The best ergonomic office chairs in 2023

Jan 31, 2024

Working from home is here to stay: In Stanford University's February 2023 study on remote work, which surveyed 10,000 workers across cities and industries, 12% of workers reported they are fully remote and 28% said their company is using a hybrid schedule. Yet while working from home has its perks, like a short commute from the bedroom to your desk, it's also caused us to become more sedentary and separated from our ergonomic office setups, experts say.

"We’re seeing a spike in musculoskeletal conditions related to poor posture [ever since the pandemic]," says Scott Bautch, chiropractor at Bautch Chiropractic. Sitting hunched forward or leaning too far backward can cause headaches, stiffness in the upper back and neck and lethargy due to decreased blood flow to the brain, he says. Beyond discomfort or pain, an uncomfortable workspace can also cause carpal tunnel syndrome, muscle strains and lower back injuries, says Shai Karpf, chiropractor and owner of North Broward Chiropractic & Wellness.

To help you find the best ergonomic office chair, we consulted medical professionals and ergonomic experts to get their recommendations.

SKIP AHEAD Best ergonomic office chairs | Best ergonomic accessories | What is ergonomics in the workplace? | How to shop for an ergonomic office chair

We spoke to ergonomic experts and chiropractors to learn what elements are most important in a desk chair. Our experts recommended keeping in mind the following factors:

Below, we rounded up expert-recommended chairs and included some highly rated options that align with our expert guidance.

Lifeform's Executive Office Chair is a favorite of ergonomic expert Karen E. Loesing, even though it has a considerably high price tag. The chair comes with lumbar support, which adapts to any size, posture or position by increasing or decreasing the amount of curvature in the lumbar area. It also has an adjustable back and seat. Lifeform's base is made of reinforced fiberglass for stability, and its arm pads are made of memory foam to relieve pressure on the forearm, according to the brand. It also has pressure-sensitive memory foam that conforms to your body's natural curves, which our experts say reduces pressure on the pelvis and improves circulation.

Warranty: 10-year limited warranty | Weight limit: 350 pounds

The Herman Miller Aeron Chair is a great overall ergonomic option, according to Loesing. The chair is available in three sizes — small, medium and large— depending on your height and weight, which Loesing says is great since one size does not fit all. The basic Aeron model includes adjustable arms, tilt and back support, but for an additional fee, you can add seat-angle adjustment and adjustable lumbar support to stabilize the base of the spine. Its mesh fabric allows air, body heat and water vapor to pass through the seat and backrest to help maintain an even skin temperature, according to the brand. You can also choose different wheel options depending if the chair will be on hardwood or carpeting.

Warranty: 12-year limited warranty | Weight limit: Up to 350 pounds in size Large

The Steelcase Leap is adjustable at every angle, a feature that Loesing says is important so you can tailor the chair to your body to prevent slumping and reduce stress on the spine and the pelvis. It comes with height-adjustable arms to reduce tension in the upper body and allow the shoulders to relax, according to our experts. There's recline adjustment and back support to naturally support your spine position and prevent slumping. It also has a height-adjustable seat so your feet can be firmly placed on the floor. For an added fee, you can select arms with four-way adjustment (for height, width, depth and pivot), additional lumbar support and more.

Warranty: Lifetime warranty, though some parts have a 12-year warranty | Weight limit: 400 pounds

If you’re are on the petite side, Herman Miller's Sayl Chair is a great option, according to Loesing. This 40.75-inch ergonomic chair has a contoured foam seat cushion, as well as height-adjustable arms, adjustable lumbar support and a ventilated back that flexes with your body and permits air circulation, according to the brand.It also tilts to support the way you naturally move, a feature Loesing says is important if you are often switching between reclining and moving forward, closer to your screen.

Warranty: 12-year warranty | Weight limit: 350 pounds

This ergonomic chair is designed with a contoured backrest that aligns with your spine's natural curve and offers continuous support whether you’re sitting up or reclining, according to the brand.It also has a flexible seat edge to relieve pressure points under your thighs, according to the brand, as well as fully adjustable 360-degree armrests so as you move, the armrests swivel along with you. Its seat can also be adjusted for both height and depth to conform to your sitting style. It comes in several colors, in both leather and fabric designs.

Warranty: Lifetime warranty, though some parts have a 12-year warranty | Weight limit: 400 pounds

Branch's Ergonomic Chair has several points of adjustment for a customized fit: the armrests, the height, the tilt and tilt tension, the seat depth and the removable lumbar rest. According to the brand, the contoured backrest is made of a breathable double-woven nylon mesh. Shoppers can also opt to buy the mesh headrest. This chair is particularly good for individuals who need an adjustable lower back rest and for those who switch ther spinal position constantly, according to the brand.

Warranty: 7-year parts and components warranty | Weight limit: 275 pounds

In order to determine which accessories you need to make your chair more suitable to your body, try sitting in the ideal posture: "[With your] feet flat and thighs parallel to the ground, relax your shoulders and position your elbows at approximately 90 degrees. ​​If you cannot do this with your current office chair, there may be some accessories you can purchase to accomplish this," Patten says. Here is a roundup of accessories experts say are worth investing in.

Footrests offer comfort by keeping your feet elevated and firmly planted, reducing tension in your back and easing pain or discomfort in the feet, knees and ankles. They also improve blood circulation, which can prevent problems such as varicose veins, Patten says. This steel footrest, from Vivo, is height-adjustable from 5 inches to 10¼ inches. It also has an anti-slip surface for added traction, according to the brand.

"If you find yourself sitting on the edge of your seat, it could be that the seat is too long," Patten says. That's where a back pillow or lumbar support pillow can help fill in the gap. This one from Everlasting Comfort is made of memory foam and adjusts to the shape of your body. It also comes with a memory foam mesh cover for breathability and has dual adjustable straps that can attach to office chairs up to 32 inches in width, according to the brand.

This disc sits on top of your office chair, providing instability so you can strengthen your core while you work, according to the brand. This in turn helps to improve posture, says Bautch. The Gaiam disc comes in four colors and has a 4.2-star average rating from more than 12,000 Amazon reviews.

Part of ergonomics is using the right tools — like an ergonomic office chair — to mitigate these issues. Ergonomic chairs are designed to support the natural S curve of your spine by keeping you in a neutral position, where your feet are flat on the floor, your knees are at a 90-degree angle and your arms are comfortably at rest on the armrests, according to experts. This reduces stress and tension on the pelvis.

Some companies label their chairs as "ergonomic" when they don't actually have ergonomic features, according to Loesing. The main difference between ergonomic desk chairs and regular chairs is adjustability, she says. A regular office chair will likely have fixed armrests or seat heights, while you can adjust an ergonomic chair based on your needs.

According to Loesing, every ergonomic office chair should have at least the four following points of adjustability:

Apart from adjustability, Don Patten, a certified professional ergonomist, says the following are the main features to look for when shopping for an ergonomic office chair:

At Select, we work with experts who have specialized knowledge and authority based on relevant training and/or experience. We also take steps to ensure that all expert advice and recommendations are made independently and with no undisclosed financial conflicts of interest.

Morgan Greenwald, a former contributor to NBC News Select, and Barbara Booth have published several roundups, including the best vacuums under $100, the best ellipticals for home workouts and best exercise bikes. For this piece, Barbara and Morgan interviewed chiropractors and ergonomics experts and researched dozens of highly rated options that align with expert guidance.

Catch up on Select's in-depth coverage of personal finance, tech and tools, wellness and more, and follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter to stay up to date.

Morgan Greenwald is a senior editor for Select on NBC News.

Barbara Booth is a former CNBC reporter whose work spans a wide range of business and social topics, including work/life issues, international business and personal finance. In addition to CNBC, her work has been seen in USA Today, Huffington Post, Yahoo Finance, HerMoney, and for various television news programs including the Nightly Business Report.