If you’re looking for a chair to minimize your back pain, in this guide we’ve rated and reviewed seven of the best office chairs for lower back pain across a range of budgets.
While back pain sucks, managing back pain can be just as taxing. What stretches and exercises do you need to do? What items should you avoid lifting? How often should you apply heat? What about ice?
There are so many things to think about when you’re faced with back pain, that managing your pain can be just as difficult as the pain itself. One way, though, to help cut down on the amount of pain you’re having—especially for people who spend long hours at their desks/computers—is to get a solid ergonomic office chair.
In this guide, we’ve listed seven of the best office chairs for lower back pain and rated them based on their price and feature set. So, if you’re looking for an ergonomic office chair that can help you cut down on the amount of lower back pain you’re having, the options below are a good place to start looking.
Table of Contents
1. Quick-Look: Top Office Chairs for Back Pain
2. Top Pick: Herman Miller Embody
3. Runner-Up: Steelcase Gesture
A Quick Look at the Best Office Chairs for Lower Back Pain
If you’re looking for a quick list of the best ergonomic office chairs, the options below are a good place to start. We’ve picked our favorite overall chair for lower back pain, a runner-up option, the best value option, and one budget-friendly option, too.
| | NAME | SPECS | RATING | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TOP PICK |  | Herman Miller Embody |
| /10 | |
| RUNNER-UP |  | Steelcase Gesture |
| /10 | |
| VALUE |  | SIDIZ T50 |
| /10 | |
| BUDGET |  | Serta Works Ergonomic |
| /10 |
*Click the “Read Review »” button to jump to overviews of these four ergonomic office chairs. You can also keep scrolling down this page to see the Honorable Mentions.
Best Chair for Back Pain:
Herman Miller Embody
The Herman Miller Embody is widely regarded as being the pinnacle of ergonomic office chairs. However, it does come at a significant premium, costing well over $1,000.
Most people will never want to spend that much on a chair, but if your lower back pain is severe, the Embody might be the best option for you.
The Embody has a unique ergonomic design that allows the chair to conform to your body and movements. Its design helps deliver ideal support for your back and body regardless of the position you are sitting in.
The chair can hold users up to 300 lbs. as well, so it does have a very sturdy build quality. The Embody also comes in 16 different color schemes, so there is likely an option out there that will meet your needs.
Ultimately, if you have the budget to spend over $1,000 the Herman Miller Embody would be an excellent long-term option to help you curb your back pain.
Runner Up Option:
Steelcase Gesture
- Max Capacity: 400 lbs.
- Fabric (Leather Optional)
- Mid Back Style
- 10+ Color Schemes
Another high-end ergonomic office chair option is the Steelcase Gesture. Like the Embody, the Gesture also comes in at over $1,000. And, also like the Embody, the Gesture sports a unique ergonomic design that is tailored to providing you with the most support possible in a variety of common sitting positions.
The chair comes with a fabric covering on the seat and backrest, but you do have the option to go with a leather covering instead (that will cost over $400 extra.)
For color schemes, the Gesture comes in over 20 different styles. So, if you have a specific color scheme you are looking for—even an uncommon color scheme—the Gesture probably has an option for you.
Overall, while the Herman Miller Body is our top choice for the best office chair for lower back pain, the Steelcase Gesture isn’t far behind. And, as it does come in at about $200 less, it won’t hit your wallet quite as hard. Also, as the Gesture does have a higher rated weight capacity, if you do need extra support, the Gesture would be the way to go.
Best Value Pick:
SIDIZ T50
If you don’t have a thousand dollars (or more) to spend on an ergonomic office chair, that doesn’t mean you’re out of luck. In fact, there are options under $500 that will go a long way towards improving your back pain.
One such option is the SIDIZ T50 ergonomic office chairs. It has a very similar design as the Herman Miller Embody. Of course, it isn’t quite on the same level of quality as the Embody, but the T50 is a solid office chair nonetheless.
Its ergonomic design will help give your back and body the proper support you need. And, if you’re sitting in a lower quality chair right now, upgrading to the T50 will likely help you cut back on lower back pain.
The T50 has a fabric covering on its seat and backrest, comes in two different color schemes (blue and gray), and has a maximum weight capacity of up to 250 lbs.
In the end, not everyone can drop a thousand dollars on a chair. And, if you do have a more moderate budget, the SIDIZ T50 is a nice alternative that won’t break the bank.
Best Budget Option:
Serta Works Ergonomic
If you’re looking for an even more affordable office chair, the Serta Works Ergonomic is a nice budget-friendly option.
It doesn’t have as advanced of an ergonomic design as the other chairs listed above, but the chair does come well-regarded at its price.
The Serta Works chair has a maximum weight capacity of up to 250 lbs., comes with a bonded leather cover, and comes in over 10 different styles.
Again, this isn’t going to be the best option on this list if you’re looking to eliminate as much back pain as possible, but if you’re strapped for cash, it is a decent option to hold you over until you can upgrade.
Honorable Mention #1:
Herman Miller Aeron
Another high-end option from Herman Miller is their Aeron task chair. The Aeron isn’t quite as expensive as the Embody, but it will still run you close to $1,000.
So, really, its main comparison would be to the Steelcase Gesture.
Like both the Embody and Gesture, the Aeron was designed to conform to the body of the person sitting in it, with the goal of giving that person the most support possible, regardless of the position they are sitting in.
The Aeron can accommodate users up to 350 lbs. and it comes with a mesh cover on its backrest and seat and it is available in six different color schemes.
Honorable Mention #2:
Eurotech Seating Ergohuman
Another moderately-priced (at least, when compared to some of the ~$1,000 options that top this list) is the Eurotech Seating Ergohuman office chair.
The Ergohuman office chair has a mesh covering and, obviously, an ergonomic design. It comes in at just a little over $600, so it is definitely not an affordable option by any means.
It does come with a unique lumbar support that should provide ample support for your lower back. And, it has plenty of adjustment features like height adjustment, armrest adjustment, tilt lock, and plenty more.
Overall, while we didn’t pick this as our top chair for quelling back pain, the Ergohuman is a very viable option at its price.
Honorable Mention #3:
HON Nucleus
The HON Nucleus mesh task chair comes in at just under $600. Its design is a bit different than the other options on this list, but it is an ergonomic office chair that is designed to provide you with maximum support.
The Nucleus can hold users that weigh up to 300 lbs. and it comes in over 30 different colors and styles. So, needless to say, there are quite a few different options to choose between.
Ultimately, the Nucleus didn’t get our nod as being the best office chair for back pain, but it is a solid option in the grand scheme of things.
Will the Right Office Chair Eliminate Your Back Pain?
More likely than not, just getting a well-designed ergonomic office chair is not going to be enough to completely remove your back pain. However, what a quality chair can do is help to minimize your pain.
So, if you’re in the market for a chair that can reduce your back pain, one of the options listed above will suit you well.
