All of us have experienced bad back pain caused by sitting in a chair that wasn’t ergonomic. Working a 9 to 5 job with a chair that hurts your back can make even a job you love a painful nightmare. That is why I have written up this buyer’s guide for purchasing the home office chair that is perfect for you. You don’t always have to buy an expensive chair that is very adjustable. You might be able to find a simple chair that fits you well. The key is to know what to look for so you can find the chair that fits you well. Below are the most important ergonomics things to look for in a chair.
- Seat height
- Pan depth
- Lumbar support
- Armrests
- Headrest
- Materials
- Build quality and warranty
Seat Height
Seat height is how far the seat is from the ground. The ideal seat height is where your feet have firm support from the floor. Additionally, you will want your chair height to allow for your arms to be almost parallel or slightly angled downward towards your desk. If you cannot do both, having footrests or an adjustable desk can help get you into the ideal ergonomic position.
Seat Pan Depth
Seat pan depth is the distance between the front edge of the seat and the back of your chair. The ideal distance allows for your legs to hang off about 2 inches from the front of the seat. This allows for your legs to have proper blood circulation. If your seat pan depth is too short, your legs will be flush with the end of the chair base and it will cut off blood circulation to your legs. If your seat pan is too short, your legs will not be supported well. You will want to either try your chain in person to see if the pan depth fits you, or you will want to find a chair that has adjustable seat pan depth.
Lumbar Support
The lumbar support is the part of the chair that gives additional support to the lower area of the spine. Good lumbar support helps the spine stay aligned in its natural curvature and causing excessive strain to your back muscles. A quality chair gives you the option to raise or lower to support so it fits well in the small of your back.
Armrests
Arm rests are helpful because they can take weight strain on your back. High quality arm rests move forwards and back, towards your body and way, and swing in and out. It is important that an armrest can move backwards because forward-leaning armrests can prevent you from sitting close to your desk. Being far away from your desk will strain your shoulders and cause you to put extra strain on your desk because you are forced to slouch.
Arms rests that move to swing in towards your body and away from your body allow for the arm rests to sit closer to your sides so you can rest your arms easier. Up and down movement on arm rests allows for chairs to tuck in neatly underneath your office desk. Chair armrests should be at the same height as the top of your desk and allows for your arms to be at a 90-100 degree angle from your body.
Headrest
A headrest on your chair can go a long way reliving strain and stress found in your neck. Ideally the back of your chair should be leaning slightly backward to allow your back to rest. This correct posture pairs perfectly with having a place to rest your head. Using your headrest while reclined can be a very good way to relieve your back and neck while you are taking a break.
Build Quality, Materials, and Warranty
Once you have found the perfect chair, you will want it to not wear out quickly. In order to understand if the chair is built to last, look at the reviews and the manufacturer’s warranty. Warranties typically last anywhere from 1-12 years. If possible, you will want a warranty that covers both parts and labor for servicing your office work chair.
Your chair should be firm, but comfortable. The back part of the chair should be made out of a breathable material if you want a cooler chair, or a quality leather that makes cleaning it easy.
Summary
Your office chair should be fit to you specifically. Either find a chair that already fits you, or purchase a chair that can be adjusted to fit you perfectly. You will want the seat height to allow your feet to sit squarely on the floor, and for your arms to be parallel with the top of your desk. Find a chair that allows for legs to clear the bottom of the seat by 2 inches so your legs are supported and you do not lose blood circulation to your legs. Lumbar, armrests, and headrests will help prevent injuries, help you feel better, and enable you to work longer. A quality chair and warranty will guarantee your home office investment will go a long.
My Recommendation
ErgoChair 2
The ErgoChair 2 made by Autonomous is by far my favorite office chair that I have ever used. It offers incredible adjustability for every feature mentioned above, and does so at a budget friendly price for all those features. The chair comes in many different colors and comes with easy to assemble instructions. This chair is less than 25% of the cost a a Harmon Miller chair that has many of these same features.
