Best Ergonomic Office Chair Fully Updated 2017

Our Best Ergonomic Office Chair Buying Guide from the Best Of The Best to Best Bang For Your Buck and Best Budget Buy.  Full Reviews from the best $1000 Chairs to sub $100 bargains

Now fully updated for 2017

Why should we buy the best ergonomic office chair we can afford? There is absolutely no doubt that sitting for prolonged periods of time is dangerous and has an adverse effect on our health. And yet we spend as much as 8 to 10 hours a day sitting down combining the time we sit at our desks, sit down for lunch and then sit down to watch TV in the evening, and of course, eating dinner. Sitting for long periods causes back problems, lack of concentration, neck strain, muscle loss and circulation disorders.

There is also strong evidence to suggest that workers who sit for a long time without breaks are at higher risk of breast and colon cancer. So a serious health warning for all you sedentary office types and solopreneurs working from home, get up, move around, and when you are sitting down, make sure it’s in a well designed and comfortable chair that will support the correct sitting posture. Your chair should encourage you to sit up with a straight back and spine, have your shoulders nice and relaxed and your elbows bent at 90^o, your feet firmly flat on the floor and lumbar, or lower back support.

Sitting is more dangerous than smoking, kills more people than HIV and is more treacherous than parachuting. We are sitting ourselves to death.

Your Office Chair Is Killing You!

Dr. James Levine a professor of medicine at the U.S.-based Mayo Clinic says “Sitting is more dangerous than smoking, kills more people than HIV and is more treacherous than parachuting. We are sitting ourselves to death.” Dr Levine’s studies are based around a body of research called NEAT, or ‘non exercise thermogenesis’. NEAT is the amount of energy we using doing things while were not sleeping, eating and actually getting exercise. NEAT activities include actually getting to work, washing the car, walking the dog, vacuuming the house and playing with the kids. Sitting at your office desk for hours on end, particularly on an ill designed chair if the complete antithesis of a NEAT activity, and that’s why its dangerous. A small amount of movement a couple of hours a day can be massively beneficial to your health

Ergonomic Office Chair Design

The National Institute of Health Office Of Research Services sets out to define the perfect ergonomic chair and starts by advising that the chair base should be at least 5 point for ease of movement and to minimize tipping, a supportive seat to retain support and cushioning and a enough gap behind the knees to avoid pressure on those sensitive areas. The seat should also be tilt and slide adjustable. The most important part of an ergonomic chair design is the back rest which should provide adequate lumbar support, preferably adjustable for full lower back support. Armrests should be height and width adjustable. Seat height adjustment essential along with tilt recline to enable periodic change of your body position.

Buying The Best Ergonomic  Chair You can Afford

Now that we know that the chair you buy may literally be a life changing experience choosing the best ergonomic chair is probably going to be a case of compromises and budget constraints. If money is absolutely no object and you want the best ergonomic office chair it’s possible to sit on we will dutifully make our recommendation for the edification of you posterior. If however you would like some budget recommendations and something a little more affordable then we will break things down into price bands for you and finally we’ll summarize our ergonomic office chair review into Best of the Best, Best Bang For Buck, and Best Budget Buy. So let get started and make sure that you get the very best chair that your money can buy.

Herman Miller Aeron Ergonomic Office Chair – The Best of The Best

The Aeron Task Chair by Herman Miller is without a shadow of a doubt the best office ergonomic chair that money can buy. Nothing else comes close. The level of adjustment and comfort you will achieve with this chair is quite astounding and neck and back pain together with muscular discomfort should be a thing of the past with the Aeron.

In three sizes to fit your weight and frame the Aeron task chair is incredibly adjustable with posture fit lumbar support which correctly supports the base of your spine, fully adjustable arms, and the breathable suspension membrane that will allow you to sit for extended periods without experiencing pressure build up

The breathable Pellicle fabric distributes pressure over a much wider area than a conventional chair and the waterfall designed front edge ensures there’s no pressure on your thighs keeping your blood circulating which means you stay alert and focused!

With posture support that instantly changes as your natural position shifts and changes the Aeron is responsive to natural way we move when working and creating.  The Pellicle suspension ‘mesh’ specially shaped elastomeric threads create a topographically neutral surface which conforms to you as you sit in the chair and will distribute your weight effortlessly which will completely eliminate any pressure points and uncomfortable heat buildup.

The Aeron features Herman Miller’s patented ‘Kinemat’ tilt mechanism which responds to your natural pivot points at the hips, your knees, and ankles so as you sit, move and recline you’ll find that the chair fluidly and effortlessly works with, not against, your body for an incredible level of comfort and support in the natural way your body moves when seated.

As designer Bill Stumpf said “We wanted a totally new kind of chair”, and that’s exactly what he designed. The Aeron’s distinctive award winning design is a chair that isn’t empty for long. You won’t be able to resist sitting in it and it truly is the pinnacle of the art and science of seating design.

Manufactured from a high percentage of recycled material the Aeron chair is designed to many years and the components that get the most wear can be easily and simply replaced. The Aeron Task Chair is covered by Herman Miller’s incredible 12-Year Factory Warranty which covers everything from the casters and tilts mechanisms, and the pneumatic cylinders.

 

As designer Bill Stumpf said “We wanted a totally new kind of chair”, and that’s exactly what he designed.

Pro’s

Design, comfort, features and the famous Herman Miller 12 year guarantee there is nothing else that comes even close to being the ultimate ergonomic office and task chair.

Con’s.

It’s not cheap, in fact with all the bells and whistles added you’re looking at over $1000. For an office chair? Yep, but then if you work sitting it’s the best health investment you’ll make, it’s likely to make a world of difference to your everyday minute by minute comfort and will probably last you a lifetime.

Best Ergonomic Office Chair Under $500

It has a presence that compares with modernist sculpture and its design is nothing short of a work of art.

Apart from being comfortable in the extreme the Herman Miller Sayl Chair is… well different to say the least. It has a presence that compares with modernist sculpture and its design  is nothing short of a work of art. Make no mistake if you’re looking for an ergonomic office chair that will fit into a wood paneled executive style study or home office than this chair isn’t it.

No, the Sayl Chair is avant garde, it is designed for fresh open contemporary spaces with its clean modern lines and makes an statement that unashamedly declares your vote for grace and style. This is an ergonomic chair that doesn’t overwhelm with design over function however. You are left in no doubt that the primary objective is to make you as comfortable as possible while you sit and create.

Designed by Yves Behar the most complex mechanism of the chair is the flexible mesh which is inspired by the same fundamentals of suspension bridge construction to deliver the first chair with a frameless suspension system that allows your sitting body the most extensive range of movement

Featuring two main elements which are the foundation of the design the ArcSpan and the Y-Tower both anchor, suspend and stretch the fabric and provide support which totally eliminates any protruding edges and the need for a framework. The fabric itself is a completely flexible elastomer that adapts to your unique shape as you sit and move in the chair which provides outstanding long term comfort.

Designer Yves Béhar is first and foremost an environmentally responsible designer who’s ethos is ‘Eco-Dematerialised’ design so the end result is a superbly lightweight chair that is 93 percent recyclable weighs only 37 pounds.

Its well known that when he was approached by Herman Millar to design the Sayl Yves Béhar motto became “The Best for the Most for the Least”: To make a a work chair that is the ‘best design for the most people at the smallest cost’ and Béhar worked with Herman Miller’s to ensure that the Sayl work chair should encompass the very best ergonomics graceful styling, premium engineering, and embrace ecological responsibility.

Yves Béhar motto became “The Best for the Most for the Least” To make a a work chair that is the ‘best design for the most people at the smallest cost’

Pro’s

The beautiful design, simplicity, wow factor comfort, eco friendly and light weight. Price

Con’s

The beautiful design, its sleek contemporary lines will just not suit every taste and will certainly not fit in with every décor.

Best Ergonomic Office Chair Under $300

Our ergonomic office chair pick in the under $300 range is ANCHEER Mount Ergonomic Black Mesh Computer Office Chair which at its base $259.99 price point represents remarkable value and has quickly become a best seller. The base models AN-EC003-Black or AN-EC004-Red have a higher priced sibling in the range which retails at $399 with 5 separate adjustable elements including the headrest, the backrest, the chair armrests, seat and posture angle.

The backrest features a curved ‘S’ design and the backrest and seat are manufactured from high strength breathable pellicle suspension polyester mesh. The Ancheer Ergonomic Computer Chair has been subject to and passed the rigorous Business Institutional Furniture Manufacturers Association or BIMFA testing standards and Swiss SGS SA testing standards.

 

Pro’s

With its 5 point casters, pellicle suspension mesh seating material sturdy construction and a wide range of adjustments the ANCHEER Work Chair represents superb value and it’s obvious that a lot of thought has gone into this chair.

Con’s

Fairly new to market with an ergonomic chair and Chinese brand with delivery from California. Now that’s not to say that this detracts from the quality in any way, the parent company has been manufacturing furniture for nearly 14 years  it’s just that you’re going to get distinctly Chinese type English in the documentation.

Best Ergonomic Office Chair Under $200

We cheated a little here (slightly) because our number one choice in the under $200 price range is in fact slightly over at $208 but the Viva Office High Back Mesh Ergonomic Office Chair offers exceptional value and such a wide range of adjustments it deserves to take the crown.

With its contemporary, modern design the Viva ergonomic high back mesh chair is designed to provide outstanding lower back support and neck support with the mesh back providing plenty of airflow to prevent discomfort from excessive body heat and sweat. The chair features pneumatic seat height adjustment, and unique at this price point adjustable headrest support.

One of the most important ergonomic features are multi directional adjustable armrests and the Viva has a really good up and down range so that you can have your arms, wrists and elbows as supported as possible. The tilt tension control has three vertical positions and with a built in height adjustable lumbar support a feature normally found in Ergonomic Chairs costing double the price.

With a 5 point base for stability and smooth durable rolling casters and a weight capacity of 250 pounds this chair offers exceptional value it’s no wonder Viva are fast building a great reputation for designing great office furniture.

Pro’s

Really outstanding value, packed with real ergonomic features including height adjustable lumbar support and headrest. An outstanding buy

Con’s

Just slightly over the price point but well worth the extra money

2nd Choice Best Ergonomic Office Chair Under $200

Our second choice for best ergonomic office chair under $200 goes to the very good Proline II ProGrid High Back Chair

Choosing a sub $200 Ergonomic chair starts to be a play off between budget and features that can truly define an ergonomic office chair as being ‘ergonomic’ or merely ‘adjustable’.

The Proline II Progrid manages to deftly sidestep the ‘adjustable’ category and provides a raft of features that defies its sub $200 price point. The chair features a fully breathable mesh back with a built in lumbar support to minimize back pain, a one touch seat height adjustment powered pneumatically. The seat itself includes slider fine-tuning and forward pitch and tilt tensioning regulation.

An ergonomic feature that is normally only found on work chairs retailing at twice the price point the Proline II includes height and width adjustable arms which is a killer feature and a real contribution to comfort when seated for long periods.

Pro’s

Amazing value, feature packed, well constructed at the price point. Silky smooth casters.

Con’s

Not a great deal of lumbar support if you need it, finicky assembly instructions, slightly creaky after a few months of use.

Best Affordable Ergonomic Office Chair Under $100

AmazonBasics Mid-Back Mesh Chair.

The name says it all, and basic this chair is. Whilst it’s described as an ergonomic chair that’s really a little bit of poetic license. What this really is is a basic well constructed adjustable chair made under the AmazonBasics Brand that has an ergonomic design ‘look’.

Having said that this chair features a mesh back for breathability, seat height adjustment with the standard pneumatic control and a padded seat with semi waterfall front edge to keep the pressure off your thighs and inner knees. The chair has a 225lb maximum weight carrying capacity with durable dual wheel casters for mobility.

For the price, at $69.99 at the time of writing the AmazonBasics Mid-Back Mesh Chair falls well into the budget bracket. Typical of anything that Amazon does they do this well within the price constraints that have been set to bring a decent chair at well under the $100 mark. The chair is well made yet light weight being only just over 23 lbs.

If you really are tight on budget then this work chair will probably serve you better than the under $100 budget products you’ll see in the Walmart and Staples furniture isles.

If you’re looking to buy one or even several ergonomic style chairs for occasional seating without prolonged 6 to 8 hour session then the AmazonBasics Work Chair will fit the bill nicely

Pro’s

Budget price, well made with contoured mesh back and the added benefit of the Amazon brand and 1 year warranty

Con’s

This really is a budget offering and not really ‘ergonomic’ having only the very basics of adjustment

The Best Ergonomic Office And Home Office Chair Round Up

The Best Of The Best Ergonomic Office Chair

There is absolutely no doubt in our mind that the best Ergonomic Office Chair in the World is the Aeron Task Chair by Herman Miller. Yes you can go over the top and spend close to $1800 on the Herman Miller Embody but for our money there is nothing better than the Aeron. It’s simply sublime to sit on, wonderfully made and will probably outlast you.

Best Value Ergonomic Office Chair – The Best Bang For Your Buck

This was we admit, a difficult one. Deciding which Ergonomic Work Chair represented the very best overall value was a difficult one and a close fought battle between the ANCHEER Mount Ergonomic Black Mesh Office Chair and the Viva Office High Back Mesh Ergonomic Office Chair. In the end the ANCHEER won the crown. Whilst its just over $50 more expensive than the Viva the added adjustment variations make it more the extra.

Best Value Under $100 – Best Budget Ergonomic Office Chair.

The competition in this price bracket is huge and the choice is overwhelming. You can walk into any Walmart and buy a cheap poorly designed and after a couple of months, uncomfortable office chair for under a $100. In the end it really comes down to basic comfort, brand and guarantee and that’s where the AmazonBasics Mid-Back Mesh Chair wins. The effort that Amazon have put into the design and quality of this chair speaks volumes. It’s popularity speaks volumes. The overall quality, Free Shipping, easy returns and the 12 month warranty make it our number 1 pick