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Nearly 65 million Americans experience back pain, and for some 16 million of those suffers, that pain is chronic. A likely culprit? Sitting for eight-plus hours a day at work. But, even if your job demands that you be at a desk all day, there are ways to lessen the stress on your back.
One way is to get a standing desk (which we highly recommend), but these can be cumbersome and expensive. An easier method of back pain prevention? Investing in an ergonomic office chair. In recent years, we’ve seen brands making big advances with some of the best office chairs for back pain. If you’ve been sitting on the same chair for years, you might be surprised how well these newer chairs can relieve back pain.
We’ve rounded up some office chairs for back pain below — including budget-friendly chairs and high-end picks — as well as some tips for choosing the best office chair for your workspace.
In This Article
Our Favorite Office Chairs for Back Pain
Office Chair Buying Guide
How We Picked the Best Office Chairs for Back Pain
Our Favorite Office Chairs for Back Pain
In any conversation around the best office chairs for back pain, two brands almost always come up: Herman Miller and Steelcase. Both of these are great, but there are also excellent ergonomic chairs with plenty of 4.0+ star reviews and much more approachable price tags that we’ve also included in this guide.
Here are some of the best office chairs for back pain that you can buy online right now:
BEST OVERALL: Herman Miller Aeron
BEST BUDGET-FRIENDLY: Gabrylly Ergonomic Mesh Office Chair
BEST RANGE OF MOVEMENT: Steelcase Gesture Office Chair
BEST DESIGN: Herman Miller Sayl Chair
BEST CUSTOMIZABLE: Branch Ergonomic Chair
BEST FOR LOWER BACK PAIN: Varier Variable Balans Kneeling Chair
BEST MINIMALIST: Steelcase Karman Office Chair
1. Herman Miller Aeron
Herman Miller is the longstanding king of office chairs, and its rule is justified. The brand’s best-sellers, like this Aeron chair, boast unmatched ergonomic support thanks to physician-developed designs that account for everything from biomechanics to vision. For example, the Aeron features independent flex pads to support your lower spine, comprehensive adjustability, and top-tier pressure distribution. It’s an expensive chair, for sure, but well worth the price if you work at a desk all week.
Promising Customer Feedback: “Having sat in a variety of “cheap” chairs during for a home office, the biggest issue I faced was lower back pain. Both my work and my hobbies are at home on the same desk so overall sitting time could be upwards of 16 hours on extreme cases for example. Lo and behold, I did a round of both work and gaming, and was able to sit on it comfortably after waking up with surprisingly NO back pain at all. The mesh seating relieves a lot of pressure from your tailbone. Combine that with the lumbar support, which makes sure your lower back isn’t being overused as well, absolutely saves your back.” —Jiren
2. Gabrylly Ergonomic Mesh Office Chair
The fancy chairs are worth their price tag, but you don’t need to spend over $1,000 to get a great office chair for back pain. This chair from Gabrylly is a great budget pick (currently $269.50 on Amazon), equipped with four ergonomic support points at the head, back, hips, and hands, along with added lumbar support to help reduce and prevent back pain during your work shift. Its mesh seat and backrest also help keep air circulating for more comfort and less sweat.
Promising Customer Feedback: “I took a big gamble on this chair as I desperately needed a new office chair early last year and had never heard of this brand. I’m a big guy, 260lbs, 6’3”, and this chair is quite comfortable and has held up very well. To my surprise, this chair seems to punch up above its price range quite a bit. There’s a lot of value here when thinking of durability and comfort. I’m a guitar player and the fold back arms are SO convenient! The wheels still work like new, gas piston still goes up and down, and the recline adjuster works fine.” —Shelby
3. Steelcase Gesture Office Chair
This Steelcase Gesture is another premium office chair that’s worth its price tag. The chair gets its name, “Gesture,” from a feature that allows the seat and back to move in synch as you change positions. This not only encourages more movement throughout your work day, but also keeps your back supported in a wider range of positions. Like many of Steelcase’s chairs, we also think the Gesture is also one of the better-looking office chairs out there.
Promising Customer Review: “The moment my butt touched the Gesture I was in love. If you sit in a chair for as long as I do, it’s an investment in yourself and health. Don’t put a price tag on that. If your back is hurting or you’re uncomfortable for 70% of the day don’t hesitate because of sticker shock, just buy it. If you hate it, send it back. But this is hand-down one of the absolute best chairs I’ve ever sat on.” —DTension
4. Herman Miller Sayl Chair
This sleek, smartly-designed take on the classic Herman Miller chairs comes with some fantastic ergonomic features that will have your back saying “thank you” after a full workday. The striking ventilated backrest looks as good as it feels, and functions as a unique way for this chair to provide that sweet spot between support and comfort (not to mention great air circulation). The strands flex easily for free range of movement, and a Harmonic Tilt supports natural movement when you recline.
Promising Customer Feedback: “We have these at the office and I liked it so much I got one for my home. I love how stylish it is, and it’s also comfortable in a way that is good for my back (which is prone to spasms). It’s easy to operate and built like a tank. I love it!” —David P.
5. Branch Ergonomic Chair
Branch’s ergonomic office chair is another great option if you’re shopping on a budget. Despite its relatively affordable price tag, the Branch chair offers excellent support for keeping back pain at bay. The chair’s contoured backrest delivers on its promise of promoting an “active posture,” and lumbar support is firm enough to keep your lower back properly situated. Plus, the brand offers a ton of customization options when you order their chair, including frame and seat color.
Promising Customer Feedback: “I bought one for my home office, then two more for my company’s office. If you’re sitting all day, this is worth the investment. Many different adjustments to tailor to your comfort specifications. Best chair I’ve ever had. Super cute and stylish as well.” —Christie
6. Varier Variable Balans Kneeling Chair
If your lower back is still suffering after using a good ergonomic office chair, we suggest trying this Varier kneeling chair. It repositions your pelvis for better spine alignment, engages the core, and takes some pressure off your lower back. It also features curved runners that let you rock slightly, helping us stay in motion throughout the day. Plus, because it’s more minimal, the Varier is less expensive than most fancy ergonomic office chairs.
Promising Customer Feedback: “I love this stool and it’s a great investment for reducing/preventing muscle tension in the back from sitting for long hours. I have a desk job and get back pain from sitting long hours at my desk. Once I sat in this kneeling stool, there was no going back to regular chairs. It was incredibly comfortable and supportive and helped me to sit up straight and balanced, and it has effectively relieved my back pain since day one of using it. I simply love this chair!” —Pomai
7. Steelcase Karman Office Chair
Industry leader Steelcase refused to make a mesh office chair for decades — until the recent debut of this Karman chair. Instead of normal mesh, the brand created a performance textile called Intermix that lends more support, and then paired the Intermix with a flexible frame. And we’re big fans of the results. The Karman is sleek and compact (great for our small bedroom desk), but delivers fluid, responsive support whether we’re sitting at attention or slouching back on our phone. You also get a great selection of colors that’s much more than your average office chair palette.
Promising Customer Feedback: “I have been working from home since 2020 and was using a hand-me-down office chair a much taller former colleague gave me. Somewhere along the way, I learned of the Steelcase Karmen. Despite the fact that I’m probably on the short side for the chair (5’2″), it fits me comfortably. I can actually sit back in this one and have my feet on the ground, so no more perching on the edge for me. It’s really light and easy to move. The aesthetic is fairly neutral, so it goes with just about everything and the quality is top-notch. I’m looking forward to having this chair for a long time and I would recommend it to others.” —Courtney B.
Office Chair Buying Guide
Finding the best office chair for back pain is no easy task. Below are some of the criteria we used when choosing office chairs for this guide that you’ll also want to keep in mind while shopping. Tip: If you’re serious about getting a great office chair to reduce back pain, order a few and test each out for as long as you can within the return window.
Ergonomics: The key to a great office chair is its ergonomics; how well it encourages your body to stay in a healthy, upright position. Look for spinal support at the top, ample lumbar support to keep your lower back straight, and a seat that’s positioned to keep your hips open. Also, go for chairs that take movement into consideration and adapt to different positions throughout the day (like the Steelcase Gesture).
Adjustability: An office chair’s adjustability is key to its ergonomics, as everyone’s body and ideal seating position are slightly different. The more adjustability the better, so in addition to height and recline, look for adjustable armrests, headrests, and seats.
Materials: High-quality padding, covers, and frame materials are another key difference between good and bad office chairs. You’ll typically see mesh, fabric, or faux leather on office chair seats and backs. Mesh is the most popular because it’s cooler, but leather and fabric offer a softer feel (and look better too).
How We Picked the Best Office Chairs for Back Pain
In our search for the best office chairs for back pain, we tested a range of chairs, read what experts have to say about proper seating positions, and researched what chairs have left long-term users’ backs feeling healthy. We also considered budget, as office chairs can get expensive, and chose options from both the expensive and affordable classes of office chairs. We also considered brands’ reputations; how long they’ve been around, how their reviews are catalog-wide, and their overall reputation among experts. Customer reviews have been edited for length and clarity.
1. Gabrylly Ergonomic Mesh Office Chair
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Equipped with four ergonomic support points at the head, back, hips and hands, along with added lumbar support, this office chair can help reduce and prevent back pain during your work shift. Its mesh seat and backrest help keep air circulating for added comfort. In short, it should feel comfortable enough to sit in for a full eight-hour work day without sweating your, um, back off.
2. Ticova Ergonomic Office Chair
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From its reclining back to its adjustable headrest, this ergonomic office chair makes it easier to find a comfortable sitting position in your office. It also comes with lumbar support and is built with a three-inch seat cushion for a bit of extra comfort if you’re glued to your desk most of the day. The cushion also has a W-shaped, waterfall-edge design, which helps provide a larger surface area of support that takes the pressure off of your hips and thighs.
3. FelixKing Ergonomic Desk Chair
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If you’re tight on space in your office, a full-back office chair may not be the most practical choice. Luckily, this mid-back desk chair is both ergonomic and compact enough to fit in most office spaces. The chair’s adjustable back protects your waist while also providing lumbar support that helps you maintain a relaxed sitting position. We like that you can easily adjust the height of the seat, as well as flip up the armrests when you’re not using the chair. Plus, we also love this chair for its thick, sponge-like seat cushion.
4. Komene Ergonomic Home Office Chair
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It’s no secret that office furniture can be expensive. If you are operating on a budget, consider the Komene mid-back ergonomic home office chair. This chair is wallet-friendly and doesn’t sacrifice ergonomic features because of the lower price point. The seat is designed to reflect and support your back’s natural curve and also offers lumbar support to alleviate stress from your lower back. You’ll also appreciate how easy this chair is to assemble.
