10 office chairs that are perfect for working from home
These top-rated office chairs will have your back.
Credit:
Reviewed / Kyle Hamilton
Recommendations are independently chosen by Reviewed's editors. Purchases made through the links below may earn us and our publishing partners a commission. Prices were accurate at the time this article was published but may change over time.
When it comes to sitting at a desk and using a computer all day, we can easily forget about our physical well-being. Without a proper supportive chair to encourage good posture, you can develop some severe back and wrist pain.
Have no fear, we spent months researching the top-selling ergonomic office chairs to find which ones have your back. Whether you're temporarily working remotely, or decking out your permanent home office we've gathered together a list of 10 chairs that will best suit your needs.
These are the best office chairs available in Canada.
1. Herman Miller Aeron
Built for long stretches of sitting and a healthy sheen of stress sweat, the Aeron’s breathable mesh lets your back stay cool. The suspension on the seat and backrest keep you comfortable and supported throughout the day.
On the back of the seat is Herman Miller’s PostureFit SL: The SL stands for the sacral/lumbar region of your back—also known as the lower to middle back region. Two flexible pads on the Aeron support this region, so whether you find yourself sitting properly, hunched in concentration, or taking a quick nap, they will adjust to your new posture.
The seat-angle adjustment alleviated a lot of leg tension and made us feel more productive with the forward sitting position. We unlocked the tilt limiter for the backrest to further stretch our legs and relax our spines.
One of our favourite features is the fully adjustable armrests. The firmness makes them feel durable and supportive, without any fear they'll be knocked out of place with simple movements. We also like the design for adjusting them: On the back of the chair, there are levers that unlock vertical movement of the armrests.
This chair can also be as customized and supportive as you want it to be. During the purchasing process, you can further configure the Aeron chair for such things as the size of the seat, armrest adjustments and material, back support, and tilt angle. However, keep in mind that when you personalize, you also increase the price.
Get the Herman Miller Aeron Chair at Design Within Reach
2. Autonomous ErgoChair 2
Usually, an office chair with this many features can break the bank. Fortunately, Autonomous has found the perfect medium, offering a high-end office chair with a price that’s hard to beat.
We found the thick, fabric-padded seat to be better cushioned and more comfortable than the other chairs in our roundup. The fabric cushion and mesh back work in harmony to support your back without smothering your body.
Regardless of body type, our testers nearly universally felt comfortable in this chair. This broad appeal stems from the unique reclining features: users can lean back without losing head, neck, or lower back support.
The ErgoChair 2 can also morph its shape to please just about anyone. For the vertically inclined, the seat depth can be extended so you can feel like you’re sitting in an adult’s chair. Anyone with back problems will appreciate the adjustable lumbar support, which uses the same comfortable fabric as the seat. Finally, for precise tasks and maximum attention to detail, the chair angle tilt mechanism lets you lean forward by adjusting the seat and backrest to tilt toward your workstation. This allows you get closer to the action without the risk of falling over.
High-end chair enthusiasts with a generous budget will get the Aeron, but the ErgoChair 2 is a close, affordable second.
Get the Autonomous ErgoChair 2 from Autonomous
3. Steelcase Leap
The Leap by Steelcase requires no stretch of the imagination to be considered a high-end office chair. Its leather padding, fully adjustable armrests, seat-depth adjustment, and the highly intuitive design of the built-in lumbar support embodies the word professional.
The version we tested came clad in soft, durable leather, demonstrating Steelcase’s high quality and excellent taste. The most noteworthy design choice of this chair is the stylish backrest.
Normally jutting out of the back, Steelcase hid the lumbar support internally, allowing the Leap to blend into even the most traditionally decorated office. Also built-in is a lower-back firmness control knob that allows you to have as much or as little back support as needed.
The biggest issue we had with this chair is the price. You can get a lot more chair for a lot less money.
Get the Steelcase Leap from Amazon Canada
4. Herman Miller Sayl
When chair manufacturers want a breathable material, they tend to look towards mesh. However, Herman Miller challenges that notion with the Sayl chair.
The Golden-Gate-Bridge-inspired backrest is gorgeous to look at and is even better to sit in. With its incredible design and flexibility, it formed to our backs perfectly, no matter what kind of posture we had.
Get the Herman Miller Sayl at Design Within Reach
5. Steelcase Gesture
With its intuitive design, the Gesture makes adjusting a breeze by placing every knob and lever on the right side of the chair.
However, what sets this chair apart from its competitors are the armrests. Designed with a joint similar to that of a human shoulder, the Gesture’s arms can move any way yours can.
We also commend the multi-tilt lever, which gives four different settings of backrest-angle adjustment, as opposed to the usual recline-lock lever. The fabric padding is comfortable and provides good upright posture, but overall feels a bit stiffer than other fabric seats.
Get the Steelcase Gesture at Amazon Canada
6. Raynor Ergohuman
At first glance, this chair underwhelmed us. Fortunately, we kept looking and found some cool features.
The protruding lumbar support initially appeared uncomfortable, but we discovered that it forms to your body and adjusts as you push your back against it. Additionally, the backrest height is adjustable, so you can lower or heighten it based on where you want more support.
We found the Eergohuman to be intuitive and supportive, as almost every adjustment is built into one mechanism.
Get the Raynor Ergohuman at Amazon Canada
7. Steelcase Amia
The Amia has a lot going for it. Reminiscent of the Steelcase Leap, it has sleek, built-in lumbar support. It also has fully adjustable arms, seat depth, and recline lock and tension. The chair’s back support exceeded expectations, but unfortunately, its stiff fabric cushions made this chair uncomfortable.
Get the Steelcase Amia at Amazon Canada
8. Humanscale Freedom Task
When you sit in a Freedom Task, it automatically adjusts as you recline. That means there are no knobs or levers to fiddle with, freeing up more time for productivity.
The armrests also have an interesting design. Instead of regular height adjustment buttons, you instead lift the arms, and while you’re still lifting them, move them up and down to adjust. The armrests also recline with you since they are attached to the backrest.
Get the Humanscale Freedom Task at Wayfair Canada
9. Herman Miller Embody
The Embody turned out to be the strangest-looking chair in our roundup. Herman Miller wanted the Embody to contour to the natural curvature of your spine. The backrest took a cue from human anatomy—complete with a spine and ribs.
Even with its unique backrest design, we found the chair lacking in other departments. The seat felt a bit stiff and flimsy as we increased the depth. The armrests wobbled, and we needed two hands to adjust the width precisely.
Get the Herman Miller Embody at Design Within Reach
10. Furmax Mesh Office Chair with Armrest
Who wouldn't be curious about one of the most popular office chairs on Amazon? Unfortunately, this is one of those times where you get what you pay for.
The hard plastic armrests are very stiff and uncomfortable, and there aren't many sitting position options. The winged-back backrest conforms to your back and provides some support, but it feels as though it might break or tear if you lean back too far. The fabric seat cushion is decently comfortable for short periods, but you won't want to linger for more than a few hours.
Overall, if you have a smaller body frame or a tight budget, the Furmax is a decent option. Otherwise, we'd recommend looking elsewhere for your next office chair.
