15 Best Ergonomic Chair Designs for Work and Home Office

There are plenty of ergonomic chair designs on the market that all come complete with different features. Whether you want an ergonomic office chair for home use or one for your office space effects which ergonomic chair design may be best for you. First, what is an ergonomic chair, and what should you look out for?

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What is an Ergonomically Designed Chair?

An ergonomic chair is a chair that has been designed to best support the human body, including considerations like posture, comfort, support and health. It is one that could be suited for heavy computer and phone usage, navigating around your office desk, or staying attentive when sat in long meetings. Good design should be unassuming and integrate serious long-term support for intense technical tasks.

Your home ergonomic chair may have to stand up (well sit down) against a different set of demands. If it’s for your home office or craft desk you might be undertaking more niche tasks not found in the average cubicle. If it’s for gaming or leisure, it will need to support a different range of body movements and postures entirely. If your home study doubles as a place for your downtime, you might need a chair that also doubles as a recliner.

Here we round up the 15 best ergonomic chair designs for work and home:

1. ErgoChair Pro (ErgoChair 2) by Autonomous

ErgoChair Pro from Autonomous has extra neck support and a five-wheeled base, like any good ergonomic chair design. It has adjustable lumbar support and an Italian-designed tilt tension mechanism that allows you to tailor the support and resistance of the chair, along with a Korean-designed breathable and responsive mesh back. It’s deluxe, and is supportive enough for long hours of office use, making it a great ergonomic chair for work.

2. ErgoChair Recline (MyoChair) by Autonomous

This offering from Autonomous is comparable to the ErgoChair Pro, but comes at an even more affordable price point. It's breathable mesh back is engineered to keep your back cool and offer strong support. It also lets you incline with an impressive 24 degree range.

The ErgoChair Recline (MyoChair) comes in black or cool gray colors, making it ideal for a professional working environment, but still minimalist and tasteful enough to fit into the aesthetic of any home office as well. This reclining office chair also supports an optional head rest add-on, and can be adjusted to meet your specifications and ensure you sit and work as ergonomically as possible throughout the day.

3. ErgoChair Ultra (Kinn Chair) by Autonomous

The ErgoChair Ultra is Autonomous' premium ergonomic chair offering. The back is built from a specially-crafted TPE material splayed out in a fishbone design that affords maximum comfort. It can be used with a "naked" back design or overlayed with TPE mesh, and comes in a variety of color combinations to suit any workspace.

The ErgoChair Ultra (Kinn Chair) is highly adjustable, with a back that reclines up to 25 degrees, and features numerous other points of adjustability for optimal ergonomic comfort. It is also extremely sturdy, supporting up to 350 pounds in weight. Though this is Autonomous' premium chair, it comes at a much more affordable price point than premium offerings from competing companies. It's quickly becoming one of the most popular premium options for offices and people working from home everywhere.

4. AvoChair by Autonomous

The AvoChair is a premium quality budget eco-friendly office chair from Autonomous. Its clean lines are inspired by nature, and to be honest it just looks absolutely adorable. This chair is great for general day-to-day use and is much simpler than a lot of other highly adjustable office chairs, though it still features numerous adjustment points and provides a deep, soft cushion for maximum comfort.

The AvoChair comes in many different color options, making it great for home or office use. Though it is a budget chair, its aluminum alloy base makes it extremely durable. It's an affordable chair built to last.

5. ErgoStool by Autonomous - For active sitting

The ErgoStool from Autonomous is a great alternative to standard office chairs that gives users the option of "active sitting." It's perfect for people who want to switch up their work routine with a tool to combat a sedentary lifestyle and the ill effects of sitting in the same position for hours at a time.

This ergonomic stool features a convex cushion to allow easy circulation in your legs, and activates your leg and core muscles to maintain balance. It's a great way to stay energized and active while working, and it pairs nicely with a standing desk, such as the SmartDesk. A SmartDesk allows you to raise your desk easily and efficiently so you can take advantage of the height capability of the ErgoStool.

6. Alera Elusion Swivel Chair

This ergonomic chair features an adjustable waterfall edge that helps take pressure off your legs. It’s in the lower end price bracket but makes a good basic task chair for your home craft or writing table. The mesh back is breathable and sturdy. It’s a great ergonomic chair for recreational use and short durational tasks. It may not be the most unique or beautiful chair on this list, but it gets the job done.

7. Sayl Chair by Herman Miller

One of the higher-end designs in ergonomic office chairs comes in the form of this Sayl Chair by Herman Miller. Its Y-Tower and Arcspan mesh design are a unique form of ergonomic support, and as one of the cheapest chairs by this brand, this sleek ergonomic chair design makes a great choice when buying multiples for a design-savvy small group office. It’s become a bit of a hallmark for meeting rooms at creative firms and startups.

8. Mirra 2 Chair by Herman Miller

Another Herman Miller design comes with more substantial back support and is suitable for longer stretches at a desk. Its recent updates include a redesigned back and a tilt mechanism that allows you to switch between postures more smoothly. This is a solid ergonomic chair for office use, and planting one of these at every workstation has a serious visual impact.

9. Steelcase Leap Fabric Chair

As one of the most expensive chairs on this list, the Steelcase Leap Fabric Chair is for serious office users only! The difference is in the engineering—the chair glides between different postures effortlessly and conforms to your body in unique ways. It includes its own form of Liveback Technology which adjusts to your spinal curve over time. This is ideal for those workers who perform tasks such as video editing or coding which involve unthinkably long stretches of sit time. This is an ergonomic chair for heavy duty office use, for sure.

10. Embody Chair by Herman Miller

The most expensive chair here, also by Herman Miller, comes in at around $2000. If you’re looking to make a long-term investment or enhance your executive office, this is the top-of-the-line. It has all the usual features of a great ergonomic chair design, and the signature Herman Miller chic aesthetic. When you see these chairs in an office, you know they’re heavily invested in their employees, good design, and company image. Architecture firms and creative agencies are known to love these. Let’s face it - the appearance of your workspace matters, especially if you do the type of work where clients visit often and rely on your aesthetic sensibilities.

11. The Evey Ergonomic Task Chair by Brayden Studio

If you’re looking for the best ergonomic chair with a truly minimal design, then this offering from Brayden Studio might be worth considering. Available in a range of colors, this chair maximizes the benefits of ergonomic design without any frills. Providing good lumbar support and flexibility, the back of the chair melds itself to your form for a more comfortable fit. While you can’t include any attachments to this chair, it’s a great choice for standard use or shorter sitting sessions. It looks fantastic in most office spaces, too.  

12. Odelle Ergonomic Mesh Task Chair

Mesh is an excellent choice of material for warmer office environments. In addition to this, the Odelle features a strong ergonomic design that makes it a pleasure to work in. Most workers should find it comfortable for longer seated stretches, and its minimalistic elegance means it should be a suitable choice for a variety of workspaces.

13. Billups Ergonomic Mesh Task Chair

This is another mesh office chair, but it offers considerably more cushioning and support. The Billups features outstanding ergonomic chair design and comes in a range of eye-catching colors. Whether you work from home or the office, the Billups is a great choice for most people looking for something in the more affordable range.

14. The Loesing Mesh Task Chair

The Loesing features a truly innovative ergonomic chair design that makes it an excellent choice for people needing extra lumbar or neck support. Made of mesh upholstery, you can stay cool and comfortable all day long while you work. Its arm rests are comfortable and well-placed, encouraging proper sitting posture. This is an important feature if you work for longer stretches, as it’s easy to forget to sit well when you’re immersed in your work. With time, this can cause excessive strain on your body, so it’s crucial that you work at a supportive and ergonomic chair.

15. The Ergonomic Executive Chair by STARSPACE

If cushioning is your thing, then you might find it hard to look past STARSPACE’s Ergonomic Executive. With a range of smart features, the Ergonomic Executive is something of a luxury model. It’s highly adjustable, meaning you should be able to find the best angle for you to sit at for longer periods. The cushioning provides excellent lumbar support and is incredibly comfortable. Bonded leather on the upholstery means that this chair lasts for a very long time and is easy to clean.

What Makes a Good Ergonomic Chair?

When looking for the best ergonomic chair, the range of options can make the process feel overwhelming and daunting. The fact that there are so many different models claiming to be ergonomic and that they all look so different from one another can make finding a great ergonomic chair confusing at the best of times. However, there are some universal features that all ergonomic chairs should offer. If you want the best desk chair for your home office, you must ensure that any chair you are considering has these features such as lumbar support, adjustable armrests, headrest, tilt mechanism etc. Otherwise, the chair is unlikely to be truly ergonomic.

Lumbar support is the most important part of ergonomic chair design. The primary purpose of choosing an ergonomic chair is that it supports your back properly and keeps your body healthier over the long run. Lumbar support is the most important part of this. It helps you sit comfortably, which in turn means less pressure on your back and neck.

Another important feature of a good ergonomic chair is adjustability. Ideally, you should be able to adjust the angle and tilt of the chair. Some ergonomic chairs also allow you to adjust the arm rests and other features. Generally speaking, the more you can adjust your chair, the more ergonomic it truly is.

Finally, you should look for other features. Headrest and armrests can take a standard ergonomic chair and make it far better for your posture and health over the long run. If you want to invest in the best office chair design that you can find, try to look for a chair that features armrests and leg rests, as well as a headrest. 

Ergonomic chairs don’t have to be expensive. In addition to the factors listed above, you should also think about your budget. If you’re planning on purchasing several ergonomic executive chairs, it probably makes more sense for you to choose a budget option than investing in the most luxurious model you can find. It’s also important for you to choose a chair that is made from good materials and that offers a practical warranty policy. You might also like to look for a chair that gives you a trial period before you purchase. This way, you have the opportunity to get used to your chair and send it back if you’re not satisfied.

Conclusion

Whether you invest in an additional neck rest, mesh backing, deep cushioning, or customizable levers, there are plenty of ergonomic chairs on the market now that can accommodate your needs. Always consider what kind of work you need to do in each chair, and how your workspace will be set up when choosing an ergonomic chair design. If aesthetics matter, be willing to shell out some extra dollars for the beauty of top-of-the-line ergonomic chairs. Otherwise, choose an ergonomic chair that will be stylish, simple, and feel right at home.