Last updated: December 19th, 2023
Whether working remotely or in the office, you’re likely to spend most of your day sitting in an office chair. In fact, we bet you’re sitting in one right now.
Chair quality and design features make a substantial difference in your comfort throughout the day, affecting productivity.
There are two scenarios:
- Your desk chair is comfortable and supportive, making you less likely to be distracted by your physical set-up as you work.
- Your chair does not support your body, is incorrectly assembled, or cannot be adjusted. You will likely spend most of the day finding a comfortable position to work in, feeling frustrated and distracted.
Whilst they can be costly, high-quality office chairs are an investment for any business. Read on to uncover the costs and features of our top recommended office chairs.
Typical Office Chair Price.
Office chairs range in price from $50 to $2000 (yes, you read that right). Low-cost chairs have fewer features and less support, while higher-priced ergonomic chairs come with all the bells and whistles and are genuinely ergonomic.
When it comes to price, there are a few contributing factors:
- Ergonomic features.
- Upholstery.
- Adjustability.
- Warranties.
- Design and aesthetics.
(Related: Top 5 Benefits Of Ergonomic Office Chairs).
Features That Affect The Price.
Engineers at the top furniture manufacturers spend significant time studying the needs of today’s office workers. This knowledge dramatically affects the price of high-end options.
When weighing up chair options, consider the following:
- The build quality and how long the chair will last you.
- Materials (like leather, vinyl, or mesh).
- Shipping costs.
- Assembly (You’ll pay more for a pre-assembled chair versus one you assemble yourself).
Expert Tip.
Are you tempted to use a gaming chair in your home office? Resist this temptation – gaming chairs are much worse for your back and productivity.
Which Material Is Best For An Office Chair?
Many modern office chairs come across as functional art pieces thanks to outstanding craftsmanship and stylistic design choices.
The latest high-tech textiles also improve the durability of new office chairs.
When it comes to material, consider the following:
- Textiles: Some chairs have memory foam or body-contouring seats atop strong aluminium foundations. Higher durability often means higher cost.
- Seams: A poorly structured chair will have crooked components or elements that don’t secure properly.
- Attachment points: Analyse how the wheels, base, and other attachments are screwed in and if they’re stable.
- Wheels and armrests: Minor components, such as wheel quality, will affect the durability and longevity of the chair just as much as textiles.
Many chairs now offer environmentally conscious, natural materials like bamboo for sustainability and comfort. These options are more expensive due to their added recyclable processes and sustainable packaging choices.
(Related: What Are The Most Comfortable Office Chairs?)
1. Genuine Leather Office Chairs.
Most leather office chairs have price tags over $1000, and it’s easy to understand why.
If you’d prefer leather, keep in mind the following:
- Leather computer chairs tend to have fewer features because of the high price tag.
- You can expect your genuine leather chair to last for many years, often longer than chairs made from other materials.
- Leather has a substantial environmental impact. Consider opting for a faux-leather option to achieve the same look and feel.
Read here to explore our recommendations for leather chairs.
2. Mesh Office Chairs.
A standard option in co-working and office spaces is mesh chairs. The famous Herman Miller Aeron regularly sells out due to its popularity, comfort, and style.
Mesh chairs offer:
- Comfort.
- Breathability.
- Affordable price tags.
- Modern aesthetic.
The downside is they can be less supportive and, at times, quite stiff. We recommend choosing stretchy mesh that contours to the body and won’t cause aches and pains.
Important!
Many chairs have mesh backs, which are more supportive than mesh seats. Manufacturers also commonly combine mesh with vinyl or leather.
The average price for mesh chairs ranges from $120 to $1,800.
3. Vinyl or Polyurethane Leather Desk Chairs.
As mentioned above, manufacturers often cover office chairs with vinyl to resemble leather.
These chairs offer an affordable option for a leather look and feel.
However, keep in mind:
- Whilst genuine leather can last for decades, vinyl or faux leather chairs will begin flaking.
- Factors like perfume, spilt food or drink, and sweat can damage the vinyl.
The average price for vinyl chairs ranges from $200 to $800.
Expert Tip.
Vinyl home office chair options are often marketed as “antimicrobial”, including a protective layer applied to the chair’s surface. An additional benefit to these for large offices is that they are easy to clean.
What Adjustability Features To Look For In An Office Chair?
Office chair prices are greatly affected by levels of adjustability and ergonomic design.
It can be tempting to skimp on some features for the price, but keep in mind that when you’re spending up to 50 hours a week in your chair, these adjustability features can protect you from injury and discomfort.
For us, the non-negotiable features of ergonomic office chairs are:
1. Height
The ability to adjust the height of the chair is crucial.
By adjusting the chair to suit you, you:
- Improve the angle at which you view the computer screen.
- Support your legs and feet to be in the correct position on the floor.
- Allow your arms a comfortable resting place on the desk.
Many chairs have levers that let you raise or lower the chair. When you find the ideal height, you should be able to lock your chair into place.
2. Armrest Height.
The height of the armrest will also assist with comfort and productivity. Adjustable armrests lift and lower, and some have padding that pivots in and out.
You may only want to sit upright for parts of the day and stand the rest. Experts recommend alternating between both for the best health outcomes.
3. Headrest.
A headrest is an under-rated feature.
A typical ergonomic office chair has adjustable headrests that pivot, raise, and lower for neck support. When spending long hours in a chair, the ability to rest your head and take pressure off the neck and shoulders is a must.
4. Seat Depth.
Chairs at a higher price point often have adjustable seats that allow you to move the base to support your spine’s natural curvature.
Important!
You should be seated with your bottom and lower spine in the very back of the chair for the best alignment.
We recommend looking for a chair with tilting features, too, which will enable you to lean back and relax or stretch periodically.
5. Lumbar Support.
A typical ergonomic chair (even those with lower prices) offers lumbar and back support to protect the low back.
Alternatively, you can invest in a lumbar support cushion. These come in various styles, shapes, and materials and range from as little as $45 to $200.
Are Executive Office Chairs Worth It?
You don’t have to be an executive or a senior leader to sit in executive office chairs. An executive office chair is one that often has a high backrest that supports the head, neck, and shoulders. They may also have a contoured seat that supports the lower back and encourages good posture.
(Related: Steelcase Series 1 Review: Best Chair Under $1,000)?
Many executive chairs feature adjustable armrests, allowing the user to adjust the height and width of the armrests to fit their body.
For that reason, they provide great ergonomic support and make the perfect desk chair, regardless of whether you’re fitting out your home office or head office.
How Long Should Office Chair Warranty Be?
Most office chairs, costly ones, will be sold with a warranty.
The best and most expensive offer lifetime warranties. It’s common for many office chairs to include a 30-day guarantee. However, some offer 1-2 year warranty periods.
Warranties provide a variety of benefits. These include:
- The replacement of parts that are damaged or misused.
- The replacement of the entire chair in the event it breaks or deteriorates.
You may have to complete a claim online to process your warranty or visit the same store you purchased the chair.
Shipping And Assembly.
Unless you shop in-store, you’ll pay to ship your office chair to your home or the new office.
There are a few things to keep in mind:
- Damages: Ensure the chosen brand covers replacement for any breakages that occur in transit
- Assembly: Most pre-assembled chairs are expensive ($500+) due to the extra space they take up in trucks to ship. If you don’t have the time, consider hiring an Airtasker to set up your chair.
- Weight: Some shipping carriers calculate shipping costs on weight, which can drive prices up for chairs with heavy aluminium or sturdy features and bases.
Important!
Regarding bulk orders (say, when setting up a new office space), shipping costs can be negotiated with the seller so that you do not pay individual shipping on every chair, and they are all delivered in bulk.
Choosing The Right Office Furniture.
There is a range of supportive office chair options for you to explore, and most of them look great in any office. Prices can vary drastically depending on if you choose a basic option, all the way to the designer end of the spectrum.
When purchasing your office chair, keep in mind the chair’s offerings:
- Ergonomics.
- Features.
- Adjustability.
- Materials used.
- Warranty.
- Assembly.
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