Best office chair 2023

The best office chair is going to make you so comfortable you'll never want to leave it, even if you're working from home.

We all sort of leave the chair until last when setting up our home office or gaming setup, but we probably shouldn't. Sure, the best monitors for home working are important to actually see what you're doing, but the best office chair will make sure you actually sit comfortably and do your work rather than procrastinate.

You can get even more comfortable if you add a footrest or wristrest rest too, with the two elements incredibly important to consider as well if you work from home more often than not.

In terms of chairs though, there are loads of options out there, and knowing which is the best for you can be really hard. Some people want a professional look, some want a lot of adjustability, and some just want one that looks cool.

No matter what you're looking for, we've gone out there and found the best office chairs for different people based on features, price, and reviews. Have a seat and get stuck in.

Best office chairs

1. Herman Miller Aeron
2. Humanscale Freedom
3. IKEA Markus
4. Secretlab Titan Evo 2022
5. Razer Iskur
6. Steelcase Gesture

click to enlarge

+ 6

Credit: Herman Miller

1. Herman Miller Aeron

Best office chair overall

Herman Miller is a name that's mostly associated with comfortable office chairs and their Aeron is one of the best you can buy. 

It looks incredibly stylish with a mesh seat and metal frame that is both modern-looking and comfortable too.

The seat on the Herman Miller Aeron conforms to your own position which essentially means the chair will be personal to you and match the way you sit to provide the most comfortable seating position.

There are also plenty of adjustment options on offer including seat height, forward tilt and swathes of lumbar support, which is rather handy. 

It's also available in a choice of black or white so can suit plenty of offices, and can be picked up in three sizes depending on how tall you are, ranging from 4ft 10 on the Size A at the lower end all the way to 6ft 6 on the Size C.

Read More: Best budget office chairs

click to enlarge

+ 6

Credit: Humanscale

2. Humanscale Freedom

Best ergonomic office chair

If you're hunting for an amazing office chair specifically for ergonomics, the Humanscale Freedom looks incredible. 

It's a chair that's been specifically designed for all-day office use, containing features such as an adaptive backrest that adjusts when you recline, and when you do recline, the chair helps to maintain eye level.

Alongside this, the Humanscale Freedom also features an automatically adjusting headrest for convenience and cushions that are contoured to fit your body. This helps to make it an incredibly comfortable chair and one that should be great for long working days. 

For more manual configuration, you can of course adjust the armrests and seat pan to get yourself comfortable before letting the chair do the work, too. 

Read More: Best budget gaming chairs

click to enlarge

+ 6

Credit: IKEA

3. IKEA Markus

Best budget office chair

The IKEA Markus is a fantastic pick if you're looking for a sturdy, comfortable office chair that won't break the bank.

With a mesh back and plush leather cushion and headrest, it should be quite the comfortable chair to sit in for a long working day, and a sturdy metal frame also means it's durable, too. 

Having a mesh back can make the chair breathable, which means you won't get too warm while sitting down. This can become especially apparent in warmer weather, and having a chair that allows you to stay cool is definitely handy.

Adjustment options for Markus come in the form of tilt, height, and you can also either lock the bank in place or recline. This gives you enough options so you can get, and stay, comfortable.

Read More: Best laptops under 300

click to enlarge

+ 6

Credit: Secretlab

4. Secretlab Titan Evo 2022

Best premium office chair

The Secretlab Titan Evo 2022 is the brand's latest and greatest office chair, and offers an excellent choice for those wanting more of a premium gaming option;

With it, you'll be getting a choice of either the brand's hybrid leatherette or a fabric finish, both of which should be especially comfortable, as well as being rather durable, too.

The Secretlab Titan Evo 2022 also features some clever integrated lumbar support that's taken care of via two dials on the backrest and offers some great adjustability here, as well as with the 4D armrests and the ability to tilt and recline.

In addition, it comes in a variety of finishes and colours, so you'll be sure to find one you like, be it the black and gold standard option, or the 'Cookies and Cream' fabric.

You can read more about what we think of the Titan Evo 2022 in our Secretlab Titan Evo 2022 review.

Read More: Best laptop stands

click to enlarge

+ 6

Credit: Razer

5. Razer Iskur

Best gaming office chair

Classic-looking office chairs aren't for everyone, and if you're looking to add a bit of flair to your setup, then the Razer Iskur is a marvellous choice. 

First off, it features Razer's usual two-tone colouring of black with flecks of green that look fantastic, and the memory foam seat should feel comfortable when you're seated.

The Iskur's comprised of breathable synthetic leather, so even with its plush construction, it should mean you stay pretty cool whilst involved with those marathon gaming sessions. 

There are also some good adjustment options on offer with 4D armrests that can move up, down, left, and right, or the handy lumbar curve so the chair can mould to fit your back to maximise comfort.

Read More: Best gaming chairs

click to enlarge

+ 6

Credit: Steelcase

6. Steelcase Gesture

Best adjustable office chair

The Steelcase Gesture is a brilliant chair if having plenty of adjustment options is of paramount importance.

You'll find some marvellous inclusions such as practically infinitely adjustable armrests as well as a clever recline function that matches the arch of your back automatically for a more comfortable experience when you're lying back.

There should also be a fair amount of padding here too, especially on the seat. As well as offering loads of configuration, therefore, the Gesture should be great for long working days even with no adjustment.

It also looks pretty sharp and purposeful, with the Steelcase Gesture carrying with it quite the professional aesthetic, so should fit well within any home office or work environment.

With that being said though, you can get it in other colours such as red or blue, which may fit the look of your room better, or you just want a chair that can stand out from the crowd.

Read More: Best lap desks for bed

Frequently asked questions (FAQs)

There are always a few questions that pop up time and time again when it comes to office chairs, so here are our two cents to help you make an informed decision.

Are expensive office chairs worth it?

In a general sense, yes. More premium office chairs are likely to be better built and feature more ergonomically-minded design features in some instances.

Given that better build quality, they are likely to last longer compared to more affordable ones, but at the end of the day, it's all down budget. More expensive office chairs are only worth it if you can afford one, of course.

Some peer-reviewed articles suggest that choosing a chair with the right ergonomic features for your body can improve spinal health.

How much should I spend on an office chair?

This all depends on the kind of chair you're going to be using. For more of a standard and affordable choice, spending up to $200 will get you a comfortable chair with some good adjustments that should also be well-made.

Spending more will get you more and for the more ergonomically-minded and specialist chairs with self-levelling backrests, or foam that contours directly to the shape of your body, you may be looking in the region of $500 to $800 for some of the very best options.

Is a mesh chair better?

This really depends on personal preference. Some people may prefer a mesh chair for breathability if they're prone to getting hot if it gets warm in your office, whilst others may wish for a potentially more supportive, leather or fabric-backed option.

We'd say the best thing is to go out somewhere and try out a mesh office chair and then sit in a leather or fabric-backed one and see what you find most comfortable.

What is an ergonomic desk chair?

An ergonomic office chair is a type of office chair that will be specifically designed to maximise comfort.

To mark themselves out from more standard office chairs, they may usually come with clever features such as cushions that mould to the user's body, adaptive backrests, and plenty of configuration that can suit practically anybody.

How long do leather office chairs last?

Again, the answer is that it depends on your usage and how often you're sitting down in the chair.

An office chair is usually guaranteed for anything from 5 to 15 years depending on the manufacturer, which gives you an idea of how durable chairs can be.

Are firmer chairs better?

Firmer chairs are traditionally assumed to be better for ergonomics due to them offering better support. This comes courtesy of the point that the cushions can mould to support your frame in the right places, therefore increasing comfort.

Softer chairs can lead to poorer posture as the chair isn't supporting you enough and you essentially end up sinking into it as opposed to being held up.