There’s no question that COVID-19 upended how many, many people work. While we thought this change was likely to be temporary, it isn’t looking that way any more. Many offices have gone remote permanently, and people who previously spent their scant work-from-home days at the kitchen table are looking for a more permanent solution.

I was one of those people not too long ago. I used to work from the CNET Smart Home — an actual house where we test smart speakers, security cameras and other products — typing from any surface that would allow me to set up my laptop and get to work. When it became apparent that working from home was going to be for the long haul, I started to hunt for the best office chair for my home workspace.

It’s been a process. Over the past year, I have tested out 10 office chairs, ranging in price from $32 to $1,495. I took this process very seriously, knowing that I was also in the market for the best possible desk chair.

To make sure I kept important health and wellness factors in mind, I also spoke with an ergonomics expert for general tips on how to improve work setups, whether that’s at home or in a more traditional office setting. Seat height, backrest, adjustable height, adjustable lumbar support, tilt tension, headrest, seat pan, seat depth, seat cushion and adjustable arm features all factor into getting the most from your computer chair.

For the purposes of this list, I only tested traditional office chairs, so if you’re looking for something like a gaming chair or drafting chair, or something more out there, like a kneeling chair, this might not be the right place for you. Also, if you’re looking to forgo a chair entirely, we do have insights into the best standing desk.

Note that product pricing tends to vary on third-party sites, so the prices I quote as of writing this may change slightly over time. I’ll do my best to update the list often to reflect the most accurate prices at the time of publishing.

An awesome chair alone isn’t enough

Ergonomics is the “science of work,” explains Gary Allread, the program director for the ergonomics division at Ohio State University’s Spine Research Institute. That definition doesn’t just apply to our jobs, though; ergonomic principles can be used for pretty much any activity (that means an ergonomic chair isn’t going to immediately fix your lower back pain). Allread and his team offer consultation services for a variety of workplaces, from manufacturing plants to the auto industry and more. They even occasionally provide input on product design to help companies better understand how to create products “to make sure they can interact with people as well as possible,” Allread says.

A less-than-ideal work setup might cause pain in your back, arms, hands or wrists. You might also find yourself fidgeting, making more mistakes or taking more breaks — all because you’re uncomfortable — says Allread. Long-term, you might end up with tendonitis or carpal tunnel syndrome.

Allread makes two main suggestions anyone can try to improve how they work:

Sit with your back against your chair. (“You want the chair to do the work and not your back,” he explains.)Support your feet. Either plant your feet on the floor or, if they don’t reach, use a box or other foot rest to support your feet.

If your chair lacks lumbar support, Allread adds, you can roll up a towel, secure it with tape or rubber bands and place it at your lower back as a lumbar cushion to “keep the back in its natural curve.” Allread also notes that companies are beginning to introduce different chair sizes that support a wider range of body sizes, which is an important consideration if you’re shopping for a new ergonomic office chair and looking for the best seat height and seat depth for your needs.

“One mistake people make, is they say, ‘Well if I get a great chair, then I’m not going to be sore anymore,’ and that’s not really looking at the big picture of what it takes to keep people comfortable and productive at their jobs,” explains Allread. There are a lot of factors and a new chair is just one of many things that can make your work environment more comfortable.

So, let’s keep that all in mind as we weigh our options for the best office chair. I have a handful of good comfortable chair options here, including a leather chair, a mesh chair and more — and I’ll update the list periodically.

The best office chairs

Testing office chairs

Here’s a complete list of the office chairs I tested:

AmazonBasic Leather-Padded Swivel Office Chair BestOffice Mid-Back Ergonomic Desk Chair
Hbada Office Task Desk Chair Herman Miller Aeron ChairHodedah Armless Task Chair HON Exposure Mesh Task Computer Chair Humanscale Freedom Chair OFM Essentials Collection Executive Office Chair Serta Smart AIR Arlington Chair Steelcase Gesture Chair

How did I pick my favorites? First, I assembled each chair and noted any issues with the process, with the exception of the Herman Miller Aeron Chair and the Steelcase Gesture Chair, since they arrived fully assembled (bonus points for that). Then, I spent one work day, or about eight hours, sitting in each chair, noting the level of comfort, adjustability (such as adjustable height, adjustable backrest or adjustable arm features) and any issues I had. I also asked my husband to try out each chair. For reference, I’m 5 foot 7 inches, he’s 6 foot 2 and we’re both average weight.

What might work for me or for him may not work for you, but I kept in mind all of the tips Gary Allread from the Spine Research Institute had mentioned as I sat and asked Kevin to do the same:

Was the chair designed so I could rest comfortably against the back of the chair?Did my feet touch the floor with my back against the back of the chair? Did I find myself fidgeting or standing up a lot? Did I experience any pain or discomfort while using a particular chair?

I had to immediately cut the Hodedah Armless Task Chair from the running, after noticing a label inside the box that read “NOT FOR ADULT USE.” Apparently this chair, which regularly appears on lists of adult office chairs, has a 100-pound weight limit. I wasn’t alone, either — a number of customers have written reviews online expressing frustration that this chair (which at first appears to be marketed to adults, on Home Depot’s website if not Amazon) broke while they were using it. If you are an adult under 100 pounds, this chair could potentially work for you, but its limited features, including no armrest, completely ruled it out for me regardless.

So we were down to nine chairs. Despite looking pretty nice and cushioned, we both found the OFM Essentials Collection Executive Office Chair a little stiff and uncomfortable. It also lacks lumbar support. The HON Exposure Mesh Task Computer Chair also lacks lumbar support and leans back too far for both of us, making it uncomfortable to sit with our backs against the backrest as Allread suggests. The BestOffice Mid-Back Ergonomic Desk Chair leans back too far as well, although it did have a bit more lumbar support than the HON Exposure chair.

The Humanscale Freedom Chair arrived mostly assembled; I just had to connect the top half and the wheelbase. Despite the simplicity of putting this Humanscale chair together, I struggled to adjust this chair without consulting the instructions. Even after figuring it out, my husband and I both found the backrest and headrest oddly proportioned and extremely uncomfortable on our backs and necks. The Steelcase Gesture Chair is highly adjustable and feels sturdy. But even with the Steelcase chair’s many customizable controls, including a seat depth adjuster set to maximum depth, the seat was much too short and angled downward, making me feel like I could slide out of the chair.

The other four chairs I included in the best office chair list above kept us comfortable all day and offered degrees of adjustability that set them apart from the pack.