The Ergonomic Office Chair Checklist

Need to buy an ergonomic office chair? Do you know that there are so many ways to go wrong when shopping for an office chair?

This market is trickier than you think, with plenty of myths and misconceptions about what makes a great office chair choice. To help you out, here’s a quick guide on what to look for.

1. The chair’s height. The height of the chair should allow you to sit at a 90-degree angle, with your upper thighs parallel to the floor. If not, the height should be adjustable so you can maintain that ideal position even if you use the chair with tables or desks of different heights.

2. The chair’s armrests. The armrests should allow you to sit with your shoulders fully comfortable. This is especially important if you are looking for a chair you will use when typing at the computer. Since people have different arm lengths and table top heights, the armrests should also be adjustable in height. Some also adjust in angle or width to allow for other activities.

3. The lower back area. The chair should have support for the lower portion of your back. Notice the inward curve in that area? That’s the lumbar region. It has to be supported to maintain proper posture and prevent back pain.

Some people tend to go by face value. When they see a chair with a high, generous-looking backrest, they immediately go for it. But in reality, it is not really important how high the backrest is; it is more important to have support for your lumbar area.

4. The seating. It does not matter how thick the seating is. A little more cushioning does not affect the ergonomics of a chair. In fact, look at some of the revolutionary ergonomic office chairs such as the Herman Miller chairs; their seating is made of mesh. This means you don’t need ultra-thick upholstery for the seating. The most important feature of the seating is the depth of the seat.


It should place your back comfortably against the back of the chair and should end at around 2 to 4 inches away from the back of your knees. If the seat is too deep, the result is either you have a lot of unused space between your back and the chair’s back or the edge of the chair's seat will cut against the back of your knees, cutting off the circulation there.

5. The headrest. Ergonomic office chairs do not necessarily need a headrest. This is not a must if you are shopping for a chair you will use mostly for working on the computer. A headrest allows you to lean your head back; it is usually found in chairs that have a recline feature.

These chairs are considered executive chairs; they are useful if you spend a lot of time reading or talking on the phone. However, if you are looking for a computer desk chair, the recline position and the headrest may make it hard for you to concentrate on the computer screen since you will have the tendency to lean back.

This checklist is supplied courtesy of Best-Office-Chair-Reviews.net, a website that helps you find the best office chair for your needs, lifestyle and budget.