If you've bought office furniture in the past, you've probably come across ergonomic desk chairs before. Most people think of them as a good thing, but many aren't sure why. Knowing what they are, and what they do, is the key to choosing the right one.
Put simply, ergonomic office chairs are designed to give the body as much support as possible. A well-designed office chair supports your spine, lets your joints rest in a natural position and lines up your shoulders and hips. That makes good posture easier to keep up through a long day at a desk.
This short guide explains what makes a chair ergonomic, and the types of ergonomic chairs and stools to choose from.
What Does Ergonomic Chair Mean?
The meaning of "ergonomic chair" is simple: an office chair designed around the body of the person using it. "Ergonomic" comes from ergonomics: designing things to fit the people who use them, rather than making people fit the thing.
In a chair, that means adjustments. You can set the seat, backrest and arms to suit your height and build, so you can sit well with little effort. A standard chair gives everyone the same shape. An ergonomic chair lets each person change it.
What Are the Benefits of an Ergonomic Office Chair?
Designers of ergonomic desk chairs start with a good sitting position. Then they add the adjustments that let each user reach that position with as little effort as possible.
Ergonomic desk chairs and stools are often more expensive than standard alternatives, so it helps to know what you're paying for:
- Support for a good sitting posture
- More comfort through a long working day
- A seat and backrest you can set to fit your body
- Quick adjustments, which makes them well suited to hot-desking
- Tilt that lets you change position through the day
- A clear sign to your team that you've thought about their comfort
What Difference Does an Ergonomic Chair Make?
An ergonomic chair lets each person set the chair to fit them, instead of fitting themselves to the chair. For anyone at a desk 40 or more hours a week, that difference shows up every day.
With the chair set up well, your feet rest flat, your lower back is supported and your arms sit level with the desk. In a fixed chair, people tend to perch on the front edge to reach the floor, or lean forward to reach the keyboard. Either way, they lose the backrest's support.
Features of an Ergonomic Office Chair
At first glance, an ergonomic chair looks like any other office chair. The difference is in the adjustments. These are the features to look for:
- Seat height: usually a lever at the side of the seat. Set it so your feet are flat on the floor and your thighs are roughly level. For the mechanism behind it, see how office chairs go up and down.
- Seat depth: the seat slides forwards or back so your back and thighs are both supported. Shorter people especially benefit, because they don't have to perch on the edge to reach the floor.
- Lumbar support: fills the gap between your lower back and the backrest, so you don't need a cushion. The best kind adjusts in height.
- Arm height: set the armrests level with your desk, so your forearms rest at about a right angle to your upper arms while you type.
- Tilt and tilt lock: lets you recline when you switch tasks, then lock the backrest upright so it doesn't move when you lean on it. Tilt tension sets how much resistance you feel as you lean back: adjust it so you can recline comfortably and still feel supported. Check whether the lock holds only upright or in several positions. Some chairs also tilt the seat itself, which is a separate feature to compare.
- Headrest: adjust its height so it takes the weight of your head when you lean back. You won't use it while sitting upright to type.
- Seat width and cushioning: your hips should fit without squeezing against the arms. Look for even padding with no hard spots and a softly rounded front edge, in a breathable cover that's easy to clean.
- Arm width: armrests that move in and out keep your elbows comfortably close to your sides.
- Swivel and castors: check you can turn to reach your work without twisting, and that the wheels suit your floor, carpet or hard.
Then check the numbers. Compare the seat size, the height and depth ranges and the maximum user weight with the people who'll use the chair. Make sure it fits under your desk with room for your legs, and that you can reach the controls while you're sitting down.
For what to check before you buy, see our 5 must-have features to look for in an office chair.
What UK Rules Say About Office Chairs
For desk work with a screen, the Display Screen Equipment Regulations set a minimum. The chair must be stable and let you move and sit comfortably, the seat must adjust in height, and the backrest must adjust in height and tilt. A footrest must be available to anyone who asks for one. HSE's guide to the regulations, L26, sets this out.
There's also a standard: BS EN 1335-1 sets the dimensions for office work chairs. If you're buying for a business, ask whether a chair meets it and for its measurements, then check the adjustment ranges fit your team.
What Are the Different Types of Ergonomic Furniture?
There are ergonomic options for most ways of working, from high chairs for workbenches to compact chairs for busy offices. Many are stylish focal points in their own right.
Fabric, leather and mesh chairs can all be ergonomic. What makes the difference is fit, support and adjustments you'll actually use, not the upholstery.
Ergonomic High Office Chair
For perched seating, sit-stand working and work at benches, you may need an ergonomic high office chair. Choose one sturdy enough to adapt to a wide range of sitting positions.
Take the Factory Chair with Fixed Draughting Kit, for example. It has a high-rise gas lift, an adjustable seat and backrest and a foot ring, so you can work at height and still sit well. It's covered in hard-wearing black polyurethane, which is as stylish as it is practical.
Ergonomic Mesh Office Chairs
For the perfect combination of style, comfort and ergonomic support, an ergonomic mesh office chair is ideal. It keeps you cool, holds you in a good sitting position and gives support where your body needs it most. That makes it a good fit for people who spend several hours a day at their desks.
The Hermes Ergonomic Mesh Chair is a particularly impressive example of ergonomic engineering. It has high-quality black mesh, a chrome base, a high curved back, an upholstered seat and a waterfall front. There's also adjustable lumbar support. Adjusting the height, recline and seat position is quick and simple, which makes it ideal for busy hot-desking environments.
The Ergo Tag Mesh Office Chair adds a mesh headrest, adjustable arms and tilt with adjustable tension. Its seat is 500 mm wide and 510 mm deep, and adjusts from 450 to 540 mm high. It's rated for 24-hour use and users up to 150 kg.
Slimline Ergonomic Office Chair
A slimline ergonomic office chair gives you comfort and easy adjustment, but takes up little space in a busy office. Look for a compact frame with a high back, so you keep the support without the bulk.
Ergonomic Leather Office Chair
Nothing beats the look and feel of leather, which is why an ergonomic leather office chair is such a popular choice at Office Supermarket. Comfortable, luxurious and supportive, leather chairs add a touch of elegance that other materials can't quite match.
The Titan Ergonomic Office Chair is a leather-effect option, in black or brown. It has an integral headrest, padded arms, a sculpted back and a wide 550 mm seat. A gas lift sets the height, and tension control adjusts to your weight and locks the back upright, so it can be set up quickly for each user.
Wooden Ergonomic Office Chair
While most ergonomic desk chairs are made from metals, plastics, fabrics or leather, some have wooden frames shaped to support the back and legs. Wood may not be as resilient as steel or aluminium, but it gives a look that's hard to copy.
Ergonomic Stools
Desk chairs aren't the only seats designed to support key areas of the body. Ergonomic stools, such as kneeling stools, are lighter and more mobile, and offer some of the same benefits. They're quick to move around an office for short meetings and collaborations.
For a full working day at a desk, though, we'd choose one of our ergonomic office chairs instead.
Buy Ergonomic Desk Chairs Online
You will find dozens of high-quality ergonomic desk chairs right here at Office Supermarket. For the rest of your workspace, browse our office furniture.
FAQs
What are ergonomic chairs?
Ergonomic chairs are office chairs built to adjust to the person sitting in them. "Ergonomic" isn't a formal grade or standard, so check the adjustments rather than the label. As a minimum, look for adjustable seat height and depth and adjustable lumbar support. Together, those let you set a good sitting position for your height and build.
What are the benefits of ergonomic chairs?
Ergonomic chairs help you sit well at a desk or computer, and let you change position through the day. That makes long hours at a desk more comfortable.
How does an ergonomic chair help?
A healthy human spine has a natural "S" shape. Ergonomic chairs are designed to support that curve, through adjustments to the headrest, backrest, lumbar support and armrests.
How do you sit in an ergonomic chair at your desk?
Start with your feet flat on the floor, or on a footrest, and your thighs roughly parallel to the floor. Sit right back so the backrest and lumbar support meet your back. Set the armrests so your forearms are level with the desk and your elbows bend at about a right angle.
Set the chair height so your shoulders are relaxed and the keyboard sits just below elbow height. If that leaves your feet off the floor, use a footrest. Keep the keyboard and mouse close, and the screen about an arm's length away. HSE shows good posture at a workstation.
Your eyes should be level with the top of your screen or what you're reading. Then try small changes until it feels right. Our guide to how to sit at your desk goes into more detail.
Even in the best chair, change position regularly and take short breaks to stand up or move around. A reminder every 45 minutes or so can help. HSE advises short, frequent breaks from screen work.
What does an ergonomic workstation look like?
An ergonomic chair sits at the centre of an ergonomic workstation, because your sitting position shapes everything else. Around it you can add a footrest, an ergonomic keyboard and mouse, a sit-stand desk and a writing slope.
