12 Best Office Chairs That Aren’t Hideous (2025): AD Tested | Architectural Digest

All products featured on Architectural Digest are independently selected by our editors. However, we may receive compensation from retailers and/or from purchases of products through these links.

If you’re working from home, investing in one of the best office chairs (and not just a double-duty dining chair) will help correct a persistent case of tech neck and maybe even boost your morale—but no promises there.

Comfort and ergonomics are important, sure, but because we’re AD, the aesthetics of your desk seating are equally as important. Maybe that budget mesh and foam contraption you picked up from an office supply store clocks in and does the job every morning, but is it the right culture fit for the very curated aesthetic of your home?

Over the years that we’ve been testing office chairs, we’ve expanded our search to include a high-low selection of wallet-friendly picks, but also household names in the ergonomic space, from Herman Miller to Knoll, that come approved by design lovers like us. Our editors and writers have personally sat on, worked on, and Zoomed from each of these picks and can attest that not only are they attractive, but they will also provide structural support for your bottom and back during the longest meetings.

Branch Furniture

Amazon

As a general practice, the armrests on ergonomic office chairs tend to be bulky. Not so with the Branch Verve Chair, which stands out with its curvy S-shaped supports that give it some space-y, extraterrestrial appeal. The Verve is a newer and sportier model from the brand that set out to modernize dated office seating, and boasts a sleek breathable mesh back and some slender legs with casters for wheeling around the office. Contributor Terri Williams notes that sitting for long periods of time is easy thanks to the V-shaped chair design that provides extra lumbar support. At just a hair shy of $600, this chair is also one of the most affordable picks on the list (so it’s a good fit for most people), and one of the most streamlined if you hate the look of typical corporate chairs. “I can also adjust the height of the softly-padded armrests, the seat depth, the tilt, the tilt tension, and the padded lumbar support,” Williams says of the extra features here that put it into holy grail territory.

Specs

Dimensions: 41"H x 27"W x 27"D

Materials: 3D knit, foam, and aluminum

Weight Capacity: 275 lbs.

Colors: Coral, lunar, mist, mint, cobalt, and galaxy

Warranty: 7 years

Adjustability:

What we really liked

What you should keep in mind

Amazon

DWR

There’s a reason the Aeron is Herman Miller’s most beloved and recognized office chair. The iconic chair is truly supportive and adjustable to fit your ideal comfort zones. Senior digital design editor Zoë Sessums started out with a virtual fitting with an ergonomic expert at Herman Miller, who walked her through all the features. (Herman Miller offers an informative online gallery if you can’t try out a chair in person.) Once the chair was delivered—no assembly required—Sessums came away impressed with the power of the patented PostureFit SL back support, which encourages opening up the chest and shoulders, and tilts the pelvis slightly forward. “This chair will save your body,” she says. “It’s easy to see why people invest in supreme desk setups. I would recommend the Aeron chair again and again.”

Specs

Dimensions: 38½"H x 25¾"W x 16"D

Materials: Aluminum frame and base; 8Z pellicle elastomeric suspension seat and backrest

Weight Capacity: 300–350 lbs. (depending on model size)

Base colors: Satin aluminum, polished aluminum, and onyx ultra matte

Frame colors: Graphite, mineral, and black

Warranty: 12 years

Adjustability:

Upsides

Downsides

Branch

A bad case of tech neck hates to see the Branch Ergo Pro coming. That’s because the chair’s fully customizable support system is calibrated to ensure that your posture is optimized, even during long hours in one fixed position. It offers 14 points of adjustments total (count ’em!) to keep you comfortable, from the seat height to the headrest for those who are blessed with longer limbs. And compared to the original version reviewed above, this one is far cushier on the seat and armrests, with seven additional points of adjustability. It is slightly less svelte and also slightly more expensive than its predecessor, the original Branch Ergonomic, which our tester Williams also loved for its ergonomic design.

Each of our editors took a spin on the Branch Ergo Pro (read our full review) and came away smitten with the adjustability points and glutes support of this “double-stuffed” chair. “I was especially fond of the arm rests that helped me achieve perfect elbow support with my laptop stand and that the adjustable tilt option gave me the freedom to stretch my back out whenever needed,” commerce editor Audrey Lee noted.

The only drawback is that the Ergo Pro needs assembly out of the box, and the construction process is a bit of a learning curve. Still, everything came together quickly in about 30 minutes or less and was easy enough to complete solo. Since it can be fully disassembled, it’s also a great option for frequent movers.

Specs

Dimensions: 25”W x 24”D x 38-41.2”H

Materials: Flocked Italian double mesh, vegan leather or leather, high-density foam cushion, powder coated aluminum base

Weight Capacity: 275 lbs

Colors: Mesh: Shore (Off-White), Mineral (Light Grey), Boulder (Dark Grey); Vegan Leather: Light Grey, Brown Black Leather: Brown, Black

Warranty: 7 years

Adjustability:

What we really liked

What you should keep in mind

Herman Miller

A high price tag comes with great expectations—which the Asari chair met completely. Lee appreciated its attention to detail, which included the soft leather, the perfect amount of foam fill in the seat, and a backrest that makes it a treat to sit down and work. “The chair has noticeably softened in a delightful way that’s ultra-accommodating to my dimensions without feeling too sunken in or too stiff,” she says. Unlike leather office chairs that can read harsh or overly corporate, the Asari’s look is unparalleled. Lee “absolutely recommends” this chair to anyone looking to splurge on their home office. From physical appearance to practical use, it scores 10s across the board.

Specs

Dimensions: 37⅞"H x 29⅞"W x 29⅞"D

Materials: Powder-coated aluminum, dual-density foam, stow leather upholstery

Weight Capacity: 350 lbs.

Colors: Raven (black), jettison (blue), Etruscan (coral), clarion (yellow), submerge (teal), knight (dark gray), bulb (light gray), and antler (medium gray)

Warranty: 12 years

Adjustability:

What we really liked

What you should keep in mind

Amazon

Editor’s Note: This style was formerly called the Flexispot Soutien.

For a solid office chair at an economical price, the Flexispot OC3B, one of our favorite office chairs on Amazon, is the best of both worlds. The entire chair (back, seat, headrest) is made of breathable mesh, which contributes to air circulation. Although Williams prefers a leather chair, she found the Flexispot to be quite comfortable, even when sitting for a long time. Also, since it has a see-through mesh back, the chair doesn’t take up a lot of visual space. The chair can tilt up to 45 degrees, and the height of the seat and armrests can also be adjusted. There’s also a nifty clothes hanger on the back of the chair.

Specs

Dimensions: 51.9"H x 25.2"W x 21.2"D

Materials: Mesh, nylon, metal

Weight Capacity: 220 lbs.

Colors: Gray, blue, and black

Warranty: 1 year

Adjustability:

What we really liked

What you should keep in mind

West Elm

Steelcase

“It’s a little like floating on air,” says Lee of her first time sitting on the Karman chair. Assembly was quick and easy; all you need to do is fit the chair onto the wheeled base. This chair is the definition of ergonomic—the mesh weave back rest melds comfortably against the spine without feeling unsteady and the overall design feels extremely durable. The same mesh weave technology is used for the seat—sitting on it, with the underlying cushion, is comfortable, if slightly hard. The armrest pads slide back and forth and can pivot to make adjustments inwards or outwards, plus the armrest height is adjustable with a button located on the underside. After several full workdays, Lee felt noticeable relief in her back and hips, spots that typically give her discomfort after long hours sitting. “After a few weeks, most of my aches were basically gone,” she adds.

Specs

Dimensions: 39.1–43.5"H x 26.1"W x 26.1"D

Materials: Plastic frame and legs, textile mesh seat and back

Weight Capacity: 350 lbs.

Colors: Peacock (teal and white), seagull (beige and matte brass), black intermix, red/blue intermix, and Baltic intermix

Warranty: 12 years

Adjustability:

What we really liked

What you should keep in mind

Amazon

Haworth

There’s a lot to like about Haworth’s Breck chair. Lee reported that it arrived swiftly in a large box that was not difficult to carry inside. The assembly won’t leave you frustrated either. You’ll find instructions on the flaps of the delivery box and Haworth has the same manual available on their website as well as a short video with step-by-step directions. The whole process literally takes less than a couple of minutes before you’re ready to put the chair in action.

Don’t be fooled by the easy assembly process, though, as this office chair is more advanced than meets the eye. “I first received the Breck during a heat wave and appreciated the ultra-breathable backrest which allowed a comfortable amount of air to flow through,” says Lee. But it’s all the adjustable features that stand out to her. Need more tilt? No problem. Wish the armrests were just a tad longer? Easy. Height? Seat depth? Lumbar support? Done, done, and done. And while these are all perks you would expect from a high-priced chair that costs over $1,000, the Breck supplies them at under $500.

Specs

Dimensions: 39" to 44"H x 28.5"W x 28.5"D

Materials: Plastic, foam, steel

Weight Capacity: 325 lbs

Warranty: 12 years

Adjustability:

What we really liked

What you should keep in mind

Amazon

Vari's entire lineup is full of outstanding office chairs (plus some of the best standing desks), and this chair continues the tradition. Williams recommends the “ridiculously comfortable” Vari Task chair to anyone looking for a seat that pampers your glutes. This chair has a super thick foam seat and highly breathable back with great airflow, while the backrest provides lumbar support and pivots. “It’s got an adjustable tilt mechanism, plus adjustable armrests and adjustable seat height—and all of this adjustability and customization really makes a difference when you’re sitting at your workspace for long periods of time,” Williams says.

Specs

Dimensions: 38.6–43.2"H x 25.5"W x 20"D

Materials: Mesh, foam, metal

Weight Capacity: 300 lbs.

Colors: Black

Warranty: 5 years

Adjustability:

What we really liked

What you should keep in mind

Herman Miller

DWR

The molded plastic Eames chair’s outsize reputation precedes itself, though it’s more common in a four-legged version than a rolling option on wheels. “I’ll be honest, I was definitely going for looks when choosing an office chair,” says contributor Yelena Alpert, who chose one in a deep yellow colorway to match her wallpaper. “But the Task chair proved to be quite comfortable, and I find the smooth swiveling motion soothing as I think when I have writer’s block.” The molded seat feels contained, like a nest. (Alpert has the upholstered model, but it also comes with a separate seat cushion option.) Initially, Alpert thought the upholstery felt a tad rough but she is now used to it and appreciates the sturdy construction because she does tend to tuck her feet under.

The seat depth works great for her size and shape, especially because the waterfall seat offers a natural transition. “I am 5’4” and it’s like this office chair was custom-made for me,” Alpert explains. The seat-height adjustment pneumatic mechanism is easy to maneuver, should you need to elevate or come down. Alpert does warn that after a couple of hours, her lower back does feel a bit tired though. The chair came fully assembled in a large box, so setup was taking the Eames out of the box and removing the large plastic cover.

Specs

Dimensions: 35"H x 26¼"W x 26¼"D

Materials: Die-cast aluminum base; 100 percent recyclable polypropylene shell, 68% post-consumer recycled polyester and 32% polyester fabric.

Shell and seat colors: 22 shell/seat color combinations

Base colors: Aluminum

Warranty: 5 years

Adjustability: adjustable height ✔

What we really liked

What you should keep in mind

Haworth

Amazon

The first thing you notice about the Fern chair is its mastery of durability and comfort at once. You feel both comfortable and secure in the seat. Adjustments are a bonus that lets you fiddle armrests, seat, lumbar support and headrest positioning. “Being 5’3”, I passed on the headrest, and found the seat maybe a little too suited for a bigger body type,” commerce writer Julia Harrison says, adding that the overall height and depth made it so the adjustable lumbar support couldn’t quite reach the part of her back it needed to. “That being said, it’s a supremely comfortable option, especially for an office chair, and no part of me feels the ache of hours at a desk when I stand up, so it’s clearly doing its job in the support department.”

Specs

Dimensions: 45"-53"H x 29"W x 28.5"D

Materials: Mesh, plastic, aluminum, wool

Warranty: 12 years

Weight Capacity: 325 pounds

Adjustability:

What we really liked

What you should keep in mind

Design Within Reach

Herman Miller

“If you gave a shell chair superpowers, it might look something like the Zeph,” contributor Lila Allen says of the seat she tested. Like other Herman Miller office chairs, this seat has a wheeled base and is height-adjustable. (The adjustment lever is super sleek, too—a fun detail for the design nerds among us.) If you scooch or lean while you work, the Zeph will move right along with you. And best of all, there are plenty of ways to make the chair fit your style: In addition to eight different body color options, Herman Miller offers a 3D-knit, slip-on seat pad in 15 shades. (A unibody cover is available on the Herman Miller site in the same colorways.) A fraction of the price of an Aeron, Zeph is the gateway drug of performance seating.

Specs

Dimensions: 34⅞"H 24¼"W 19⅛"D

Materials: Polymer shell, optional 3D-knit fabric made from 50% recycled fibers

Weight Capacity: 350 lbs.

Shell colors: Alpine, black, carbon, cocoa, glacier, olive, and nightfall

Seat colors: Alpine, black, carbon, cocoa, glacier, olive, nightfall, tea rose, mustard seed, and blaze

Warranty: 12 years

Adjustability:

What we really liked

What you should keep in mind

Design Within Reach

Herman Miller

The Newson Task chair by Australian industrial designer Marc Newson seems to embody all the best parts of Knoll’s technology with a polished and contemporary flair. “The tilt mechanism is superior to most I’ve tested before, and the contoured and cantilevered seat and back are all one streamlined piece that is incredibly flexible and responsive when I recline, but it still feels supportive when putting in long hours,” commerce director Rachel Fletcher says. And let’s talk about how it looks. The chair is available in four shades (Ink, Umber, Petal, and Graphite), and it’s completely monochromatic—except for the chunky and bright red knobs that add a playful touch and even control suspension, armrest position, and seat height. Fletcher took home the blue version with a seat cushion made of a denim-like fabric that makes it look even more high-end.

Specs

Dimensions: 37.8–42.2"H x 26.2"W x 20.6"D

Materials: KnollTextiles Crossroad fabric, plastic or aluminum

Weight Capacity: 300 lbs.

Adjustability:

What we really liked

What you should keep in mind

Our commitment to bringing you quality seat recs is well documented, and finding an office chair that will fit your needs can make the difference between a great work week and a bad one. The AD shopping team meticulously researches products before including them in our roundups, and we test nearly everything—office chairs are no exception. Our writers and editors actually tested more than 30 chairs, but only 16 made the cut to our best-of list. For example, we’ve yet to find a nice-looking gaming chair that meets our standard and other generic Amazon picks just didn’t stand out from the crowd.

Our reviews are always thorough, in-depth, and honest. We put ourselves in the shoes of the shopper (because most of the time, we are the shoppers!) to make sure that we’re answering the questions that we would want answered in the buying process. We also recommend perusing our home tour archive for ideas—start with this Sag Harbor hideaway work space or take inspiration from the dedicated nook in this Los Angeles home.

Weary remote workers can rest assured that every pick on this list has been hand-picked and personally vetted by us. Our well-rounded list includes designhead-approved picks (Herman Miller! Knoll! Steelcase!) with more approachable and convenient options on Amazon (like Branch and Flexispot) sprinkled in, with top priority going to picks that had a warranty of at least 7 years and married great design with adjustability and comfort.

You may be sitting there and asking yourself, “can great ergonomics and great looks really go hand-in-hand?” We think the answer is yes, which is why you’ll notice our particularly attractive picks are meant to make your working hours anything but drab—especially with unconventional designs like the Herman Miller Asari chair that elevate your work setup.

Over the years we’ve been testing these, we also delisted picks from Article, Flash Furniture, and Humanscale that either felt not ergonomic enough for an office setting or didn’t feel like the best choice for their price bracket compared to their peers. An older version of the Branch Ergonomic has been replaced with the Branch Ergonomic Pro that was tested by several of our editors.

Our editors and contributors set these up in their home offices and experienced the day-in, day-out reality of sitting in them for a long period of time. We then asked each of our testers about their full experience, including:

Delivery and assembly: Working from a wooden chair and waiting days on end for a delivery truck to appear are things of the past. Did the chair arrive within the guaranteed delivery window? If you had to assemble it, was it relatively easy to do so or did it come in 100 parts? Did the instructions look like the bible? We wanted to let you know exactly what to expect from your purchases and called out any surprises.

Dimensions: Apartment dwellers know better than anyone that being conservative with floor real estate isn’t a want, but a need. That’s why our reviews provide exact measurements for the styles we tested and any notes on whether we thought a chair might not be a good fit (literally).

Rating the experience: A chair that’s both easy on the eyes and tush is our number one priority. What was your first impression of the chair? Does the design fit a clear aesthetic?Is it meant to be ergonomic? How do the materials perform? How did you feel after a full work day and week? Our reviews were crafted to give insight on why a chair could be the right chair for your 40-hour work week. We also wrote about any ingenious details that show how thoughtful the designer was as well as why the piece was just what our tester was looking for.

What to keep in mind: Nobody’s perfect and beauty can be in the eye of the beholder—which is why each chair also has a section detailing what a potential buyer should keep in mind. For example—if assembly was particularly difficult, if the chair has special care instructions, and who the design might not be suited for. We aim to keep tabs on any surprises that might arise so you don’t have to.

Have questions about the best office chair for you? We talked to TikTok’s favorite neurosurgeon, Betsy Grunch, MD, FAANS, FACS and Gainesville Physical Therapy’s Kristy Basinger PT, CHT to get answers on how to source the best chair for you.

What are some of the health risks associated with using a bad desk chair?

Betsy Grunch, MD, FAANS, FACS; Kristy Basinger PT, CHT: A proper fitting desk chair is one of the cornerstones of postural health. People that sit for long hours in a poorly adjusted chair will experience neck, back, shoulder and hip pain. This can trigger headaches, lack of concentration and compression of the discs in the spine. Low back pain is one of the main reasons for missed days at work so it’s essential to choose a chair that supports the spine. (It’s also not a bad idea to support your overall health and quality rest with a good mattress for back pain.)

If you've been sitting on a bad chair or you feel like you’ve damaged your spinal alignment is there anything you can do to fix it?

BG & KB: You can start by frequently checking and changing your posture in your chair.

What exactly does it mean for a chair to be “ergonomic” and why is it important?

BG & KB: A chair that is coined “ergonomic” should offer firmness that is supportive yet comfortable. It should have multiple components that adjust all aspects of the chair. Adjustments are important because we all have different body types and heights. Utilizing the adjustable components will help to ensure that your spine is in a healthy position to reduce the risk of neck and back strain. But remember—no matter how good your chair is, you need to stand up frequently throughout the day.

What are the most supportive materials when it comes to the optimal desk chair?

BG & KB: Your back rest should be made from breathable material such as mesh. This allows for better circulation of air, decreased perspiration and greater comfort. The seat should have adequate padding that consists of dense foam that provides support with enough comfort.

What is the correct height for a desk chair?

BG & KB: The average height of an office chair ranges from 17”-19” from the ground. Since we are all different heights (and desk height will also play a role in your ideal chair level), adjustments can be made to make sure your feet are planted on the ground and your hips are at a 90 degree angle. Forearms should also be parallel to the ground.

How high should the backrest of your office chair be?

BG & KB:Midback chair should be about 26”: It should provide good lumbar and thoracic support. They're ideal for short to medium length sitting times.High back chair should be about 33-36”: The high back chair also supports the neck and head. It should be used for people that spend long periods of time sitting without taking a break. Thehigh back allows for reclining from time to time.