Last updated: September 18th, 2023
Working from home is the new norm. And having an ergonomic chair in your home office is essential for maximising your productivity and physical well-being.
We’ve all been told before – sitting in a cheap, poorly adjusted office chair (e.g., the Ikea Markus office chair) isn’t great for your back. You should invest in an ergonomic office chair that will keep you supported and comfortable.
But what exactly makes an office chair “ergonomic”?
I’m about to show you which ergonomic features you need and which are gimmicks you can do without, so you can choose the best ergonomic office chair for your home office.
What Makes A Chair Ergonomic?
The exact definition of an ergonomic chair is somewhat fluid.
Worse, manufacturers are often guilty of labelling traditional office chairs as ergonomic to improve their margins.
Shown above: The Ergotune Supreme is one of the most popular ergonomic chairs on the Australian market. It features 11 adjustment points and all-mesh construction.
To qualify as ergonomic, the chair must include the following features as a minimum:
- Backrest with angle adjustment
- Height adjustable seat
- Height adjustable armrests
- Correct cushioning for comfort, support and breathability
- Adjustable lumbar support
Premium ergonomic chairs, like examples from Herman Miller, Ergotune and Steelcase, also add:
- Seat depth adjustment
- 3D and 4D armrests
- Tilt tension and lock
Trouble is, ergonomic chairs only do half of the job for you. To reap the benefits of an ergonomic chair, you first need to know how to sit properly.
(Related: 7 Surprising Benefits Of A Kneeling Chair).
Why Is Good Posture Important?
Posture is how you hold your body when sitting, standing or simply being active.
Ergonomics is the science of human posture. It looks at how we sit and move, providing scientific-based evidence on optimal positions for our bodies.
Sitting and standing with the correct posture:
- Reduces fatigue.
- Makes you look more attractive.
- Helps prevent long-term back issues.
(Related: Best Office Chair For Lower Back Pain).
9 Checklist Items For Improving Your Posture.
Shown above: Right angles are your friend. The ergonomic seated position keeps your limbs and hips at 90 degrees.
Let’s get practical, shall we? Here are the best ways you can ensure that you’re sitting with proper posture:
- Chin is parallel to the floor
- Eyes looking straight ahead
- Shoulders are even
- Neutral spine (no flexing or arching)
- Arms at your sides with elbows at 90 degrees
- Abdominal muscles taught, but not clenched
- Hips at 90 degrees
- Knees at 90 degrees and pointing straight
- Body weight distributed evenly on both feet
It might seem like a lot to think about, but over time and with practice, this position will become second nature.
A good ergonomic chair will ensure you’re sitting in this position without even thinking about it.
Did You Know?
Not having your feet on the floor while you’re in a seated position will cause your legs to dangle. This, in turn, can cause your pelvis to tilt backwards and make your core work extra hard to compensate.
7 Checklist Items For Choosing The Right Ergonomic Office Chair.
Shown above: A high-end ergonomic chair. It features height and width adjustable armrests, lumbar support with manual height and tension adjustments, a mesh back and a fabric seat pad.
Here are seven essential items to look for in an ergonomic chair.
1. Good Lumbar Support.
Lower back support is crucial. The lumbar spine has an inward curve, and sitting without support often leads to slouching and discomfort in your lower back.
A proper ergonomic chair should have a lumbar adjustment (height, depth and preferably tension) to help you find the right fit for your lower back.
2. Adjustable Backrest.
The backrest of an ergonomic office chair should be approximately 30-50cm wide.
If the chair has the seat and backrest combined, it should be adjustable in forward and back angles, with a locking mechanism to secure it from going too far backward.
(Related: Best Shops To Buy An Office Chair In Sydney and Melbourne).
3. Seat Height Adjustment.
Make sure the seat height is adjustable. You should be able to sit with your feet flat on the floor.
- Your thighs should be horizontal to the floor, and your arms parallel to the desk’s height.
(Related: How To Sit When You Have Lower Back Pain).
4. Correct Seat Width.
The chair seat should have enough width to cradle you without squeezing or making you feel like you’re swimming.
Roughly 45-50cm wide is the standard.
5. Adjustable Seat Depth.
The depth needs to be long enough to sit with your back against the backrest while leaving roughly 5-10cm between the back of the knees and the chair seat.
6. Breathable Seat Surface.
Your office chair shouldn’t be an actual pain in your butt, so choosing the seat material of your ergonomic office chair matters.
While fabric tends to be more universally popular, it doesn’t allow for as much airflow as mesh fabric, which is a consideration if you’re prone to getting sweaty – err, down there.
(Related: 30+ Best Office Chairs In Australia [Ultimate Guide]).
7. Adjustable Armrests.
Ergonomic chairs should offer adjustable arms, allowing your arms to rest comfortably and shoulders to be relaxed.
2D, 3D and 4D armrests are the most common. The higher the number the more dimensions the armrest can be adjusted in.
- A 3D armrest offers more than enough support and adjustability.
If you’re feeling fancy, 4D armrests will add another layer of movement that will allow you to pivot them inwards or outwards.
(Related: 7 Best Dual Monitor Arms in Australia).
How Necessary Is Lumbar Support?
Proper lumbar support encourages you to sit in a way that preserves the natural curvature of your spine.
- The best office chairs offer fully adjustable or semi-automated lumbar support.
- Meanwhile, the cheapest office chairs tend to offer no lumbar support or a fixed one.
Expert Tip.
While lumbar support is not a magic bullet and won’t alleviate your back problems (or prevent you from developing them), its presence in an ergonomic chair does indicate that the chair has been designed with posture and ergonomics in mind.
Frequently Asked Questions About Ergonomic Chairs.
Know the facts before you buy.
Are high-end ergonomic chairs worth it?
Overall, ergonomic chairs are more expensive than basic office chairs due to their added benefits and features.
High-end or premium ergonomic chairs like the Herman Miller Cosm go one step further by offering even more adjustability, premium materials and a vastly improved aesthetic.
What else do I need, apart from an ergonomic chair?
You need to move. As I pointed out earlier, make an effort to shift your posture every 30 minutes.
This means changing from a standing to a sitting position or, at the very least, changing the angle of your upper body while you sit.
Are gaming chairs and ergonomic chairs the same thing?
Gaming chairs and ergonomic chairs may look similar, but they are built with different needs in mind.
While most quality gaming chairs are ergonomic, they often have added features (like a neck pillow, lumbar pillow and a deeper recline) for improved comfort during long gaming sessions.
These added features aren’t necessary for, and are often detrimental to, an office chair.
However, if you’re a gamer who works from home, a gaming chair is an acceptable compromise.
Final Words About Ergonomic Office Chairs.
An ergonomic chair is an important building block of your WFH setup.
While it can be tempting to continue working from your kitchen table or your couch, this is a short-sighted strategy that leads to poor productivity and increased fatigue.
Invest in a good ergonomic chair (and a sturdy standing desk set up with workplace ergonomics in mind, while you’re there), and you’ll wonder how you lived without them.
Ally
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