Best Office Chairs 2024: Top Ergonomic Picks for Your Home Office | British GQ

Invest in one of the best office chairs and your back will thank you later. GQ's editors have independently selected our top office chairs for peak ergonomics comfort

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Still slouching over your kitchen table or lounging in bed while working from home? We can practically hear your poor spine complaining from here. It deserves better. You deserve better. In other words, now is the time to upgrade your home workspace with one of the best office chairs on the market. Your body will thank you for investing in a comfortable office chair that supports good posture, helping alleviate back pain in the process. Because you’re worth it.

So let's move beyond those flimsy, non-adjustable nightmares. We're talking ergonomic office chairs that properly support your lower back — from high-end Herman Miller Aeron models to budget-friendly Amazon finds, we've got options to suit every workspace and wallet.

Looking for a breathable mesh back for those warm workdays? We've got it. Need a high-back chair that works for both gaming and office tasks? It's on our list. Adjustable armrests, seat depth, headrests, tilt tension and more — we've scoured the market for the features that matter most.

From minimalist designs that'll elevate your home office aesthetic, to task chairs that'll keep you comfortable during long work sessions, our top picks cover all bases and budgets. Remember, investing in a good office chair isn't just about comfort — it's about taking care of your body during those extended hours at your desk.

For those who prefer to mix things up, we've also got a handy round-up of the best standing desks. A comfortable sitting position is important, after all, but it’s also good to branch out and stretch those legs once in a while. Also, free to check out our other deal articles on everything from the best computer desks, monitors, and 4K TVs, to smartphones, fashion deals and even mattress deals.

Amazon

If you really want your money to work for you, but you're not quite ready to drop more than £100 on an office chair, Comhoma fuses comfy build quality with affordability for an all-around high-performing swivel chair.

Herman Miller

Herman Miller

Known for its exceptionally high-quality office chairs, there's no beating Herman Miller when it comes to ergonomic design in the workspace. Innovative in every sense, from the linked back and seat depth, adjustable features and suspension mesh backrest, this chair is the long-lasting WFH companion you deserve, and one of our best buys.

Amazon

Blending gaming comfort with an understated office-suitable felt aesthetic, the Razer Iskur provides the best of both worlds. Its built-in lumbar support earns it extra brownie points too, and will come in handy for long Zoom calls and marathon gaming sessions alike thanks to its high back office chair design and foam seat.

SKIP TO: How we tested the best office chairs | Which is the best ergonomic office chair | Which type of office chair is best? | What makes a good office chair | Are ergonomic office chairs better than normal chairs | What is the best office chair for sitting long hours | What type of chair is best for back pain | Are gaming chairs actually bad for you?

The picks below are a roundup of our absolute favourite office chairs that will revolutionise your WFH set-up, no matter your budget. Where possible we've tested the chairs below, covering the most popular models from Herman Miller, Flexispot, Comhoma and Razer. We've done that by assessing comfort levels, adjustable components to fine-tune your seating position and…how fun it is to swivel around on. We mark most highly for how well they support your spine when you sit down and any additional extras like breathable mesh designs or pillows to support your head. Where we haven't managed to get our hands on one of the chairs below ourselves, we have made sure to only include brands we know and love, as well as to deep-dive into the specs, weighing up each chair against what we know and what the experts say we should be looking at.

This guide has been written and edited by GQ's Senior Commerce Writer Daphne Bugler. Not only has Daphne been in the office chair game since demand started to peak in 2020 as we all re-did our home office set-ups, but she also runs our Interiors section meaning she knows both what makes a good ergonomic office chair, and how you can stylishly incorporate it into your home. With the help of Esat Dedezade and Robert Leedham (who have happily tested out office chairs in their own home offices), we're confident this guide has everything you need to buy the right chair for your needs.

Take a digital stroll through the various online retailers and furniture stores and you‘ll find plenty of home office chairs for supporting your weary WFH body. Once you start doing a bit of research, you‘ll quickly realise the quality of these chairs can be wildly different depending on how much you‘re willing to spend. The best budget options will literally be a chair for you to sit on with minimum support, but if you spend a little more, you can expect mesh chairs with dedicated lumbar support for when you want to feel like working on a cloud; Herman Miller is probably the brand to go for.

John Lewis

Within a similar price point is Humanscale, another brand that produces high-quality chairs and is definitely worth a look. If, however, you are not prepared to spend £1,000 on an office chair and are looking for something at a more affordable price tag, brands including John Lewis, Comhoma, Ikea and Habitat all produce good, ergonomic chairs that will make a major difference in your WFH set-up. They aren't going to have the same high-end quality as a Herman Miller, but for lower budgets, they're some of the best you can find.

You can only reinvent the wheel so much and the same is true of any office chair. What distinguishes a great model from one you should avoid tends to be the level of ergonomic support on offer. Why is this so crucial? To reduce strain on your spine, support its natural curvature and encourage good posture. Here's what to look for specifically…

Different office chairs naturally suit different people, but there are some key features that are worth looking out for when shopping for the best one for you. Lynda Rowe, Officer Furniture Buyer at John Lewis says that “a good office chair should be supportive of your body, allowing for plenty of movement. It should also be suited to your workstation, especially the height of the table or desk top, which you need to be able to rest your forearms comfortably on. For those whose feet don't quite reach the floor, a footrest can help — a good one will allow you to rock your feet to help with blood circulation.”

Rowe also added, “The longer you're using the chair daily, the more features you should take into consideration, like lumbar support, seat height and tilt adjustments. If more than one person will be using the chair, look for one that has dynamic adjustment and integrated lumbar support. For those sat for several hours a day, you will find mesh a cooler fabric option”.

We‘ve all been warned about the perils of spending too long slouching over a laptop on your desk, but you do actually need to take it seriously if you‘re still working from home a lot. Your posture can take a battering over many hours sitting down, so you have to grab a chair that will give you optimum support for your back over long periods. The best office chairs embody maximum support and comfort, and you’ll want to ensure you get a quality one that will stand the test of time. Some of the more impressive offerings even have things like a 12-year warranty, so keep an eye out for those extra details.

You want to keep an eye out for any chairs that are considered ergonomic if you plan to take care of your lower back pain. Ergonomic means something that's designed for efficiency or comfort in the working environment, which we are, of course, absolutely here for. When it comes to chairs, this normally means that there will be some level of additional back (both lower back and mid-back) or adjustable lumbar support, as well as the ability to adjust the seat height and angle to suit your body type, size and preferences. Ideally, this should mean you are sitting comfortably with your lower legs perpendicular to the floor –definitely don’t sit cross-legged or leaning over the arm as we do. Comfortable chairs should support and promote good posture with strong backrests and castor wheels, comfortable seat cushions and perhaps a headrest or armrest to dispel any repetitive strain injury potential as you work.

Oh, and make sure you look out for an included warranty before you checkout, as the last thing you want is for it to break and have to pay for a whole new one to be shipped over to you.

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Herman Miller

Herman Miller

Reasons to buy: The Aeron is the absolute pinnacle of WFH comfort thanks to the wealth of adjustable options. It kept us sitting straight and we loved the comfort.

When it comes to the gold standard of office chairs, this is your winner. The Aeron is designed with such high attention to detail that its backrest has been structured with eight different zones, each offering varying tensions so as to maximise the support it offers for the back. With engineering so advanced that the back and seat work together to respond to your body, and a frame that encourages better posture, it's the kind of chair that's a lifelong investment, and one that'll actively improve the quality of your day-to-day life when you're sitting down. There's no wonder this heavy duty chair is almost always sold out.

Amazon

Reasons to buy: One of the best affordable office chairs the Comhoma has all of the basics covered

Comhoma's office chair has long been a favourite among GQ readers, and it remains a staple in many of our home offices to this day. One of the most functional options for less than £100, the desk chair has got most of the basic ergonomic features we look for covered, making for a significant upgrade to your standard solid wood or plastic dining room chair.

While not our favourite aesthetically, the black design is pretty standard of office chairs, and can slot easily into most interior set-ups, adding a professional tone. Adjust the height to your preferred level to make sure you're sitting comfortably, and then enjoy the rocking function that'll keep you in a good place throughout the day. And if you're an Amazon Prime member, you'll also get free delivery and a next day delivery option.

Furniture at Work

Furniture @ Work

Reasons to buy: It looks better in your home than the standard black office chairs.

While we totally appreciate the value of the classic black office chair, every time we see one with a lighter design or colourway, it’s automatically jumps higher in our ranking. We have home offices specifically in mind with this Jackson chair, since the white arms and grey back will differentiate it from the standard chairs you’ll get in your actual office (because no one really wants to bring work home with them, do they?)

At an affordable price of just £99, it has a solid range of ergonomic features, from the mesh back that allows for enhanced breathability to the fabric seat pad, the gas lift adjustment that lets you set it to the right height for your body and the five star base with wheels that allow you to find the right position. Personally, we love when the arms aren’t fixed to allow us to tuck it seamlessly under our desk at the end of the day, but we’ll be able to get over the fact this chair has fixed arms for the sake of those white accents.

FlexiSpot

Reasons to buy: We like that this Flexispot has top-spec materials and a design that’s kind to your back and hips, without looking like the kind of unsightly throne found in your actual office.

Most widely known for its standing desks, which we’re big fans of here at GQ, FlexiSpot’s office chair is another example of the brand’s dedication to producing premium office furniture that places ergonomics at the heart of its design. Made with a comfortable W-shaped seat design that reduces the pressure on your body while you sit, the chair has been produced specifically with people who work long hours in mind, focusing on different design elements that can make it a better experience.

The chair’s material is breathable, with fabric that should prevent odours and mould forming over time, while the swing function provides flexibility, helping you find a position that works best for your body type. And with the option to adjust the height, backrest tightness and armrests, you’ll be able to customise it even further to suit your needs.

Humanscale

John Lewis

Reasons to buy: While they might be warmer in the summer, leather office chairs have a classic chic vibe to them that we just can't get enough of

If you’re after a chair that actually looks good but is also highly ergonomic, you’ve probably been struggling with the fact that as you add in ergonomic features, most chairs simply become uglier. Our solution? Humanscale’s Freedom leather chair. Automatically adjusting to each user, the weight-sensitive mechanism will help adapt to your needs throughout a working day, without you having to really think at all about your chair and whether or not it's positioned properly.

All of the essentials are in place, whether that’s the tilting and reclining backrest, the dynamic headrest or the moving armrests, and Humanscale’s efforts mean it should really help relieve pressure and help you feel more comfortable. The leather looks impeccable and adds a chic feel to your office space as well. The only downside we can see here is that leather can be less breathable than mesh, so on hot summer days (not that the UK gets many of those) you might get a bit sweaty, but we’ll wager you’ll be so comfortable you’ll barely even notice.

Steelcase

Amazon

Reasons to buy: While the red might not suit every room, if you've got the right space it'll brighten it right up. It's also filled with ergonomic features.

Ask us what we think of this scarlet office chair and we’d have to be honest and say we’re still on the fence. In the right setting — perhaps a neutral office space or an industrial home — the pop of colour will add some extra fun to what is otherwise a tedious space. But if you’re popping this into the corner of an already-designed living room or bedroom where you work, we’d say it might verge on being too much. Give it some thought before making the jump.

If you’ve got the space for it and the aesthetic vision, though, the chair itself is a great investment ergonomically. All of the adjustments you might need to make are there, whether that’s the adjustable seat depth, adjustable lumbar, seat height, tension or the flexible back, and it’s all tied together with a comfortable seat (this is thicker than most seat cushions we’ve seen) and the activated tilt mechanism that helps respond to your body as you work. Throw in the 12 year warranty and it’s an investment well worth making.

Herman Miller

Reasons to buy: One of the most ergonomic chairs money can buy, the Mirra 2 will follow your every movement

“As responsive as your shadow”: it's a bold claim, but the Mirra 2 really does seem to be one of the most ergonomic chairs you can get, which is reflected in its rather lofty price tag. If comfort is paramount, though, then it could be worth spending investing in sitting in paradise. But what makes it so special?

The secret lies in its ability to intuitively mirror your natural movements. Like a running shoe. From rocking and foot tapping, to leaning off to the side, this is a chair that takes everything you do in its stride, while safely cradling you in the process. Perhaps not quite as comfortable as lying on a cloud, but surely the next best thing.

Herman Miller

Reasons to buy: A stunning design, available in a vast range of eye-catching colours.

Inspired by the iconic Golden Gate Bridge, the Sayl is an absolute masterclass in functional furniture design. The standout piece in any room, it's an attention-demanding chair that wouldn't look out of place in a secret volcanic lair.

Its modern angular shape, coupled with a cleverly-designed mesh back that perfectly adjusts to your spine, makes for a cool, comfortable sitting experience. Without an ounce of PVC used, it's forged from 90% recycled materials. The best part, though, is its vast array of colour and fabric options, letting you design a truly eye-popping chair that'll be the pride of your home setup for years to come.

Amazon

Reasons to buy: A great chair for comfortably less than £200, you can be proud to show this off on your Zoom calls.

Hbada's office chair is a solid all-rounder that'll keep you comfortable while providing a major upgrade to your WFH set-up. It has an S-shaped backrest which curves to naturally support your posture, while both the height and angle of the seat can be adjusted to make sure you get it into an appropriate position for your body size and height.

Made with breathable mesh to keep you cool year-round, it'll come in handy for those inevitably sticky British summers. As with all good office chairs it can rotate 360-degrees, and to top it all off, you can also lift up the armrest at the end of the day, letting you tuck it into your desk so that it's comfortably out of the way.

Amazon

Reasons to buy: A good, affordable option

Another good, affordable office chair, Yaheetech is all about stripping things down to the essentials, keeping it as budget-friendly as possible. You won't find much in the way of advanced features or technologically enhanced designs, but you'll be able to feel significantly more comfortable throughout the working day. And if you're not fancying making a huge investment here, that's a pretty decent result.

For less than £60, you'll have to put up with the standard black design of the chair, but you'll be able to enjoy the ergonomic elemts like lumbar back support, adjustable height and the comfortably designed seat. It's simple, but it's effective.

Wayfair

Reasons to buy: Built to last generations, this solid chair will cradle you with support and comfort for years to come

We’ll admit that parting with north of two grand for an office chair without fancy bells and whistles – like adjustable lumbar support and headrests – seems a tad insane, but there’s no getting around the build quality of this offering. Designed by architect and engineer Jean Prouvé, it’s as much a work of art as it is a functional piece of furniture, with the built quality of a tank to boot. A tubular steel frame, combined with plush, generous cushioning, offer a rock-solid base for all-day tasks, while the array of colour options make it stand out even more from its lesser rivals.

Amazon

Reasons to buy: A top-spec chair designed for gamers, but is just as adept in the hands of a spreadsheet demon as it is a FIFA god.

As much as you might like idea of topping the Call of Duty: Warzone leaderboard, you probably won't want your colleagues seeing you sit on any brightly coloured, LED-lit gaming behemoth during your Monday morning Zoom call. So if you're inclined to spring for a gaming chair that looks a little less like something an energy-drinking teen might have in their bedroom, then you'll be more than a little pleased to hear that the Razer Iskur is on the more subtle end of the gaming chair spectrum. Its designers have nailed the brief, with a sleek-yet-subtle design that wouldn't look out of place in any serious home office. Standout features include adjustable lumbar support that's designed to contour to the shape of your spine, promising comfortable Teams calls, dungeon raids, and everything in between. An ideal choice that bridges the gap between work and play without looking garish or tacky.

John Lewis

Reasons to buy: For improving your WFH posture, the amount of adjustments and features this chair has on offer is a huge W.

We don't think there will ever come a day when John Lewis doesn't have exactly the piece of furniture we're after, especially when it's something on the practical and functional side. And proving us right once again is the Penny office chair. Part of the department store's Anyday range, the Penny is a pretty standard office chair design, with a classic black look that'll give your office a much more professional feel than your dining table chairs will. It has a good range of ergonomic features, from tilting mechanisms and a mesh backrest to a height-adjusting lever, which will be well-received by both your back and neck. Pop it into your cart, pick yourself up a laptop stand as well and consider your home office significantly improved.