Do you experience back and/or neck pain after spending several hours sitting in front of your computer screen? The culprit is probably… your office chair!
Given how much time we spend in it during the day, it is essential to be sitting properly at your desk. And that means choosing the right chair.
So, how do you choose an office chair without breaking the bank? We have selected the best office chairs for you, available second-hand at low prices!
Why choose a quality ergonomic office chair
You may not know it, but choosing your office chair is extremely important.
And yes, if you are reading this, there is a good chance that, like us, you spend several hours a day sitting in front of a computer. For your comfort and your health, you need to invest in a quality ergonomic chair.
Let's be clear: if you are sitting on your sofa or a dining chair, that needs to change. Whether you choose a gaming chair, an office chair with armrests, a rolling office chair, a swivel, tiltable, height-adjustable chair, a glittery unicorn-themed chair, or whatever else, that is not what matters most. We will hammer it home throughout this article: what you absolutely need is an ergonomic office chair.
If you do not know what ergonomics is, we invite you to read our complete guide to workplace ergonomics for greater comfort at your desk.
Basically, this discipline aims to improve your working conditions and optimize your workstation for your health, comfort, and even productivity. Because if you do not know it yet, sitting improperly exposes you to a number of unpleasant problems, such as musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs), back pain, eye strain, and even psychological issues.
💡 Good to know: having a good office chair is good, but avoiding a sedentary lifestyle is even better! We recommend that you always alternate between sitting and standing to avoid staying in one position for too long.
However, this is not inevitable, and there is a solution: properly set up your workstation with the right equipment and furniture, which includes… a comfortable office chair!
A comfortable office chair without spending a fortune: second-hand is a great option!
Yes, we know, a comfortable office chair costs money. But rather than settling for a mass-market option (which we strongly advise against), buy your chair second-hand from a professional reseller.
Why?
- It is probably better designed by manufacturers who specialize in this field. It will therefore be of better quality and better for your health.
- It is more durable thanks to the higher quality of the materials used. This means there is less risk of breakage.
- It is usually much more attractive than its hypermarket competitors.
- It is a more environmentally responsible choice (and better for you too) since it is reused.
Of course, there are some risks when buying second-hand: check the condition of the chair by visiting it before you buy, and ask whether the warranty is still valid. Also, choose professional resellers, as they are more reliable than private sellers.
Ergonomic office chairs: our top 5
There is no shortage of options, even second-hand! You will easily find chairs in a variety of styles, with different options and, of course, at every price point.
So yes, they are very expensive when new, but if you do as we do and buy second-hand, you can find them from €200.
Aeron by Herman Miller
The classic ergonomic office chair with a backrest.
👍 Benefits:
- Mesh backrest and seat
- Made with plastic from waste diverted from the oceans
- Height-adjustable armrests
- Good comfort and balanced body support
- Lumbar support
- Available in three sizes
👎 Drawbacks:
- No headrest
- No seat-depth adjustment
Leap by Steelcase
The benchmark for comfort and ergonomics.
👍 Benefits:
- Highly adjustable for personalized support
- Very intuitive to use
- Durable thanks to high-quality, wear-resistant materials
- Refined design
👎 Drawbacks:
- Fabric upholstery that can get hot after a while
- Its substantial weight can make it less convenient to move
Air by Steelcase
Innovation at the service of comfort.
👍 Benefits:
- Comfortable and breathable with a mesh backrest
- Lightweight, contemporary design
- Adjustable seat depth
- Synchronized tilt mechanism
👎 Drawbacks:
- Less effective over long periods
RH Logic 400
Performance and ergonomics combined.
👍 Benefits:
- Easy to adjust
- Adaptable to every body type
- Intuitive and easily accessible controls
- Tilt-adjustable backrest to prevent strain on your back
- Ideal for lower back pain
👎 Drawbacks:
- The complexity of the adjustments may require an adjustment period
- Significant footprint: consider the space you have available
Liberty by Humanscale
The minimalist, timeless office chair.
👍 Benefits:
- Excellent back support thanks to dynamic tilt movement
- Extremely comfortable with a mesh backrest made of three curved panels
- Fully automatic adjustments
- Elegant, modern design
👎 Drawbacks:
- Limited adjustment options that may not meet everyone's needs
- Like the Steelcase Air, it is well suited for remote work but less effective over longer periods
How to choose the right office chair: which one is right for you?
You will need to consider several criteria. We all have different comfort requirements and needs. The model you choose must adapt to your work environment and body type, not the other way around.
📋 Your needs
You are looking to buy a new chair, but what are your needs? And above all, how will you use it? Your decision will depend largely on how much time you will spend in the chair.
Next, remember that the chair is just one element of a properly set up workstation. In fact, creating a good workstation and achieving the best possible posture involves many factors, including your desk, your screen height, and accessories (mouse, keyboard, cable management, etc.). There is no point in spending a fortune if the rest of your setup doesn't match.
🕕 Usage time
This factor will largely determine how much you spend on your office chair.
You will not need the same features if you use it occasionally as you will if you use it for several hours a day.
If you only sit in it for half an hour here and there, you can probably stick with a standard chair and add a little comfort with a cushion, for example.
After two hours a day, you may start to experience pain if you are sitting improperly, which is why it is important to invest in a quality model.
- for occasional use, between 1 and 3 hours a day, choose a standard mechanism with a fixed backrest and adjustable height.
- for moderate use, up to 6 hours a day, choose a live-base mechanism. This means that the backrest follows the movements of your back, but the seat remains fixed.
- for intensive use, more than 6 hours a day, choose a synchronous mechanism that allows the backrest and seat to tilt in a coordinated way, to follow your movements and adapt to your body shape.
💺Ergonomics
Did you know that sitting is not natural for humans?
Our bodies are not made to stay in the same position for too long. This prevents blood from circulating properly and causes pain over time.
That is why office chairs and armchairs now offer more and more features to correct this poor posture.
A good armchair is therefore a model that adapts to your height and weight while allowing you to adopt the correct posture.
And then you say to yourself « Okay, but what is the correct posture? » : we refer you to our article dedicated to the correct working posture at a screen to learn everything about the subject and be properly set up in front of your PC.
To make your life easier, many office chairs have adjustments that allow you to easily adopt this posture, effortlessly. This is what we call ergonomic chairs.
They are generally equipped with:
- fixed or adjustable armrests to rest your forearms
- lumbar support to keep the spine in a natural position
- a tiltable or swivel seat or backrest to maintain postural balance and promote blood circulation
- a headrest to relieve tension in the neck (optional)
🥵 The upholstery
It may seem strange, but the breathability of materials is a selling point that is becoming increasingly important.
Imagine, it's summer, it's hot, very hot. You spend time in your chair feeling hot, very hot… So you understand the importance of choosing suitable upholstery, such as:
- Mesh or net-type upholstery: also called mesh, this highly resistant wide-mesh upholstery provides optimal support, adapts to your body shape, and allows sweat to evaporate thanks to its breathability.
- Fabric upholstery: it is less breathable than mesh, but it can do the job. In fact, it is the option preferred by most people. Be careful, it gets dirty easily and can vary greatly in quality.
On the other hand, we advise against leather office chairs: hello overheating and maintenance difficulties! Faux leather is certainly less expensive, but it is a synthetic material, so it is less breathable and less durable.
👛 The budget
The higher your budget, the more you can choose a high-end chair with futuristic adjustments.
Count on between €200 and €300 for a simple chair, but not a low-end one either. Between €600 and €900 for a good quality seat depending on the features chosen. And between €1000 and more (yes, we know, it's steep!) for a high-end model intended for intensive use. As we told you, except for companies that can buy chairs and armchairs at wholesale prices, the new market is not made for individuals.
A good alternative, we repeat, is to buy a second-hand model.
The different types of office chairs and armchairs
Finally, to help you find the ideal office chair, let's review the main existing categories.
Standard office or typing chairs
Also called "rolling office chairs", they provide support and comfort during the long hours spent in front of your screen. It is the perfect model for occasional use and, what's more, at a low price.
Operator office chairs
They are more enveloping and feature reinforced padding with armrests for better comfort.
Executive chairs
Very similar to their operator chair friends, they are often made of leather. This type of seat is mainly used to send a message about the status of the person sitting in it.
Massaging executive chairs
We are talking about a luxury product here. At the same time, relaxing in your massaging and relaxing chair while you work is pretty great, isn't it?
Administrative office chairs
This is the most common type of seat, intended for daily use. It provides a minimum level of comfort but does not have all the options that an ergonomic office chair can offer.
Visitor or meeting chairs
These are minimally comfortable seats, but they are not recommended for the long term, as they do not provide the necessary support for prolonged use. As you may have guessed, not the best solution for your remote work desk or on-site desk.
Ergonomic gaming chairs
As their name suggests, they are rather reserved for hardcore gamers who spend countless hours in front of screens. A key element of a good gaming setup, they often look like a car bucket seat with colors and details reminiscent of video games.
Final word: cheap office chair
A good office chair is one of the essential elements in setting up a good workstation.
It will help you avoid tension and other back pain by allowing you to adopt a good posture. For this, it is important that you choose a good quality, sturdy model that adapts to your body shape and needs.
FAQ: a good office chair at a low price
Why choose an ergonomic office chair?
A good ergonomic office chair will help you avoid tension and other back pain by allowing you to adopt a good posture. For this, your office chair must be a good quality, sturdy model that adapts to your body shape and needs.
No more designer office chairs that are absolutely not comfortable! The ideal office chair is an ergonomic seat with lumbar support and perfect adjustments to be properly set up.
Where to find a cheap ergonomic seat?
Forget the cheapest seats you can find in large retail stores. We told you just above: invest in a quality ergonomic chair!
Even though prices can quickly skyrocket, it is possible to find very good cheap second-hand models.
By making this choice, you will benefit from quality at an affordable price, while doing something for the planet.
What are the best comfortable office chairs?
Here is our top 5 computer chair and ergonomic armchair for unmatched comfort in front of your screen: Aeron by Herman Miller, Leap or Air by Steelcase, RH Logic 400 by RH Chairs, Liberty by Humanscale.
Home office, gaming chair: at home too, do not neglect your comfort!
You have obviously devoured all our guides on ergonomics at work, the posture to adopt in front of a screen and the essential gestures to fight eye strain.
So you know that an ergonomic office chair is good, but the rest must follow. An height-adjustable desk, suitable accessories, a spacious and tidy space, good glasses for screens will allow you to work in the best conditions while preserving your health.
