When looking for an office chair for back pain, consider whether it has lumbar support and adjustable features, such as an armrest or headrest. We researched dozens of chairs for chronic back pain and evaluated them for adjustable features, support, comfort, and price.
Here are the best office chairs for back pain on the market.
What we really love about this chair is how much of it is adjustable: the height raises up nearly 10 inches from the minimum, the armrests fold up when needed to stay out of your way, the backrest can tilt from 90 degrees to 120 degrees, and the headrest can be separately adjusted, to raise higher or lower or even angled across a 45-degree tilt. These features can help you maintain good posture. The seat itself is made from breathable and supportive mesh, which provides firm support and temperature regulation. However you feel about your job, the Gabrylly chair makes working less painful.
Price at time of publication: $330
Price at time of publication: $89
We also love that in addition to the lumbar support, the chair includes an adjustable headrest for neck support and armrests that can be positioned in a variety of ways; since armrests can interfere with the position of your shoulders—increasing tension in your neck and back—it’s important to have armrests that can support you without getting in your way. The NOUHAUS armrests can be raised and lowered as well as pointed in four different directions, per your personal workstation preferences.
Price at time of publication: $400
As for other features, the back of the chair is made of breathable mesh, the seat is made from high-density sponge meant to provide firm cushioning, the lumbar support is adjustable, and users say the chair is both sturdy and comfortable.
Price at time of publication: $150
Additionally, the chair has a high-density foam seat for maximum cushioning and an extra-high back that tilts up to 35 degrees, so it can move with your upper back and shoulders as you recline and sit forward.
The chair itself is made of a mesh backrest and a cushioned seat for comfort, has almost 7 inches of adjustable height, and also includes adjustable armrests and lumbar support.
Price at time of publication: $300
Price at time of publication: $403
Many of the chair’s features are similar to that of a regular chair, like an adjustable height, rolling wheels, and supportive cushioning, but VIVO reminds consumers that kneeling chairs utilize different muscles than traditional office chairs, so it will take time for your body to be comfortable using one. The brand recommends that you use the chair intermittently at first, training your muscles to “sit” this way, rather than attempting to use a kneeling chair for eight hours right out of the box.
Price at time of publication: $120
Once we narrowed down our options, we compared each chair’s benefits to its price tag. While some choices on our list may be more expensive, we wanted to give a wide range of options that would fit all needs and budgets. Based on all of these factors, we compiled this list of the best office chairs for back pain.
What to Look for in Office Chairs for Back Pain
Adjustable Height
Of all the features to consider, adjustable height might be the most important when it comes to long-term ergonomics; if your chair is too high or too low for your desk, your spine will end up curving or arching in an uncomfortable position (and your neck and shoulders will be affected, too).
“Height adjustability is key, both for individual comfort and for compatibility with the desk or workspace,” Eby says. “When using a computer keyboard, your upper arms should rest at your side and your forearms should be parallel to the floor in order to prevent stress in your shoulders and neck.”
Eby adds that your feet should also rest flat on the floor, but this can be tricky for shorter people, especially once they’ve adjusted the chair height properly for the height of the desk. In this case, she suggests, you may want to get a footrest or stool so your feet can sit flat.
Adjustable Backrest
There are three ways the back of a chair can provide support, Eby says: with the location of lumbar support, the tilt of the backrest, and the depth of the seat. You may not be able to find a chair that’s adjustable for all three of these features, but you should definitely make sure your chair is adjustable for the one that affects you the most. In other words, people with low back pain should prioritize adjustable lumbar support, while petite people may want to focus on adjustable seat depth. People with more generalized needs can look for a chair with a flexible tilt to accommodate movement.
“Adjustable tilt of the backrest allows for a change of position while in the chair,” Eby says, “for example, a more upright position when using a computer and a more reclined position when on the phone or reading.”
Arm Support
Should you get a chair with armrests to support you all day long, or will they just get in the way of your comfort? It’s a tricky question, and even Eby admits armrests can be the most challenging feature of an office chair.
“Armrests provide upper body, shoulder, and neck support, [but they] must be positioned so that the chair can be pulled up fully under the desk,” she explains.
To get the support of armrests without any interference regarding the height of your chair or desk, Eby recommends finding a chair with adjustable armrests, so they can be raised or lowered to provide support where needed (without messing up the rest of your ergonomics).
Firm Cushioning
Even though your office chair isn’t made for Netflix binges, it should still be comfortable, says Blessen Abraham, DC, of Brunswick Health & Physical Therapy Center in New Jersey: “The first thing you need to find is a good, comfortable chair [that] supports your low back, buttock, thighs, upper back, and shoulders.”
Speaking of support, you’ll also want to find a chair that offers plenty, either in the way it contours to your body or in the density of its cushioning.
“I always recommend people to get a chair that’s a little bit firmer than softer, because you’re going to be sitting on it for a long time and usually the cushioning will wear out the softer it is,” Dr. Abraham explains.
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Dr. Abraham seconds this suggestion, saying that the best way to prevent back pain throughout the day is by just taking a break, getting off your chair once in a while, walking around, and stretching.
He also recommends having a designated space just for work (if you’re working from home) and reserving your desk at the office just for work, not for your lunch break. This not only forces you to take breaks throughout the day, it allows your body to be positioned in other ways—like at the kitchen table rather than the desk for eight hours—and gives you the space your body needs to spread out in ergonomically-friendly ways.
In other words, poor posture while sitting doesn’t just hurt your back, it literally changes your body—and not for the better. To combat this, anyone who sits at a desk on a consistent basis should invest in an ergonomic chair, especially if you suffer from back pain.
Additional reporting by Kayla Hui
Receiving her master’s degree in public health in 2020, Kayla Hui is a seasoned public health practitioner and health journalist. She has interviewed dozens of experts, reviewed numerous research studies, and tested a plethora of products to deliver well-researched product reviews and roundups. Her goal is to help readers make more informed decisions about their health and well-being.
