Mesh is ideal if you run hot, since it’s the most breathable, while foam can add an additional layer of cushioning. Material: The material of the backrest and the seat of a chair will also impact how well the chair supports your body and keeps you comfortable. For each chair listed below, I’ve noted which elements can be adjusted to fit your particular needs. While everyone could benefit from seat adjustability, if you are shorter or taller than average, seat height and seat depth are especially important factors to look for. Different chairs have different adjustability, including the armrests, seat height and depth, and the angle of the backrest tilt. Since that position will be slightly different for each person, the best way to find a neutral posture is with an adjustable chair - one that’s as intuitive to use as possible. “Try to create 90-degree angles at the waist and knees,” recommends chiropractor Dr. Below, we’ve gathered a variety of office chairs (and ergonomic chair attachments), including one option for kids, that Agulnick, Perna, and seven other doctors say will help you sit up straight and comfortably, while minimizing long-term damage to your body.īest overall | Best (less expensive) | Best budget-conscious | Best self-adjusting | Best foldable | Best colorful | Best vegan leather | Best balance-ball | Best (less-expensive) balance-ball | Best kneeling | Best stool | Best for kidsĪdjustability: A good office chair will help you maintain a neutral posture, which means sitting with your feet flat on the floor, your knees slightly higher than your hips, and your hips, shoulders, and ears all lined up with each other. That said, certain types of office chairs will make it easier for you to maintain a healthy posture while you work, regardless of body type or personal preferences. “If you take a one-size-fits-all approach, there are a lot of people who are miserable with it, because what’s comfortable for one person is going to be miserable for another,” he explains, and being comfortable in your office chair is definitely a priority.

Marc Agulnick, an orthopedic surgeon based on Long Island and who’s affiliated with NYU Winthrop Hospital, agrees: “If you’re sitting for a long period of time in one position that’s not natural or a bad position from a postural standpoint, over time, that’s going to break down your spine.” Take it from someone who spent the first year and a half of the pandemic crouched over her computer on a kitchen bar stool or working from bed (and whose neck, shoulders, and wrists paid the price): Invest in a good office chair.įinding the right ergonomic office chair, though, can be tricky - there is no universally perfect model, because every body is different, according to Agulnick. “Makeshift setups can cause a laundry list of problems, including back, shoulder, and wrist pain,” explains Dr. Whether you’re working from home at a DIY desk setup or commuting to an office, you may have begun to feel the strain that sitting for seven or more hours a day can put on a body.

Desk chairs