The Best Office Chairs of 2021

Material: Fabric, mesh, or leather

Configuration: Adjustable arm rests, seat depth, seat height, back height, headrest, tilt tension, and multiple tilt positions

Special Feature: Dynamic Lumbar Support (DLS)

The Details: When it comes to supporting your lower back, it's tough to beat the superior comfort of the Dynamic Variable Lumbar Support (DVL) offered by the X-Chair. With its ability to always adjust to your sitting position and consistently push against your lower back, the X3 feels like a real luxury.

The version of the chair that we tested had a built-in massager and heater. The heater warmed up in almost no time, and will definitely help to alleviate your lower back pain. The massager and heater only operate for 15 minutes before they turn off, but you can easily restart the heat/massage cycle again if needed. As you might expect, the built-in heater and massager (which can be charged via USB or AC power) cost extra, but if you can afford it, it might be a game-changer when it comes to sitting comfortably at your desk for hours on end.

Even without the heater and massager, the chair's memory foam seat ensures that you won't feel sore or uncomfortable after spending some quality time in this chair. With the exception of the arm rest depth and the headrest, most parts of the chair are relatively to adjust. Whether you're sitting or reclining in this chair, your back will thank you, even if you don't spring for the extra heater and massager.

Material: Genuine leather

Configuration: Fully configurable arms; adjustable seat depth and back tension; multi-tilt limiter

Special Features: Built-in and customizable lumbar support; adjustable lower back firmness

The Details: The Leap by Steelcase requires no stretch of the imagination to be considered a high-end office chair. With its leather padding, fully adjustable armrests, seat-depth adjustment, and the highly intuitive design of the built-in lumbar support, it embodies the word professional.

The version we tested came clad in soft, durable leather, demonstrating the high quality and excellent taste of Steelcase. The most noteworthy design choice of this chair is the stylish backrest.

Normally jutting out of the back, Steelcase hid the lumbar support internally, allowing the Leap to blend into even the most traditionally decorated office. Also built-in is a lower-back firmness control knob that allows you to have as much or as little back support as needed.

The biggest issue we had with this chair is the price. You can get a lot more chair for a lot less money.

Materials: Fabric and elastomer

Configuration: Fully configurable arms; adjustable chair depth, chair tilt, back tilt, and back tension

Special Feature: Unframed backrest

The Details: When chair manufactures want a breathable material, they tend to look towards mesh. However, Herman Miller challenges that notion with the Sayl chair.

The Golden-Gate-Bridge-inspired backrest is gorgeous to look at and is even better to sit in. With its incredible design and flexibility, it formed to our backs perfectly, no matter what kind of posture we had.

Material: Fabric

Configuration: Adjustable chair depth; back tilt tension, and height; fully customizable arms

Special Feature: Uniquely flexible armrests

The Details: With its intuitive design, the Gesture makes adjusting a breeze by placing every knob and lever on the right side of the chair.

However, what sets this chair apart from its competitors are the armrests. Designed with a joint similar to that of a human shoulder, the Gesture’s arms can move any way yours can.

We also commend the multi-tilt lever, which gives four different settings of backrest-angle adjustment, as opposed to the usual recline-lock lever. The fabric padding is comfortable and provides good upright posture, but overall feels a bit stiffer than other fabric seats.

Material: Mesh

Configuration: Adjustable headrest, arms, seat depth, and back tilt tension; fully customizable back-tilt angles

Special Features: Adjustable backrest height and lumbar support

The Details: At first glance this chair underwhelmed us. Fortunately, we kept looking and found some cool features.

The protruding lumbar support initially appeared uncomfortable, but we discovered that it forms to your body and adjusts as you push your back against it. Additionally, the height of the backrest is adjustable, so you can lower or heighten it based on where you want more support.

We found the ME7ERG to be intuitive and supportive, as almost every adjustment is built into one mechanism.

Material: Fabric

Configuration: Adjustable height, depth, back tilt tension, and back tilt limiter; fully customizable arms

Special Feature: Built-in adjustable lumbar support

The Details: The Amia has a lot going for it. Reminiscent of the Steelcase Leap, it has sleek, built-in lumbar support. It also has fully adjustable arms, seat depth, and recline lock and tension. The chair’s back support exceeded expectations, but unfortunately, its stiff fabric cushions made this chair uncomfortable.

Materials: Elastomer and fabric

Configuration: Adjustable height and seat depth; fully customizable arms

Special Feature: Elastomer backrest

The Details: The Knoll Regeneration simplifies the meaning of ergonomic. With its flexible elastomer backrest, there’s no need for all those levers and knobs. The back of the chair simply stretches or retracts based on where your spine applies pressure.

Although we like how minimalistic the chair is, the lack of locking mechanisms in the armrests are troubling. We like backrests to bend, but armrests should be stalwart.

Material: Fabric

Configuration: Adjustable arms and seat depth

Special Features: Innovative backrest; optional headrest

The Details: When you sit in a Freedom Task, it automatically adjusts as you recline. That means there are no knobs or levers to fiddle with, freeing up more time for productivity.

The armrests also have an interesting design. Instead of normal height adjustment buttons, you instead lift up the arms, and while you’re still lifting them, move them up and down to adjust. The armrests also recline with you since they are attached to the backrest.

Material: Fabric

Configuration: Adjustable arms, seat depth, tilt tension, seat height, and tilt limiter

Special Feature: BackFit adjustment

The Details: The Embody turned out to be the strangest looking chair in our roundup. Herman Miller wanted the Embody to contour to the natural curvature of your spine. The backrest took a cue from our own anatomy—complete with a spine and ribs.

Even with its unique backrest design, we found the chair lacking in other departments. The seat felt a bit stiff and flimsy as we increased the depth. The armrests wobbled, and we needed two hands to adjust the width precisely.

Material: Leather

Configuration: Adjustable seat height, seat tilt, and tilt tension

Special Feature: AIR lumbar support

The Details: Designed by Shaquille O’Neal himself, the Amphion chair is specifically made for those with larger frames.

The bonded leather seat surface is extremely comfortable and the memory foam seat provides both support and considerable comfort throughout your time in this chair. The AIR lumbar support system, which is built into the backrest, is both functional and breathable. You won't have to peel your sweaty back off of this chair!

However, despite being designed for those with bigger bodies, the backrest (which apparently doubles as a headrest) is pretty short; the taller folks out there will have to lean back a ways before their necks and heads rest comfortably on the top of the chair. Fortunately, there are many chairs in the Shaquille O’Neal line-up, so we recommend investigating all of your options before investing in one of these chairs.

If you're a big Shaq fan, you won't mind seeing his name on the chair's buttons and backrest, but those who prefer a more streamlined aesthetic might want to choose a style where Shaq's name isn't so apparent.

Despite these minor issues, we think the comfort and the breathable lumbar support will make the Amphion chair by Shaquille O’Neal a fan favorite.

Materials: Leather and mesh

Configuration: Adjustable seat depth, arms, back-tilt, recline tension, and height

Special Feature: Removable headrest

The Details: Your height will determine whether you like this chair. We found the headrest silky smooth to adjust, but you can’t change the height. So, unless it's a perfect fit, the headrest will either bump the top of your head or push into your back. Fortunately, it's removable!

The mesh backrest is comfortable and breathable while reclining. Regrettably, the downfall of this chair is the hard and stiff leather seat. It also tilts slightly upwards, leaving our legs hanging above the ground even at the lowest height setting.

Materials: Fabric and mesh

Configuration: Adjustable arms, height, recline tension, and back-tilt lock

Special Feature: Intuitive armrest and headrest design

The Details: We felt productive when we sat in the Uplift Pursuit. We like the way the backrest and seat form to your body. Adjusting the headrest and armrests are intuitive and easy.

Our biggest gripe with this chair were the armrests. We liked the approach of adjusting them without any buttons, however, they are made with hard and inflexible plastic. This made some of our testers feel uncomfortable, especially for those who rest their elbows on armrests.

Material: Pleather

Configuration: Adjustable height and recline lock

Special Feature: Built-in lumbar support

The Details: The Amazon High-Back Executive is a great way to dip your toe into the chair market without spending a lot of money.

It's covered in soft pleather that feels luxurious without costing a fortune. Embedded in the backrest is a lumbar support that really helps for those long sitting sessions. Lastly, we found the controls easy to learn, as there are only two: height of the chair and unlocking the recline.

Material: Fabric and mesh

Configuration: Adjustable seat height, tilt, and tilt tension

Special Feature: Wing-back lumbar support

The Details: Who wouldn't be curious about one of the most popular office chairs on Amazon? Unfortunately, this is one of those times where you get what you pay for.

The hard plastic armrests are very stiff and uncomfortable, and there aren't many sitting position options. The winged-back backrest conforms to your back and provides some support, but it feels as though it might break or tear if you lean back too far. The fabric seat cushion is decently comfortable for short periods of time, but you won't want to linger for more than a few hours.

Overall, if you have a smaller body frame and/or a tight budget, the Furmax is a decent option. Otherwise, we'd recommend looking elsewhere for your next office chair.