Does a Stylish Office Chair Make for a More Productive Work Day? We Have Thoughts

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If you're working from home—even if it's just a few times a week—don't skimp on seating. Instead, opt for one of the best office chairs on the market. Here's why: When you're working from home, you're likely sitting for hours on end—which, according to Yale Health, can negatively impact your health. Your posture is paramount, and a good chair can do wonders for your spine.

So we went ahead and chose 13 office chairs that prioritize comfort for long periods of time, which is why most of our picks are adjustable in more ways than one. We even included one of the design industry's most celebrated options, Herman Miller’s Aeron ergonomic office chair, which is made with the brand's patented technology that improves posture and blood flow. Because it's so beloved, it comes with a hefty price tag, so if you're looking to save, rest assured we have included plenty of affordable finds below too.

Price and design aside, these chairs earned a spot on our list because of the numerous five-star reviews (plenty of which are backed by detailed comments). So go ahead and upgrade your home office and give your back the break it deserves. Trust us, after a few weeks in these sublime seats, you'll grow to actually enjoy Mondays. Don't believe us? Snag one of the best office chairs and see for yourself.

Diffrient World Office Desk Chair

From the seat depth to the height, pretty much every aspect of this office chair is adjustable, so even though it may look a bit basic, it's customizable to your exact comfort levels. In other words, you'll actually be pretty cozy during even the longest workdays. If you're a bit hesitant about adding it to your cart because of the steep price, this reviewer may sway you:"Let me preface by saying that I normally would not spend this type of money on an office chair...or on anything for that matter, LOL! BUT, I have no regrets," one reviewer says. "This chair is perfect in every way. I suffer from chronic back pain and the support is amazing!"

Dimensions: 24"D x 26"W x 36"H

Adjustable: Yes

Material: Mesh

Mesh Task Office Chair

If you want to keep it simple with a basic, armless task chair, this pick from Wayfair Basics is a great option. It comes in multiple colors, including this punchy blue tone. Full disclosure, at just over $100, you won't get the bells and whistles that a more luxurious chair comes with. So if you plan on sitting at your desk for hours on end, this may not be the chair for you (after all, there are no arms), but if you can get up every now and then, this charming option works well.

Dimensions: 25.5"D x 23.5"W x 37.5"H

Adjustable: Yes

Material: Polyester

Aeron Posture Fit Chair

Though Herman Miller has produced quite a few iconic pieces, including the Eames lounge chair, the brand is most famous for its office chairs—namely, the Aeron. Though it may not look it, the Aeron is designed hyper specifically to create the perfect sitting position: chest open, shoulders back, and pelvis tilted slightly forward, courtesy of Herman Miller's patented PostureFit SL back support. "My knees and back were killing me from my previous office chair and I don't think I fully realized just how much of my pain stemmed from it until after just one night in this chair! Very satisfied with the Aeron," a reviewer says.

Dimensions: 16.75"D x 27"W x 41"H

Adjustable: Yes

Material: Mesh

Cooper Midcentury Office Chair

Most office chairs don't come with a high back, so when we happened upon this West Elm find, we had to include it on our list. What's more, it's completely customizable with more than 40 fabric options on offer. The only downside, of course, is that customizing your office chair can take up to six weeks, so if you're in a hurry, you may want to opt for one of the in-stock options.

Dimensions: 29"D x 23.5"W x 41.75"H

Adjustable: Yes

Material: Custom

Gesture Office Chair

Here's a chair designed to give you 24/7 comfort and support—though we wouldn't recommend sitting (or working) 24 hours a day. It's also ergonomic in pretty much every way: There's adjustable seat depth, fully adjustable arms, pneumatic seat height adjustment, recline tension adjustment, and four position recline locks. "I've had back pain sitting at my desk for a long time. I never thought my old chair was contributing so much to that pain. It was!" a reviewer admits. "This new chair, called the Gesture, is nothing short of amazing. I am now able to work at my desk WITHOUT PAIN."

Dimensions: 32.5"D x 27.5"W x 21.25"H

Adjustable: Yes

Material: Polyester

High Back Swivel Executive Chair With Wheels

A sleek executive chair is always a good idea, and this option is no exception. If you want to go the more glamorous route, opt for white paired with the yellow or rose gold-toned frame. And if the idea of a white seat freaks you out, go with the cognac or black options. In terms of comfort, there's a tilt lock, so you can set it to the perfect recline that will improve your posture—no matter how long you'll be seated for.

Dimensions: 27"D x 26"W x 43"H

Adjustable: Yes

Material: Faux leather

Faux Leather Swivel Office Chair

With a supportive memory foam seat and a matching back cushion, this swivel chair is as comfortable as it is stylish. In terms of adjustability, there's a useful pneumatic gas-lift that allows you to customize the height, and a tension and lockout feature for extra back support. One reviewer says, "The first thing I noticed was how well it was packaged. Every piece wrapped separately -- tells me the manufacturer takes pride in his products. Very comfortable."

Dimensions: 26.5"D x 24.75"W x 43"H

Adjustable: Yes

Material: Faux leather

Crete Task Chair

This Etta Avenue seat has sold out in two of the four color options, so if you are in need of a stylish office chair, don't miss your chance to snag one of the most popular ones on our list. Luckily, the green hue is still on offer, but not for long—especially because it's more than $150 off. One reviewer adds, "This chair is nice and wide so if you need a little more room this is the one. The velvet fabric is plush and soft and the gold accent makes it a little different and ups the class quotient."

Dimensions: 27.6" D x 26" W x 35.6"H

Adjustable: Yes

Material: Velvet

Paige Acrylic Desk Chair

Clear acrylic furniture is like the secret style weapon in small spaces because, well, you can see right through them, which gives the illusion of more space. The Paige also comes in a silver finish, so if the rest of the hardware in your home office is cool-toned, you have a good alternative to the gold. It may be on Pottery Barn Teen's site, but there's nothing juvenile about it.

Dimensions: 22"D x 20.5"W x 34.5"H

Adjustable: Yes

Material: Acrylic

Greta Karat Home Inc Task Chair

This chair comes in a whopping 14 colors (four of which have sold out), so if you are in the market for something that will pop a bit more than a neutral alternative, this is worth considering. Color aside, it's subtly chic in all the right ways, including the bolts along the bottom edge and the gently curved back. One reviewer adds, "I absolutely love my chair! It compliments my desk that I also purchased from Wayfair."

Dimensions: 24.5"D x 24.5"W x 36"H

Adjustable: Yes

Material: Velvet

Bradford Upholstered Task Chair

Ideal for tight spaces, this office chair has earned nearly 1,000 rave reviews that comment on everything from comfort to assembly. In fact, one person says, "Great addition to my office corner in my sun room. It matches my desk and the curve of seat and back compliments my wicker furniture. Super easy to assemble." Available in brown, black, and gray, this sturdy swivel chair features a faux leather seat and a manufactured wood shell, two elements that are inspired by classic midcentury design.

Dimensions: 20.28"D x 20.28"W x 31.1"H

Adjustable: Yes

Material: Faux leather

Roan Wood Office Chair

Make your office setup a bit more chic with this honey-hued white oak chair. If the design looks familiar, that's probably because it's inspired by Art Deco furniture. That said, because it's made in the 21st century, it's much more comfortable, courtesy of the foam seat, back, and arm cushions.

Dimensions: 24"D x 24.75"W x 33.5"H

Adjustable: Yes

Material: Wood and polyester

Dirk High Back Swivel Office Chair

Personally, we love an earthy toned neutral, so you can imagine how much we appreciate this Rejuvenation chair, which comes in five colors, all of which are super-soft leather. No matter which finish you choose, your Dirk will come with a continuous seat and back, adjustable height, and a tilt mechanism with five locking positions. Did we mention white glove delivery is included?

Dimensions: 25.6"D x 26.4"W x 45"H

Adjustable: Yes

Material: Leather

What is the best chair for sitting long hours?

Though lounge chairs may be the most comfortable, they're not exactly ideal for long days because, after a few hours, your back will start to feel sore. Enter office chairs, which are designed in such a way to keep your posture straight without sacrificing comfort. We recommend opting for an ergonomic find, which is basically designed to support the body.

Are ergonomic chairs better than office chairs?

Oftentimes, ergonomic chairs are office chairs. They're designed to maintain good posture, and typically include adjustable features that allow you to customize it to your specific comfort needs. Of course, plenty of office chairs look more like lounge or dining chairs and don't offer the ergonomic benefits of a more traditional office chair. If you are prone to back and joint pain, you may want to opt for an ergonomic office chair with adjustable elements.

Why trust us?

Like plenty of people with office jobs, the House Beautiful shopping editors spent plenty of time working from home in the early days of the pandemic, so we hunted around for the best office chairs on the market. Luckily, most of our top picks from 2020 are still available for purchase.

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