Which office chair fits me?

A good office chair fits your body and the time you spend on it. The finder above asks exactly that: height, weight, hours of sitting, back, features and budget. The result is a ranking where every position comes with its reasons. Manufacturers and retailers cannot buy a place in it.

Seat height: feet flat on the floor

When the chair is set up correctly, both feet rest flat on the floor and the knee and hip angles are around 90 degrees or slightly more (ergonomics fact sheet of the University of Mainz, bayme vbm guidance). From your height the finder derives a target seat height and checks whether the chair’s adjustment range reaches it. The European standard EN 1335 for office work chairs is designed around a middle range of body sizes, so very short or very tall people should check the range carefully.

Weight: the load rating is a hard limit

Every chair has a maximum user weight. If your weight is above it, the chair is excluded. If the manufacturer does not publish a value, the finder shows it as “not documented” instead of guessing.

Sitting time: for a full workday the mechanism matters

Long sitting benefits from dynamic sitting: changing postures where seat and backrest support you in every position (TU Dresden fact sheet). A synchro mechanism tilts seat and backrest at different angles and can be adjusted to your body weight. A simple rocker mechanism moves seat and backrest as one unit and is only a second choice for long days. If you sit for more than eight hours, well adjustable armrests help as well.

Back: lumbar support and seat depth

Lumbar support is a curve at belt height that relieves the lower spine during long sitting. If its height is adjustable, it adapts to your back. The seat depth is right when about four fingers fit between the front edge of the seat and the back of your knee while your back touches the backrest. The finder weights both higher if you report back pain. It is not a substitute for medical advice.

Setting it up

Many chairs are set up wrongly in everyday use. Find a comfortable starting posture first, then adjust seat height, seat depth, backrest and armrests in that order. Your forearms should rest loosely, with an angle of about 90 to 100 degrees between upper and lower arm.

How the finder scores

Every chair starts with a base value. Features that match your answers add points, features that don’t subtract points. Height, weight and budget are hard limits. The reasons are listed in each chair’s detail view. Prices are guide prices and may differ at the retailer.

All office chairs at a glance

Data: our own research from manufacturer and retailer information. Undocumented values are marked as such.