An ergonomic chair is only as good as its adjustments and how well they are set. Many chairs advertise long feature lists, but a handful of adjustments do most of the work.
Seat height
Set the seat so your feet rest flat on the floor and your thighs are roughly parallel to it, with knees close to hip level. If your desk is fixed and too high, raise the chair and use a footrest.
Seat depth
A sliding seat lets you leave a gap of about two to four fingers between the front edge of the seat and the back of your knees. This supports the thighs without pressing on the back of the legs.
Lumbar support
The lower back naturally curves inward. Adjustable lumbar support, either height-adjustable or depth-adjustable, should sit in that curve and feel supportive rather than pushing you forward.
Backrest recline and tension
Sitting slightly reclined, around 100 to 110 degrees, often reduces pressure on the spine compared with sitting bolt upright. Tilt tension controls how much effort it takes to lean back; set it so the chair follows your movement without throwing you forward or feeling loose.
Armrests
Armrests should let your shoulders stay relaxed with elbows close to the body and bent at about 90 degrees. Height adjustment is the most important; width and pivot adjustments help people with narrower or broader frames.
Materials
- Mesh backs breathe well and suit warm rooms.
- Foam seats vary widely; moulded high-density foam generally lasts longer than cut foam.
- Bases and casters should match your floor: soft casters for hard floors, harder casters for carpet.
Final tip
Even the best chair cannot replace movement. Standing, stretching or walking for a few minutes every half hour helps more than any single adjustment.
