12 Best Ergonomic Office Chairs In Australia [Controversial]

This will probably ruffle some feathers, but it’s got to be done, as I’m seeing major tech media brands and small blogs recommending dodgy chairs in their “best office chairs” lists.

For example, the Branch Verve and the Autonomous ErgoChair. Really, Tom’s Guide?

I own several successful businesses, so I’m not exactly relying on chair sale commissions to make a living. I’m not plodding along in a meaningless 9-5 job doing dodgy chair reviews, either.

While I do get paid when you buy some of the chairs I recommend:

With that in mind, I present you with the best ergonomic office chairs in Australia. Drum roll, please.

* Indicates that I have a commercial relationship with the brand. I will receive a commission if you buy that chair through links on this page. ^ Indicates that I have personally tested the chair in my home office.

1. ErgoTune Joobie.

Best ergonomic office chair for under $750.

Above: I love how the ErgoTune Joobie in neutral Sand Beige colour adds a dash of sophistication and class to my home office.

The ErgoTune Joobie has taken the #1 spot in my review of Australia’s best ergonomic office chairs for 2024.

It is one of the few truly ergonomic and attractive office chairs you can find for under $750, and it’s the one that redefined my idea of what a “mid-range” home office chair should be.

Pros.

Available in six colours, the ErgoTune Joobie punches well above its price point in design, ergonomics and features.

(Related: ErgoTune Joobie Full Review & Verdict).

Its synchro-tilt mechanism provides an excellent recline, while the fabric-incused mesh feels better on the skin than traditional 100% polyester stuff you’ll find on all other chairs.

It has one downside – vulnerability to stains (see below).

Above: ErgoTune Joobie’s clean lines compliment modern home office setups.

The Joobie has a relatively stiff frame with no flex in the seat pan and a mild flex in the backrest.

Unlike the (very bendy) Steelcase Leap and the Herman Miller Embody chairs I’ll discuss shortly, it prefers to keep your hips locked in a rigid bucket while allowing a mild degree of movement through the back.

The only downside is that sitting cross-legged or with one leg tucked under you isn’t comfortable; the hard plastic edges will dig into your legs.

How does it look?

Ergonomic office chairs are never pretty, as the controls and mechanisms are notoriously difficult to hide.

That said, Joobie’s designers did an excellent job hiding its moving parts within the frame and miniaturising its controls.

Above: The waterfall-shaped mesh bucket is comfortable and helps whisk heat away from your body.

These subtle touches elevate the chair’s look and feel into the premium category.

The Joobie looks legitimately understated and stylish, especially when specced in the light beige colour you see in the photos.

The standard warranty on the ErgoTune Joobie is 4 years on the frame and 3 years on the mechanisms.

The chair’s lumbar support offers two tension settings and is definitely on the stronger side of the spectrum. It’s not aggressive, but it is potent.

Unlike its predecessor, the ErgoTune Supreme, the Joobie allows you to control the lumbar’s height independently of the backrest.

I only care that it keeps the C-spine of my lower back curved in the right direction.

All other usual ergonomic controls are present:

Above: ErgoTune’s armrests adjust in every dimension imaginable, but I wish they had a leather (instead of plastic) surface.

Joobie’s armrests deserve a special mention; they are ridiculously adjustable, to the point where they’re almost over-engineered.

The company calls it a GyroBrace 360º design, and you can adjust it for height, reach, and infinite pivot.

Unfortunately, width adjustment isn’t available (see “Cons” below).

Cons.

Bright-coloured chairs add a welcome dash of colour to the home office – but are harder to keep spotless.

Above: The optional $50 footrest is excellent for people who like to binge-watch Netflix from their home office.

If you like to eat at your desk, wear a lot of dark denim or have young kids who like to weaponise crayons, staying away from ErgoTune’s red, blue, green and grey colour options may be a good idea.

Because the mesh is infused with fabric, removing stains and dirt will require shampooing and scraping, rather than simply wiping it with a wet cloth.

I also wish that the armrests were more softly padded.

Having used the Aeron for years, I have discovered that I often like to dig my elbow into the armrest and lean on it.

ErgoTune’s decision to delete the width adjustment from the armrest is also a disappointment.

You can work around this by placing your forearm on the inner or outer ends of (generously sized armpads). Nonetheless, most ergonomic office chairs in Australia offer this feature as standard, and most consumers will expect it.

Finally, it would be great if the Ergotune’s armrests could be lowered by another 2-3 centimetres.

This is a minor detail, but if you’re above 190cm in height, you’ll probably wish for the same thing when sinking back into the chair.

My Verdict.

How Does The ErgoTune Joobie Stack Up?	Score
Ergonomics	5/5
Aesthetics	4.5/5
Build Quality	4/5
Ease Of Assembly	5/5
Price	5/5
Warranty	5/5
Return Policy	4/5
OVERALL	4.6/5

The ErgoTune Joobie is the best ergonomic office chair in Australia for under $750 bucks.

Highly customisable with 3 sizes and 15 points of adjustment, it’s an ergonomic office chair that a person of almost any size or shape can set up to their liking.

From a build quality perspective, it’s not in the same league as premium chairs (e.g., Steelcase Leap or Karman, below), but you have to be realistic – those chairs are more than 2X more expensive.

The warranty is good without being outstanding. Five years on mechanisms is fine, but seven would have been better.

If you buy the Joobie but don’t like it, the company will pick it up and refund your money (within 21 days). You’ll be $89 out of pocket, as shipping isn’t covered (assuming you’re on the East Coast of Australia). Think of it as the cost of a trial.

Price.

ErgoTune is currently on sale for Black Friday, at one of the lowest prices ever – $699.

2. Sihoo M57.

Best budget office chair for under $350.

Above: the Sihoo M57 is a good-looking budget ergonomic office chair that won’t break the bank.

The Sihoo M57 is the best choice if you want an ergonomic chair for your home office, but your budget won’t stretch to an ErgoTune Joobie.

Available in a choice of grey and black colours, it’s a synchro-tilt office chair with adjustable lumbar support and armrests.

(Related: Sihoo M57: Best Budget Office Chair In Australia?)

Pros.

The Sihoo M57 is hard to beat on ergonomic features at this price point. Full adjustment is available for any part of the chair, in any dimension – except seat depth.

That’s 9 points of adjustment, to be exact – including a 3-position recline tension, two-way headrest, two-way lumbar, 3D armrests, seat height and 3D armrests.

As I was assembling the chair, I noted that the components were satisfyingly heavy. Surprisingly, many are made from metal, invoking a sense of quality.

The net result is quite a handsome chair without the cheap, plasticky vibe that’s all too common in the budget category. It will not detract from the look of your home office.

Above: Sihoo’s seat base and backrest are both made from mesh.

Meanwhile, the comfortable seat features a waterfall-edge design and a W-contoured seat pad to ensure your legs don’t fall asleep during long stints of productivity.

This is a high rating, most likely enabled by the aluminium base, which is also quite rare at this price point.

Cons.

My first gripe with the Sihoo M57 is the chrome finish of its base.

I would have loved to spec it in matt black or grey, just like the rest of the chair. Chrome is not my thing, sorry.

You’ll be fine if you’re 190 cm or less, but taller people should choose the Ergotune Joobie, as it offers 3 height options, with the tallest one being able to accommodate 210 cm tall people.

Third, the tension adjustment knob is placed awkwardly below the chair. It’s hard to reach while sitting in the chair (you’ll need to jump in and out of the chair a few times to get it right ).

Last but not least, the M57 has a centre-tilt mechanism, which means your feet will lift slightly off the ground when you recline.

Above: M57’s under-the-seat-pan tension adjustment. It works, but is hard to reach and partially obstructed by the footrest.

My Verdict.

How Does The Sihoo M57 Stack Up?	Score
Ergonomics	4/5
Aesthetics	4/5
Build Quality	4/5
Ease Of Assembly	4.5/5
Price	5/5
Warranty	3.5/5
Return Policy	4/5
OVERALL	4.1/5

The Sihoo M57 is a pleasant surprise. Chairs that sell for about $300-$350 are usually woeful, but the M57 is an exception to this rule.

3D arms, great lumbar support and almost every adjustment you can poke a castor wheel at to make it a supreme value for money.

It’s a non-pretentious ergonomic office chair that functions, looks and feels better than any rival at its price point.

If your budget doesn’t stretch to the ErgoTune Joobie above or the Steelcase Leap below, this is the best ergonomic office chair you can buy.

Price.

The Sihoo M57 is currently on sale for Black Friday. Grab it from Sihoo’s website for just under $340.

3. Sihoo Doro S300.

Best ergonomic office chair for $1,000.

Above: the Sihoo Doro S300 is very attractive. Note the unique dual pad lumbar support and chrome base.

Priced at about $1,000, the Sihoo Doro S300 is expensive enough for most people to think twice about buying it.

Why would you buy this office chair when you can pick up an ErgoTune Joobie for about 30% less?

Conversely, if you plan to drop about a grand on an office chair, should you stretch by 30% and buy the famous Steelcase Leap instead?

(Related: Sihoo Doro S300 Office Chair: The Aeron Killer?)

Pros.

Let’s call a spade a spade.

Sihoo ripped off copied features of the world’s best ergonomic office chairs to create the Doro S300.

If the seat pan looks familiar, that’s because it is. The design of the hard-framed, waterfall-edge mesh bucket is lifted straight from the Herman Miller Aeron.

The 6-D armrests that articulate in every conceivable direction are very similar to those you’ll find on Steelcase’s flagship Gesture office chair.

You’ll find hints of the Herman Miller Cosm in the Sihoo’s curvaceous backrest.

The weightless recline is unheard of at this price point but is the usual fare on the classic Humanscale Freedom, the Cosm, and the Aeron.

These features add up to create a superb ergonomic seating experience with almost infinite adjustability.

The unique dual-pad lumbar support, meanwhile, will appeal to people who like gentle, progressive support on their lower back.

Above: Exposed piston in the backrest is a nice design touch that reinforces the chair’s industrial chic look.

If you’ve ever experienced the pokey, not-so-nice lumbar of some cheap office chairs, this is the polar opposite.

Two large pads cradle your lower back and cleverly leave a gap for your spine.

Cons.

Some users have complained about the S300’s inability to lock off in a reclined position.

This won’t pose a problem for people who are used to sitting in premium chairs with weight-sensitive reclines.

Nonetheless, some people will insist on the ability to lock the recline, and if you’re one of them, this chair isn’t for you.

Above: Doro S300’s headrest is built into the backrest. It’s stylish, but will disappoint people who want a ‘proper’ adjustable headrest.

Doro 300’s futuristic aesthetic and chrome base probably won’t appeal to people over 40, but young men in their 20s and 30s will love it.

People who are taller than 190cm will feel more comfortable in the Ergotune Joobie as it offers the ability to increase the height of the seat piston at checkout, thus raising the seat pan by an additional 4cm.

It’s not much, but for those tall and don’t want to look like we’re sitting in a child’s chair, every centimetre of height matters.

Finally, the integrated headrest – although attractive – will frustrate gamers and people who like to take naps in their office chairs.

It’s tall enough to provide you with some head support, but not enough to allow your neck muscles fully relax.

My Verdict.

How Does The Sihoo Doro S300 Stack Up?	Score
Ergonomics	5/5
Aesthetics	4.5/5
Build Quality	4.5/5
Ease Of Assembly	4.5/5
Price	5/5
Warranty	4/5
Return Policy	3.5/5
OVERALL	4.4/5

The Sihoo Doro S300 represents a sweet spot in this review of Australia’s best ergonomic office chairs.

For just under a thousand bucks, you get an office chair with an excellent seat pan, some of the best armrests in the business, luxurious mesh, and an outstanding recline mechanism.

If it had a Herman Miller badge, could easily sell for over $2,500.

Price.

The Sihoo Doro sells from the manufacturer’s website for just under $1,000.

4. Steelcase Leap V2.

Best office chair under $2,500 (but boring).

Above: The Steelcase Leap in plain black, aka “New Black Henry” colour. Please choose a more interesting colour.

Steelcase is a 105-year-old company that unrelentingly focuses on building ergonomic chairs with a sustainable bent. Leap V2 is its most popular model in Australia.

If you haven’t evaluated it while looking for the best ergonomic office chairs, you haven’t done your research properly.

Pros.

The Leap V2 allows you to adjust everything.

You can dial in the exact amount of back support by changing the Leap’s backrest tilt angle and tilt tension, lumbar support height, lower back firmness, seat angle, seat depth and seat height.

All controls are within easy reach.

Once you’ve dialled in those basics, you can ensure that the 4-way padded armrests are perfect in height, width, lateral angle and reach.

Finally, use the 5-stop tilt limiter to fine-tune the chair’s recline distance.

The Leap’s flexible seat pan and backrest will mould to your body as you recline, tilt and stretch.

Above: Leap’s 4D armrests are some of the best in the business. Wide, soft and sturdy, they will help your arms find a comfortable, ergonomic position.

Steelcase is known for top-notch build quality – and the Leap V2 doesn’t disappoint.

While the chair is made from plastic, it doesn’t feel cheap to the touch. Panel gaps are tight, parts don’t rattle, and the fabrics feel satisfyingly expensive.

The warranty is equally impressive, with 12 years of coverage.

Oh, and if you hate assembling home office furniture, you can pay an extra $50 at checkout to have your Leap delivered fully assembled.

Cons.

The Leap V2 allows you to recline without encouraging it.

The tilting mechanism has quite a lot of friction, making it feel less natural than the ErgoTune Joobie and the Herman Miller chairs.

But you may find the Leap’s recline too limiting if you’re famous for rocking during your workday.

A small minority of users find that the Leap’s seat firmness irritates their tailbones. I find the firmness just right, but Reddit is full of conversations claiming that the chair is borderline unusable.

The fabric-and-foam seat may also make your backside hot when the ambient temperature rises above 25°C.

Last, I wish the Leap’s aesthetic was less safe. The default black colour (“New Black Henry” in Steelcase parlance) makes the chair look boring – and reminds me of the office cubicles we had in the 1990s.

A few more interesting hues are available, but add $111 to the $1503 purchase price. The optional headrest adds even more visual appeal, but costs $261.

Is that too expensive?

It’s a bargain when compared with $3,000 Herman Miller chairs. But the same price gets you two Ergotune Joobies – and you won’t pay extra for headrest, bright colours or delivery.

This is a difficult calculus.

Above: Leap’s backrest flexes with your spine, allowing you to twist and stretch throughout your workday.

My Verdict.

How Does The Steelcase Leap Stack Up?	Score
Ergonomics	5/5
Aesthetics	3.5/5
Build Quality	5/5
Ease Of Assembly	5/5
Price	3.5/5
Warranty	5/5
Return Policy	3/5
OVERALL	4.4/5

This Steelcase Leap is an outstanding ergonomic office chair, but isn’t perfect.

On the one hand, it offers enough adjustment options to help you find an ergonomic position. Its flexible seat frame will mould to your body throughout your workday, helping you feel good.

On the other hand, it is expensive and unexciting to look at, while the all-fabric construction is less optimal than mesh if you live in a hot climate.

The Leap will appeal to people who value intelligent engineering and subtle design over garish aesthetics. Engineers, developers, doctors, researchers, writers – you know who you are.

5. Steelcase Karman.

Best office chair under $2,500 (and stylish).

Above: The Karman is one of the best-looking office chairs around. Only the Cosm (below) is prettier – but more expensive.

The Karman is a newcomer to Australia, and is quickly making a solid impression.

Rock-solid build that you’d expect from Steelcase, modern slimline design and legitimate ergonomic chops – what’s not to like?

Pros.

Do you hate mesh chairs? The Karman may be the first chair to change your mind.

Unlike traditional mesh chairs, the Karman has a layer of cushioning underneath the mesh, which addresses the most common complaint – lack of support.

Above: The curves are sleek and sculpted, but notice the lack of lumbar support. This is an optional must-have, for $90 extra.

If you’ve found the mesh of the Aeron or the Joobie too unforgiving, the Karman may be the Goldilocks solution you’ve been searching for.

The theme of forgiveness continues in the design of Karman’s frame. It contrasts sharply with rigid-frame chairs like the Aeron, M57 and Freedom, where your movement is restricted by rigid bucket seat pans.

The Karman is designed to move with you.

The seat back is very flexible, and the seat pan is moderately so. Both promote micromovements (read: reducing fatigue).

If you start fishing for controls, you will be looking for a while – there aren’t any. Like the Cosm and the Freedom chair, the Karman has an automatic, weight-sensitive recline mechanism that uses your weight to determine the optimal bucket angle.

If you disagree with its “decision”, you can fine-tune the tension via one of 4 settings on the Comfort Dial.

I couldn’t finish without mentioning the Karman’s excellent look.

Above: The armpads are thinner and harder than I expected. Meanwhile, the seat pan is very comfortable but surprisingly short.

In Australia, it’s available in 4 colour schemes (black mesh with brass legs is the best). Sleek, minimalist design makes it a match for upscale home offices where traditional office chairs may look cheap.

This is an office chair for people who value aesthetics.

Steelcase’s 12-year warranty and solid build quality round off everything this chair has to offer. The Karman is quite dainty and lightweight, so while it doesn’t look like a bulletproof office chair, it most certainly is.

Cons.

The lack of seat depth adjustment is Karman’s #1 Achilles heel.

While it will easily accommodate people shorter than 180cm, those with longer legs will find the seat too short. I’m quite tall, and my legs just hang over the Karman’s chair like pool noodles.

Karman’s armpads are also a disappointment. This is a major surprise, as the company is famous for its excellent armrests (looking at you, Leap and Gesture).

The designers must have felt pressure to prioritise sleek aesthetics at all costs, because the Karman’s armpads are quite thin and surprisingly firm.

Think of them as armrests you lean on occasionally. Not armrests you dig your elbows into for extended periods of time as you kick back and watch Netflix.

Speaking of Netflix, the Karman is not a chair for kicking back, relaxing, watching movies or playing games. The maximum recline angle is an abysmal 22 degrees – good for meetings, but terrible for lounging around.

My Verdict.

The Karman is one of the best chairs in Australia today. But only if you’re shorter than 180cm and have $2,500 to spend.

It’s a home office chair for people who want the trifecta – design, ergonomics and comfort.

You get all three plus Steelcase’s excellent warranty.

However, seat pan depth, lack of recline and pokey armpads may be dealbreakers for users who like to rock back and relax in their home offices.

How Does The Steelcase Karman Stack Up?	Score
Ergonomics	4/5
Aesthetics	5/5
Build Quality	5/5
Ease Of Assembly	5/5
Price	3/5
Warranty	5/5
Return Policy	3/5
OVERALL	4.4/5

6. Herman Miller Embody.

Very ugly, expensive, comfortable, $3,000 chair.

Above: The Embody chair is not necessarily attractive but certainly striking. Note the pixelated backrest design.

Herman Miller claims that over 20 PhDs and physicians contributed to Embody’s design, resulting in one of the most ergonomic office chairs in Australia.

Did they succeed?

Pros.

Embody’s seat is supremely comfortable.

Made from four independent layers, it combines the breathability of mesh and the comfort of foam.

The idea was to reduce hot spots by distributing your weight evenly across the entire base using elastic spring coils, and the PhDs nailed the brief here.

Traditional seat depth mechanisms move the seat pan forward, creating a large gap between itself and the backrest. The more you advance the seat pan, the greater the gap becomes.

Beyond a certain point, you start wondering whether your butt is spilling out behind the chair.

Who said doing a PhD was a waste of time?

The flexible seat pan and backrest follow Steelcase Leap’s design philosophy, allowing you to move and stretch more freely than you can in the (more rigid) Ergotune or the Sihoo.

The unusually narrow seat back contributes to this but has a downside that I’ll talk about in a moment.

The chair’s build quality is reassuring, with plenty of steel and aluminium parts creating a substantial feel. It’s on par with Steelcase Leap and a step ahead of chairs from Ergotune and Sihoo.

Above: Embody’s armrests are some of the chunkiest I’ve ever seen on an office chair. Ergonomically, they are almost perfect, adjusting for height and width only, with large surface area acting as de facto depth and pivot adjustment.

Cons.

Embody’s striking aesthetic can be both a pro and a con, depending on your profession and age.

Younger men with a passion for video games will probably view it as a former, but I – a 43-year-old entrepreneur who often has meetings with “serious” people – prefer my home office to signal less “gamer” and more “leader”.

This is a shame, as the Embody’s unusually wide seat base is ideal for accommodating large bodies.

Had the weight rating been higher, the Embody could have been a good choice for overweight people.

You’d expect that a $3,000 ergonomic office chair from Herman Miller adjusts in every other conceivable way, but you’d be wrong.

Armrests adjust for height and width (and have the highest height adjustment range of all chairs in this review), but not for depth or pivot.

Above: The Embody’s backrest is surprisingly narrow, while the seat base is unusually wide.

My Verdict.

I have a mixed bag of feelings about the Herman Miller Embody.

On one hand, it scores exceptionally well in my tests for comfort and ergonomics. Thanks to its flexible frame and comfortable seat pan, it’s an easy chair to spend 10-hour days in.

The lack of precise lumbar adjustment is also disappointing. Yes, you can control the built-in lumbar’s firmness indirectly by adjusting the angle of the backrest, but it’s not the same thing.

Thankfully, the built-in lumbar has a gentle personality and isn’t likely to irritate many backs.

How Does The Herman Miller Embody Stack Up?	Score
Ergonomics	4/5
Aesthetics	3/5
Build Quality	5/5
Ease Of Assembly	5/5
Price	3/5
Warranty	5/5
Return Policy	4/5
OVERALL	4.1/5

7. Herman Miller Cosm.

Best ergonomic office chair for boardrooms & coworking spaces.

Above: the Cosm Mid-Back with fixed arms. Even though the fixed arms look fantastic, I recommend you opt for adjustable versions to ensure you can always find the optimal position.

Gorgeous in its form, the Cosm is one of the best-looking ergonomic chairs in Australia.

The Cosm is available in three different height configurations – high, medium and low back.

My favourite is the mid-back – it’s big enough to cradle my back nicely while not detracting from the chair’s minimalist, elegant look.

Pros.

The Cosm is very pretty. Built with aesthetics in mind, it’s a piece of industrial art disguised as an office chair.

Above: the Cosm with Leaf arms. They’re very pretty but are the least ergonomic of the bunch.

You’ll want to draw attention to its stunning curves, which is why Herman Miller gives you the option to spec it in several colours that range from traditional grey (Graphite) to more adventurous hues that involve reds (Canyon), whites (Mineral) and blues (Nightfall).

But it’s not a pretty, stupid show pony.

Herman Miller’s Autoharmonic tilt, the company’s marketing jargon for its weight-activated, 100% automatic lift and tilt mechanism, controls the chair’s functions automatically.

Above: the Cosm Mid-Back with leaf arms. Less ergonomic but more attractive.

You read that right. Fully automatic. The Cosm doesn’t allow you to adjust anything apart from your seating height.

I was sceptical about it because I’m used to controlling everything on my Aeron. How can I trust a chair to make all the adjustments for me, dammit?

Alas, magic is possible.

When I compare the Cosm with an Aeron back-to-back, the latter feels fiddly and never quite right.

In the Aeron, I keep turning knobs and levers to make the chair catch up with my body changes, while in the Cosm, I do what I want – and the chair responds.

It’s as close to artificial intelligence as you can in an office chair.

Above: the Herman Miller Cosm Mid Back in red. Definitely for the ostentatious types.

Like all Herman Miller chairs, the Cosm is covered by a 12-year warranty on parts and labour.

This is very valuable in the context of call centres and less so in WFH applications, but it does give you some context around the durability of these chairs.

You are buying a chair that will last you for over a decade.

Cons.

The Cosm gives you three arm options: fixed, adjustable and leaf.

Stay away from the leaf arms. The good news is that they offer indirect control over your forearm placement by allowing you to land your elbows on various parts of their angled mesh.

Above: the Herman Miller Cosm Mid-back in graphite, with Leaf arms.

The bad news is that the mesh is harsh, and will make your elbow skin feel raw.

Get adjustable armrests for maximum comfort.

This means you are at the mercy of these retailers’ shipping and return policies, which vary wildly.

Some, like Living Edge, don’t offer returns for change of mind, while others, like Bad Backs, offer easy chair trials, but organising one is clunky.

Above: The Herman Miller Cosm with fixed armrests in Mineral finish. There’s something very nice about the sweep of those armrests.

This is in stark contrast to the company’s approach in the USA, where you can order a chair from the manufacturer’s website and return it within 30 days if you don’t like it.

Until the company offers a more frictionless way to buy – and possibly return – its chairs in Australia, most people will buy the Cosm the traditional way – by walking into a showroom, touching, feeling and sitting.

Or they’ll put the idea in the “too hard” basket and opt for an ErgoTune Joobie instead, which does 80% of what the Cosm does – for 30% of the price.

Above: in case you were curious, this is the full selection of sizes and colours for the Cosm.

My Verdict.

How Does The Cosm Stack Up?	Score
Ergonomics	4/5
Aesthetics	5/5
Build Quality	4/5
Ease Of Assembly	5/5
Price	4/5
Warranty	5/5
Return Policy	3.5/5
OVERALL	4.4/5

The Cosm looks, feels and functions like a high-end office chair from top to bottom.

With near-perfect build quality, top-notch ergonomics and stunning looks, the Cosm has the potential to be the best-looking ergonomic office chair that you’ve ever owned.

It’s remarkably good at helping you switch between computing and pondering tasks by adjusting your body position without fiddling with knobs and levers.

I was worried that the chair would not allow me to stay upright and force me to work permanently from a semi-inclined position, but I’m glad to say this is not the case.

If you want to stay upright, it will keep you there, and when you want to recline, it will do that too.

Price.

Herman Mille Cosm’s pricing puts it at the ultra-premium end of the market.

Low and high back options cost about $300 on either side, and adventurous colour options add another few hundred bucks. The louder the colour, the more expensive it is.

The more attention you crave, the more expensive your life becomes. Did I just say this out loud?

8. Desky Pro+ Ergonomic Chair.

Good ergonomic office chair with a fabric seat.

Above: profile view of the Desky Pro+ in white. Design-wise, it punches well above its price point.

Not everyone loves sitting on all-mesh ergonomic office chairs, and the Desky Pro+ is the best choice if you’d like the breeziness of a mesh back combined with the comfort of a fabric seat.

Pros.

The Desky Pro+ fits like a second skin because of its power to adjust seat height, synchro tilt, back angle, backrest tilt, tilt lock, as well as arm height.

The chair’s synchro-tilt mechanism is a welcome sight at this price point, ensuring optimum ergonomics as you switch between computing and reclining tasks (my full guide to chair mechanisms is below).

It represents a huge step up from cheap centre- and knee-tilt mechanisms.

This is because the chair’s backrest, armrest and headrest are locked in place using a clever system of notches, removing the need for unsightly controls and giving the chair a clean, modern look.

The five-prong base, made of diecast aluminium alloy, offers a rock-solid foundation and is 100% recyclable.

Above: the Desky Pro+ features a buttonless design with armrests that adjust for height and swivel angle.

I like Desky Pro+‘s hybrid construction, with mesh on the backrest and fabric on the seat pad.

Speaking of the seat pad, I love the curved waterfall contouring on its front, which relieves pressure on the back of your thighs and improves blood circulation to your lower limbs.

Cons.

I’m a very tall (6″5 / 200cm) guy, and with the seat height ranging between 40 to 48cm, the Desky Pro+ leaves me sitting a little too low for my liking.

For context, most office chairs max out about 5 centimetres higher, at around 53cm.

Above: Deciding between the black and white versions of the Desky Pro+ is difficult, as they both look good. Personally, I prefer white.

If you’re less than 190cm in height, it’s not a problem that you’ll need to think about. It’s strictly a tall person problem, affecting about 15% of the population.

This is a “nice to have” rather than a “must-have” feature, and you’ll find that even the most expensive chairs often skip it altogether.

My Verdict.

How Does The Desky Pro+ Stack Up?	Score
Ergonomics	4/5
Aesthetics	4.5/5
Build Quality	4/5
Ease Of Assembly	4.5/5
Price	4/5
Warranty	4/5
Return Policy	3.5/5
OVERALL	4.1/5

The Desky Pro+ adds a fully ergonomic experience to your home office space without breaking the bank.

It gives you essential features to ensure that your posture remains ergonomic, but doesn’t force you to pay for mechanisms that you won’t use and doesn’t tell pretentious brand stories.

The designers were more than a little bit influenced by the well-known classic.

If you’re less than 190cm tall and want a hybrid mesh/fabric construction, this is the best office chair on the market today.

Price.

The Desky Pro+ usually retails for about $699. The price includes the base, seat, adjustable headrest and adjustable arms and a choice of either black or white colour.

9. Steelcase Gesture.

Expensive, highly adjustable, flagship chair from Steelcase.

The Steelcase Gesture is an ergonomic office chair “designed to support our interactions with modern technology and is inspired by how we move throughout the day”.

Yes, I realise how salesy and hypey this sounds.

The company studied 2,000 people across six continents and discovered nine new postures not adequately addressed by current seating options, all of which were factored into the design and engineering of the Gesture.

They mimic human arm movement, specifically when handling different types of tech, including phones and tablets.

It doesn’t get much better than this (unless Elon Musk thinks of something).

There’s an impressive 25 cm of width adjustment, so you have complete control over how far you spread your elbows out or tuck them in while operating your devices.

What does this mean, exactly?

Some of the best office chairs promote a “correct” posture and a fixed sitting position with endless adjustments, but the Gesture accommodates the user’s movements while providing a safety net of adaptive support.

The Steelcase also has all the expected adjustment mechanisms, three recline angle stop settings, an upright back lock, adjustable seat height and seat depth, seat angle, tension, as well as some others.

The build quality of the Gesture is also exceptional.

That means you’ll be less likely to roll around unintentionally on hard floors. And owing to the metal components’ industrial strength, you can expect a longer-lasting chair.

It ticks almost every box from an ergonomics perspective, with one main exception: it has no adjustable back support.

There is, however, an option to include an adjustable headrest, which adds some height to the office chair for those who really need it.

Pros:

Cons:

My Verdict.

If you work in the tech industry or use several different devices during your day, the Steelcase Gesture is one of the best office chairs for you.

The Gesture recognises this shift and supports nine postures identified within a tech-driven workspace.

Its flexible backrest and ergonomic features enable users to switch between postures seamlessly and are unrestrictive, unlike many office chairs designed solely for laptop or PC users.

As with the Steelcase Leap, the Gesture is particularly accommodating for users of heavier builds, supporting users up to 181 kg.

And, at the risk of repeating myself, like the Leap, the backrest height comes in at around 50 centimetres, so if you’re over 6′ 4″, you’ll find poor shoulder and neck support. A headrest is a must for tall people.

10. Herman Miller Aeron.

The classic ergonomic office chair (but starting to look dated).

What review of Australia’s best ergonomic office chairs is complete without the ubiquitous Aeron by Herman Miller?

Released in 1994, the Aeron became the essential signal of success in offices of investment bankers and technology executives.

In its Remastered form, it gains a slightly sleeker look and improved controls, but to be honest, it’s still the same chair.

The arm pads are some of the best – if not the best – in the business. They’re big, soft and, with 3-way adjustment, can be placed into just about any position you want.

One of the best things about ordering an Aeron is that it arrives fully assembled. There’s no need to mess around with manuals and screwdrivers; you open the box, roll it out and start using it.

Aeron’s adjustable lumbar support is one of the best you’ll ever come across, giving you precise control over its firmness and location.

First, there’s something about the Aeron that makes you look like a wannabe Wolf of Wall Street who is still stuck in the 1990s.

I just moved into a new house, and I’d like to create a home office that feels more like an inviting coworking space than a boardroom at UBS.

Even though it feels solid and well-made, its parts have a lot of give.

For example, when the chair is locked off in the upright position, I can rock back and forth in it by at least five centimetres, making metal-on-metal clunking sounds in the process.

In my books, “locked off” means “nothing moves”.

11. Humanscale Liberty.

Decent mid-range ergonomic office chair.

Above: the Humanscale Liberty is one of the most gorgeous minimalist chairs around. This example features a black base and oxygen inhale seat.

Designed by Niels Diffrient, the Humanscale Liberty is a stylish, minimalist mesh office chair with clean lines, a comfortable seating position and only three points of manual adjustment – seat height, seat depth and armrest height.

It automatically takes care of all other adjustments using a weight-sensing cantilever system.

Pros.

An office chair does not become as popular as the Humanscale Liberty without having rock-solid build quality.

This results in a lightweight but durable chair with impeccable fit and finish.

Above: the Liberty does not have any unsightly levers and doesn’t look like an ergonomic chair.

The Humanscale Liberty is very pretty without being ostentatious. While the Desky Pro+ is bold and almost futuristic-looking, the Liberty is elegantly understated.

It’s also quite compact. The Liberty is a great choice if your home office does not have enough room for a bulky ergonomic office chair.

That being said, you have direct control over seat height, armrest height and seat pan depth.

The fabric seat pan is very comfortable, while the mesh is satisfyingly soft, yet durable enough to withstand daily use.

What if you don’t like it?

If you purchase it through my recommended Humanscale retailer, JasonL, you can return the Liberty within 14 days and get a refund, less the cost of shipping.

Cons.

The Liberty’s recline motion is smooth and ergonomic, but it feels quite different from that of the Desky Pro+, ErgoTune Joobie, and ultra-high-end chairs like Herman Miller Cosm.

Above: the Humanscale Liberty features hybrid mesh/fabric construction, with the former used on the back and the latter on the seat.

While those chairs allow you to lean back and down in a rocking motion, the Humanscale Liberty pushes your hips slightly up as you recline.

It means you can continue comfortably performing computing tasks from extreme recline positions, but you lose the ability to rock back and forth in that classic managerial way, like you can on chairs with synchro-tilt or weight-sensitive mechanisms.

Above: the Liberty looks particularly good in casual WFH setups.

Another reason to look at alternatives is if you’re the type of person who really likes to fine-tune the settings on your chair yourself.

While the Liberty’s automatic mechanism works very well in helping you find the optimal position and keep you there, it can’t, for example, lock off at a specific point.

Swivel, width and depth adjustments are not available. This does not bother me a lot, but if you tend to type or mouse from unusual positions, this is something to consider.

Overall.

How Does The Liberty Stack Up?	Score
Ergonomics	4/5
Aesthetics	4/5
Build Quality	5/5
Ease Of Assembly	4.5/5
Price	4/5
Warranty	4/5
Return Policy	3.5/5
OVERALL	4.1/5

The Humanscale Liberty symbolises high-end office seating and pushes the boundaries of minimalism.

An intelligent counter-balance mechanism removes pre-set manual adjustment limits, thus encouraging movement and promoting comfort.

It represents excellent value for money because my next automatic ergonomic chair – the Herman Miller Cosm – is exactly twice as expensive.

Price.

You can buy the Humanscale Liberty from Australia’s largest furniture retailer, JasonL, for about $1100. Delivery is a bit extra.

12. Humanscale Freedom.

Decent executive ergonomic chair.

Designed by Niels Diffrient, the Freedom Chair takes the burden of adjustability off your hands.

Like Herman Miller’s Cosm, it dispenses with the need to twist knobs and pull levers. Instead, it uses an intelligent weight-sensing mechanism to handle all recline and lilt functionality.

You only retain control over seat and armrest height as a user.

Its bold yet elegant aesthetic will appeal more to men than women and look great when paired with a premium hardwood or glass office desk.

That said, the design is starting to look dated. It must have looked mint when it was launched in 2000, but in the context of 2024, it’s due for an update, don’t you think? This is why I placed it last on this list, despite its solid ergonomic chops.

How Does The Freedom Stack Up?	Score
Ergonomics	4/5
Aesthetics	4/5
Build Quality	5/5
Ease Of Assembly	4/5
Price	4/5
Warranty	4/5
Return Policy	3.5/5
OVERALL	4/5

Ergonomic Chair Scoring Criteria And Final Rankings.

I used the scores and criteria below to pick Australia’s best ergonomic office chair for 2024.

	Ergotune Joobie	Sihoo M57	Steelcase Leap	HM Embody	HM Cosm	Sihoo S300
Ergonomics	5	4	5	4	4	5
Aesthetics	4.5	4	3	3	5	4.5
Build Quality	4	4	5	5	4	4.5
Ease Of Assembly	5	4.5	5	5	5	4.5
Price	5	5	3.5	3	4	5
Warranty	5	3.5	5	5	5	4
Return Policy	4	4	3	4	3.5	3.5
FINAL SCORE	4.6/5	4.1/5	4.2/5	4.1/5	4.4/5	4.4/5

What does each label mean?

Ergonomics	The chair’s ability to place you in an optimal seating position. How many adjustment points does the chair have? Do they make sense (e.g., is the lumbar support gentle or pokey?)
Aesthetics	Does the chair look like an appliance or like a piece of industrial art? Does it elevate your office space in a way that makes it feel more welcome, or does it create a 1990s cubicle vibe?
Build Quality	The fit and finish. Do plastics feel cheap to the touch? How big are the gaps between parts? Are mechanical controls flimsy or solid?
Ease Of Assembly	It is relative. Think, “Is it a good value for money?” rather than, “How does it compare with that chair in Officeworks?” The big question is, how well does the chair fulfil its purpose?
Price	Is relative. Think “Is it a good value for money?” rather than “How does it compare with that chair in Officeworks?” The big question is – how well does the chair fulfil its purpose?
Warranty	This means having clear assembly instructions and a design that disassembles into a few large pieces. The fewer pieces, the better.
Return Policy	Allows you to return the chair if you don’t like it, with minimal fuss or cost.

What If You Can’t Decide On The Best Ergonomic Office Chair?

Many people have trouble deciding between two final office chair picks. If you’re still on the fence, I compared a few head-to-head to nudge you in the right direction.

Ergotune Joobie or Herman Miller Aeron?

The Aeron is almost six times more expensive. Is it six times better? This is a rational question, but if you’re considering buying the Aeron, you’re probably not being rational.

Purchasing one is an emotional decision influenced by the brand’s prestige and the message you want it to send about your success.

If that’s not a huge priority, choose the Ergotune Joobie instead.

Herman Miller Cosm or Ergotune Joobie?

This is a difficult decision. Truthfully, they’re my two favourite ergonomic chairs in this review. Like the Aeron, the Cosm is also a status symbol, but I like it more because it looks like it belongs in this decade.

I would buy a couple of Cosms for my home office in a heartbeat if I had “FU” money, my house was fully paid off, and I had a Porsche GT3 in the garage.

Until I achieve those goals, the Cosm will have to wait – and the Ergotune Joobie is more than adequate.

Sihoo M18 or Sihoo M57?

The M18 is a cheap ergonomic office chair from Sihoo – a step down from the M57 I included in the review above.

Both models have a similar look and vibe, but you can instantly tell that the M18 is cheaper than the M57.

Apart from the small gap in price and the large gap in build quality, the key difference between the two ergonomic office chairs is the construction of the seat pan.

You already know I prefer an all-mesh construction to deal with the hot Australian climate, so you won’t be surprised that I think the M57 is the better ergonomic office chair.

Officeworks vs Ikea.

There was a time when buying a mass-produced cheap office chair from Officeworks or Ikea made sense.

Buying things on the internet was fraught with danger while buying from retail giants with bricks and mortar stores meant you could see, touch and feel the products before swiping your credit card.

Fast forward to 2024.

By shopping direct-to-consumer, you’ll get a better quality office chair AND won’t have to spend half of your Saturday walking around Ikea.

What To Look For In An Ergonomic Office Chair.

A good ergonomic chair must give you many adjustment options so you can change your position regularly.

Not all ergonomic chairs are created equal. Some chairs are ergonomically superior to others. Here are 5 factors that matter in their order of priority.

1. Adjustable Seat Height.

It keeps your feet flat on the ground. A good seat height adjustment range is especially important when buying a centre-tilt chair to offset the drastic height changes that will happen when you tilt.

2. Comfortable Seat.

Comfort is strictly subjective and does not have an absolute measure. Regardless of whether it’s mesh or fabric, choose a chair that your body likes.

3. Adjustable Backrest Angle.

Enables you to recline and relieve tension in your back and neck.

4. Seat Tilt And Forward Tilt.

The importance of these features will depend on the nature of your work. If you’re in the medical field or type a lot, this is less important, as you’ll be spending most of your time in a fairly upright or forward, position.

5. Adjustable Armrests.

Enable you to support your arms and shoulders while typing, keeping your forearms at about 90 degrees to the surface of your desk.

5. Depth Adjustment.

Enables you to have the right amount of leg support without cutting off your blood flow. Many office chairs have this fairly well dialled in for most regular-sized bodies, or adjust this automatically.

5 Mistakes People Make When Buying An Office Chair.

It is easy to get caught up in office chair manufacturers’ marketing jargon. Use the tips below to separate useful advice from fiction.

1. Forgetting To Measure The Office.

Is there enough space around your desk for an office chair you’re about to buy?

2. Obsessing With Padding.

Don’t be fooled by padding. An office chair isn’t a lazy boy. Excess foam padding is usually a sign of a cheaply made, unergonomic chair that will feel uncomfortable and make you hot.

A soft seat pad may feel comfortable at first, but as your body sinks into it, it will become progressively uncomfortable because:

3. Not Spending Enough.

It’s easy to baulk at paying $700 for an adjustable chair. But, as the adage says, the poor man pays twice.

4. Not Trialling Before You Buy.

Sitting is extremely personal, and even the most ergonomic office chairs will fail to satisfy 5%-10% of the people who buy them.

Prevent being stuck with an office chair you hate by:

How Much Should You Spend On An Office Chair?

An office chair that costs $500-$800 represents the best value for money. Here’s how it stacks up in the typical pricing tiers:

Why should you avoid buying cheap office chairs? Because you end up paying mainly for transportation and reseller margins – not the technology that will keep you comfortable, healthy and productive.

Let me illustrate this with an example.

Here’s a typical cost breakdown for a consumer office chair:

Component Of Chair’s Price	Percentage Of Price
Chair (cost of goods)	30%
Manufacturer’s margin	20%
Distributor’s margin	10%
Retailer’s margin	30%
Shipping to the distributor & retailer	4%
Shipping to your door	4%
Packaging	2%

The only component in the table above that has a tangible effect on your well-being is the first one – the cost of chair hardware itself.

You can apply the 30% cost of goods fraction to chairs at different price tiers to gauge the amount of investment that’s gone into the R&D and manufacturing of your office chair:

I’d rather not trust the long-term health of my spine to an appliance that costs $75 to design and manufacture.

This is why I recommend buying the best ergonomic office chair you can afford.

Steven