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Best office chair UK in 2024: top ergonomic home office chairs tested

Our pick of the best office chairs to make working at home less of a chore.

Best office chair UK in 2024: top ergonomic home office chairs tested
06 February 2024

Getting a good office chair can save you a lot of pain in the long run, figurative and literally.

Sure, planning out a home office can seem boring to some people, but why not save your living dangerously gambles for something a little more exciting?

Buy a quality office chair and make sure your screen is at the right height — these are easy ways to avoid back and neck pain in the long run. A little effort goes a long way with this one.

We think of these office chairs as splitting into three categories you need to consider. There are the high-profile seats big companies tend to buy for their workforce. They come from brands like Herman Miller and Steelcase, and are fantastic… if you can afford them. Top models often start at around £1000, rising even higher if you opt for extras like leather upholstery and additional seat adjustment.

In the middle ground is where most people should probably shop. These are seats made for ordinary folks like us — for the home office rather than offices of great shining skyscrapers.

Their build will often be a little bit less over-engineered. But does it really matter? If you treat your stuff with even a drop of care, not really.

Gaming chairs are the final category. And we don’t tend to recommend these too often. The quality varies, and the racing seat styling isn’t for everyone. However, one of our favourite office chairs ever, the Herman Miller x Logitech Embody seen below, is technically a gaming chair. There are exceptions to every rule, right?

If you want some more advice on what you should look for when buying an office chair, then head to our handy guide below our shortlist, which is packed with useful buying advice. Happy hunting!

Best office chair UK

Best office chair UK

1. SIHOO Ergonomic Office Chair

View now at Amazon

The appeal of this ergonomic office chair from SIHOO is that it provides support for your whole back, which is ideal for those who find it hard to sit up straight on their own.

While the SIHOO Ergonomic Office Chair might not be the best-looking chair on our list, it offers many ways to adjust the position to suit you, as well as a breathable mesh fabric to keep you cool. Unlike other chairs in our best office chairs guide, you will need to construct this one yourself but this isn't likely to take you long as it comes with clear instructions on how to get it built fast

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Best office chair UK

2. IKEA Markus

View now at IKEA

One of our favourite budget option chairs on this best office chairs UK list, the Markus from IKEA is a solid option for those who can't afford to spend a fortune on an office chair but want decent support and comfort for long periods of time.

This one is well worth finding online if you can, even if you're skipping those beautiful meatballs. You can adjust the height and angle, then lock it into place for added stability and control whether you're leaning back to read (or nap) or leaning forward during an intense typing session. Its high back is great for added support, which makes it a good choice for those with back problems.

Its mesh back is also great for the summer months because it'll keep you cool. Sure it may not be the best-looking on the list, but it's fairly minimal and comes with a 10-year warranty, which means it's a winner in our books.

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3. Herman Miller Aeron

View now at John Lewis

Considered to be one of the best office chairs in the world, the Aeron tops best office chair lists and design lists all over the internet. The Herman Miller Aeron chair is such an iconic, comfortable and successful design it's even featured in the Museum of Modern Art in New York.

What makes it so special? Everything. The designers of the chair (which has been consistently tweaked for decades) have researched sitting, posture and different bodies in depth to create a chair that's highly supportive but extremely comfortable.

Almost every element of the chair can be customised before you buy it, too, and then can be adjusted once it's in your home o office, including the height, arm rests, lumbar support and more. Before buying an Aeron, be sure to check with size you need depending on your height and weight, there are three available: A, B and C. Of course pay an eye-watering premium for the Aeron, but what do you expect for one of the most iconic designs on the planet?

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Best office chair UK

4. Yaheetech office chair

Buy now on Amazon

There can be no higher praise for the Yaheetech office chair other than we bought this chair for our own home office a few months ago and have enjoyed sitting on it ever since. It's a really comfy chair to use for long periods. It's got great back support and the assembly process wasn't too arduous either – although we recommend building it in a bigger room first if your office is snug like ours. It has a well-cushioned seat and you can recline on it when you want to stretch, thanks to its breathable backrest.

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5. FLEXISPOT Ergonomic Task Back-Support Chair

Buy now from Amazon

FlexiSport is a fantastic office chair brand offering a bunch of different styles for different tastes and preferences. Our favourite is the brand's Ergonomic Task Back-Support Chair, which is ideal for optimal back support – especially for anyone who finds it hard to sit up straight all day, this chair will help you.

It's got all of the adjustable elements we recommend that you look out for, including lumbar support that you can change, a moulded back rest, arm rests that move and reclining options. Like most of the options in our best office chairs guide, this isn't the best-looking chair you've ever seen, but it's one of the most comfortable and great for your posture.

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Best office chair UK

6. Orangebox Do

Buy now at Wellworking

It can often seem there's an empty wasteland between budget chairs and the fancy ones used by giant business and start-ups, which can cost upwards of £1000. However, look a little deeper and you will find models that sit between, like the Orangebox Do. It balances quality and cost beautifully, making it a viable option for the home office, while being made to the standards of chairs that might be sold to businesses. It offers recline, adjustable arms and adjustable lumbar support.

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7. HÅG Capisco 8010

View now at WellWorking

This quirky-looking office chair consistently makes best office chairs lists the world over and has great reviews online. The HÅG Capisco 8010 is one of the best ergonomic chairs around as it has been designed specially for improving your posture. The design has been inspired by the act of sitting on a saddle – horse riders always sit up very straight, after all. The good news is that you won't have to clear up any mess from this thing, or feed it sugar cubes.

The HÅG Capisco 8010 offers support and plenty of adjustments. Although it may not be the most comfy-looking chair on the list, it's ideal if you're dealing with back problems and really want to prioritise your health. Another added bonus is that the HÅG Capisco chairs are all made from recycled car bumpers and waste household plastic packaging so it is good-ish for the environment, too, which is always lovely to see.

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Best office chair UK

8. Amazon Brand - Movian Office Chair

Buy now from Amazon

You can find a stack of office chairs that look a bit like this Amazon Brand one sold under the Movian banner. It sells a lot of furniture, from desks to bedside tables, and it's all pretty good-value stuff. This office chair also has a lot of the characteristics we look for in a good home office chair. It has a mesh back for comfort during the warmer months, lumbar support and seat tilt.

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Best office chair UK

9. Herman Miller x Logitech Embody

Buy now from Herman Miller

The Aeron might be Herman Miller's most famous chair, but the Embody is — most agree — a better and more comfortable design. It has been around since 2008, but these day the gaming edition released in partnership with Logitech in 2020 is much easier to buy. The gaming version is similar, but has slightly different foam layers in the seat pan and back rest for a softer finish. It's pricey, but wonderful if you want a seat that can stay in action for many years.

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10. Steelcase Gesture

Buy now from Amazon

If only the best will do, you can't ignore Steelcase. It is one of the most respected names in office chairs, alongside Herman Miller. It's the kind of chair that will last decades with proper care, and could save you years of future back ache. It has adjustable lumbar support, masses of adjustability and super high quality wool upholstery. It's a top pick if you want something more conventional-looking than a Herman Miller Aeron. Available with or without a headrest.

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11. Varier Variable Plus

Buy now from Back in Action

Want something more unusual? This seat from Varier fits the bill. The Variable Plus is a kneeling chair with a slight rocking motion to its base. Your weight is spread move evenly across your body when you sit, and your core is engaged, meaning an end to slouching. Great for posture, but Varia recommends this particular model for people up to 5ft 11 in height. It's not ideal for truly tall folks.

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12. Humanscale Diffrient World

View now at John Lewis

Yes, you're reading that right. Humanscale has a range of chairs called Diffrient and there are a few models to choose from. The Diffrient World is a minimal mesh task chair, which means it's created for long-ish stints, but might not provide the support you need if you're going to be sat at it for 8+ hours a day.

However, it does provide lumbar support, has adjustable height and arm rests and is able to adjust to your body weight, meaning it provides the perfect recline for whoever sits in it. One of the things we love most about this chair is the ergonomics of the thing mean it provides good support and it's aesthetically pleasing, too. The Humanscale Diffrient World chair is not too bulky and the lighter colour option is one of the most stylish on the list in our books

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13. House by John Lewis Whistler Office Chair

Buy now from John Lewis

House by John Lewis is a superb office chair for the price. It that shuns traditional looks, which means that it will look great both in a home office or whatever room is your office right now (seriously, we're not judging. We once wrote a big presentation in bed, with a book for a laptop support and a local newspaper as a mouse mat).

This office chair has those all-important floor-safe castors, the height is adjustable and it comes in either mustard or grey – but you are going to want the mustard colour, really. If youre looking for a budget office chair option, then this one is a great shout.

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How to buy an office chair

5 tips to make sure you get the right office chair for you

Best office chair UK 2021: top 10 ergonomic home office chairs tested

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Welcome to the wonderful (and sometimes frustrating) experience of buying an office chair. Making sure you have the best office chair for you is vital as it needs to do a number of things.

It needs to be the right fit for your office (or wherever you want it), it has to be long lasting and, most importantly, comfortable for you. If you are going to be working from home for the foreseeable, then you need to be damn comfy doing it. Here are five things to look out for:

1. Choose the right material

An office chair is often made from a number of key materials. Leather is one of the most popular materials (or leather look, which has been given the brilliant rebrand of vegan leather). This offers extreme comfort and is usually found in executive chairs.

A mesh seat and back is another popular choice, which is the most breathable choice, so if you see yourself sitting down for long periods of them, then this could be a good fit for you.

Then there are fabric-based chairs. These are usually the cheapest, but are simple and, above all, comfortable.

2. Think about the ergonomic features

While the way a chair looks is important, you should also think about how it might feel to sit in it for hours at a time.

An office chair will usually be adjustable to a point and the amount you can adjust it will usually up the price. But there are some essential adjustments you need to be able to make. We recommend looking for a backrest tilt, which will change the angle of the chair and take the pressure off your back.

An adjustable seat is important as you need to make sure that both your feet are on the ground when sitting at a desk. Also look for adjustable height options, and the ability to shift your headrest.

Other things to consider are armrests that help with back support, as well as good lumbar support.

3. Think about the type of chair you want

Yes, it's an office (or at least a makeshift one) but is a huge executive chair really going to fit the look? Maybe, but it might be that a gaming chair fits the vibe of your room better or a swivel chair will help you feel like you’re back in the office. It might be that you’re happy with a fixed chair and that's what you want. Understanding the type of chair you like and that suits your space will help focus your buying.

4. Have a price in mind

We would love a Herman Miller, too, but if your budget doesn't stretch then you have to think realistically about the type of office chair that you want. You can get a decent chair for under £100 if that's what you are looking for – add another hundred to the price and it really does open up your options. You can't spend too much on an office chair, as you’ll be paying for style and brand but just make sure it's what you need before you splash the cash.

5. Ask yourself how lazy you are

If you’re really lazy, then make sure that you go and get a self-assembled chair. It will be a pain to try and fit it into your room, but it does mean that the thing is ready to use right away. If you’re happy to spend a little bit of time putting things together then you’ll find that there are far more office chairs available to you.

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