Best Office Chair for Back Pain in 2023: our top 4 picks
Looking for the best office chair for back pain? Well, we’ve got you covered. Keep on reading to discover our top 4 picks to help you alleviate your back pain.
Comfort is paramount when you’re sitting for long periods of time, whether that’s for work or for a hardcore gaming session. Of course, anyone that struggles with back pain knows that getting comfortable isn’t always that easy, sometimes you need a little bit of extra support.
Now you’re looking for an office chair, you may be wondering if you can get one that can help to alleviate your back pain. Thankfully, we’re kind of experts in getting the best cozy chairs here at PC Guide (after all, who wouldn’t be an expert on comfortable chairs after all of those hours gaming?) so you don’t need to worry about an achy back in the office anymore. Read on for our picks on the best office chairs for back pain.
Products at a Glance
How We Picked The Best Office Chair for Back Pain
Choosing the best office chair for back pain isn’t always easy – there are so many different things that you need to think of. We know what we’re looking for, though!
In making this guide, we carefully considered all of the key things that you need in an office chair – ergonomic support, comfort, and durability. We’ve also thought about how much it will cost to buy the chair, and thought about more practical aspects such as size and materials.
We’ve taken extra care to include products for each and every budget and need, as what may work for one person may not work for another. Each product here is sure to stand the test of time too, so you won’t need to worry about replacing your office chair in a few months’ time either. Thanks to this comprehensive consideration, you can be sure that you can get some ideas about the best office chair for you just by reading our guide.
If you are looking for gaming chair recommendations, then check out our Best Gaming Chair guide. As well as, our Best Gaming Chairs Under $200 article.
Product Reviews
- Well constructed
- Mesh backrest for fantastic breathability
- Can be completely adjusted
- Comfortable ergonomics
- Affordable
- The armrests won’t lock into place
Ding ding ding, we have a winner! Our favorite office chair for back pain by far is the Ergohuman High Back Swivel Chair. This chair is one of the best options out there if you’re looking for optimal comfort in the office (or elsewhere, for that matter!). Now, we know what you’re thinking – but PC Guide, surely such an incredible office chair may cost the rest of my life’s savings? Well, you’ll be pleased to know that you won’t need to sell your kidney for this. Affordability is the name of the game here.
So why should you buy this delightful specimen? Let’s start off with the build quality and the design. This chair is made with an unparalleled construction – it’s sturdy and made out of the best materials. Durability is not the only selling point though. This chair looks stunning, with a modern look that will fit into any home or office environment.
As if that wasn’t enough, you’ll also be happy to know that this chair will provide you with a great deal of adjustability options, so you’re sure to make this chair work perfectly for your individual needs. You can adjust the headrest, backrest, the depth of the seat, the height of the seat, and armrests (though there are limitations to the adjustment of the armrests, as they won’t lock in place when they swivel).
In terms of comfort, you are also in luck. This chair features a breathable mesh backrest which means that it has great airflow, perfect for those hotter days in the office. Perhaps the only real issue is what we mentioned above – the armrests won’t lock into place. Yes, this is irritating, but in the grand scheme of things, it’s a very minor complaint. As a whole, we’re big fans of this mesh chair.
- Durability
- Easy to use
- Affordable
- Ergonomic design
- Comfortable
- It is not very suitable for taller users
It’s often rather difficult to find a high-quality office chair for back pain for an affordable price that will last for a long time. If you find yourself worrying about how long your trusty chair will be able to serve you, then you really need to invest in a durable option.
Durability comes in abundance with the Eurotech Vera office chair. This ergonomic office chair will give you the whole package – comfort, support, and even a warranty for good measure. That doesn’t even scratch the surface, however.
When you first take the Eurotech Vera out of the box, you will be pleased to know that assembly is simple. This chair actually comes ready to assemble, and takes roughly ten minutes to put together in total.
There aren’t any components that are overly tricky to put together, and the only reason that you may have a problem is if you’ve never really tried to put together office furniture before.
The chair looks pretty good too, with a modern design that will fit in with any location. While it is affordable, it doesn’t look cheap at all.
The chair features a number of different adjustments, including seat height, adjustable armrests, and seat depth. You can change these things fairly easily too as you can reach the controls with ease. You can control the tilt tension as you see fit too, and the chair will lock into position if you want it to. For those environmentally conscious, you will also be happy with the GREENGUARD certification. This means that it doesn’t have any toxic emissions, so you can save the planet just by sitting in your chair. How cool is that?
We do have one small problem, however. This isn’t the best choice for people that are very tall as you can’t adjust the arm and seat height quite enough for tall people.
- Durable
- High quality design
- Easy assembly process
- 15 year warranty
- Expensive
For optimal comfort, look no further than the Humanscale Freedom office chair. This chair is perfect if you need to sit for long periods of time thanks to the comfortable cushioning fabric and well-built design. It has an incredibly long warranty of 15 years too, so you can be sure that this is a chair that will stand the test of time.
The chair has a graphite frame that’s fairly lightweight as far as office chairs go. It has great wheels that will allow you to slide around the floor with ease. Ideal for a five-minute desk chair race with your coworkers! It features a flexible backrest that will automatically conform to your body and your posture, which is pretty handy.
Of course, the chair is very comfortable, especially for long hours. It stays in good shape for a long time and has a high-end design that you’re sure to enjoy. The chair also comes almost entirely assembled, so you don’t need to do much to put it together.
The issue with this chair is that it can be rather expensive, especially if you opt for a leather version. It’s a great chair but there are certainly options out there that are equally as good for half the price.
- Durable
- Comfortable
- Lots of adjustability options
- Very expensive
If you have a little more money to play with when it comes to buying your perfect office chair for back support, and nothing but the best will do for you, look no further than the Steelcase Leap V2. This is one impressive office chair, with a range of customization options and an oh so comfortable seat. Let’s dive into the review.
So, let’s talk about design. This chair has a plastic frame and outer shell, but you can actually choose from a few fabric options. Perhaps the coolest thing about this chair though is the lumbar adjustment. To change the lumbar support, you simply need to move the lever on the side of the back of the chair and you can change it to your liking. Not only that, but the chair features a sleek design too that will look good regardless of the environment.
For people that struggle with back pain, this chair is just a dream. In addition to the adjustable lumbar support we mentioned previously, the chair also has something called ‘LiveBack’ technology. This means that the chair responds to your back and spine shape to allow you to sit in the position that’s best for your body – helping you achieve good posture.
From the fabric, you can expect optimal breathability and performance. Your thighs can also be comfortable as you are sitting thanks to the ‘passive seat edge’ – more commonly known as a waterfall edge. You can also make a range of alterations thanks to the adjustable headrest and adjustable seat height. It also comes with a decent warranty for good measure.
Naturally, the biggest downside of this chair is the sheer cost, but as you can see it is worth the cost to get such great quality. If you are on more of a budget though, some of our other picks will also be great for you.
Features and Considerations
Lumbar Support
If you’re struggling with back pain, then we highly suggest getting an office chair that has lumbar support. This is a good choice if you struggle specifically with your lower back as chairs with lumbar support will usually have a backrest that’s S shaped.
It mimics the shape of your back and it allows you to sit in an ergonomic position for your body. It supports proper posture while you are sitting at your desk, which can also help to prevent back issues in the future.
Quality
Sure, it’s great to save money, but at what cost? You’re going to be sitting in your office chair potentially for many hours each day, so it’s vital that it’s made out of high quality materials in order to support you as you go about your daily tasks.
Cheaper chairs often just don’t cut it in terms of comfort because they’re made out of lower quality materials to save costs. Buy a chair that will instead deal well with wear and tear, while still keeping you comfortable the whole time that you are sitting. It’s also a good idea to look for a chair that’s made out of breathable materials, such as a mesh office chair, so you don’t get overheated on particularly hot days.
Adjustability
The other thing that you need to consider is how much you can adjust the chair. Let’s be real – not everyone’s the same. Some of us have different shaped spines, or some of us may be taller or shorter than those around us. As a result of that, it often means that an office chair can’t just be a one size fits all scenario.
You need something that will fit you as an individual. This means that you should look for things like height adjustment, armrest adjustment, and more. If your chair offers more adjustment possibilities then it means that you can get it to better suit your body and needs.
Wheels & Portability
It’s worth your time to invest in a chair with a good set of wheels. Sure you aren’t going to be doing the office chair equivalent of Formula 1, but you may need to move your chair around from one place to the next. This is especially true if you’re working from home or you need to reach something that’s quite some distance away from you.
Now, finding an office chair that has a wheelbase isn’t a difficult task, but you need to be careful. Consider whether your home or office features carpet, as some wheels just aren’t going to work with that material.
Wheels are also very important for portability too. They help you to move your chair around the house or office more easily. But this isn’t the only thing that contributes to portability – size is important too. You may not worry too much about size if you have a dedicated home office or if your office in work is pretty big, but if you’re currently using a makeshift desk while working from home that you need to pack away regularly, having a smaller chair is beneficial.
If your chair is smaller then it can be packed away more easily. Larger chairs are also helpful in some situations though, such as if you have a larger frame and you have enough space in your home to accommodate it.
Our Verdict
So that’s our round-up of some top-quality desk chairs for back pain! Hopefully, with the help of our guide, you’ve now found a good office chair to help you eliminate lower back pain. So you can work or game in total comfort. With so many options to choose from, say goodbye to discomfort once and for all.
There are a lot of things to think about when it comes to buying the best office chair for back pain though, so hopefully you don’t need to do as much guesswork now!