Top 6 compared
The best office chairs
Long hours at a desk are easier on the back in a chair that fits you.
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The top 6 at a glance
An office chair swivels on castors and adjusts for height, so the seat can be set to suit the desk. Ergonomic chairs add support that sits in the small of the back, a headrest, armrests that move and a back that reclines; executive chairs have a padded, leather-look high back. Mesh stays cooler over a long day; padded PU leather gives more of an executive look.
Chairs on wheels have a famous early adopter: Charles Darwin had castors fitted to the armchair in his study at Down House so he could move between workspaces. Most chairs here pair a mesh back with a foam seat and arrive in a box to put together at home. Gaming chairs have a list of their own.
What matters
- Lumbar support that adjusts for height and depth.
- Flip-up armrests, if the chair needs to tuck under a desk.
- A seat height range that suits your height and your desk.
- A maximum user weight comfortably above your own.
#1SIHOO B100 SE Ergonomic Office Chair
£150–£200
Its lumbar support flexes with you, staying in the small of the back whether you sit upright or lean back, so there’s nothing to set. The headrest moves up and down and tilts, the arms flip up so the chair slides under the desk, and the back locks at three angles from 113° to 133°.
What owners say: Owners call it comfortable, well made and easy to put together, and like the lumbar support, the headrest and the steady base.
A closer look: Seat height comes first: it runs from 46.5 to 55.5cm, which SIHOO says suits people from about 5ft 1in to 6ft 1in. Then bring the headrest down until it meets the back of the head when leaning back, and let the lumbar support find its own position as you sit.
- Three recline angles, 113–133°
- Headrest tilts too
- Seat height 46.5–55.5cm
- 3-year warranty
Best for: All-day comfort with little to set
- Upholstery
- Mesh seat and back
- Lumbar support
- Self-adjusting
- Armrests
- 2D, flip-up
- Headrest
- Adjustable
- Adjustable seat depth
- No
- Max user weight
- 136kg
#2TONFARY Ergonomic Mesh Office Chair (high back, flip-up arms)
£100–£150
A high mesh back with a detachable headrest and a lumbar pad that adjusts for height and depth, over a padded foam seat. The 3D armrests slide and swivel as well as flipping up, so the chair tucks under a desk in a small room.
What owners say: Owners find it comfortable, with a firm seat cushion, and say the headrest and arms adjust to suit them; the lumbar support divides opinion.
A closer look: Start with the lumbar pad: raise or lower it until it sits in the curve of the lower back, then bring it forward until it just touches. The backrest reclines to 106°, upright enough for typing, so it suits working more than lounging.
- Detachable headrest
- Armrests slide and swivel
- Reclines to 106°
- Tucks under a desk
Best for: Fine-tuning the fit
- Upholstery
- Mesh back, foam seat
- Lumbar support
- Adjustable height and depth
- Armrests
- 3D, flip-up
- Headrest
- Adjustable
- Adjustable seat depth
- No
- Max user weight
- 150kg
#3Marsail Ergonomic Mesh Office Chair (MSOC10B)
£100–£150
Full adjustment: the lumbar pad moves 5.5cm up and down and 3cm in and out, the headrest adjusts, the back reclines from 101° to 120°, and the padded armrests slide, swivel and flip up out of the way.
What owners say: Owners praise the clear instructions, find it adjustable and good-looking, and say it supports the back well.
A closer look: With the armrests flipped up, the chair slides right under the desk, which helps in a small home office or a spare bedroom. Work through the adjustments in order, seat height, then the lumbar pad, then the headrest, so each one suits the way you actually sit.
- Lumbar pad moves 5.5cm vertically
- Reclines 101° to 120°
- 8cm foam seat
- Padded armrests
- Slides under the desk
Best for: Box rooms and home offices
- Upholstery
- Mesh back, foam seat
- Lumbar support
- Adjustable height and depth
- Armrests
- 3D, flip-up
- Headrest
- Adjustable
- Adjustable seat depth
- No
- Max user weight
- 136kg
#4SIHOO M18 Ergonomic Office Chair
£179.99 RRP
A well-proven ergonomic chair with the adjustments that matter most over a long day: a lumbar pad that moves up, down, in and out, a headrest that tilts, and a mesh back that stays cool. SIHOO rates it for up to 150kg and gives it a three-year warranty.
What owners say: Owners single out the adjustable lumbar support and headrest, and say it’s straightforward to assemble, though some find the back tilt limited.
A closer look: Feet flat, knees level with the hips, then the lumbar pad slid up to the hollow of the lower back: that is the whole setup. The armrests move up and down only, so line them up with the desk top. It goes together in eight steps.
- Reclines to 126°
- Headrest tilts
- Mesh back stays cool
- Goes together in eight steps
- 3-year warranty
Best for: Long days at a desk
- Upholstery
- Mesh back, foam seat
- Lumbar support
- Adjustable height and depth
- Armrests
- Height-adjustable
- Headrest
- Adjustable
- Adjustable seat depth
- No
- Max user weight
- 150kg
#5SONGMICS Ergonomic Mesh Office Chair (OBN37, flip-up arms)
£50–£75
A plain, comfortable mesh chair: an S-shaped back that follows the spine, an 8cm high-density foam seat under breathable mesh, and armrests that fold up so it tucks away under the desk when the day’s done.
What owners say: Owners call it comfortable, good quality and fairly priced, and say it goes together quickly; the lumbar support, padding, sturdiness and height adjustment all divide them, and a few report an arm breaking.
Heads up: SONGMICS rates it for up to 120kg, the lowest maximum here.
A closer look: Set the seat so forearms rest level on the desk with shoulders relaxed, and flip the arms up whenever the chair goes under the desk. It suits a spare room, a student’s desk or a few hours’ work a day better than long shifts.
- 8cm high-density foam seat
- Tilts from 90° to 105°
- Tucks under the desk
Best for: Students and shorter working days
- Upholstery
- Mesh, foam seat
- Lumbar support
- S-shaped back
- Armrests
- Flip-up
- Headrest
- No
- Adjustable seat depth
- No
- Max user weight
- 120kg
#6SONGMICS PU Leather Executive Office Chair (OBG22B)
£50–£75
Cushioned all over, with no mesh to sit on: foam padding in the PU leather seat, back and armrests, a high back that reaches the head, and a tilt that locks upright for typing.
What owners say: Buyers find it solidly put together and quick to assemble, and like its smart, padded look; the back support and padding divide them, and some report it giving up after a few months.
A closer look: Unlock the tilt to rock back between tasks; the backrest’s resistance adjusts itself to the sitter’s weight. Wipe the PU with a damp cloth rather than cleaning sprays, and keep it out of strong sun to stop the surface cracking.
- Tilt locks upright for typing
- Backrest resistance adjusts to weight
- Wipe clean with damp cloth
Best for: Those who prefer padding to mesh
- Upholstery
- PU leather, padded
- Lumbar support
- Shaped into the back
- Armrests
- Fixed, padded
- Headrest
- Part of the high back
- Adjustable seat depth
- No
- Max user weight
- 150kg
How they compare
Swipe sideways or rotate device to see all 6.
| Feature | #1SIHOO B100 SE | #2TONFARY mesh | #3Marsail | #4SIHOO M18 | #5SONGMICS mesh | #6SONGMICS OBG22B |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Best overall | Best budget | Best leather-look chair | ||||
| Picked Rating | 8.9 | 8.8 | 8.7 | 8.6 | 8.5 | 8.4 |
| Price | £150–£200 | £100–£150 | £100–£150 | £179.99 RRP | £50–£75 | £50–£75 |
| Upholstery | Mesh seat and back | Mesh back, foam seat | Mesh back, foam seat | Mesh back, foam seat | Mesh, foam seat | PU leather, padded |
| Lumbar support | Self-adjusting | Adjustable height and depth | Adjustable height and depth | Adjustable height and depth | S-shaped back | Shaped into the back |
| Armrests | 2D, flip-up | 3D, flip-up | 3D, flip-up | Height-adjustable | Flip-up | Fixed, padded |
| Headrest | Adjustable | Adjustable | Adjustable | Adjustable | No | Part of the high back |
| Adjustable seat depth | No | No | No | No | No | No |
| Max user weight | 136kg | 150kg | 136kg | 150kg | 120kg | 150kg |
| Best for | All-day comfort with little to set | Fine-tuning the fit | Box rooms and home offices | Long days at a desk | Students and shorter working days | Those who prefer padding to mesh |
| Buy now | Amazon | Amazon | Amazon | Amazon | Amazon | Amazon |
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