Do you know, an average American with a desk job spends around 6 hours sitting every single day. That makes 156 hours per month and 1872 hours of sitting per year. So, during the whole lifetime, how many hours would a person spend sitting?
Can you help me out! I lost the count there. However, many people don’t care about choosing the right office chair, and their bodies pay the cost for this negligence. Hopefully, most people will do some proper research and choose the right office chair for themselves.
Choose an office chair that has been specifically designed for sitting comfortably for long hours. The right office chair will have adjustable seat height, armrests, lumbar support, headrest, comfortable seat and will offer the best sitting experience.
In this article, I will tell you everything you need to know to choose the right office chair for yourself, which will fit you and your budget as well. I will also prove to you that you don’t need to break the bank to buy the right office chair for yourself. So, keep reading!!
How do I Choose the Right Office Chair?
Choosing the right office chair for an individual is not easy as every person is different and has particular needs. You need to set priorities like what is essential for you. First, you will need to set the budget then look for several features of a good office chair.
There is no specific set of rules for this purpose. Let’s walk you through the features of a good office chair, which will make it easier for you to choose the right office chair for you.
Features of a Good Office Chair:
A good office chair must have the following features:
Adjustable seat height:
As I have mentioned earlier, every person is different. That being said, a fixed height of an office chair is never going to be optimal for everyone out there.
That is why your office chair needs to have adjustable seat height. If the height is adjustable, you will be able to sit comfortably on your chair without any issue for long hours.
Besides, if the height is not set to an optimal level, the angle by which you look at your computer screen on your desk or any notes will change. This might cause discomfort in your neck as well.
So, it is very much a very much important feature of a good office chair. If an office chair does not have adjustable height, run away from it.
A good Office chair must have Adjustable Lumbar support:
Without proper lumbar support, your posture will be compromised, and you might experience back pain in the long run for sitting for long hours.
That’s why adjustable lumbar support is a must. If the lumbar support is adjustable, you will be able to adjust it as per the curvature of your spine. This will improve comfortability and minimize the risk of back pain.
For this reason, a good office chair must have adjustable lumbar support, and any office chair without lumbar support is not worth your money.
The Seat must be Wide Enough:
If the set width is not wide, sometimes it can compromise your sitting experience. Did I say sometimes!! I mean, a narrower seat will always compromise your sitting experience and comfortability.
Since most office chairs are made for average people, big and tall guys sometimes face this issue. The seat width is not enough in some office chairs, and this becomes a matter of great concern for them. So, if you are a big dude, you must make sure the seat width is enough for you.
Proper Mobility with casters & 360-degree Swivel:
A good office chair must have wheels and a swivel feature. This will ensure proper mobility for you. If you need to pick nearby things around your workspace, you will be able to move and rotate your chair and pick up things you require. This will improve your sitting experience as you won’t have to stand up every time you need to pick something.
The Office Chair must be made of Breathable Material:
Mesh is considered the best material for office chairs for decades as it has ergonomic values. Office chairs with mesh backs allow the easy exchange of heat and air from your back.
This prevents you from sweating when you sit for long hours at your desk. So, during the summer season, you will sit comfortably without sweating your back if the office chair is made of mesh back.
Having Adjustable Armrests is a Must:
Armrests provide a surface to rest your arms. If your office chair does not have arms, you will face elbow muscle strain after sitting for long hours as the muscles around your elbow will not get enough support.
But having fixed armrests is not enough for everyone. You will need to adjust the arms as per your comfort level. Otherwise, having armrests will not provide enough benefits.
Long Warranty period from the Manufacturer:
The more warranty an office chair has, the more it will last. It is a proven fact. Office chairs with a greater warranty usually have better build quality.
Like the Herman Miller, Aeron chair has 12 years of warranty. That is why this chair lasts for generations. But this chair is costly.
On the other hand, a cheap office chair with one or two years of warranty will wear out soon. So, they are not worth your money as well. According to me, four to five years of warranty is a sweet spot. Office chairs with a 4-5 years warranty will not wear out soon and will also not be very much expensive.
How Should Your Office Chair Fit
The office chair that you will buy must fit your height, weight, spine curve through lumbar support, and seat width as well.
- Height: A good office chair will support a wide range of heights as it will contain adjustable seat height. You can read this article on, What Office Chair Size Should You Get For Your Height? For Example, the chair I recommended has adjustable seat height for which is recommended for people between 5’4″ – 6’1″. The easiest way to adjust your seat height as per your height is just to change the height of the chair using the lever under your chair, as long as your thighs are horizontal to the floor.
- Spine curve: The office chair must fit your spine curve through the proper adjustment of lumbar support. If the lumbar support is not adjustable, it will not fit you properly and will not be able to provide proper lumbar support, which might lead to back issues in the future.
- Seat width: You must be aware of the seat width if you are a big guy as most office chairs are made for average people. If the seat width does not fit you or it is narrower than your hip size, then this can reduce the comfort of sitting and lead to physical issues if you continue to sit for a long time in such chairs.
- Office Chair Weight Limit: You must abide by the weight limit of any chair. If a chair has a weight limit of 250 pounds, people over 250 pounds must avoid it and get a chair that has a higher weight limit.
What type of desk chair should I get & How to Choose the Right Material
Choosing the right material actually depends on you. If you are looking for an office chair with a posh and premium look, go for office chairs with leather material.
If you are the boss of an office and you don’t have to work long hours, getting an executive chair made of leather might be better for you.
But if you are someone like me who spends all day sitting on his chair and working at a desk, choose a fabric office chair with mesh back. As I have noted earlier, mesh back has various ergonomic values, like it provides ventilation and breathability of your back.
That’s why I personally prefer mesh office chairs.
The Right Budget for an Office Chair:
This part actually varies from person to person. Your budget should be your personal choice. But I can give you a perspective about what you can expect at different price points.
Office chairs around 100-200 bucks will have 1-2 years of warranty. If you have such a low budget, be prepared to change the office chair every year or two, which is going to be painful and also a loss project in the long run.
So, going for a higher ranger is always better. I do not recommend buying a $1500 office chair with 10-12 years of warranty. I think that will be too much for most people. But if you have that much cash to invest in, it is probably not a bad idea.
However, what if I tell you you can find an office chair with five years of warranty with 300 bucks only. Does that sound like a decent deal? I know, of course, it does. At Least to me.
That is why I recommended The Nouhaus Ergo 3d office chair. It has five years of warranty, and it costs around $300. You can check out the latest price on Amazon by clicking here as the price is always changing.
Check out the video review of Nouhaus Ergo3D:
Why Can’t You Use Any Office Chair to Sit for Long Hours?
You can’t just use any office chair for sitting for long hours. For sitting long hours, you have to ensure that your office chair has adjustable ergonomic features.
Otherwise, sitting on a chair that does not adjust or fit with your body properly might cause several physical issues like back and neck pain in the long run.
More About My Recommended Office Chair:
I highly recommend The Nouhaus Ergo 3D office chair.
This chair is the best choice for:
- People within 5’4″ – 6’1″ Height range
- People whose weight is below 275 pounds
- People who wants a durable and comfortable office chair.
- Has a budget of around 300 bucks.
If you are a very tall person and you do not fall into the above-mentioned height range. Check out our article on, Best office chairs for Tall People.
On the contrary, check out our article on best office chairs for Short people if your height is below 5 feet 4 inches.
Other Things I Love About the Nouhaus Ergo3D Office Chair:
- It has Great lumbar support
- Adjustable armrests
- Adjustable headrest
- The Warranty period is five years
- It costs only around 300 bucks (1/5th of the Aeron chair but still have all the ergonomic features)
- Great Build Quality
How to Care for your Office Chair
To take proper care of your chair, you can follow the tips below:
- Vacuum the Dust regularly
- Don’t use abrasive and rough cleaners on it
- Keep the casters clean as well
- Keep it away from direct sunlight
Conclusion:
There you have it! In my opinion, the right office chair for you is the chair that can let you sit for long hours comfortably and do not cause any issues in the long run. The chair that fits you perfectly is definitely going to be the right chair or best chair for you.
I have recommended an ergonomic chair for you. Only go for this chair if your height, weight, and budget range coincide with that of the chair.
Otherwise, I hope it will be easier for you to choose the right office chair for yourself with all the information I have provided. I hope this article was helpful. Thanks a lot for reading!
