Here is how to choose an office chair in one line: match the seat height range to your body, check seat depth and backrest fit, then pick the material and casters that suit your room. A good chair adjusts so your feet rest flat, your thighs are supported without pressure behind the knees, and your elbows sit near desk height. Below we walk through each check, then compare real chairs we sell and what their listings publish.
How to choose an office chair: the five checks
The Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety (CCOHS) notes that a chair only becomes ergonomic when it suits the user’s body size, workstation and tasks. Run these checks against any listing:
- Seat height range that reaches your target height.
- Seat depth that lets you sit back without the edge pressing behind your knees.
- Lumbar support that fits the hollow of your lower back.
- Armrests that adjust or stay clear of your desk.
- A five-point base with casters that suit your floor.
If a listing does not publish a number you need, call us at 866-777-2590 (Monday to Friday, 9AM to 6PM PST) and we will ask the maker.
Office chair seat height: sizing by body height
CCOHS gives a rule of thumb in its ergonomic chair guide: the optimal seat height is about one quarter of your body height. It stresses this is only an estimate, since torso to leg ratios vary. The OSHA computer workstations eTool puts it in practical terms: the chair height is right when the entire sole of your foot can rest on the floor. Mayo Clinic’s office ergonomics guidance says the same, and adds that a footrest can help if your feet do not reach.
Applying the CCOHS rule of thumb, by our math:
| Your height | Rough target seat height (one quarter) | What to look for in a listing |
|---|---|---|
| 5 ft 0 in (60 in) | About 15 in | A low minimum, around 15 to 16 in |
| 5 ft 6 in (66 in) | About 16.5 in | Most ranges that start near 16 to 17 in |
| 6 ft 0 in (72 in) | About 18 in | A range that reaches 18 in or more |
| 6 ft 4 in (76 in) | About 19 in | A higher maximum, 20 in or above |
To check in person, CCOHS suggests standing in front of the chair and setting the highest point of the seat just below your kneecap, then sitting with feet flat and checking that a clenched fist (about 2 inches) fits between the seat edge and your calves.
Office chair for a short person
Check the minimum seat height first, then seat depth. OSHA notes that shorter users should still be able to sit with their back fully supported. If your desk is fixed and high, CCOHS says to raise the chair so your elbows are about level with the work surface and use a footrest if your feet no longer sit flat.
Office chair for a tall person
Check the maximum seat height, seat depth and weight capacity. OSHA says the seat pan should be depth adjustable to support taller users. Make sure your legs fit under the desk with the chair set correctly. CCOHS warns that if they do not, the workstation is too low for regular use.
Match the chair to your desk height
Your chair and desk work as a pair. CCOHS explains that the seat, the work surface and the floor all affect posture, and at least two of them need to be adjustable. If only one can change, it recommends a fully adjustable chair plus a footrest. Mayo Clinic suggests that if a desk is too high and cannot be changed, you raise your chair.
A height adjustable desk removes most of this guesswork; our Rove Concepts Athena standing desk review covers one option.
Ergonomic office chair features worth paying for
- Adjustable lumbar support. OSHA calls for lumbar support that adjusts in height so it fits your lower back.
- Recline with a tilt lock. OSHA says the backrest should allow at least 15 degrees of recline from vertical.
- Adjustable armrests. CCOHS recommends setting them so they barely touch the undersides of your elbows at about 90 degrees, and removing them if they force your shoulders up.
- Seat depth adjustment. Useful for both short and tall users, and less common on budget chairs.
Mesh vs leather vs fabric
CCOHS says the seat surface should usually be breathable to limit heat and moisture buildup, and non-slippery. In practice:
- Mesh backs breathe best, which is why most task chairs use them.
- Leather and faux leather wipe clean easily and look more executive, but breathe less.
- Fabric, velvet and boucle feel soft and suit a home office, but show wear and stains more.
Casters, floors and the base
CCOHS recommends a stable five-point base and casters that match your flooring: hard casters for carpet, soft casters for hard floors. OSHA also calls for a five-leg base with casters suited to the flooring.
Office chairs we sell, compared
We checked each listing and the maker’s own site on the day we wrote this; “(maker)” marks figures from the maker’s site. For the full range, see our LeisureMod brand page and our LeisureMod reviews.
| Chair | Our price | Seat height | Capacity | Key details |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| HomeRoots Black Armless Swivel Chair | $139.99 | 15 to 17.5 in | 265 lb | Faux leather, low back, armless |
| LeisureMod Dale | $154 | 18.89 to 21.25 in (maker) | 265 lb (maker) | Mesh back, adjustable arms, synchro tilt |
| LeisureMod Vantage | $157 | 17.72 to 20.07 in (maker) | 285 lb (maker) | Leather, high back, headrest, synchro tilt |
| LeisureMod Angel | $168 | 16.93 in listed (maker) | 265 lb (maker) | Mesh, lumbar dial, seat depth slider |
| Benzara Fera | $200.21 | 19 to 22 in | 300 lb | Mesh low back, padded seat, armrests |
| Benzara Kemu | $511.45 | 17.63 to 21 in | Not published | Faux leather, arms 24.5 to 27.75 in |
| HomeRoots Gray Mesh Executive | $564.99 | Adjustable, range not published | 280 lb | Adjustable lumbar, 2D arms, headrest, tilt lock |
| Rove Concepts Mia | $559 | Adjustable, range not published | 300 lb | Upholstered, 4-star base |
| Rove Concepts Julian | $839 | 21.3 in listed | Not published | Seat depth 18.5 in, 4-star base |
What the numbers tell you
The HomeRoots armless chair has the lowest published range, so shorter users should look there first. The Benzara Fera and LeisureMod Dale reach highest, which suits taller users. The Angel is the only chair here with a seat depth slider and lumbar dial, though LeisureMod lists one seat height, not a range. Our LeisureMod listings do not yet publish dimensions; leisuremod.com does, and sells the Angel, Dale and Vantage at the same price as ours. benzara.com lists the Fera and Kemu at the same price but showed both unavailable, so call to confirm stock.
The Rove chairs are design pieces first, on four-star bases, while CCOHS and OSHA recommend five points. Rove Concepts members usually pay less buying direct: on the day we checked, roveconcepts.com showed member prices of $335 for the Mia and $503 for the Julian.
Shipping is free on orders of $999 or more and a flat $200 below that. Pairing a chair with a desk or a Murphy bed with desk can clear that threshold. Read our return and refund policy before ordering.
Frequently asked questions
What seat height should my office chair be?
CCOHS suggests about one quarter of your body height as a starting point, then adjusting until your feet rest flat with no pressure under your thighs.
What is the best office chair for a short person?
One with a low minimum seat height and a seat shallow enough that you can sit back against the backrest. Add a footrest if your desk is high.
What should a tall person look for in an office chair?
A high maximum seat height, a deep or depth adjustable seat, a tall backrest and a weight capacity that covers you with room to spare.
Which ergonomic office chair features matter most?
Seat height range, seat depth, adjustable lumbar support, recline with a lock and adjustable armrests, according to OSHA and CCOHS guidance.
The short version
Start with your height and desk, then filter by published seat height range, seat depth and capacity. For more pieces, browse our designer furniture buying guide. If you have ongoing back, neck or leg pain, see a doctor or physical therapist; a chair is not a treatment.
