How to choose an office chair
Find the perfect home office chair for computer work
Working from all your seating options at home can be tempting
But they weren’t all designed for people doing a full day of computer work in mind.
Working from all your seating options at home can be tempting
Muscle discomfort or tension
Joint stiffness or pain
Acute or chronic neck, shoulder or back injuries
Treatment and rehabilitation costs
Reduced productivity
Get comfortable with the right style of task chair to fit your body
1
Find the perfect home office chair for computer work
Static adjustment
Swivel delivers enterprise quality ergonomics and wellbeing anywhere your workforce is located, whether across multiple sites or staff working from home.
OR
Dynamic adjustment
Backrest angle reclines freely with body movement and may help reduce muscle tension.
With appropriate adjustment features
Seat height
Seat height affects the working posture of the whole body. Adjust the gas lift to feel firm support under your heels and even pressure through your thighs
Lumbar adjustment
Prominent outward curve of the backrest should support the inward lower back curve of the spine. Position it opposite the belly button and above the hips
Backrest angle
Backrest must not be fixed to the seat pan to allow angle adjussupportedtment. A slightly reclined supported posture may reduce muscle and joint strain
2
Decide on the right support features
Foam or mesh
Foam is naturally firm and supportive, particularly for the lower back. Mesh has a light and breathable feel, but may lack back support
Backrest height
Once the lumbar support is in place, choose your preferred height of back support. Be guided by comfort.
Adjustable Armrests
May benefit arm support, but must be adjustable close to the body, lowered below elbow and desk height, and not prevent you sitting close to the desk.
Head & neck
Consider this feature if medically necessary or it increases perceived comfort. Not essential for most users.
Seat depth
Allow a small gap between the seat pan and back of your knees, no more than a hand span. Seat depth adjustment features may help.
Castors
Castors improve chair mobility. Soft friction braking castors may prevent the chair from rolling away on smooth or slippery floor surfaces
Capacity
Select a chair that’s rated to support your weight. Ensure the seat pan width is comfortable too.
Aesthetic
A visually suited chair is often important. But always choose comfort, support and function over the look of a chair design
Even with a great chair, remember to stand up every 30 minutes
Invest in the best affordable option for your long term comfort and health.
Get set up with Swivel
Having the right equipment is only half the solution, it must be correctly adjusted to fit your body to maximise comfort and reduce risk of injury.
Commonly considered questions
Which is the best chair?
There’s likely many that will suit you, just ensure it is an ergonomically designed task chair with the listed adjustment and support features so it can be adjusted to fit you. Trial a few to find out.
How much does a good chair cost?
A good chair is comfortable and designed with the support features you need. Beware of entry level designs using poor quality foams and lack support. Invest in the best that you can afford with features you need.
Should I use an executive style chair?
Generally not, unless they are also designed for computer task use. Avoid all chairs without lumbar height and backrest angle adjustment or have non-adjustable armrests.
What about ‘other’ ergonomically designed chairs?
There are many alternative designs that may benefit you, particularly if they encourage greater movement or an alternative posture. However, they may not be suitable for all day use without fatiguing areas of the body. Best to use them in addition to an ergonomic task chair and be guided by treaters if you have specific needs.
