What is the best home office chair?
The first things to think about are:
- How long will you be sitting for?
- What’s your budget?
- What material would you prefer?
- Would you prefer a more active alternative to sitting still all day?
If you need more help to understand the different options and features available you can read our simple guide: 5 things to consider when choosing an office chair.
This article is part of our Ultimate Guide to Office chairs where we cover the best chairs for a range of different needs including best ergonomic office chairs, best mesh office chairs, best office chairs for back pain and much more. We will also help you understand what to look out for while you're purchasing and explain the terms you'll see while you're doing your research. All to make sure you get the best office chair for your needs.
These are our top picks for which home office chair to buy.
Best home office chairs
Best budget office chair
Office chair FLEET, adjustable armrests (RRP £135.00*)
Benefits:
- Affordable
- Adjustable backrest position
- Adjustable armrests
This simple, small office chair offers great functionality for its budget price tag, allowing you to sit comfortably all day without breaking the bank. Designed for up to 8 hours of use a day, this classic swivel desk chair features a permanent contact back (PCB) mechanism with simple two-lever operation. This means you can easily adjust the height and angle of the backrest and either fix it in the most comfortable position or leave it in free float so it follows your movements, helping you to vary your posture.
You can also adjust the seat height with a reliable gas lift mechanism. We recommend this affordable desk chair with adjustable armrests to provide additional support that will alleviate tension in your shoulders, but it is also available without armrests.
Best home office chair for posture
High back 24 hour office chair CHICHESTER (RRP £289.00*)
Benefits:
- Adjustable lumbar pump to help alleviate back pain
- Highly adjustable backrest and seat
- Moveable armrests
This ergonomic home office chair is ideal for anyone experiencing back pain from long hours spent at the desk, offering a host of smart setting options designed to support your body and alleviate back, neck and shoulder pain.
The chair features an air-regulated lumbar support, controlled by a simple hand pump, that lets you adjust the pressure on your lower back to reduce tension. Its asynchronous mechanism allows the backrest and seat to move together to follow your movements, ensuring the chair supports you in any position, but also offers the possibility to detach the seat and tilt it independently to any angle, giving you complete control of how you sit.
The chair also has adjustable seat depth and backrest height, so you can fine tune it to your body. It comes complete with adjustable armrests, making it a very comfortable office chair for home or office use.
Plus, if black is not for you, this chair comes in a selection of bright colours!
Best leather desk chair
24 hour chair BASINGSTOKE (RRP £549.00*)
Benefits:
- Smart faux leather upholstery
- Highly adjustable seat and backrest position
- Adjustable armrests
Our best leather office chair is actually covered in a high-quality synthetic leather instead of real leather. It looks just as good and will last as long but ensures our products are cruelty free and vegan friendly.
Although it comes with a higher price tag, this high-quality office chair offers a whole host of features to make sure you stay comfortable in your home office throughout the working day. A deep padded seat and back provide a supportive and comfortable place to sit while working long hours at your desk. The chair also features an asynchronous mechanism that lets you adjust the tilt of the back and seat in tandem or independently of each other so you can find the best position for you, then you can choose to either lock them in position or allow them to follow your movements. It comes with adjustable armrests to take pressure off your arms and shoulders.
Best mesh office chair
Mesh back office chair EVERSLEY (RRP £295.00*)
Benefits:
- Breathable mesh material
- Seat and backrest that follow your movements
- Adjustable armrests and headrest
Mesh office chairs are increasingly popular for both office and home use. They combine modern design with a material is surprisingly comfortable. Our EVERSLEY office chair is an ideal example. It features a high mesh back with a fabric-covered seat. By combining the two materials you get the best of both worlds: a well-padded seat with a supportive and breathable backrest that allows the air to flow through easily, keeping your body cool.
It also has adjustable armrests, an adjustable headrest and a synchronous mechanism that allows the seat and backrest to move together to follow your body's movements and contribute to a more ergonomic sitting position.
Best work from home chair for exercise and movement
Motion stool UP (RRP £135.00*)
Benefits:
- Improves posture
- Works core muscles
- Keeps you moving all day!
This modern balance stool is designed to keep you moving while you sit! The seat’s wobbly design forces your body to make small continual movements in order to stay sitting in the correct position on the stool. These small movements are barely noticeable yet holding yourself upright works your core muscles and ensures good posture, which in turn reduces back, neck and shoulder pain. The wobble stool’s compact design and variety of colour options makes it an easy addition to any home office setup!
WINNER: Best all-round work from home chair
This is the perfect home desk chair! It combines modern design with plenty of adjustable settings so you can find a comfortable and ergonomic work position that suits you.
Top tips
- Reclaim the VAT. If your home office chair is for business use (i.e. you’re working from home) then you should be able to reclaim the VAT on your purchase, saving you some money. You can do this yourself or it may be easier to find out if you can purchase through your company to save yourself the paperwork. Better yet, ask if they’ll provide a budget for home office equipment!
- Check out the warranty offered with the chair. With so many different options and places to buy from, it can be hard to tell which ones offer better quality – the warranty is an easy giveaway.
- Look at the dimensions, particularly seat and backrest height, in relation to you. You want to be able to sit with your feet flat on the floor and your knees at a 90° angle; your back should be fully supported. Desk chairs with a low height may not suit some taller users and, equally, chairs with a very high backrest may be uncomfortable for users of below average height.
