For people who spend hours each day sitting at a desk and using a computer, having a comfortable and supportive office chair is crucial. An office chair should fit your body, your budget, and your office environment. Finding a chair that meets all of these requirements can be a challenge, but there are many options available out there to suit your specific needs. Below we've compiled some helpful information to assist you in narrowing the options and make a great purchase online. With more knowledge about the specifics of each of these categories, you can rest assured that you’ve chosen the right chair.

Material

Fabric chairs offer a large selection of patterns and colors. This is ideal for the customer looking either for individuality or to create a unique overall office appearance. Fabric chairs are available in a variety of grades and can fit into both your budget and quality needs.

  Leather chairs exude power and class and provide a rich, comfortable feeling. They look elegant in home offices, or striking in an executive or management office. Black, brown and white leathers are very popular, but other colors are now becoming more fashionable and common. One turn-off of leather is often that it is harder to upkeep than other available materials.

  Mesh chairs are a contemporary way to bring style and comfort into the workplace. Mesh is breathable, keeping you cool during an entire day of sitting at your desk. Available in a range of bright colors, these chairs also help to accentuate your personality!

Vinyl offers a look similar to leather at a lower price. Vinyl is very easy to care for, and with the diverse selection of colors and styles now available, its versatility makes it an affordably chic office staple.

Back Height

  High-back chairs are chairs with backs that extend to at least the upper back, and are sometimes even high enough to support the neck and head. High-back chairs are often referred to as “executive” chairs.

  Low-back chairs are also known as “task chairs.” These chairs support the low- to mid-back. They are versatile and can be used anywhere from at-desk work to conference settings.

  Mid-back chairs have backs that cover the mid- to upper-back. These chairs are not only popular for office floor set-ups, but also offer ideal support.

Ergonomics

Many of our office chairs are available with ergonomic controls. To prevent expensive injuries in the office, business owners and managers use the science of ergonomics. The ergonomic design of office furniture reduces injury risk by adapting the work environment to fit the individual employee instead of forcing the person to adapt to the work. Businesses that apply ergonomics to their employees' environments benefit from increased productivity and work quality.

Big & Tall

  Big & Tall chairs are designed to provide comfort for larger body types by offering a variety of seat widths, back heights, seat depths, and weight capacities. You can find the specific features noted in the product descriptions. Big & Tall chairs are sized to ensure that anyone can sit comfortably. Most Big & Tall chairs are perfect for individuals who are up to 500 pounds, and/or 7' tall. Many Big & Tall chairs feature adjustments for seat height, tension, and armrests. Seat height adjustments help one chair to accommodate multiple users with different heights. Tension control helps to adjust the chair to the user’s body weight. The adjustable armrests are generally both height and width adjustable. These armrests allow for size differences in trunk/thigh and shoulders while adjusting for differences in elbow rest heights.

Wood Accent

  Some chairs are available with wood accents. For example, a leather chair may feature wooden arms. This is appealing to some people not only as a personal preference, but because it can help to tie together office chairs with the desks or tables at which they are used.

24-Hour Chairs

For reception desks and security posts where someone will be seated for multiple shifts in a day, we recommend 24-hour, or multi-shift task chairs, specially designed to provide comfort for extended use. These chairs are built with durable materials to ensure a long life. They often offer height and seat adjustments and can adapt to multiple users.

Armrests

Armrests support the arms, reducing the work of the shoulders and possibly the upper arms. However, if used incorrectly, armrests can inhibit the free motion of the arms used during activities such as typing.

Glossary of Key Terms

• Ergonomics: Chair ergonomics is an applied science concerned with designing chairs so that the user is comfortable and, in turn, can work more efficiently and safely.
• Big & Tall Chairs: These chairs are designed to provide comfort for larger body types by offering a variety of seat widths, back heights, seat depths, and weight capacities.
• Seat height adjustments: Seat height adjustments help one chair to accommodate multiple users with different heights.
• Tension control: This helps to adjust the chair to the user’s body weight.
• Adjustable armrests: Armrests that allow for size differences in trunk/thigh and shoulders while adjusting for differences in elbow rest heights are adjustable armrests.