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Best Office Chairs of 2024 [CNET]
Our Experts
James has been writing about technology for years but has loved it since the early 90s. While his main areas of expertise are maker tools — 3D printers, vinyl cutters, paper printers, and laser cutters — he also loves to play board games and tabletop RPGs.
Expertise 3D printers, maker tools such as Cricut style vinyl cutters and laser cutters, and traditional paper printers Credentials
- 6 years working professionally in the 3D printing space / 4 years testing consumer electronics for large websites.
Whether you work from home or at an office, an ergonomic office chair will provide proper lumbar and back support and so much more, leaving your body feeling better at the end of the workday. From adjustable tilt to head support to recline angle, we found the best office chairs for working, gaming and more.
If you spend long hours at your desk, it’s important to have a chair that supports your body in all the right ways. The right chair can make a huge difference and leave you feeling better at the end of your workday. Getting one of the best office chairs means having lumbar support and comfort that avoids back and neck pain. There are many choices for how a chair looks and even many options within several budgets.
Are you a fan of gaming chairs? Do you want something fancier, like an ergonomic office chair from Herman Miller? Or maybe you’re looking for a budget chair? We’ve tested chairs in a huge range, anywhere from $50 to $3,000 and decided these are the best office chairs.
What is the best office chair of 2024?
If you spend time working, gaming or doing anything that involves sitting for a long time, you need a high-quality, supportive chair. Our top pick, the Branch Verve, is a great midprice option that’s comfortable, durable and looks great.
Getting the right support while you’re sitting can help with your posture as well as the muscle soreness that can stem from a bad chair. During the pandemic, many of us at CNET had to turn parts of our homes into offices, which gave us a chance to test a lot of office chairs. Today, remote and hybrid work is sticking around, making a good chair imperative.
We’ve been testing office chairs at CNET for over nine years, and I’ve been sitting on them for decades. That means we can help you make an informed decision about where to rest your rump.
Note: Prices vary on third-party sites, so prices quoted here may change. We’ll regularly update this list of the best office chairs to reflect the most accurate prices.
Best office chairs of 2024
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Comfort rating: Very comfortable
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While $300 is still a lot of money for an office chair, it isn’t a massive cost for something as comfortable as the Odinlake Upgrade 518. I’m a big guy, and having a chair that can easily take my weight while remaining comfortable and adjustable is a big deal. I like that the OdinLake has adjustable everything. From the arms to the seat and lumbar positions, it can all be tweaked to fit your sitting style.
I also tested the more expensive Ergo Max 747, and while it is as good as the Upgrade 518, I found the seat to be a little less comfortable over time. It’s not that the Ergo Max 747 is a bad chair; it’s just not significantly better than the Upgrade 518, which is a fraction of the cost.
Comfort rating: Very comfortable
CNET staffers spend a lot of time sitting at desks. While we’d all love to own the best office chairs, we often have to make do with what we have, or we’ve found something we like and have stuck with it. These picks are not tested in the same way as the ones on our best list above, but here’s what we’re using regularly.
Ergonomics
Ergonomics is the “science of work,” says Gary Allread, program director for the ergonomics division at Ohio State University’s Spine Research Institute. That definition doesn’t apply only to our jobs; ergonomic principles can be used for pretty much any activity (and that means an ergonomic office chair isn’t going to immediately fix your lower back pain). Allread and his team offer consultations for a variety of workplaces, including manufacturing plants. They even provide input on product design to help companies better understand how to create products “to make sure they can interact with people as well as possible,” Allread says.
Chair posture
A less-than-ideal work setup might cause pain in your back, arms, hands or wrists. You might also find yourself fidgeting, making more mistakes or taking more breaks, all because you’re uncomfortable, Allread warns. Long-term, you might end up with tendonitis or carpal tunnel syndrome.
Allread offers two main suggestions we all can try to improve how we work:
- Sit with your back against your chair. (“You want the chair to do the work and not your back,” he says.)
- Support your feet. Either plant your feet on the floor or, if they don’t reach, use a box or other footrest to support your feet.
Lumbar support
If your chair lacks lumbar support, Allread recommends rolling up a towel, securing it with tape or rubber bands, and placing it at your lower back as a lumbar cushion to “keep the back in its natural curve.” Allread also notes that companies are beginning to introduce different chair sizes, supporting a wider range of body sizes, which is an important consideration if you’re shopping for a new ergonomic chair with the best seat height and seat depth.
“One mistake people make is they say, ‘Well, if I get a great chair, then I’m not going to be sore anymore,’ and that’s not really looking at the big picture of what it takes to keep people comfortable and productive at their jobs,” Allread says. A new chair is just one of many things that can make your work environment more comfortable — so let’s keep that in mind as we weigh our options for the best one.
Like everything we test here at CNET, these office chairs have undergone a barrage of tests. First, we assembled each chair and noted any issues with the process, including how long it should take versus how long it actually took. Then we spent two workdays, or about 16 hours, sitting in each chair, noting the level of comfort, adjustability (such as adjustable height, adjustable backrest or adjustable arm features) and any issues we had.
We also tested what I like to call the “wibble wobbles.” Because office chairs are often supported by just one rod, they can wobble left and right. That movement is more stressful on the chair, which can wear it out more quickly. It can also cause discomfort and even motion sickness.
I’m heavier and taller than average, and your experience may differ. That’s why we asked our professional for questions you should consider when choosing your own chair. They are:
- Was the chair designed so you can rest comfortably against the back of the chair?
- Do your feet touch the floor with your back against the back of the chair?
- Did you find yourself fidgeting or standing up a lot?
- Did you experience any pain or discomfort while using a particular chair?
We let these questions guide us, and they helped eliminate a lot of chairs. Some felt OK, but in the long run, they didn’t offer the advantages of the ones we ultimately chose.
How do you clean an office chair?
How you clean your office chair will vary depending on its materials. The chair’s user manual should detail cleaning and general maintenance tips. If you tossed the paper version, check online. Many retailers provide digital versions or downloadable PDFs of their product manuals.
That said, most chairs should be fine to clean with a damp cloth and mild soap or detergent. Test a small area first and stay away from strong chemical cleaners.
How do I make an office chair more comfortable?
Many office chairs are adjustable. You can change the chair height and move the arms, and some office chairs have adjustable lumbar support. Before tossing your current chair, make sure you’re sitting optimally by trying out different positions.
I cover ergonomics above. Allread, the expert I spoke with, has two main suggestions:
- You want your back to touch the back of the chair.
- You want your feet to touch the floor (or you should use a box or footrest to prop up your feet).
Allread also suggests rolling up a towel to use for lower back support if your chair doesn’t have lumbar support.
How do I fix a squeaky office chair?
When dealing with squeaky office chairs, identify the source of the sound. Double-check that all screws are tight and that the chair is clean and oiled. You might also need to replace a spring. Some retailers sell replacement parts if a loose or old spring ends up being the culprit.
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