Knoll has been in the office furniture game for decades, and knows how to dress up an office chair for the home so it won’t give you PTSD on the weekends. The ReGeneration chairs are fully adjustable and comfortable, and, as Boozer notes, more adaptable to different sensibilities than other office chairs. “Not only are the technical specs fully customizable, but the color options are beautiful,” he says.
Adjustability points: Seat height, recline, tilt tension, armrests
Lumbar support: Yes
Weight: 30 pounds
Weight capacity: 225 pounds
Mercifully, Branch also sells a less pricey model than its Ergonomic chair. The Daily features medium-firm support and a subtle colorblocked look. The contoured design supports your spinal alignment while you bang out emails, and as an eco-conscious perk, it’s all sourced from 70% recycled materials.
Adjustability points: Seat height, recline
Lumbar support: Yes
Weight: 40 pounds
Weight capacity: 242 pounds
Ikea might not be the first place you’d think to check for a solid office chair, but the furniture giant’s super high-back option is perfect for people with long torsos. (Must be all those Swedish meatballs!) It also comes with an adjustable tilt option for unwinding after—or during—back-to-back Zoom meetings, and safety casters that keep it from sliding out from under you when you finally stand up. And if your A/C unit goes kaput in the middle of July but you still can’t be bothered to hightail it to the office, the mesh back provides plenty of much-needed airflow.
Adjustability points: Seat height, lumbar
Lumbar support: Yes
Weight: 17 pounds
Weight capacity: 275 pounds
If you’re short on cash and need an affordable chair to round out your makeshift home office, this barebones option from Amazon’s Basics line is up to the task, thanks to a cushy two-inch seat that lifts and lowers with the push of a lever. It doesn’t come with arm rests, but you probably won’t miss them if you’re hoping to save space in an already-cramped apartment.
Adjustability points: Seat height
Lumbar support: Yes
Weight: N/A
Weight capacity: N/A
The Room and Board Tenley office chair is what happens when a lounge chair decides to get a job. “This chair screams, ‘I’m an executive, but I don’t take myself too seriously,'” says New York-based designer Mikel Welch. “Its design is very modern, but the upholstered frame gives it a bit of necessary warmth.”
Adjustability points: Seat height, lumbar, recline, tilt tension, armrests, headrest
Lumbar support: Yes
Weight: 48 pounds
Weight capacity: 275 pounds
Run hot during the day? This reasonably priced Staples option comes with a mesh back and seat to keep you cool, plus an adjustable headrest so you can get perfectly situated before those hour-long conference calls. Don’t let the price tag fool you, though: it’s no slouch in the comfort and support department, either.
Adjustability points: Seat height
Lumbar support: No
Weight: 28 pounds
Weight capacity: 400 pounds
