Seat Cushions, Backrests, and Footrests
If you can’t upgrade your chair just yet, a cushion or backrest might help. Here are a few we like:
CushionLab Seat Cushion for $69: This memory foam seat is comfortable, and I had no problems sitting on it for hours on end. It’s best paired with an adjustable chair, as it adds a decent amount of height to your seat, which might make typing on a keyboard awkward. It does a great job of keeping out bad odors, and you can also wash the cover. Just know that it’s almost never sold for its full price of $85, which means it isn’t really on “sale.”
LoveHome Memory Foam Lumbar Support for $30: If you slouch in your seat, this comfortable memory foam pillow can help. It keeps your back straight and supported, and as it’s affordable, it’s a great option to try before shelling out hundreds for a new chair. It’s good to use in a car or a wheelchair, too. The cover is washable, and it has two adjustable straps (plus an extension strap) that go around your seat to keep it in the position you need.
Secretlab Premium Footrest for $89: Ideally, your feet are planted on the ground as you sit, but it’s nice to be able to prop them up on something soft every so often. I have been using Secretlab’s footrest for more than two years and it’s excellent. Not only is the PlushCell memory foam material it’s made of soft and cushy for my feet, but it also stays remarkably clean. I have a tiny dog and his hair gets everywhere except the quilted fabric cover. (You can hand wash this cover to get dirt out.) The patterned silicone base does a good job of keeping it in place too.
Other Chairs We’ve Tested
Not every chair is a winner. Here are a few others we like enough to recommend, but they’re not as good as our top picks above.
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Photograph: Julian Chokkattu
Haworth Breck for $419: I like Haworth’s newest chair, the Breck. After sitting on it for a month, I didn’t have problems (no back pain!), though I can safely say it’s better suited for shorter people (roughly under 5’8″). That’s because the Breck’s seat is short and the seat depth only extends an extra 2 inches. The weight-activated recline requires some push on your end, more than you might expect—it wasn’t too hard for me, but lighter-weight people may find it problematic. The seat padding is thin but I didn’t this as an issue even after hours of sitting. The best part is how amazingly simple it is to set up—no tools required! But my main gripe? Simply getting up from the seat causes the gas spring cylinder to loudly lift. This, and the fact that it tends to make some noises when I fidget around on the chair, makes it feel a little cheap.
Haworth Fern for $1,129: I think the Haworth Fern is best for shorter people (aka anyone not above 6 feet like me). It’s adjustable to the nth degree—you can even tilt the seat for a more upright sitting position!—but the seat itself was just wide enough for me, though it’s plenty soft and pillowy. When I pulled out the seat depth to the max, it created a gap between the seat and the backrest, and I didn’t love this feeling. The backrest is nice and soft, but I’d argue the lumbar support is quite aggressive. My back just felt like something was there all the time and it felt distracting. I don’t think you’d have these issues if you are shorter and narrower than me, and it’s otherwise one of the softest office chairs I’ve sat on.
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Eureka Ergonomic Royal Chair for $400: Some folks chase that executive chair aesthetic—you know, plush leather and a high back so you can swivel around and reveal a cat in your lap as you laugh maniacally. This chair from Eureka fits the bill without costing a fortune and it’s been an OK chair for the month I’ve sat in it. The setup was quick, and the seat and back are soft and a little bouncy. I found my back sweaty after a few hours of sitting because there’s just nowhere for body heat to go. The lumbar support isn’t great as prolonged sitting has left me with some sensations in my lower back. Not pain, just my back telling me I ought to get up. There’s not much to adjust but the recline and headrest. Also, if you need a wide seat, this is not the chair for you as the armrests will feel like they’re boxing you in (it just fits me and I’m 6’4″). I thought this chair would look pretty poor after a month but it’s easy to clean with a damp cloth and the fake leather has held up. Too bad about the two-year warranty.
Secretlab Titan Evo for $519: This gaming chair (7/10, WIRED Recommends) is classy enough for the home office. It sets itself apart from similarly priced competitors with its durability and flexibility. It’s comfortable for marathon gaming sessions, thanks to the adjustability it offers (particularly the lumbar support). The headrest pillow is magnetic and stays attached to the chair, which is a nice touch. But the firm cold cure foam molds to your body and may not suit everyone. It also will make you feel sweaty.
Branch Verve for $549: The Verve used to be a top pick above, but I think the Ergonomic Chair Pro is better value considering they’re similar in price. It elegant (especially in the lovely Coral and Cobalt colors), it keeps my back straight, and it’s quite comfy. It can make nearly the same adjustments but there’s no seat tilt, and the armrests are much more limited. I also wouldn’t have minded if the seat was a smidge wider—folks who need a wider seat may want to look elsewhere. I try to sit on these chairs for several weeks if not months, but I rarely can sit on one for years as I have so many to test. However, I have a colleague who owns the Verve who said that after more than two years, the chair started to sink whenever he sat on it. Thankfully, he says Branch’s customer service was very responsive and promptly sent him a new cylinder.
Allsteel O6 for $1,289: While this chair is eye-searingly expensive, every part—from the casters and the adjustments to the design—is incredibly refined. The adjustable lumbar support provided shockingly good support even for hours of work. My only complaint is that the armrest adjustments are a bit stiff, but besides that, this is an exceptional chair that’s comfortable and intuitive enough for me to completely forget about once I sit down and start working. Fair warning: This chair comes fully assembled, which is nice, but the box is massive. —Henri Robbins
Hinomi X1 Chair for $699: Hinomi’s X1 mesh chair has a trick up its sleeve—a built-in footrest! Just extend and flip out the footrest; voilà, your feet are now propped up. This might not be very practical for fellow tall people, as my legs often hit the wall behind my desk, but it’s quite comfy. I also just didn’t end up using the footrest as much as I thought. The chair is otherwise well-built. I like the lumbar support here, and there’s a good amount of adjustments you can make. The seat itself is a bit firm, but I got used to it after some time. Hinomi offers a 12-year warranty, but best of all you can snag it in a dusty pink from the company’s website. I’d buy this over the X-Chair mesh chair listed below.
Autonomous Chair Ultra for $599: Every time I sit on this chair, I’m surprised how flat and hard the seat is. It’s a jolt when I plunk my butt down. I don’t like it, but the chair overall feels supportive. It’s kind of like those Plank mattresses—if a harder seat is what you’re after, then this chair will make you happy. The adaptive backrest feels a bit busy because the ridges of the chair’s back come through the thin mesh, but the all-mesh design does a good job of dissipating my body heat. It’s very adjustable overall and looks nice; it just isn’t for everyone.
Odinlake Ergo Max747 for $899: The Ergo Max747 is, all around, a great chair to sit in. The three-piece back provides great back support and comfort, and the easy-access paddles on either side of the seat make most adjustments quick and simple. Even sitting in this chair for hours, I never felt uncomfortable, whether I was sitting up or reclining (this chair reclines incredibly far, from 90 to 135 degrees). The bag holder in the back (which I typically used to hold a hat or small backpack) was a surprisingly nice touch, and the mesh backing and seat are breathable, preventing overheating during prolonged use. I still don’t know how I feel about the polished metal frame, and the inclusion of gloves for assembly makes me worry about how easily this seat will pick up smudges over the years, but the polished finish itself is spotless and well-executed. At 6’3″, I had to max out the back height to comfortably sit in the chair. The secondary adjustments (back height, lumbar support, and headrest height) were awkward to adjust due to complicated ratcheting mechanisms keeping them in place. However, the comfort and breathability of this chair make it a compelling choice. —Henri Robbins
Vari Task Chair for $375: Vari’s Task Chair is surprisingly comfy given its relatively simple construction. Former WIRED reviewer Medea Giordano tested it and asked her husband to use it during his long gaming sessions. They agreed that the angled back provides ample lumbar support to make those sessions comfortable. It also takes very little time to construct. You can recline a bit, but even at the lowest tension, it pushes you back up, and there’s no head support. It’s more for rocking than actually leaning. Her biggest gripe is that the armrests are quite hard. A little more padding would be a huge improvement.
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Branch Softside for $299: I tested the high-back version of the Softside and like it a lot. It’s different from all the other chairs in this guide but comfy and cushiony. If you need a wider seat, this might not be the option for you as the armrests do box you in. There’s not much to adjust, but my back didn’t have any issues after weeks of sitting in this chair for full workdays. The build quality overall is OK. Considering it starts at $299, the overall seating experience, and the lovely design in fun colors, this is a pretty good value if you are after a soft and cushiony experience.
BodyBilt Midcelli Mesh Chair for $949: BodyBilt’s chair looks quite average, but the seat pad is plushy and soft, and it’s contoured to your butt and legs, which I liked more than I expected. The mesh back has some give to it, so it doesn’t feel rigid, and there are all the usual points of adjustment, including moving the seat forward and back. I wish the arms could lock to a position. It has a lifetime warranty on select parts, while other chair areas are covered for 12, seven, five, or three years. There are more customization options on BodyBilt’s website—with the option to get a consultation—but I just think it’s overpriced.
Razer Fujin Pro for $1,049: Razer is asking Herman Miller and Steelcase prices despite offering a measly five-year warranty on this $1,000-plus chair. Still, my colleague Eric Ravenscraft likes the Fujin Pro (8/10, WIRED Recommends). There are a good amount of adjustments you can make, the armrests are useful, and the mesh is breathable. Oh, and it doesn’t have the over-used gaming chair race-car seat aesthetic.
Tempur-Pedic Tempur-Lumbar Support Office Chair for $352: I think this is a nice alternative to the Branch Ergonomic Chair above. The Tempur seat cushion is, perhaps unsurprisingly, wonderfully comfy to sit on for hours at a time. And most chairs that have a thick lumbar cushion end up causing me back pain, but not here—I’ve had no issues sitting on this chair for a month. The mesh back is nice for airflow too. The arms tend to move around a bit though, and the mechanism to adjust them is not elegant. Installation wasn’t too hard, but the instructions weren’t as simple as Branch’s, and the overall build quality feels cheap.
Knoll Newson Task Chair for $1,251: This minimalist chair looks best in the graphite and petal colors; it’s a bit drab in black and umber. It’s nice that I didn’t have to fuss with any levers or knobs much—it’s comfy out of the box and decently adjustable if you need to make some tweaks—and it feels especially nice when you recline. (The red knob adjusts the tension of the recline, but you need to twist it for five rotations, and I found it hard to turn sometimes.) The Newson didn’t give me trouble in the two months I sat in it. I’m just not a huge fan of how the elastomer mesh backrest distorts, depending on how you sit. It feels lumpy. This chair also doesn’t let me sit as upright as I’d like, but maybe you’re fine with a bit of give. Ultimately, it’s the price that pulls it out of our top recommendations, but you do get a 12-year warranty.
X-Chair X2 K-Sport Management Chair for $879: This used to be our top mesh chair pick but it has been supplanted by the Steelcase Karman. Sitting in the X-Chair feels like lounging in a hammock. Every part of my body feels well supported, and you can adjust nearly everything on the chair. Pull the seat up and push the armrests up, down, and side to side, or angle them in or out. The lumbar support feels like a cushion, and it adjusts as you move in your seat. If you want to rest your head, you can pay extra for the headrest. It has held up extremely well after three years of near-continuous sitting, but I don’t like how bulky it is. X-Chair has several models to choose from. I tested the X-2 K-Sport with the wide seat, and it fits my 6’4″ frame well, but it was too wide for my partner, who is 5’1″. Most people should be fine with the standard X1.
Ikea Markus Chair for $290: The Markus is a perfectly fine office chair. It’s not the most comfortable, but it’s far from the worst. The mesh design keeps you cool, and the tall back lets you fully lean into it. It’s rather thin and isn’t obtrusive in a small home office or bedroom. It was annoying to put together (lol, Ikea), and you might need someone to hold up the back of the chair while you properly attach the seat. Unfortunately, if you often sit with at least one leg up or with your legs crossed, the width between the arms will make you uncomfortable.
X-Chair X-Tech Executive Chair for $1,899: Functionally, the X-Tech is similar to the X-Chair above. In this version, the M-Foam cooling gel seat is indeed wonderful to sit on, though it’s not as heat-wicking as the all-mesh X-Chairs. It’s the Brisa Soft Touch material that impresses the most—it’s ridiculously soft. I recommend you stick with the standard armrests instead of the FS 360 armrests, which tend to move about too much. But my biggest gripe with this model is the price. Why on earth does it cost that much?
Mavix M7 Chair for $700: If it looks strangely similar to the X-Chair (see above), that’s because both are owned by the same company. WIRED reviewer Louryn Strampe ran into some issues with assembly, but customer service was able to exchange the model without much effort. The M7 has similarly adjustable armrests and seat angles, but you get wheels that lock. The mesh back and wide seat construction keeps you cool and comfortable during sweaty League of Legends sessions, and the lumbar support does the job. If you’re short, contact customer support while ordering—Mavix offers shorter cylinders so your feet touch the ground.
Hon Ignition 2.0 Office Chair for $425: This chair is easy to set up and looks great, but it gave me really bad back pain, which is why I originally placed it in our “Avoid” section. I thought it was perhaps the long hours I was working, so I switched back to the Knoll Newson Task chair and my pain quickly began to ease. Sometime later, I gave it a shot again. After a few hours, the pain came back, and switching to another chair dissipated it. Color me confused, because this chair has positive reviews around the web. I then asked a friend who is around 5’4″ to try it for a few weeks, and she has had zero issues. This seems to be the answer. It’s possible the Ignition doesn’t work for my 6’4″ self and is better suited for smaller folks.
Hon Ignition 2.0 Big and Tall for $780: I had a much better experience with this Hon chair, which, as the name suggests, is suited for big and tall people like me. It has a reinforced steel frame that can support up to 450 pounds with a wider seat. It’s comfy, transfers heat away well, and does a nice job supporting my back. However, it looks incredibly dull in Boring Black. I had a fine experience in the chair, aside from the arms that tend to slide left and right whenever you put some pressure on them. I’m just not sure it’s worth the weirdly high price.
Pipersong Meditation Chair for $300: Have a problem sitting in a traditional chair? If your legs need to be bent and twisted for you to be comfortable, you’ll want to check this chair out. It has a 360-degree swiveling footstool that can accommodate pretty much any sitting position you want. I can go from kneeling to cross-legged to one leg up, one leg down. It’s possible to sit regularly too, with the footstool behind you and your feet flat on the floor. It’s the only chair I’ve found that’s designed for odd sitting habits. There are no armrests, which I didn’t mind because that’s what makes it possible to sit in many of these positions. The actual stool and chair back could stand to be bigger and taller, respectively. I had to use a pillow to keep my back comfy. —Medea Giordano
Avoid These Chairs
Photograph: Vilno
If you come across these chairs, we recommend you save your cash and go for one of the picks above.
Vilno Nobel Kneeling Chair for $250: It’s a freakin’ kneeling chair! It was easy to put all the wood pieces together, and the seat cushion was surprisingly plump. This is what’s known as an active chair, meant to keep your body moving and keep your posture straight. It feels effective for the first few hours, but unfortunately, rocking in the chair tends to cause it to move around on the floor, so I frequently had to fix my position. Worse yet, my shins and knees grew fatigued, and I started feeling some pain after a few days. You can’t adjust its height, so it needs to be paired with a standing desk so that your palms don’t rest on your desk.
Humanscale World One Task Chair for $499: Despite hailing from the well-renowned Humanscale, this chair looks quite bland. The setup was fairly quick, and … interesting. You have to hammer two pegs to affix the backrest to the seat, which I’ve never before had to do, after testing dozens of office chairs. It just feels cheap and a little too plasticky. Like other Humanscale chairs, there are no adjustments to make as the chair will handle it all for you (you can adjust the seat and armrest height). I loved this on the pricier Humanscale Freedom, which felt like someone was cradling my body. But here, I find my body constantly shifting in the all-mesh World One, trying to find a comfy way to recline. The mesh material also feels like it digs in a bit. This could all be because I’m 6’4,” as the chair feels like it’s better suited for shorter people. However, I think you can do better at this price.
Herman Miller Vantum Gaming Chair for $895: Initially, I liked this chair. I liked how I could keep myself in a super upright position, which made me feel more engaged in what I was doing. The mesh backrest also disperses heat quite well. However, the overall build quality feels cheap and doesn’t scream Herman Miller (nor does the asking price, which has since dropped by $200). The headrest isn’t great either—I’ve nearly broken it trying to move it up and down. As I kept sitting, it was the back support that disappointed me the most. You can feel the lumbar support on your lower back, and not in a good way, almost like it’s digging in. At least it didn’t give me back pain.
Flexispot C7 Lite for $270: While this chair is simple to assemble and looks good, it feels flimsy. The entire back flexes and warps whenever you move, and the lumbar support is barely connected to the rest of the chair, meaning it audibly scratches against the main section of the back every time you adjust and hardly feels like it provides any actual support. The footrest bends whenever weight is put on it, and the foam seat cushion collects crazy amounts of pet hair. It feels like just a few extra screws and supports would have made this a good chair, but in its current state, there isn’t enough material to make it feel sturdy. —Henri Robbins
Flexispot C7 Office Chair for $350: It wasn’t too difficult to put this chair together, and it comes in a fairly compact box despite its size. However, the lumbar section juts out so much that within two days of sitting on it, I had back pain. You can adjust the seat to mitigate it, but it didn’t solve the problem. It’s not just me. My 5’1″ wife did not enjoy sitting on the C7 either.
Steelcase Series 1 Office Chair for $498: WIRED reviewer Louryn Strampe says her biggest issue with the Series 1 is with the armrest—the tops slide back and forth and side to side, which could be a good thing, except she managed to pinch her arm every time she moved. There’s no way to lock them in place, so while she felt supported, her arms weren’t. The seat is also pretty curved, which can feel like you’re trapped in one position as you work throughout the day.
Flexispot Sit2Go 2-in-1 Fitness Chair for $350: This seems like a good idea since it lets you get some exercise while sitting at a desk. I felt virtuous pedaling away while checking my email. The problem is it’s just not very comfortable. (I could not sit on it all day.) It also feels like a cheap low-resistance exercise bike, so you’re getting the worst of both worlds. You need a standing desk to accommodate it.
Sihoo Doro S300 Chair for $800: Former WIRED reviewer Medea Giordano tested the Doro S300, which, in white, looks like it came straight out of the Space Force situation room. She found it comfortable. There are several adjustments you can personalize, like seat depth and recline angle. You can recline quite far, but she says she wished there was a footrest to enjoy the lowest recline position. She typically prefers a cushy gaming chair, but she says she had no trouble sitting on this chair all day—the dual lumbar support helps too. However, the headrest is too low for her to lean against even at its max height, and the arms move too easily. Simply placing her arms down pushes them out of position. It’s also a squeaky chair and overpriced.