7 Best Home Office Chairs In Australia For 2024

Ah yes, the home office chair – a most beloved throne for many, and the bane of so many others’ lives. Which one is it for you? I’ll wager it’s the latter. Either way, you’re most likely here because you’re due an upgrade.

With that in mind, I’ve compiled a list of the best home office chairs available in Australia fit for a king or queen (or whatever you cool kids feel like identifying as in 2024).

Before we get down into the nitty-gritty of the best home office chairs, let me tell you that this isn’t of those listicles that regurgitate generic and boring facts.

Let me share with you what I’ve learned about choosing the best home office chair for your needs.

1. ErgoTune Joobie.

Best overall home office chair.

Above: The Ergotune Joobie cuts a handsome line in a home office. Note the independent lumbar support piece and headrest.

The ErgoTune Joobie has a synchro-tilt feature that provides a smooth, comfortable recline; it reminds me of the feeling you get when reclining in Herman Miller’s Aeron and Cosm models.

You can lean back up to 136 degrees and even adjust the tension of the recline.

If you’ve ever leaned back in a chair and suddenly felt like you’re falling back, you’ll appreciate being able to dial this setting up and down.

You can be forgiven for thinking these are just gimmicky pseudo-scientific names designed to suck you in, but the reality is that these demonstrate the attention to detail you don’t get with other home office chairs.

The lumbar support, for example, is the most supportive of any other chair in this review.

Adjustable for height and tension, it consistently resists against your lower back, promoting your spine’s natural “S” curve.

Unlike armrests you get on cheap home office chairs, these adjust for reach, width, depth and pivot. You can spin them 360 degrees around their axis, or angle them 90 degrees perpendicularly to your body, creating a little “table” to place your phone on.

By the way, this is a heavy-duty monster of a chair, which becomes apparent as soon as you remove it from its packaging.

(Related: Ergotune Joobie: Is It Worth Almost $750?)

It’s not a throwaway chair that will fall apart after 1-2 years.

My Verdict.

The Ergotune Joobie ticks a lot of ergonomic boxes. You get seat pan height and depth adjustment, plus the ability to spec the gas piston in one of three lengths.

This is a unique feature at this price point and allows precise fit for humans who are outside the norm – either shorter than 160 cm or taller than 180 cm:

Last, Ergotune’s DuraWeave mesh is perfect if you work if your WFH office happens to be in a warmer climate. It keeps you cool and minimises sweaty episodes that can be potentially embarrassing.

The mesh is taut enough to resist sagging but not so taut that it’s like sitting on a plastic school chair.

Ergonomics	5/5
Comfort	4.5/5
Aesthetics	4/5
Build Quality	4/5
Ease Of Assembly	5/5
Price	5/5
Warranty	5/5
Return Policy	4/5
OVERALL	4.6/5

2. Artiss Eamon Office Chair.

Best cheap home office chair.

Above: The Artiss Eamon high-back in black colour.

Well, what do we have here? A budget home office chair that looks like a pretty good replica of the classic Herman Miller Eames.

But before you get excited – the Artiss office chair has the fewest ergonomic adjustments in this review.

That’s understandable, considering it’s also the cheapest office chair in this review. The high-back size sells for around $130 on Amazon and, bizarrely, for around $210 on their website. (You should definitely go with the Amazon option.)

The Eamon comes in two sizes: mid-back and high-back.

It’s a no-frills desk chair, but I refuse to throw shade at it.

If anything, the Eamon is an overachiever in its own niche, allowing WFH workers to elevate their professional image without splashing out on an expensive executive chair.

My Verdict.

If you’re looking to add a touch of class to your home office but are on a budget, this is one of the best office chairs you can buy.

Visually, it punches well above its price point. If you were to ask people how much it costs, most would place the Eamon in a higher price bracket.

The padding is quite thin, too. Don’t expect your backside to feel pampered after sitting in it all day. If you’ve got a bony backside, it might feel akin to sitting on a bench after a while.

If you’re looking for a seat with the spongiest padding, the Steelcase S1 has built-in air pockets that adapt to your shape and relieve pressure points (unfortunately, the chair has other issues – see below).

In a weird way, Eamon’s firm padding encourages you to sit in an ergonomic position without slouching. It’s not a chair that you want to recline and lounge in.

The Eamon is easy to wipe down and clean, making it great for those who wear dirty uniforms (e.g., tradies, project managers, and construction managers who split workdays between on-site and in the home office).

Ergonomics	2/5
Comfort	3/5
Aesthetics	4/5
Build Quality	3/5
Ease Of Assembly	4/5
Price	5/5
Warranty	3/5
Return Policy	2/5
OVERALL	3.1/5

3. Sihoo M57.

Best value-for-money home office chair.

Above: The Sihoo M57’s all-mesh construction provides plenty of ventilation in Australia’s hot climate.

While it’s not the cheapest ($350 without a footrest), it represents huge value.

It’s a modern-looking, no-frills chair. Nothing flashy or remarkable, but that’s exactly why I like it. It doesn’t pretend to be anything it’s not, but it fulfils its intended purpose very well.

M57’s ergonomic credentials are pretty good.

You miss out on seat pan depth, but you do get an adjustable backrest with tilt tension and lock, seat height, armrest height and depth.

The bidirectional lumbar support can be tweaked vertically by 5cm and horizontally (in and out) by 3cm, so it’ll keep your back supported throughout the day.

Sihoo M57’s adjustable headrest is adjustable for height and tilt but not for reach.

Unfortunately, the tilt doesn’t lock off and will move down if you apply enough pressure with your head.

I noticed that many reviewers on Amazon complained about the chair’s castors, but I didn’t experience the same issue.

They’re rubberised, so they don’t make any noise and won’t scratch hardwood floors.

However, if your home office has long-pile carpet floors, you may get bogged. Buying a $25 set of hard plastic castors will solve that problem.

(Related: Sihoo M57 Review: Better Than The Ergotune?)

My Verdict.

Think of the Sihoo M57 as your next best bet if your budget doesn’t stretch to the Ergotune Joobie, but you want a better home office chair than the al cheapo Artiss Eamon above.

Those looking for something stylish might find the M57 a little uninspiring. The design is smart and safe. Typical corporate office fare.

While the black and grey colours are inoffensive, they’re unlikely to serve as a statement piece that elevates your home office decor.

Unlike the ErgoTune Joobie, the M57 comes in only one size.

People taller than 185 cm will find it too small, and should opt for the ErtoTune Joobie in its large size.

Ergonomics	4/5
Comfort	4/5
Aesthetics	4/5
Build Quality	4/5
Ease Of Assembly	4/5
Price	5/5
Warranty	3/5
Return Policy	3/5
OVERALL	3.9/5

4. Steelcase Series 1.

Good premium option.

Above: The Steelcase is smart, understated and elegant – not at all ostentatious.

A cheap Steelcase? You’re probably sceptical – as you should be. If someone offered you a cheap Mercedes, you’d be equally dubious.

Car enthusiasts may remember the Mercedes B-Class – a boxy, ordinary-looking contraption favourite among the less skilled road users.

It was Mercedes’ attempt at building a people’s car.

It failed.

Despite the lack of commercial success, Mercedes sold thousands of them, and you’re likely to spot one driving 20 km/hr under the speed limit on a busy overpass.

The Steelcase Series 1 home office chair is exactly the same.

Above: The Steelcase 1 is available in 5 colours to match your decor.

The cheapest desk chair in the Steelcase lineup, it’s reasonably competent all-around but not outstanding at anything.

I won’t call it the king of mediocrity – because it’s slightly better than that – but it’s definitely not a lot of chair for the $750 asking price.

What do you get for your hard-earned grand?

Adjustable seat height, tilt and tension (without recline lock, oddly), a firm but comfortable seat cushion with fore and aft adjustment, 4D adjustable arms and height-adjustable lumbar support.

While it’s made with many plastic components, they mould together well, with no gaps. It’s made in the US, and even after a few years of punishment, it doesn’t develop any chronic issues like creaking and loosening parts.

They’re certainly more flimsy than ErgoTune Joobie’s and Sihoo M57’s armrests.

Height-adjustable lumbar support feels kind of “meh”. It’s there, but also not. It’s not a chair that will help you resolve lower back problems.

My Verdict.

The height of the backrest is quite low, and you don’t have the option to spec the gas piston in larger sizes, so the Series 1 is not a good option if you’re taller than 185 cm.

It’s not as nice as that of the ErgoTune Joobie or even of the budget-priced Sihoo M57.

The backrest offers poor coverage, so you feel confined and limited in movement.

The lack of reach-adjustable lumbar support is disappointing in a home office ergonomic chair with a nearly $1,000 price tag, especially when considering the Sihoo M57 (less than half its price) has bidirectional lumbar support.

Ergonomics	4/5
Comfort	3.5/5
Aesthetics	4/5
Build Quality	3.5/5
Ease Of Assembly	5/5
Price	3.5/5
Warranty	3.5/5
Return Policy	3/5
OVERALL	3.8/5

5. Ergohuman IOO Premium.

Good ergonomic home office chair.

Above: Ergohuman’s chrome frame belongs in 2005. A matt black option would have been better.

The Ergohuman’s lumbar support reminds me of the one you get on the Ergotune Joobie. It’s a separate piece that moves up and down with the backrest, and has an independently adjustable tension.

The subtlety of the Ergohuman lumbar design means you’re less likely to notice it’s there. In my opinion, this is the true hallmark of comfort.

In that respect, less is certainly more.

At times, sitting in a Herman Miller Aeron or an ErgoTune Joobie can make you feel as though you’re in the cockpit of a fighter jet, and you may want to eject yourself when you adjust the wrong thing.

It does, however, tend to wobble when you’re moving in the desk chair.

While it won’t affect your comfort, it cheapens the chair’s appearance and, when viewed from the side, reminds me of a standing lamp.

So, even though it’s firm, it lacks the elasticity to conform to your shape, and I imagine that over time, the mesh will sag rather than return to its original shape.

It has a somewhat rubbery feel that is closest to that of the Sihoo M57.

One thing I noticed immediately was the frictionless glide when moving around. Its dual wheel castors make you feel like you’re skating on ice – in a good way!

You’re less likely to scrape the wheels and damage your floor, so your desk mat may no longer be required. It’s also pretty zippy for those who need to shift between workstations throughout the day.

There’s just something about the mesh that seems to attract pet hairs (and even lint, cotton, and other fabrics). Maybe it’s the weave pattern – I don’t know.

The adjustable armrests are lovely and soft. They are probably my favourite armrests of all home office chairs in this review.

They’re also the only armrests that can slide far down so you can tuck the chair under your desk.

6. J. Burrows Halifax.

Good no-nonsense home office chair.

Here’s a lesser-known model: the J.Burrows Halifax ergonomic chair. It’s a new listing and only available at Officeworks, and I love it because it’s not trying to be anything other than itself… kind of like the chair version of Lewis Capaldi.

J.Burrows is the standard bearer for great value, and they deliver on their promise with this ergonomic office chair.

With the J.Burrows Halifax, you can pop into any Officeworks and test drive one – there are over 160 stores in Australia.

The padding springs back and feels closer in quality to the Steelcase S1 – the comfiest seat in this review.

Sure, seats like these have a lifespan and flatten after time, but let’s have a bit of context… Mesh seats are pancake-flat to begin with. So it’s unfair to judge foam seats by different standards.

We, humans, are obsessed with things lasting forever – maybe it’s because entropy reminds us we’re getting older…

Aside from the awesome seat, it boasts some other decent ergonomic selling points: a breathable mesh back, height-adjustable armrests, a synchro-tilt mechanism, and even seat slide functionality.

My Verdict.

The J.Burrows Halifax office chair is suitable for five to eight hours of use per day.

I know other high-end office chairs promise greater durability, but few of us are sitting for longer than that, especially when you factor in breaks and time spent working away from your desk.

You’ll need a premium office chair if you work for long sitting sessions, like 12 hours a day.

The ErgoTune Joobie would be my chair of choice, given its dimensions and the 11 points of adjustability.

If you’re physically impaired or just plain lazy, you can add an assembly option for $85.

While that seems steep, costing an additional 25%, it’s a good option since assembly is a little more complicated than the other ergonomic chairs (the Halifax takes around 30 mins to build).

After completing your purchase at checkout, you’ll receive a call within 24 hours (Mon-Fri) to schedule a time to assemble your desk chair.

They have a no-quibbles returns policy if you change your mind within 30 days of purchase, and you can also visit them in-store with any problems.

Not only that, but I like that on their website they show high-resolution close-ups of the office chair’s upholstery and plastic and metal components.

7. ErgoDuke Ultra-Flex.

Another good budget option.

This thing feels like an ergonomic chair with a price tag of over $800, and it looks very similar to the Ergohuman Premium! It’s a very comfortable chair and the metal structure is sturdy and feels really strong.

Other manufacturers like Ikea tend to use mesh for the backrest and fabric for the seat, whereas the ErgoDuke makes full use of the mesh for the seat and backrest for maximum ventilation.

While I prefer hybrid chairs (with fabric seats), the supple mesh of the ErgoDuke is elastic and springs back, meaning it adapts to your curves better than tough meshes – some of which, the Ergohuman

Premium included, are too taut and reminiscent of an outdoor folding patio chair.

All in all, its sturdy white aluminium frame makes a refreshing change from the depressing deluge of black.

You know how it ruins your day when you mark your white sneakers or stain a white t-shirt…? Well, that. After a while, white mesh discolours and turns to shades of ivory, magnolia, and yellows.

My Verdict.

With a width of 51cm and a depth of 48cm, its wide seat is great for those of a bigger build and those with larger posteriors.

In fact, it’s great for those of slimmer proportions, too and those who love to curl up with their legs on their desk chair.

The Steelcase S1, a compact chair and comparably more expensive, has a seat width of 48.8cm and a depth of 45.7cm.

It has a comfortable seat, which is arguably the most important part of a desk chair since most of your weight is placed on your two butt bones (ischial tuberosities).

Its waterfall design means that your weight is spread evenly across the seat; its edges slope downwards to relieve pressure behind the knees and improve circulation to the lower limbs.

The seat also slides back and forth. Again, something that the Sihoo M57 doesn’t do.

Of all the desk chairs in this article, I find the ErgoDuke is the most stylish. Its dual tones give it a techy and edgy look that wouldn’t look out of place in a design agency or in the home office of a startup.

With cheaper office chairs, you need to be wary about their credentials for commercial use, but the ErgoDuke is SGS BIFMA certified.

Have I Helped You Find The Best Ergonomic Office Chair?

Okay, so now there are no excuses to keep sitting in that office chair that’s been giving you grief.

In fact, if there were a lite version of hell, say a place called “heck”, then for me, it would be a place in which Nickelback played a gig on an endless loop in which I’d have to spectate from the dis-comfort of a rickety office chair, perpetually fidgeting.

The stuff of nightmares.

Thankfully, you now have all the information you need to choose the right ergonomic office chair for you.

Frequently Asked Questions About Choosing The Best Home Office Chair.

If you’re looking for the best ergonomic office chair, consider these frequently asked questions before diving in head first.

You might save yourself some hassle (and a few bucks).

1. What are the downsides of using a substandard home office chair?

I’ll tell you if you pinky promise me you’re not some petty thrill-seeker or contortionist looking to permanently alter your physiology…

Okay, so the consensus is pretty grim. From a health perspective, here’s what you’re more at risk of when using a badly designed ergonomic chair:

Marketing teams often play on these fears.

But let’s be realistic, sitting in a good office chair doesn’t compare to the dangers of working on an oil rig or a fishing trawler, and I’ve yet to hear of any casualties of such a sedentary lifestyle.

2. What other types of desk chairs are there?

You’ve heard of ergonomic office chairs and executive chairs, but what are some of the other best office chairs out there for niche users?

3. What time of year is best to buy a home office chair?

There are no guarantees, but typically, there is an element of seasonality with office chairs, due to stockists refreshing their range twice a year – once during spring and then again in autumn.

It’s the exact same principle when booking a last-minute getaway! Chances are you’ll find the best discounts at these times of the year, but you might not always have your first choice.

Also, some retailers offer end-of-financial-year (EOFY) discounts starting in late May and running throughout June. If you can hold off waiting, set a reminder in your calendar to buy one at a later date.

Tommy