Last updated: March 17th, 2026
Where should the lumbar support be on office chairs? Is lumbar support even that important? Yes, and yes, but there’s a lot more to it.
Sitting for 8 hours per day in an office chair with subpar lumbar support (for example, the Ikea Markus office chair) can trigger back issues you didn’t know you had. You can solve a the issue by:
- Buying a top ergonomic office chair.
- Ensuring its lumbar support fits the natural curve of your lower back.
Today I’ll explain how to find a chair with great lumbar support, why you need it, how to adjust it for optimal workplace ergonomics, and how to ensure it feels comfortable on your back.
(Related: Secretlab Titan Evo NanoGen Chair Full Review).
Where Should The Lumbar Support Be?
Above: the lumbar region is shaded in red. It’s the part of your back that curves towards your belly button.
Sit in a chair and feel behind you. Do you feel the gap? It should be around and slightly above your waist. Congrats—you’ve found the lumbar area of your spine!
Generally, the top of the lumbar support should align with the curve of your spine, while the bottom should reach 5 to 7 cm below your waistline.
Important!
Check the height and angle of your office chair’s seat pan, so that your hips remain above your knees.
- A lumbar depth of between 1.5cm to 5cm works well for most people.
- People with a higher BMI (Body Mass Index) generally benefit from taller lumbar support that targets higher up the back.
- Women benefit from more pronounced lumbar support due to the increased curvature in their lower back.
Why Your Lumbar Support Position Matters.
Most office chairs have lumbar support, but only premium ergonomic office chairs allow you to adjust their height and tension (firmness).
You’ll encounter problems if your lumbar support is too low, or too high. It needs to be just right (obviously, Goldilocks was onto something):
- If your lumbar support is too low, your upper back can slouch forward, possibly leading to biomechanical issues. Low lumbar support arches your upper body, stretching and tensing in a way that can lead to back and neck pain.
- If your lumbar support is too high, you may experience excessive pressure in the upper area of your back while your lumbar area spills out in the wrong direction. This is uncomfortable and non-ergonomic, as it forces you to sit unnaturally.
Types Of Lumbar Support.
Several types of lumbar support are available in office chairs, with variations in comfort levels, design, and materials. Here are the four main types of lumbar support, along with their pros and cons.
Fixed lumbar support is fixed into the backrest and cannot be repositioned or modified. This support is generally found in budget chairs or traditional-style leather office chairs.
This is a good compromise if you only sit for 3-4 hours per day and don’t want to spend upwards of $500 on an office chair.
Expert Tip.
The “one-size-fits-all” approach to lumbar support isn’t ideal for people with sensitive backs. If you experience lower back discomfort when sitting, you may need an office chair that can help relieve it.
Pros:
- Cost-effective.
- Doesn’t require fiddling.
- No mechanical parts that can break.
Cons:
- Not ideal for people with sensitive backs.
- About 20% of users will find it uncomfortable.
2. Adjustable Lumbar Support.
Adjustable lumbar support can tailor the shape of your office chair’s backrest to your body shape. An office chair with a fully adjustable lumbar support should have the following features:
- Adjustable Height. Gives you the ability to target the right location on the vertical axis of your back.
- Adjustable Depth. Allows you to control how much the lumbar support juts outwards or inwards. Essential to ensure that the chair fits the curvature of your back.
- Adjustable Tension. Usually found in more expensive ergonomic chairs, it is a knob or a lever that adjusts the amount of resistance you feel back from the chair. The higher tension, the more pressure your back will need to exert before the mechanism “caves in”.
Pros:
- Offers the most targeted support.
- Offers the highest level of comfort.
Cons:
- Expensive.
- Requires fiddling to get it right.
3. Dynamic Lumbar Support.
Dynamic lumbar chair support is typically found on high-end ergonomic office chairs (e.g., the Humanscale Freedom and Herman Miller Cosm), meeting room chairs and chairs designed for hot-desking environments.
It automatically adjusts depth and firmness in response to the pressure the user’s back exerts on the chair.
Pros:
- Prevents “chair adjustment” time suck before every meeting.
- Feels like the chair reads your mind and adjusts accordingly.
Cons:
- The most expensive option.
- Doesn’t always feel 100%.
4. External Lumbar Support.
External lumbar support is an attachment you can add to a chair without built-in lumbar support. The most common external lumbar support is a pillow.
- Some people use a rolled towel, but this method is far from ideal.
Pros:
- Portable and easy to swap from chair to chair.
- Low cost.
- Can be replaced if it degrades over time.
Cons:
- Compromises aesthetics.
- It may not work with all office chairs.
Why Is Lumbar Support Important?
Lumbar support improves your posture by helping you sit upright, ergonomically soundly.
If you tend to walk with hunched shoulders, an office chair with lumbar support can train you to stay more upright – even when you’re not in the office.
Why Do I Find Chairs With Lumbar Support So Uncomfortable?
Below are the three most common causes, and tips for ensuring that your chair feels snug, secure and pleasant.
- Improperly Adjusted Tension. The most common reason for discomfort is excessive pressure caused by a poorly adjusted tension lock. Remedy by twisting the tension lock to the minimum and incrementally notch it up in 20-minute intervals until it feels like “too much” – then back off by one notch.
- Improperly Adjusted Width. Some high-end office chairs, like the Aeron Remastered, feature lumbar support with adjustable wingtips that can add or decrease the pressure you feel at the sides of your back. Tweak these settings to see if you can find relief.
- You’re Not Moving Enough. Even with the best lumbar support, if you’re sitting for hours without moving, your back will likely become a little sore. Ensure you’re getting up and moving about throughout the day (buying a standing desk helps).
What Should You Look For In A Good Office Chair?
We’ve discussed the importance of good lumbar support in your office chair, but without other ergonomic features, it won’t matter how good your chair’s lumbar support is. Here are some of the key features of a supportive office chair.
| Adjustable lumbar support | Most non-adjustable ergonomic chairs are built with an “average” person in mind, which will not be the ideal chair for everyone. |
| Backrest with adjustable tilt and tension lock | Studies show the best two angles for sitting in a chair for long periods are 90 degrees (upright) and 135 degrees reclined. An adjustable backrest allows you to select the right one, and lock it in that position. |
| Neck rest | Neck support gives your neck a place to rest while anchoring the rest of your posture and stopping you from slouching and craning your neck. |
| Adjustable arm height | If your arms are too high, you will raise your shoulders to compensate. Adjustable armrests support your arms in the right spot, allowing your forearms to stay horizontal and your shoulders relaxed. |
Final Words About Where The Lumbar Support Should Be.
Now that you know where the lumbar support should be on your office chair, there’s no excuse not to buy an ergonomic chair that offers perfect lumbar support.
While good lumbar support on your office chair won’t cure all of your office problems, it can make a huge difference to your overall comfort.
Steven
Cody says:
Hi,
Do you know 9am HOME standing desks?
I want to know how about their desk.
Steven McConnell says:
Hi Cody, I’ve never seen them before but I took a quick look for you and I’m 90% certain it’s another Jiecang desk. You can tell by the design of the feet and the lowest height (60cm). Desky, Omnidesk, Stand Desk are all pretty much the same.
Cody says:
Which one do you mean? Pesk or Robin series? I am interested in their Robin series, it looks unique and beautiful. I can’t find anyone like it in Desky.
Steven McConnell says:
I was talking about the Pesk Series. Robin series does look attractive and unusual, but I’m usually not a fan of tubular legs as they tend to be more prone to wobble. I can’t say whether this is the case in this instance, as I haven’t physically tested the desk myself. The 10 year warranty is reassuring, however. I wish they offered a risk-free trial to let you test out the legs!
Cody says:
Thank you very much, Steven; I will take your comments into consideration.
Erin says:
Do you know much about Kangadesks? There are Australian as well.
Steven McConnell says:
Hi Erin, its another Jiecang standing desk. Same as Desky, Omni, Stand Desk etc. The design of the feet and 60-125cm height range gives it away. The desk appears to currently be currently on sale for $299, which is an absolute steal and I’m wondering why they’re selling their stock at 1/3 of RRP. Regardless, even if they’re about to go bust, I’d still buy one at that price.
EDIT: Be careful. Fakespot showed these warnings while browsing their website: “Multiple eCommerce scam experiences detected, Poor customer service”
Suzy says:
Hi – given all the desks are so similar, is it possible to mix a desk from one brand with a drawer accessory from another? I don’t like the UpDown desk metal drawer (hangs very low so likely to impede leg space) but don’t mind the Desky one – can these be mixed and matched?
Thank you for the reviews! Super helpful.
Steven McConnell says:
Yes, it’s possible to play switcheroo. But you may want to consider that UpDown design is curved, so it will hurt less if you do jam your thighs into it. Desky’s meanwhile, is quite angular. Pro tip: you can also find a bunch of inexpensive slimline desk drawers on Amazon.
jason says:
I’ve spent far, far too much time agonising over which desk to get haha, definitely more than a week. Very happy that you’ve added the omni-desk to your catalogue. That was the one I was considering the most untill you came you with a review saying that it was more wobbly!
Anyways, do you have an opinion on the new updown desk KLIK Series? Its advertises to be significanlty ligher while having better (on paper) specs
Thanks!
Evelyn says:
Hi Steven, great blog post – thank you! I’m also wondering whether you have any opinion or insights on the new UpDown Desk KLIK series…they come at $100 more expensive (for the same size/table top) but seem to be ‘better’ according to the UpDown website.
Cheers!
Steven McConnell says:
Hi Evelyn, thanks! I will have a full review of the KLIK up around February 2025. It’s not necessarily a better standing desk – but it is lighter, less bulky and promises easier assembly.
Ben Clements says:
Hi. I’m interested to know more about whether I actually could fit the Desky cable management system in the Omnidesk? I’ve had a look at the omnidesks in person at the showroom and it looks like their cable management trays screw on (vs the clip in at the edges of the desk with the Desky tray). The desky system also has the power plugs that snap into place in the tray.
So I’m curious to know if you have you tried it, and if so how did you do it please? Or is your thinking that you’d just buy the power boards and plugs from Desky and rest them in the Omnidesk tray?
I’m stuck, because I prefer the Omnidesks but I really love the idea of a single power lead!
Thanks
Steven McConnell says:
I just had a new Omnidesk delivered to my house. Give me about two weeks to assemble it, test it out and report back.
Sunni says:
Thanks for your very helpful (and funny) review. I used the information to to buy a Desky standing desk in record time – no consumer agonising for weeks, as is my usual practice. It has a pneumatic up/down mechanism, so lets see how that goes.
Steven McConnell says:
Ha! You’re welcome, Sunni. Glad I helped you cut down on the agonising. The pneumatic mechanism is an interest choice – let me know what you think of it?
Amber says:
Hi Steven,
Really great and insightful review. It was refreshing to see something that wasn’t filled with ChatGPT affiliate link garbage!
I’m curious about your opinion on L-shaped standing desks? I know that Desky, UpDown and a few other retailers offer these types of desks and I would assume they are more strong and stable, but I’m not an expert and I can also imagine the opposite being true due to the irregular shape. I’ve been looking at these types of desks because I think their shape suits my space the best. Do you have any knowledge on this or do you only have experience with regular rectangular shaped desks?
Steven McConnell says:
Thanks, Amber. Did you know that I have a L-shaped standing desk review? Search for “arielle best corner standing desks” and you’ll find it.
Melissa says:
Hi Steven great article thank you!
I’ve spent way to much time on this, and I’m now leaning towards the Artiss thanks to your review.
I’m wondering if you have any insight into ergonomic chairs for the home office also?
Steven McConnell says:
Hi Melissa, thanks! The Artiss is a great budget pick. I’ve written numerous ergonomic chair reviews – Google “arielle best ergonomic office chairs” to find them 🙂
tania says:
hey are there any other manual desks apart from the ikea ones you don’t recommend, that you would recommend? I prefer the idea of not needing electricity to move between stand up and sit down but maybe that doesn’t really exist?
Steven McConnell says:
Hey Tania, all of the premium brands (UpDown, Desky, etc) offer a manual crank model. Definitely the way to go if you want to avoid electronics. But TBH I suggest you reconsider. Electronics are very reliable these days – and hand-cranking your standing desk is more annoying than you’d expect.
Adam says:
Hi, do you know much about the UpDown Klik vs Pro system?
Steven McConnell says:
The company has shipped their new Klik standing desk to me yesterday. Stay tuned!
Scott Long says:
You mention in your review of the Up Down Pro that you would get the cable holes and grommets done, but it looks like your (very pretty) Messmate desk doesn’t have them. Is your recommendation a hindsight reflection, or did you choose not to spoil the look of the desk with the grommets? Without the grommets can you can still run the cables behind the desk and into the cable management tray? Cheers!
Steven McConnell says:
Scott, I said in the review that grommets and holes are a great idea, not that I have them. They’re less important if your standing desk faces a wall. But if you have an open-plan style home office like mine, they’ll make your workspace look much cleaner. PS You can still run cables into the tray without the holes and grommets – the cables will simply run behind the desk.
Isaac Jenkinson says:
Hello,
Have you had a chance to try the new UpDown Lyft model? Curious about its stability vs the pro.
Steven McConnell says:
Isaac,
Not yet. On first glance, it looks like a budget alternative to the “big brothers”. It’s probably pretty good (UpDown has a reputation to maintain), but I’m of the opinion that buying cheap means you pay more in the long term. I’d save up another few hundred bucks and get the Pro. You can often get a melamine or bamboo-topped model on sale for around $900.
David says:
This is a great site and will help me decide on which desk to buy. Have you heard any good/bad reviews about the Blacklyte Atlas Lite or Ergo-Rise II from BDO furniture?
Steven McConnell says:
David, thanks for the kind words. Never heard of the Atlas Lite until you mentioned it. Looks like a decent gaming desk that borrows heavily from Secretlab Magnus – but why not just buy a real Magnus instead?
As for the Ergo-Rise – looks like a decent desk, but its height controller is outdated. The best standing desk brands have upgraded to OLED controllers.
Ben says:
Thank you for writing this review Steven; really helpful to break through the BS.
By any chance have you used or hold an opinion on Vertilift desks?
Steven McConnell says:
You’re welcome. God, I haven’t even heard of them – but thanks for the heads-up. There are too many standing desks on the Australian market. Obviously I haven’t used these in person, but I’m almost certain they’re yet another Jiecang variant (i.e., frames are identical to Desky). You can tell by the identical max and min heights, as well as the design of the foot.
Eloise says:
Hey Steven, I was recommended the Alwyn or Octavia (Living Fusion) 140cm sit and stand desks from Temple and Webster which don’t even get a mention in your review. Would you bother with any of their brands ? (I may have dodged a bullet by finding your review!)
Steven McConnell says:
Hi Louise, I haven’t had first-hand experience with the T&W standing desk (must add one to my list!).
However, I had a look through the specs for you.
It doesn’t look too bad, actually – considering the price. If you can’t stretch your budget to ~$950 for an entry-level UpDown or Desky, this could be a good option.
Jordan says:
Hi Steven, Thanks for the review! I am starting out with a home office set up and need a new chair and sit stand desk. I’m a student but I prefer to buy things I know will last, but I don’t have too much experience with sit stand desks. I initially thought to buy the Artiss but have considered buying the Acacia UpDown Pro+ so I know it lasts and I don’t have to buy another desk in a couple of years. Is it worth the price jump for me? Thanks!
Steven McConnell says:
Hi Jordan, the Artiss and the UpDown desks sell at two very different price points. If you have the budget, I suggest you stretch to the UpDown standing desk – you won’t regret it.
jason says:
I know you’ve disqualified the flexispot e7 pro so the e7 max plus would probably also be disqualified, but a quad motor 4 column desk frame at a prices competitive with UpDown desk is incredibly tempting. Plus 15 year warrenty (if the company lasts that long)
Have you had a chance to take a look? Its like half the price of the desky quad!
Steven McConnell says:
Hey Jason, great observation. I haven’t included quad standing desks here because they’ve traditionally attracted a niche consumer – someone who needs to place a tonne of gear on the desktop and doesn’t mind paying 2X the usual price. But Flexispot’s sharp pricing on their quad desk certainly changes things. I haven’t seen one in the wild yet – but the specs look promising.
Steven