The Essential Guide to Buying an Office Chair

When choosing office chairs for your workplace, make sure you choose the best furniture for employee health, productivity and well-being.

In a typical office environment, most people tend to work at a desk. It is important for them to have access to comfortable and supportive seating. To find out why office seating is so important, and some useful tips for choosing the perfect office chair for your work environment, check out our essential office chair buying guide.

Benefits of a good office chair

Whatever your job, if you are required to do it while sitting at a desk, you should use the right type of chair. But why does choosing this office furniture require so much thought? Let's break down why it's important that you take the time to choose the right seat.
Improve employee health

It's no secret that your health is of the utmost importance, so it's important that you do what you can to look after your employees' wellbeing while they're in the office. In fact, using the wrong type of chair can harm human health.

For example, if their seats are not in their original condition, employees may feel sore and sore. They may also notice changes in posture. If the chair doesn't provide the support they need to sit properly, they may be tempted to slouch or slouch. This can put added pressure on the lower back, increasing tension in the back and causing neck and shoulder pain. If this continues, their aches and pains will get worse, causing them discomfort and affecting their overall physical health as well as impacting their ability to work.
Increase employee productivity levels

Did you know that choosing the wrong chair can have an impact on employee productivity? In fact, an uncomfortable chair can be distracting and cause loss of concentration. As a result, work performance may start to decline.
Choosing the best office chair

With so many different models to choose from, choosing the best office chair can be tricky. Knowing where to start can feel overwhelming, so it's a good idea to get some guidance before you go shopping.

To help you make the right decision, we've put together some important information you should keep in mind when choosing a new office chair.

Types of office chairs

Office chairs are available in various shapes, sizes and styles. To choose the right type of model, it is useful to know the differences between them. Below, we take a look at some of our most popular chair models, and pick out the key facts about each.
Operator office chair

Often considered a 'typical' office chair
Usually has a spacious seat and back for added comfort

Key features may include seat height adjustment, back tilt, and swivel chair function

Draftsman's office chair

Usually used in conjunction with a high work surface, the Draftsman office chair is perfect
Available with different seat materials, including cloth, vinyl, and polyurethane plastic
Key features may include seat height adjustment, footrest bars, and swivel chair function

Office bench

Ideal for those who move frequently, providing an easy transition between sitting and standing
Available for short and tall work surfaces
Key features may include seat height adjustment, footrest bars, and supportive backrests

Kneeling chair

Ergonomically designed to reduce strain on the lower back
Can help improve body posture and keep joints and muscles active when sitting
Key features include seat height and angle adjustment, padded seat section and tilt mechanism

Office chairs for heavy people

Provides extra support for people weighing around 130kg or more (or around 20 stone)
Double layered cushions and armrests to provide long-lasting comfort
Check your office product details to see its weight capacity

Office chairs for tall people

Suitable for people above 6’6”.
Will provide a higher seat, longer seat back, higher back, and a larger and higher waist curve
Add adjustable monitors and stackable desk stands for added comfort for tall employees

Office chair features

When you're choosing your next office chair, it's important that the model you choose has the right features for you. This will ensure your seat is comfortable, supportive, and allows you to sit properly.

So, now that you know what you are looking for, here are the important features of an ideal office chair.
The seat height is adjustable

It is important that office chairs can be modified to suit individual needs – especially in terms of seat height. If your chair is at the wrong height, it will be very uncomfortable, and you will probably slouch or force yourself to look at the computer screen. Over time, this can cause neck and shoulder pain.

Ideally, you should be able to adjust your seat so that you can sit comfortably with both feet on the floor or use a footrest without putting pressure on the back of your thighs. In changing the height of the seat, users must also be able to adjust it to a position that allows them to rest their forearms and wrists on the table and ensure their eyes are level with the top of the monitor.
Play function

This function offers seamless mobility, which is important if workers need to access different areas of their desk, such as reaching a phone. Having a chair with a swivel function means your employees don't have to worry about twisting their backs.

Backrest tilt mechanism

Choosing a chair with a reclining mechanism can help you move easily within the seat, allowing you to change positions periodically. Tilt control means you can adjust the angle of the chair's backrest, giving you the option to sit upright or at an angle.

Ideally, chair users should be able to adjust the angle between their thighs and back between 95 and 105 degrees. The chair should allow you to sit with your chest and stomach ‘open’, rather than curled up.
Waist support

Lumbar support refers to the shape and curvature of the back of the chair. This feature is designed to encourage a natural, comfortable and healthy sitting position, as well as providing much-needed support for the lower and mid back areas. Without it, employees can do more harm to their health than good, so pay attention to chair models with this feature.
Bearing

If employees will be sitting for long periods of time, chairs with sufficient cushioning are a must. Ideally, a chair should have a thick and soft seat and back. This will ensure comfort throughout the day, helping employees stay focused on the task at hand.
Hand rest

While it may not be absolutely necessary, having an office chair with armrests can be very useful. Armrests can help reduce pressure on the lower back, and can also relieve shoulder and neck tension. They are especially recommended if you spend a lot of time sitting, providing extra support for your body.

Ideally, armrests should be padded, contoured, and adjustable so they can be changed to a height that suits the individual. It's also important that the armrests don't get in the way of getting close to your desk. If users find you end up sitting on the edge of the chair, their back will not be fully supported.

Castor

If you like the freedom to move around easily, a chair model on wheels is a must. This feature also makes transportation easier, because the chair can be rolled from one area of ​​the office to another without the need to lift a heavy load.
Office chair safety standards

The government's Health and Safety Executive (HSE) outlines the laws and requirements that businesses must comply with for workstations in the workplace. You can find everything they recommend for office seating in their published eBook on the subject. As a general starting point, here are some things that office workers are entitled to regarding their seats:

Stable base for working comfortably
Height adjustable chair
Adjustable, captionable backrest

Lumbar support for the lower back
Arm supports that do not hinder the movement of the chair under the table
The seat is wider than the user's hip width
A chair that allows the feet to sit comfortably on the floor

To make all this happen, risk assessments need to be carried out at each workstation.

Choice of materials

When choosing an office chair, you will find that there is a wide variety of materials to choose from. So you can choose the right one for your office space, here is information about some of the most popular designs.
Cloth

Simple, straightforward, and soft to the touch, fabric is a popular choice for office chairs. This type of material is usually available in a variety of colors, and is usually used to cover chairs with soft foam seats.
Leather

Leather office chairs give you a comfortable and luxurious place to sit. This material is durable and hard-wearing. If cared for properly it will be able to stand the test of time.
A leg

This material provides breathability by promoting better ventilation and allowing for increased airflow. As a result, you will be able to stay cool and dry while working. Mesh-style chairs are also usually ergonomic, so this type of seating will keep you supported while working.

Office chair prices

There are no exact figures on the price of office chairs, but whatever your budget, there is a comfortable solution available.

Office chairs can cost from £40 per chair to £500 and more. The most striking difference between cheaper office chairs and expensive ones is the materials used. Cotton or vinyl chairs lie at the bottom of the price scale, with mesh chairs costing slightly more. The most expensive office chair material is leather.

Another aspect of office chairs that vary in price is adjustability and level of support. Once you start adding extra lumbar support and height adjustment, the price of the chair will increase.

Ultimately, you need to balance your budget with the general purpose of the chairs in your office. For a reception room or as a backup when outside visitors are in the office, a basic conference chair will suffice for short periods of sitting. If the office chair will be used for long periods of time at someone's desk, you will need lumbar support and adjustable features. If an employee has additional requirements, then an executive chair may be the best choice. This is the most expensive type of office chair, but offers the most comfort and support to the user.

Find out more

At Furniture At Work, we are well placed to help you choose the right seating solution for your workspace. If you need help choosing your next model, or to find out more about our range of affordable office chairs, don't hesitate to contact our team of experts today. You can speak to our friendly and knowledgeable advisors by calling us on 0844 415 9700 or by filling in our online contact form.