Adjustable seat, tilt
- Flip arms
- Comes in black or white
Cons:
- Doesn’t have adjustable armrests
- May squeak
Best splurge
When it comes to the ergonomic office chairs, Herman Miller is one retailer that has truly cornered the market (if you’ve got $1,320 to spend, that is). In particular, its Aeron Chair is a fan-favorite thanks to its high-tech adjustability. For example, the back pads adjust to help stabilize and support the base of your spine. As a bonus, the chair features eco-friendly materials and is available in three different chair sizes to accommodate more body types.
Materials: 8Z Pellicle elastomeric suspension seat and backrest, polyurethane, aluminum frame
Weight capacity: 300 lbs
Assembly required: No
Colors: 6
Size: 41 x 27 x 16 3/4 in
Pros:
- Breathable
- Ergonomic design
- Lumbar support pads
- Customizable (size, back support, tilt, armrests, casters)
Cons:
- Expensive
Best with leather seat
A win for both short and tall people, this chair has four different locking positions and a padded lumbar support cushion that you can adjust up and down. Additionally, you can change the seat depth by sliding the seat cushion back and forth to help create more space for your lower back and torso away from the backrest.
An enthusiastic customer writes, “Most amazing chair! You will not regret this purchase ! COVID changed my whole work situation. I’ve gone from [approx] 5 hrs a week sitting at my home desk to over 40 hrs! Within weeks of this transition, my back began to hurt so badly that I thought I might need to see a doctor. Then it dawned on me: it’s my office chair. I did a lot of research (tested as many chairs that I could at all local furniture and office chain stores). I read reviews online. I realized that a quality office chair was going cost me some money but give me my mobility back and take away my back pain. My research paid off! This chair is worth every penny! Perfect for me! No more back pain in fact when I sit down in this chair I feel a therapeutic comfort!”
Materials: Mesh, leather, aluminum
Weight capacity: 300 lbs
Assembly required: Yes
Colors: 4
Size: 24 x 28 x 54 in
Pros:
- Leather cushion
- Mesh back
- Adjustable seat (height and depth), armrests, lumbar support cushion, tilt
- Available in a variety of colors
- Can accommodate tall people
Cons:
- Expensive
- Reviewers say the back is very upright
Best with footrest
Available in two different colors, this ErgoChair comes with adjustable height, headrest, armrests and a footrest to help support body from head to toe. The chair also shifts and adjusts based on your body weight to keep you from putting additional strain on your back, shoulders, arms and neck.
Materials: Polyester fabric, foam, nylon plastic frame
Weight capacity: 250 lbs
Assembly required: Yes
Colors: 2
Size: 28-45 x 28 x 45-49 in
Pros:
- Adjustable height, armrests, lumbar support, recline, headrest
- Built-in footrest
- Mesh back
- Adjustable seat
Cons:
- Chair tilts so backrest is not at 90 degrees
Best ergonomic
This chair has eight different points of adjustment (armrests, height, tilt and tilt tension, seat depth, lumbar rest) to make sure you’re sitting comfortably all day long. The back has a double layer of mesh to keep you cool no matter how many hours you’re sitting, and the seat has a high-density cushion that supports 300 pounds. It comes in three different seat colors and two frame colors.
Materials: Mesh, foam, aluminum
Weight capacity: 300 lbs
Assembly required: Yes
Colors: 5
Size: 25 x 24 x 38-42 in
Pros:
- Adjustable seat, height, lumbar support, armrests, tilt
- Mesh back
- Backrest and seat tilt in unison
- Available in a variety of colors
- 360-degree swivel and casters
Cons:
- Seat may not as be very cushioned
Best mesh
With a mesh back and contoured cushion, this chair is made for all-day comfort. There are also many other features to let you customize the chair to your body: you can adjust the arm height and width, lumbar support, tilt, tilt tension, and seat height.
Said one reviewer, This is a great chair. Having worked from home now for an entire year in a chair that I had to add a butt cushion and a back support to just to be able to be comfortable, I can tell you a great quality chair is a must! I can’t believe I didn’t buy this sooner. The cushion doesn’t sink under your weight by the end of the work day and is so comfortable. The back is just the right amount of support. The arms adjust to ergo height.”
Materials: Mesh, alloy steel
Weight capacity: 250 lbs
Assembly required: Yes
Colors: 5
Size: 28.5 x 27 x 44.5 in
Pros:
- Adjustable lumbar support, armrests, seat, tilt
- Mesh back
- 360-degree swivel
- Easy to set up
Cons:
- Lumbar support may not be enough support
- Seat is firm and slippery
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