The best office chair for back pain in 2024

I think the best office chairs for back pain can be a force for good in your life. It’s a grand claim to be sure, but I’ve been testing ergonomic chairs for years now, and I’ve noticed seen how using them make me feel, in both office and home work.

And the experts agree. According to research by the University of Hampshire, if you work long hours at a desk (which, let’s face it, we all do), using an ergonomic chair that follows the natural curvature of your spine, which provides support to your lower back, can decrease the risk of developing a cumulative trauma disorder.

So how have I selected the chairs on this list? When reviewing ergonomic chairs I consider their back support, adjustability, comfort, build quality and design. I also consider the price, and I’ve put together a list of the best budget chairs if that’s your chief concern. However, right now the X4 chair from X-Chair wins in all categories, and that’s why it’s my top pick – I’m still using it as my home office chair a year later. I spend months with each chair to get a proper feel for each one, and make notes on every feature and how it makes me feel. I use each chair for office work, for gaming, and just hanging with friends and family.

Table of Contents

The blue model of the Embody chair. Best overall

The Sihoo M57 budget chair. Best budget

Sihoo has been offering budget office chairs at a reasonable price for some time now, and though you can’t really go wrong with any of them, the M57 really adds a touch of class with its lumbar support. It’s airy with its mainly mesh surface, and for under $250, it’s the best option out there right now.
Read more below

The Aeron, an ergonomic chair icon. Most iconic

The X4 chair by X-Chair. Best leather

The Verve chair in green, by Branch. Best mid-price

The saddle chair from HÅG. Best saddle

06. HÅG Capisco and Capisco Puls

Load the next 6 products ↴

The Herman Miller Sayl is a smaller chair. Best small

The Muista ergo stool. Best stool

08. Muista ergonomic chair/stool

The Hinomi X1 chair. Butterfly back

Secretlab Titan Evo 2022 Chair. Best gaming

10. Secretlab Titan Evo 2022 Chair

Image 1 of 5

A full shot of the Embody in front of two stacked book cases. — (Image credit: Future)

Swipe to scroll horizontally

Chair overview
Attributes	Notes	Rating
Design	Ergonomic, modern office chair	★★★★★
Materials	Metal, copper-infused cooling foam, plastics	★★★★★
Adjustability	Full adjustability, and leading arm rests	★★★★★
Price	The $1,000 + will exclude many budgets – but it’s worth it	★★★★

Buy it if

✅ You want the best ergonomics: The Embody is the best ergonomic chair I’ve reviewed to date. It’s both incredibly comfortable, and incredibly supportive. It’s has loads of adjustability for your specific body type, but more than that, it is designed to support whatever siting position you prefer. There’s not another chair on the market that does this.

✅ You want peace of mind after purchase: If you buy straight through Herman Miller, you get their 12-year warranty, including parts and labour. This is the the best warranty that I’ve come across so far, and speaks to the confidence that Herman Miller has with its chairs.

Don’t buy it if:

❌ Budget is important to you: There’s no two ways about it, the Herman Miller chairs, and the Embody in particular, are expensive chairs. That is fine if you want to commit to a chair for the rest of your life. But if a low budget is your priority, this is not the chair for you – even during sales!

❌ You don’t want to make a design statement: It’s totally subjective, of course, but if you don’t like the look of the Embody, then you probably shouldn’t get it. With such a steep price tag, you should feel 100% happy with everything about this chair, and I can see how its aesthetics could put people off. I personally love it, but you’re not buying it for me!

“More than 20 physicians and PhDs in the fields of biomechanics, vision, physical therapy, and ergonomics contributed their expertise to help guide the development of this chair,” proudly states the Herman Miller website, about the Embody. And that sounds very impressive. But what does it actually mean to the user asked to spend over a grand on it? It means you’ll own the most comfortable, supportive office chair out there. It’s certainly the most exceptional office chair that I’ve ever used.

As the resident chair expert at Creative Bloq, I’ve tried and tested loads of office chairs and stools, and have a pretty good context for ranking them in categories such as ergonomics, comfort, design, etc. The Embody is top of the class in all categories, apart from price point. It will set you back north of a grand, and that’s even with a decent sale going on. And while that will immediately have people scroll further down this page, for those that want an investment in their office furnature, I think that’s great value for what you get.

Good ergonomic chairs accommodate, even encourage, movement. That may sound strange for a piece of furniture that you sit on, but according to Esports Medicine and PM&R Physician Dr Lindsey Migliore, “constant changes to your posture are integral to healthy sitting.” It’s because if you’re sat in the exact same position for hours on end, pressure builds on your ischial tuberosities (sitting bones), and your hips, lower back and shoulders.

The Embody encourages micro-movements thanks to its unique design. It has linked chains and panels in the back and seat, distributing your weight so small movements feel lighter and easier than usual. When I sit in the Embody, it’s just a joy to naturally adjust on the seat, and no matter what position I’m in – leaning on one side, stretching arms over the back, or doing my best impression of what ‘good posture’ is meant to be (we all do it!), I’m super comfortable and feel supported. It’s a hell of an experience.

Image 1 of 3

Sihoo's M57 chair — (Image credit: Future)

Swipe to scroll horizontally

Chair overview
Attributes	Notes	Rating
Design	Standard, modern office chair	★★★
Materials	Plastic, mesh and metal	★★★
Adjustability	All Sihoo chairs offer adjustability above their price tag	★★★★
Price	This is a great buy for around the $300 mark	★★★★★

Don’t buy it if:

❌ You’re looking for a touch of class: I appreciate the Sihoo range of office chairs – I don’t love them. They are budget models reflected in the choice of materials and basic design.

❌ You want the best ergonomics: The M57 and others of the range do provide good ergonomics, but certainly not great. The true support and cloud-like comfort comes at a bigger price tag.

❌ You hate lengthy constructions: Sihoo is pretty bad for providing you with a chair in a million pieces. That no doubt keeps the costs down, but still, worth noting that it may take some time to construct this.

A Sihoo chair has held our second spot as best budget ergonomic chair since this guide was made. And there’s a good reason for that. Sihoo have nailed ticking enough of the important boxes when it comes to comfort and ergonomics, while keeping costs down. This is perfectly represented with the M57 – it’s mesh and plastic and metal which isn’t exactly premium quality, but it’s also properly comfortable, breathable and has plenty of adjustability. Add to that a solid lumbar support, all for under $250, and you have a fantastic entry-level ergonomic office chair on your hands.

When you compare the M57 to the other big hitters on this page, the massive difference (other than price) is materials, design and to a smaller extent adjustability. You’ll find real leather and memory foam elsewhere. You’ll also find chairs that could objectively be described as beautiful. The M57 doesn’t shout loud in these categories. You’re not going to feel that you’re floating on the mesh it offers, but it’s plenty comfy for multiple hours of work.

As far as looks go, it’s pretty generic – neither beautiful nor ugly (as others on this list are). But when it comes to adjustability, it fairs well. The arms move forward and back, as well as up and down – a feature usually seen on more expensive models. And you also get a solid lumbar support that I wouldn’t usually expect for a chair under $250. All in all, it’s bang for buck the best office chair with ergonomic features that we’ve tested out.

Image 1 of 5

Herman Miller Aeron chair, in a hallway, surrounded with dark wood doors. — (Image credit: Future)

The ultimate ergonomic chair for people who love form and function.

Specifications

Colours: Onyx, Graphite and Mineral

Weight: 18kg / 19.5kg

Max load: 136kg / 159kg

Box dimensions: 104.14cm x 71.12cm x 68.58cm

Assembly: No assembly required

Warranty: 12 years

Reasons to buy

Iconic design

Supremely comfortable

Quality materials

Delivered assembled

12-year warranty from HM

Reasons to avoid

–

Few adjustment options (for entry-level model)

Swipe to scroll horizontally

Chair overview
Attributes	Notes	Rating
Design	A modern design classic.	★★★★★
Materials	Brushed metal, mesh and foam.	★★★★★
Adjustability	Entry level model has minimal.	★★★★½
Price	From Herman Miller it’s around $1,200 but come with a great warranty.	★★★★

Buy it if

✅ You want a modern classic design: The Aeron’s design is a modern classic. It was made in 1994, and has become famous around the world.

✅ You want weightless comfort: It’s not only beautiful. The Aeron is beautifully put together, and cradles you in the air. It’s incredibly comfortable.

✅ You want the best ergonomics: The Aeron was one of the first ergonomic chairs to be made, and the human form hasn’t changed much since then. It supports you in all the right places.

Don’t buy it if:

❌ You’re not sure which model to get: The Aeron comes not only in small, medium and large. You also get the ‘entry-level’ model which doesn’t have the adjustable arms or lumbar support. It is cheaper though.

❌ You’re on a budget: It’s the most expensive chair on this list, when taking the retail price. You can get it cheaper in sale, but you’ll miss the Herman Miller warranty.

Image 1 of 5

The X-chair's X4 chair — (Image credit: Future)

Swipe to scroll horizontally

Chair overview
Attributes	Notes	Rating
Design	A classic, executive style with large leather panels.	★★★★★
Materials	Heavy aluminum, memory foam seat and soft leather finish	★★★★★
Adjustability	Fantastic 360º arm rests and back and seat adjustments	★★★★★
Price	Around $1,139 at Amazon. As low as $999 over Black Friday	★★★★½

Buy it if

✅ You want a classic executive chair: This is not your usual mesh affair, and real leather isn’t for everyone. But for those that want that touch of luxury, this is a beautiful, premium model.

✅ Arm rests are important to you: The X4’s 360º arm rests are some of the best on the market, with maximum adjustability and comfort.

✅ You want a solid build: The X4 has a very heavy, solid metal base. That means that while you enjoy the soft leather furnishings at surface level, you also feel the heft of the chair under you.

Don’t buy it if:

❌ You’re vegetarian: X-Chair uses real Italian leather for the X4, and there’s lots of it.

❌ You’re on a budget: We’ve found the cheapest entry-level model of the X4 for $999, but that’s still a grand! If you’re on a tighter budget, keep scrolling down this page.

❌ You don’t like lots of buying decisions: When bought through X-Chair, there are actually a lot of options before you get to the ‘buy’ button. Too many! It’s a little annoying.

There are no surprising notes to make on the look of the X4 (though you can mix things up with one of the eight different colours that are on offer). I’d say the look is classic, with a pleasing two-part back, and a singular base making up the seat. Most importantly, the X4 really shines when you sit in it for any length of time. Built from hard plastic, chrome aluminium, mesh and leather, the X4 gives you all the solid support you’d want from a premium ergonomic chair, while also providing supreme comfort too.

It’s one of the heaviest chairs featured on this list, clocking in at 31kg (that’s twice the weight of some of the others). That solidity goes into providing incredible back support, and a soft-yet-solid comfort that feels great. It’s also best for most people because it’s really adjustable. There are loads of feature options as well, including headrest, 360 degree armrests, and massage and heating pads. For more information, check out our X-Chair X4 Executive chair review.

Image 1 of 5

A side shot of the Verve chair against a book shelf. — (Image credit: Future)

Swipe to scroll horizontally

Chair overview
Attributes	Notes	Rating
Design	Full colour coverage, this is a design standout.	★★★★★
Materials	Coloured aluminium, plastic mesh, fabric and foam.	★★★★★
Adjustability	Lumbar, up and down, arm rests, and seat depth.	★★★½
Price	$549 retail	★★★★★

Buy it if

✅ You want a seriously stylish chair: Branch’s Verve is one of my favourite chairs out there when it comes to aesthetics. It looks gorgeous, seamlessly covering its colour across all materials. The curves and lines of the chair are really well thought out. A lot of time and money have been spent on how this chair looks and feels.

✅ You want the best mid-priced chair: The Verve retails at $549 straight from the Branch website, but I’ve already seen it cheaper over at Amazon. For the quality of design, this is an excellent price, and my personal favourite mid-price chair out there.

To sum up my three-month review of the Brand Verve chair: I love it. I think high on the list of the things I love about this chair, is its look, including the sweeping colour that covers all various materials seamlessly. I also love the easy assembly and simplicity of use once it’s all put together. But of course, it wouldn’t have made this list if I couldn’t also recommend its comfort and support. And all for under $600? It really is a class act.

So why not a five star review? Because throughout the process of putting the chair together and then using it, Branch set the bar super high for itself. That means when I noticed a flaw, or had a niggle about one feature, that issue was magnified. They made a rod for themselves by offering perfection, and they (well, the arms) didn’t quite make it… still, near-perfect, and utterly stunning to behold, and all for nearly half the price of the more high-end chairs on this list that’s bloody good!

Image 1 of 5

Hag Capsico chair in bedroom — (Image credit: Tom May)

Swipe to scroll horizontally

Chair overview
Attributes	Notes	Rating
Design	A minimalist Scandinavian design saddle seat designed to keep you moving.	★★★★★
Materials	Aluminum, foam and soft felt.	★★★★½
Adjustability	Up and down	★★★½
Price	$1,100 at retail	★★★★

Buy it if

✅ You want to move when sitting: That may sound strange, but the HÅG Capisco encourages many movements when you’re sat on it – which is great for blood flow and keeping your back and joints healthy.

✅ A Scandinavian look is what you want: It’s a pretty iconic look. Certainly nothing looks quite like it. We like it – but do you?

✅ Your job involves you moving a lot: The Capisco has been used extensively in the medical professions, where users move to and from it, and while on it, all day long.

Don’t buy it if:

❌ You want a sink-in chair: There’s no reclining on the HÅG Capisco. Ever. That’s because it doesn’t have a back to speak of. No arm rests either. But that’s kind of the point of the design. No lounging, but moving instead.

❌ You’re on a budget: It’s another of the quality chairs on the list that breaks the grand mark. It’s certainly an investment, but not a cheap one.

The HÅG Capisco looks a little different from the other chairs on this list. That’s because it’s a saddle chair, which allows you to sit as if you are saddling a horse. This has been found to be beneficial for countering and preventing back pain in research such as this study from Cardiff University. In our HÅG Capisco 8106 chair review we noted that you keep adjusting how how you sit, which in turn helps with blood flow and posture, ultimately easing back discomfort.

Image 1 of 5

Herman Miller Sayl chair in front of a desk — (Image credit: Future)

A chair ideal for smaller offices.