June 2023’s best back pain office chair. Because we believe they can be a force for good in your life, we love usinguate and reviewing the best office chairs for back pain. That may be a lofty assertion, but I’ve evald the best ergonomic office chairs for several years and have personally experienced the benefits. Exploring the best office chairs for back pain could be a game changer if you work long hours at a desk and want to care for your health.
When making our list of the best ergonomic office chairs, we kept a few crucial factors in mind. We examine build quality, size, and adjustability in each listing, and we spent many weeks with the chairs we reviewed to assess their longevity and long-term effect to assist in better informing our reviews. And, of course, we rate the price and beauty of these comfortable thrones!
Make sure to keep scrolling if you want more in-depth information. The bottom of this page contains information to help you know what to look for in a good ergonomic office chair. To improve your posture further, check out our guide to the best standing workstations. If you want a broader selection of seating, we offer a guide to the best office chairs.
The best office chair for back pain
1. Sihoo M90D Ergonomic Chair
If you want a decent ergonomic office chair for back pain but want to avoid paying for the ‘executive’ models available (see above and below), the Sihoo range of office chairs is well worth looking into. We reviewed the Sihoo M90D chair, which is more in the mid-range of their chairs, and we loved its adjustable lumbar support. If you prefer a less expensive Sihoo ergonomic chair, you’ll still receive (non-adjustable) lumbar and plenty of support for your money.
After a few weeks of use, the highlights are the breathable mesh back and the good level of lumbar support that comes with it. You may adjust the chair’s back support, headrest, armrests, tilt, and height. Although you cannot adjust the seat depth, the adjustable features allow you to make the majority of the adjustments that health experts recommend, such as adjusting the chair height so that your knees are slightly lower than your hips. This adds up to superb lower back support for office chair users at a considerably lower price point than its features would imply.
The level of finish is inferior to that of more costly designer chairs, which is unavoidable given the price. However, given the low price, it not only looks the part but also delivers fantastic comfort and protection. Stock is currently limited, so watch our live widgets for updates on where to buy this excellent chair.
2. X4 Executive leather chair
After using most of the chairs on our list and considering style, price, and features, I’m certain this is the best ergonomic chair money can buy right now. But why is this so?
First and foremost, the X4 Executive leather chair is among the most comfortable ergonomic chairs I’ve ever reviewed. There are no startling observations about the X4’s appearance (though you can liven things up with one of the eight available colors), and most importantly, the X4 shines when you sit in it for any period. The X4 is constructed of hard plastic, chrome aluminum, mesh, and leather and provides all the robust support you’d expect from a premium ergonomic chair while still giving great comfort.
It’s one of the heaviest chairs on this list, weighing 31kg (more than twice as much as some others). That stability contributes to excellent back support and a soft-yet-firm comfort that feels terrific. There are also other feature options, such as a headrest, 360-degree armrests, and massage and heating pads. Check out the X-Chair X4 Executive chair review for additional information.
03. Herman Miller Mirra 2
The Herman Miller Mirra 2 is one of our top choices for the best office chairs for back pain for two reasons. To begin with, and most importantly, the Mirra 2 is an ergonomic chair that will appropriately support your body, reducing strain on your back and providing different adjustments to suit your body type. Second, it is a furniture design icon, exuding class and refinement and adding clout to any creative’s workspace. Our writer loved using it as the principal chair option for her home office, as evidenced by our hands-on Herman Miller Mirra 2 review.
Yes, it’s pricey, but it’s well worth it, given the build quality, support, and aesthetic. The butterfly-shaped backrest adapts to your motions smoothly, making your spine feel cradled and helped and preventing you from sagging or slumping. We also found that this chair comfortably holds you with your knees slightly lower than your hips and your feet flat on the ground – vital criteria for sitting properly on a chair straight from the UK’s National Health Service (for more information, scroll to the bottom of this page).
The mesh is wonderful and breathable on hot days, allowing you to stay cool. The chair has good lumbar support that can be adapted for height (many of the cheaper chairs on our list have lumbar support, but it isn’t adjustable) and completely adjustable arms. The seat cushion distributes your weight well and has the highest maximum load (159kg / 350lbs) of all the chairs on this list.
The ErgoChair Plus is a fantastic chair, and I had a lot of fun using it for my ErgoChair Plus office chair review for several weeks. First and foremost, I love the combination of the light blue and the design elements – the curving top of the back, the massive, blocky legs, and the fascinating skeletal plastic back support. Sure, ergonomic chairs are important for keeping your back in good shape, but that doesn’t mean they have to be ugly!
According to the company’s website, the ErgoChair Plus is owned by 300+ Apple employees. And it’s easy to see why. With adequate basic back support, it’s both fun and good-looking. And that is the major reason you could choose one of the chairs on this list above – if you want the best back support available, there is a better chair for you. It has back support and an aesthetically comparable skeleton plastic mesh construction to the significantly more expensive Herman Miller Mirra 2. However, there is no lumbar support.
05. Secretlab Titan Evo 2022 Chair
Do you intend to use your chair for gaming primarily? The Secretlab Titan Evo 2022 is another option. We reviewed the premium gaming chair, and, to be honest; we love its strong comfort and attention to detail.
The most notable feature is the completely adjustable lumbar support system, controlled by a knob on the right side of the backrest. The seat has the same bucket-style construction as racing chairs, so your bum will be comfortably supported even after hours of playtime (or normal office work). And the cold-cure foam padding used throughout makes this chair extremely comfortable. It is available in Small, Regular, and XL sizes and fits various body types.
I loved the combination of leatherette and velvet-style finishings, and it looks as good as it feels. The magnetic headrest is another feature that adds to the Titan Evo’s ability to make it feel exactly right. This is an excellent supporting chair for both gamers and non-gamers.
You may have noticed that the HG Capisco differs from the other chairs on this list in appearance. This is because it is a saddle chair, allowing you to sit like you are saddling a horse. Studies such as this one from Cardiff University this is quite useful for treating and preventing back pain. In our assessment of the HG Capisco 8106 chair, we needed to continually alter how we sat, which helps with posture and relieves back pain.
Saddle chairs are most popular among medical professionals, but they are also used in other workplaces. For usage with standing workstations, they are extremely good. The HGCapisco Puls has a stronger, narrower saddle that allows you to sit with your legs nearer together than the HGCapisco Capisco.
It’s comfortable and adjustable, providing good lumbar and lower back support. You may tweak the seat’s height and depth from a low sitting posture to a sit-stand position. The seat tilts with a tilt lock. Furthermore, this daring and minimalist Scandinavian design will undoubtedly put your home office setup on the cutting edge of cool.
We have two excellent gaming chairs in fifth and sixth place, with only price separating them. This Vertagear SL5800 includes memory foam and patent-pending features, and it’s one of the most comfortable chairs I’ve sat in, but it’s around $100 less than the Secret Lab option above.
Its pillow headrest is removable, and the Vertagear provides more airways in the neck of the back. You can also buy LED lights (for $299!!) if that’s your thing. If you want a more sleek, understated design, this gaming chair, particularly the carbon black model, is on the less flashy side of gaming chairs.
What is the main distinction? The SL5800 lacks adjustable lumbar support, unlike the Secret Labs model. Don’t get us wrong, there is still good lumbar support here, and after using this chair for about a month, I was happy with the support I received. However, this is different from the chair for you if you want to be able to move the position of the lumbar support of your chair.
08. Muista ergonomic chair/stool
‘Wait? This was about the best chairs for back pain, so why is a stool on the list? If you’re one of the people asking this crucial question, the simple answer is that the Muista stool is worth your time if you want a functional, gorgeous-looking seating solution that will benefit your back and body. It’s a creative design for a fraction of the price of some of the more high-tech options on this page, and as our hands-on Muista chair review attests, we truly loved using it for extended amounts of time (especially when teamed with one of the best standing desks).
The Muista chair, unlike most of the chairs on this list, encourages you to move while seated. Depending on how you’re sitting on it, you can rock back and forth or side to side, and these micro-movements can increase blood flow and keep your muscles pleasantly engaged, preventing the more damaging side effects of sitting still for hours on end. Of course, we understand that many people may be put off by the lack of a backrest and luxury seats found in other chairs, but for intelligent design and a reasonable price, this is hard to top.
Herman Miller chairs are tough to beat in style, craftsmanship, and utility. We’ve previously placed one at the shelter of our list of the best ergonomic office chairs, but if the Mirra 2 is too pricey for you, or if you prefer a more compact shape, the Herman Miller Sayl could be a very appealing option. It’s a little less expensive but boasts a sleek design and excellent ergonomic features.
When we got it out of the package, we first noticed that it had fewer pieces than its sibling. Still, the vented elastomer backrest, made with strands that vary in thickness and tension, provides a wonderful mix of support and comfort and great air circulation. According to James Crow, the owner of Posture Stars, a website that promotes good posture, you can change the armrests, seat height, and seat depth, which is an important feature (see more on what the pros think at the bottom of this page). The tilt limiter has four settings for adjusting the tension to your satisfaction. We love this stylish, quirky spin on the classic Herman Miller chair inspired by the Golden Gate Bridge. It also provides excellent spinal support.
10. Flexispot Ergonomic Office Chair OC13
The Flexispot OC13 ergonomic chair is a one-of-a-kind recommendation in this guide to the best office chair for back pain. That’s because it’s only available in GameBoy grey, beige, and chrome, has a great 80s throwback aesthetic, and has made an effort to make it a solid ergonomic office chair. This is due to several adjustability features, such as movable lumbar support and a comfortable heat rest.
We scored this chair three and a half stars when we reviewed it because of its appearance. Don’t get us wrong: we love the aesthetic of the OC13, but we also recognize that it may be contentious for some, so we couldn’t award it a better score (though this writer would have preferred too!)
However, if you’re reading this guide, you’re probably most interested in the chair’s ergonomic features, and we’re happy to report that it’s excellent in that respect. Sitting on the chair for six weeks, we felt supported and comfortable at all times, and the only thing that let it down in this respect was the slightly high armrests that couldn’t be lowered. However, if it isn’t a deal breaker for you and you love the appearance as much as we do, we highly recommend this distinctive ergonomic office chair.
Can office chairs help back pain?
What’s the best office chair for back pain?
What chair features are good for back pain?
Several ergonomic features make an office chair good for back pain. One of the most important things to look for in a chair is its capacity to be adjusted to fit your body. See our guide to what makes an office chair ergonomic for more information, but in brief, search for chairs that have:
- Lumbar support (described further below)
- Armrests that can be moved
- The adjustability of the seat depth
- Tilt and recline.
“The best office chair for back pain is one that’s highly flexible, so you can get the back to support you in a meaningful way,” says James Crow, owner of Posture Stars, a website promoting good posture. “Invest wisely: we wouldn’t buy the most affordable mattress or car, but many of us spend eight to ten hours per day perched on a ‘value’ chair.”
He also emphasizes the importance of replacing an old chair. “If your chair has been around for over a decade, it’s probably time to upgrade; the materials deteriorate over time, with seat padding taking the brunt of the abuse.”
What is lumbar support?
How do you sit properly in an office chair?
