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The best office chairs for peak WFH ergonomic comfort
Invest in one of the best office chairs and your back will thank you later
All products are independently selected by our editors. If you buy something, we may earn an affiliate commission.
All products are independently selected by our editors. If you buy something, we may earn an affiliate commission.
Still slouching over your kitchen table or lounging in bed while working from home? We can practically hear your poor spine complaining from here. It deserves better. You deserve better. In other words, now is the time to upgrade your home workspace with one of the best office chairs on the market. Your body will thank you for investing in a comfortable office chair that supports good posture, helping alleviate back pain in the process. Because you’re worth it.
So let's move beyond those flimsy, non-adjustable nightmares. We're talking ergonomic office chairs that properly support your lower back — from high-end Herman Miller Aeron models to budget-friendly Amazon finds, we've got options to suit every workspace and wallet.
Looking for a breathable mesh back for those warm workdays? We've got it. Need a high-back chair that works for both gaming and office tasks? It's on our list. Adjustable armrests, seat depth, headrests, tilt tension and more — we've scoured the market for the features that matter most.
From minimalist designs that'll elevate your home office aesthetic, to task chairs that'll keep you comfortable during long work sessions, our top picks cover all bases and budgets. Remember, investing in a good office chair isn't just about comfort — it's about taking care of your body during those extended hours at your desk.
For those who prefer to mix things up, we've also got a handy round-up of the best standing desks. A comfortable sitting position is important, after all, but it’s also good to branch out and stretch those legs once in a while. Also, free to check out our other deal articles on everything from the best computer desks, monitors, and 4K TVs, to smartphones, fashion deals and even mattress deals. We regularly curate the best deals on sales events like Prime Day and Black Friday too, so we’ve got you covered all year round.
What's the best office chair to buy now?
If you really want your money to work for you, but you're not quite ready to drop more than £100 on an office chair, Comhoma fuses comfy build quality with affordability for an all-around high-performing swivel chair.
Known for its exceptionally high-quality office chairs, there's no beating Herman Miller when it comes to ergonomic design in the workspace. Innovative in every sense, from the linked back and seat depth, adjustable features and suspension mesh backrest, this chair is the long-lasting WFH companion you deserve, and one of our best buys.
Blending gaming comfort with an understated office-suitable felt aesthetic, the Razer Iskur provides the best of both worlds. Its built-in lumbar support earns it extra brownie points too, and will come in handy for long Zoom calls and marathon gaming sessions alike thanks to its high back office chair design and foam seat.
- Best office chair: Herman Miller Aeron, £1,149 at hermanmiller.com
- Best affordable office chair: Comhoma,
£80£61 at amazon.co.uk - Best gaming office chair: Razer Iskur,
£500£389 at amazon.co.uk - Most comfortable office chair: Flexispot BackSupport Office Chair,
£300£220 at flexispot.co.uk
SKIP TO: How we tested the best office chairs | Which is the best ergonomic office chair | What makes a good office chair | Are ergonomic office chairs better than normal chairs | What is the best office chair for sitting long hours | What type of chair is best for back pain | Are gaming chairs actually bad for you?
How we tested the best office chairs
The below picks are a roundup of our absolute favourite office chairs that will totally revolutionise your WFH set-up, no matter your budget. We've tested a few of the below, assessing the comfort levels, adjustable components to fine-tune your seating position and how fun it is to swivel around on them. We mark the best for how well they support your spine when you sit down and any additional extras like breathable mesh designs or pillows to support your head. For the rest, we've selected the most popular chairs available from top retailers and manufacturers and tried to make the picks as future-proof as possible.
Which is the best ergonomic office chair?
Take a digital stroll through the various online retailers and furniture stores and you‘ll find plenty of home office chairs for supporting your weary WFH body. Once you start doing a bit of research, you‘ll quickly realise the quality of these chairs can be wildly different depending on how much you‘re willing to spend. The best budget options will literally be a chair for you to sit on with minimum support, but if you spend a little more, you can expect mesh chairs with dedicated lumbar support for when you want to feel like working on a cloud; Herman Miller is probably the brand to go for.
Within a similar price point is Humanscale, another brand that produces high-quality chairs and is definitely worth a look. If, however, you are not prepared to spend £1,000 on an office chair and are looking for something at a more affordable price tag, brands including John Lewis, Comhoma, Ikea and Habitat all produce good, ergonomic chairs that will make a major difference in your WFH set-up. They aren't going to have the same high-end quality as a Herman Miller, but for lower budgets, they're some of the best you can find.
What makes a good office chair?
Different office chairs naturally suit different people, but there are some key features that are worth looking out for when shopping for the best one for you. Lynda Rowe, Officer Furniture Buyer at John Lewis says that “a good office chair should be supportive of your body, allowing for plenty of movement. It should also be suited to your workstation, especially the height of the table or desk top, which you need to be able to rest your forearms comfortably on. For those whose feet don't quite reach the floor, a foot rest can help — a good one will allow you to rock your feet to help with blood circulation.”
Rowe also added: “the longer you're using the chair daily, the more features you should take into consideration, like lumbar support, seat height and tilt adjustments. If more than one person will be using the chair, look for one that has dynamic adjustment and integrated lumbar support. For those sat for several hours a day, you will find mesh a cooler fabric option”.
What is the best office chair for sitting long hours?
We‘ve all been warned about the perils of spending too long slouching over a laptop on your desk, but you do actually need to take it seriously if you‘re still working from home a lot. Your posture can take a battering over many hours sitting down, so you have to grab a chair that will give you optimum support for your back over long periods. Th best office chairs embody maximum support and comfort, and you’ll want to ensure you get a quality one that will stand the test of time. Some of the more impressive offerings even have things like a 12-year warranty, so keep an eye out for those extra details.
Are ergonomic office chairs better than normal chairs?
Contrary to what you might have been trying to convince yourself for the past year, a wooden kitchen chair simply does not help you improve your sitting position. Not only is it bad for your posture and your joints, but they are also really uncomfortable when you’ve been sitting for a long period of time. We’d recommend investing in an ergonomic office chair that will adapt the back of the chair to your position throughout the day, provide support to your back and lumbar and allow you to sit at the right height for the desk you’re working at.
You might want to also think about if you want to move around on your chair. Some of our favourite options will have either casters (which are basically rotating wheels fixed to the bottom of the spokes) or glides, which are metal discs that help you slide around a bit easier. Wheels are normally the preferred choice, for wooden floors, whereas glides can be good for moving around on carpet without leaving dents. Of course, here at GQ we also appreciate a stylish office chair, so keep an eye on the upholstery and colourway as well — from black and blues, to more bright, vibrant options, there’s something here for everyone.
What type of chair is best for back pain?
You want to keep an eye out for any chairs that are considered ergonomic if you plan to take care of your lower back pain. Ergonomic means something that's designed for efficiency or comfort in the working environment, which we are, of course, absolutely here for. When it comes to chairs, this normally means that there will be some level of additional back (both lower back and mid-back) or adjustable lumbar support, as well as the ability to adjust the seat height and angle to suit your body type, size and preferences. Ideally, this should mean you are sitting comfortably with your lower legs perpendicular to the floor –definitely don’t sit cross-legged or leaning over the arm as we do. Comfortable chairs should support and promote good posture with strong backrests and castor wheels, comfortable seat cushions and perhaps a headrest or armrest to dispel any repetitive strain injury potential as you work.
Oh, and make sure you look out for an included warranty before you checkout, as the last thing you want is for it to break and have to pay for a whole new one to be shipped over to you.
Are gaming chairs actually bad for you?
You've all likely got a mate who has a full-on gaming rig decked out with a silly amount of monitors, an expensive PC and a gaming chair that they swear by as the most comfortable thing to sit on. And while they are typically designed well for sitting in front of a screen for long periods, they may not be the best choice for anyone looking for a more professional aesthetic to their at-home office.
First ad foremost, these chairs are typically more garish, with unusual colourschemes, designs or motifs that highlight the buyer's love for particular games, which is obviously wasted if you just need something comfortable to sit on and you aren't bothered about how it looks. Alongside that, these chairs usually have taller back supports and a bucket seat design that isn't as comfortable as a dedicated at-home office chair. There's not that much in it, but if you're torn between a gaming chair and a regular one, we'd always recommend you opt to sit on an office chair.
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