Herman Miller Aeron ChairSource: Herman Miller

Best Ergonomic Office Chairs iMore 2021

Many of us work from home at least part of the time, and now it's more common than ever. Your work will go a lot more smoothly if you have a comfortable, ergonomically sound workspace, and that obviously includes a good chair. It's easy to recommend the Modway Articulate Mesh Office Chair for its comfortable design and reasonable price. We've rounded some of your best options in a variety of styles and price points.

Best Overall: Modway Articulate Mesh Office Chair

Modway Articulate Mesh Office ChairSource: Modway

This well-priced, upright ergonomic office chair has a breathable mesh back and plush fabric seat cushion. You can adjust both the back height and the seat depth to fit your body perfectly. Also, two sturdy armrests help you maintain proper alignment. Incline or recline the chair as desired, thanks to the tilt tension and lock functions. Five hooded dual-caster wheels let you glide effortlessly even over carpet. Choose from six colors.

Pros:

  • Breathable mesh back
  • Plush seat cushion
  • Incline and recline chair
  • Wheels glide over carpet
  • Six color options
  • Great price point

Cons:

  • Some users report durability issues

Best Overall

Modway Articulate Mesh Office Chair

Adjustable and affordable

With lots of ways to adjust this chair, you'll be sure to find the perfect comfortable fit.

Best Elite Pick: Herman Miller Aeron Chair

Herman Miller Aeron ChairSource: Herman Miller

This chair is designed with the human body in mind and has been that way for over 20 years. In Herman Miller's Aeron Chair with PostureFit SL technology, you'll naturally sit with your chest open, your shoulders back, and your pelvis tilted slightly forward. The chair also has adjustable pads, which give you lumbar support and stabilize the base of your spine. The breathable mesh seat and back provide eight different zones of varying tension for your ideal support. Choose from three different sizes and four colors.

Pros:

  • Eight different adjustable tension zones
  • Encourages healthy sitting position
  • Three size options

Cons:

  • Pricey

Best Elite Pick

Herman Miller Aeron Chair

Splurge-worthy

This carefully designed classic ergonomic chair put you in the right sitting position, but at a price.

Best For Movement: Steelcase Gesture

Steelcase Gesture Ergonomic Office Chair Source: Steelcase

Not everyone sits in the same position all day long. The Steelcase Gesture is specially designed to accomodate the way people really sit and move throughout the day. Steelcase studied over 2,000 people on six continents in order to create the most ergonomic chair. Whether you're smaller person or a larger person, the Steelcase Gesture is designed to fit you and the way you use your technology. Choose from a wide range of colors.

Pros:

  • Allows a wide range of motion
  • Supports use of tablets and smartphones
  • Fits a wide range of people

Cons:

  • Pricey

Best For Movement

Steelcase Gesture

Range of motion

The Steelcase Gesture is designed for the way real people sit, move, and interact with technology.

Best Active Sitting Chair: Gaiam Balance Ball Chair

Gaiam Balance Ball ChairSource: Gaiam

The Gaiam Balance Ball Chair is an active sitting chair, meaning that you'll actually get a little bit of exercise as you sit. Merely sitting on the ball works your core as well as improving your spinal alignment and posture. Without any conscious effort, just keeping balanced on the ball results in micro-movements that keep you energized and focused. Plus, if you want to do more exercise, the chair comes with a low-impact workout and stretching routine you can do at your desk.

Pros:

  • Micro-movements work your core and keep you energized
  • Improves spinal alignment and posture
  • Can use for low-impact workout and stretching
  • Well-priced

Cons:

  • Not a chair in the traditional sense

Best Active Sitting Chair

Gaiam Balance Ball Chair

Work your core

Sitting on a balance ball chair encourages micro-movements that engage your core for better posture.

Best Kneeling Chair: DRAGONN Ergonomic Kneeling Chair

DRAGONN Ergonomic Kneeling ChairSource: Amazon

A kneeling chair looks pretty weird, but it's surprisingly comfortable. Don't knock it until you try it! A kneeling chair encourages upright posture and distributes your weight evenly between your backside and your legs so it's not all in one place. This chair has wheels so you can still move around. Keep in mind that a kneeling chair uses different muscles than a regular chair, so it's best to increase usage gradually. I find that I can't really kneel all day, but I don't like to stay in any one position as I work anyway. Kneeling is a great way to change things up.

Pros:

  • Encourages upright posture
  • Distributes body weight between rear and legs
  • Casters to move around

Cons:

  • Not ideal for all-day use

Best Kneeling Chair

DRAGONN Ergonomic Kneeling Chair

Sit upright

This kneeling chair encourages you to sit upright, plus it distributes your weight between your rear and legs.

Most Striking: Herman Miller Sayl Ergonomic Office Chair

Herman Miller Sayl Ergonomic Office ChairSource: Herman Miller

Inspired by the Golden Gate Bridge, this chair is the ultimate in functional art. It's more than just a pretty chair, though. The 3D Intelligent back allows you to stretch and move, finding a balance between freedom and support. This suspension bridge-style back also provides passive sacral support, which aligns your spine in its natural "S" shape to maintain a healthy posture.

Pros:

  • Beautiful design inspired by Golden Gate Bridge
  • 3D Intelligent back allows stretching and movement
  • PostureFit sacral support aligns spine to natural "S" shape

Cons:

  • Fairly pricey

Most Striking

Herman Miller Sayl Ergonomic Office Chair

Work of art

Inspired by the Golden Gate Bridge, this chair supports the spine's natural "S" shape while allowing you to move comfortably.

Best Gaming Chair: GT Omega PRO

GT OMEGA PROSource: GT Omega

For many of us, our gaming chair doubles as an office chair. Gaming chairs are designed for long hours sitting, and they recline to a number of comfortable angles. This one has a body-hugging design, 160-degree recliner adjustment, armrests that move in four directions, height-adjustable mechanism, side recliners, and removable lumbar support and head rest pillows. It's definitely not a boring, staid-looking office chair; choose from a number of different bold accent colors. Note that unlike many gaming chairs, this one doesn't have memory foam and it has a relatively low weight limit: just 250 pounds.

Pros:

  • Made for sitting long hours comfortably
  • 160-recliner adjustment
  • 4D armrests
  • Lumbar and head support (removable)

Cons:

  • No memory foam
  • Low weight limit

Best Gaming Chair

GT Omega PRO

Gamer's companion

For work or play, you'll be comfortable for hours sitting up or kicking back in the GT Omega Pro.

Bottom line

Working from home needn't be a pain in the neck (or back or rear.) A comfortable ergonmic chair is key to creating a comfortable, workable workspace. We like the Modway Articulate Mesh Office Chair because it's both comfortable and has a reasonable price tag. Whichever one you pick, be sure to check the return policy and put it through its paces before the return window closes. Your size, favored sitting positions, and personal preferences may affect which kind of chair you find perfect for you.

Credits — The person that worked on this guide

Karen S. Freeman is a teacher, writer, social media person, and family woman. She loves to travel, play with tech stuff, drink coffee, discover amazing new restaurants, and experience new things.

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