Sitting at the desk for hours on end, daily, can have semi-permanent or permanent physical health conditions.
Whether writing at home or at the office, you need a good sitting posture and the best ergonomic writing chair you can get. You can opt for an ergonomic kneeling chair or one of the best ten ergonomic writing chairs that I have reviewed in this article.
As you will learn from the ‘buying guide’ section, an ergonomic writing chair isn’t just a piece of furniture you have to complement your office or home décor; it’s a chair that offers orthopedic benefits, among other gains.
Before that section, I have compiled a thorough reviews list of the 10 best writing chairs—with the Herman Miller Sayl Chair being the best among them all.
A comfortable, stylish, and neoteric design. No additions, no subtractions, just raw ergonomics.
The 10 Best Writing Chairs At A Glance
1. Herman Miller Sayl Chair
2. Duramont Ergonomic Adjustable Office Chair
3. SIHOO Mesh Office Chair
4. Hbada Adjustable Office Chair
5. BERLMAN Ergonomic Chair
6. OFM Essentials Racing Style Bonded Leather Gaming Chair
7. XUER Ergonomic Office Chair with Lumbar Support
8. Smugdesk Office Chair
9. Rimiking Twill Fabric Ergonomic Executive Chair
10. Bilkoh Ergonomic Mesh Office & Computer Chair
List Of The 10 Best Writing Chairs
Without further yada yada, let’s get right into the reviews.
1. Herman Miller Sayl Chair
Best Overall
Weight: 38 pounds | Capacity: 350 pounds | Adjustable Seat Height: Yes | Adjustable Backrest: Yes | Material: Mesh
This is a chair that’s furthest from the budget option. But, I must admit that, at first glance, I thought it would be a cheap, flimsy seat.
Boy, was I wrong.
The chair—designed by Swiss designer Yves béhar—has an unframed meshed back that affords your body more freedom so that you can move and stretch muscles (in an optimal manner of course).
The seat has a tilt limiter; you can limit the seat to tilt up to 91, 101, or 124 degrees. The adjustable arms can be adjusted between 6.7 and 10.8 inches, giving you the option of keeping your arms parallel to the floor without stressing your shoulders.
As the icing on the cake, the chair is made using materials that are almost entirely recyclable.
More reasons to love the Swiss!
Pros
- Easy to assemble
- Comfortable and very ergonomic.
- Lightweight and portable.
- Adjustable Height and Tilt.
Cons
- Pricey
2. Duramont Ergonomic Adjustable Office Chair
Sleekest Adjustment Controls
Weight 44.3 pounds: | Capacity 330 pounds | Adjustable Seat Height: Yes | Adjustable Backrest: Yes | Material: Mesh
The name, “Duramont”, sounds like a luxurious hotel—the Duramont.
If it did exist, I don’t know if the hotel would have a 5-star rating, but this chair gets all the 5 stars from me.
It comes equipped with several adjustable features, handy when you want to fine-tune your comfortability settings. It has an adjustable headrest height and angle, adjustable armrest, backrest tilt and tilt tension, adjustable lumbar support height and depth, and adjustable seat height.
For users with back pain, the adjustable lumbar support and recline features adjust the chair to a position that relieves pressure from the spine, thereby reducing back pains and making you feel comfortable.
The seats are quite deep, add to that the fact the base and caster are strong metallic bastards, then the chair is, legitimately, a heavy-duty seat.
Try putting a 300pounds+ body on it; this chair will surely hold.
Pros
- Comfortable
- Inexpensive
- Easy to assemble
Cons
- Not the “Greatest” build quality
3. SIHOO Mesh Office Chair
Value for Money
Weight: 22.5 pounds | Capacity: 300 pounds | Adjustable Seat Height: Yes | Adjustable Backrest: Yes | Material: mesh
So just like other SIHOO office chairs, this chair is a mid-back desk chair with a sleek design and a lot of adjustable features.
Let’s start with the backrest; the backrest forms a shape that is, more or less, a mold of the natural curve of the lower back. This shape helps your spine align in its natural curve, thereby alleviating the back pains which come about as a result of sitting down for extended periods of time.
The 20-inch backrest is a breathable mesh that is supported by a 1.2-inch lumbar Support. The lumbar support offers excellent support for the lower back, and it can be adjusted up or down.
If you are having problems sitting straight, you can recline the backrest and lock it between 90 to 120 degrees to relieve the pain and improve comfort when writing.
The height is also adjustable; with the aid of a pneumatic lever, the seat height can be adjusted between16.92 and 20.07 inches, and the total height adjusts between 36.22 and 39.37 inches.
Pros
- Inexpensive
- Easy to Assemble
- Adjustable height and tilt
- Additional lumbar support
- Comfortable
Cons
- Doesn’t come with a headrest
4. Hbada Adjustable Office Chair
Best for Tech Themed Spaces
Weight: 25.1 pounds | Capacity: 250pounds | Adjustable Seat Height: Yes | Adjustable Backrest: Yes | Material: Mesh
When I covered desk lamps, there was a lamp—TaoTronics LED Desk Lamp—that looked like a storm trooper’s suit. This looks like that lamp’s cousin, the black and white color scheme matches with the lamp’s.
A Star Wars themed office décor, anyone?
Talking about ergonomic features, the Hbada home office task chair’s height can be adjusted using a pneumatic lever. The chair can go from 17.7 to 21.2 inches, giving you a good range for adjusting to a height that fits your stature.
One of the ergonomic features this office chair has is the seat tilt; the chair has a 120° tilt tension.
This is a legit ergonomic chair for both lightweight and heavy persons with a maximum capacity of 250 pounds. The chair’s heavy-duty base is fitted with caster wheels which make the chair a smooth and silent sliding machine.
To save space, the chair has flip-up arms that can be folded to completely transform the chair into an armless one.
Pros
- Easy to assemble
- Compact size
- Adjustable height and tilt
- Very ergonomic
Cons
- The seat cushion is a bit smaller
5. BERLMAN Ergonomic Chair
Most Modernistic design
Weight: 33 pounds | Capacity: 250 Pounds | Adjustable Seat Height: Yes | Adjustable Backrest: Yes | Material: Mesh
This looks like an office chair had a child with a gaming chair. That’s not a dry joke, the chair really looks like both types.
The BERLMAN Ergonomic Chair has a rocking back that you can use when work has given you a couple of low blows, and you just want to be a little zany around the office.
Modern ergonomic chair designers don’t just make a basic chair; they make chairs in accordance with the human anatomy. In that same vein, BERLMAN designed an adjustable lumbar support feature that adapts to your back’s pressure to increase comfortability.
This is a pretty wide and comfy seat with a back made with a high-density sponge which offers sufficient support for your lumbar region. The chair also has a foldable armrest.
And then, there’s the sturdy heavy-duty base that is capable of supporting a whole 250 pounds.
Pros
- Adjustable height and tilt
- Foldable armrests
- Easy to assemble
- Comfortable
Cons
- The headrest is a bit shorter for 6” persons
6. OFM Essentials Racing Style Bonded Leather Gaming Chair
Budget option
No products found.Weight: 37 pounds | Capacity: 275 Pounds | Adjustable Seat Height: Yes | Adjustable Backrest: No | Material: Leather and Mesh
Remember I said that the BERLMAN Ergonomic Chair looked like a hybrid child of a gaming and office chair? Well, now we’ve actually got ourselves a gaming chair, a functional and inexpensive one.
The chair features a race car style with a contrasting colored upholstery—leather and mesh (the black one has black leather and gray mesh).
For upper body support, the chair has an integrated headrest and armrests which relieve the tension in your shoulders and neck. And for the lower trunk, it has an integrated lumbar support feature.
The ergonomics don’t end there; there are other features like seat height adjustment, backrest tilt and tilt tension control. The chair can also swivel a whole 360 degrees.
Pros
- Easy to assemble
- Adjustable seat height
- Inexpensive
Cons
- Low quality cushions
7. XUER Ergonomic Office Chair with Lumbar Support
Best Ergonomic Additions
Weight: 51.9 pounds | Capacity: 400 pounds | Adjustable Seat Height: Yes | Adjustable Backrest: Yes | Material: Mesh
XUER made a very adaptable ergonomic chair here; the height, armrests, seat, headrests are all adjustable.
Wait… I forgot the tilt. Yes, the seat can tilt from 99 degrees to 119 degrees. How about that?
The backrest is made of breathable mesh fabric and with a self-adjusting lumbar support feature. The lumbar support is a springy bulging mesh that is designed to adjust the lumbar force and correct your posture.
The solid base is equipped with smooth and silent nylon casters which won’t do any harm to your floor.
Pros
- Comfortable
- Lumbar support feature
- Very adjustable (height, armrest, seat)
- Tilting backrest
Cons
- Tilt locking system readjusts when you lean forward.
8. Smugdesk Office Chair
Best Design for Students
No products found.Weight: 26 pounds | Capacity: 250 pounds | Adjustable Seat Height: Yes | Adjustable Backrest: Yes | Material: memory foam and mesh
This chair’s sleek and minimalistic design makes it a top choice for many settings.
On the ergonomics playing field, adjustability rules the game. The Smugdesk office chair didn’t disappoint in this category; it has an adjustable headrest, a 120-degree adjustable backrest, and extra pads for you to fine tweak the comfortability of the chair.
The chair has a breathable mesh backrest and memory foam used for making the cushions.
Now and then, we all love to have some tittle-tattles in the office. With the chair’s 360-degree swiveling capability, you can slide over to Annette and whisper the juicy meats of the story without Jimmy hearing your casters roll.
One non-ergonomic and nonessential feature that I liked on this chair is the clothes hanger. The guy who thought of this feature must have had horrible daily experiences of leaving the office with wrinkled clothes after sitting or leaning on them.
Pros
- Easy to assemble
- Inexpensive
- Comfortable (memory foam and breathable mesh)
Cons
- Neck rest is short for 6feet tall individuals
9. Rimiking Twill Fabric Ergonomic Executive Chair
Most Hip
No products found.Weight: 24 pounds | Capacity: 250pounds | Adjustable Seat Height: Yes | Adjustable Backrest: No | Material: Textile Fabric and foam
This is like a unicorn on this list. If it were a biology teacher, he would call it an azygous ergonomic chair.
No mesh, no armrests, or backrest tilting like the rest of the chairs on this list.
It’s different from the other ergonomic chairs but it still serves ergonomic benefits on a ‘cushy plate’.
Before I ramble on about the ‘essential’ features, let me just say that it’s the most stylish office chair out of all the chairs I’ve reviewed in this article. The aesthetics alone would convince one to buy this chair.
The cushions are made with soft foam and complemented by stylish twill upholstery.
To reduce problems that arise from incorrect sitting positions, the height can be raised or lowered between 14.57’’ and 18.51’’. The chair can also swivel (360 degrees) on its sturdy 5-point base and smooth, silent casters.
There are huge drawbacks of course, one of which is the missing headrest. With no headrest on the chair, you are bound to suffer neck pain from lengthier sittings.
Pros
- Stylish
- Comfortable’
- Adjustable height
Cons
- No headrest
10. Bilkoh Ergonomic Mesh Office & Computer Chair
Best for Home Office
No products found.Weight 39 pounds: | Capacity 300 pounds | Adjustable Seat Height: Yes | Adjustable Backrest: Yes | Material: Mesh
Another ergonomic office chair with a meshed backrest and seat. If you are a layman, then it would excite you to know that these meshes help keep your body cool by allowing cool airflow through them. No sweaty back, hmm… nice.
The chair offers optimal back and neck support; the backrest tilts between 90 to 120 degrees, and the 17-inch neck rest can swivel up to 45 degrees.
It also has an adjustable lumbar support feature that is adjustable up to 4.73 inches and is removable for easy cleaning.
For office chairs, adjustability has to be complemented by sturdiness and stability, so Bilkoh fitted the chair with a strong aluminum base to make the chair sturdy enough for heavy daily use.
Pros
- Adjustable height and tilt
- Additional lumbar support
- Easy to assemble
Cons
- Headrests not easy to adjust
Buying Guide
Why Are the Best Ergonomic Writing Chairs a Must-Have?
No long talk, it’s because you deserve the best. It’s that simple!
For you to fully grasp the importance of having an ergonomic chair, you should first understand what makes a chair ergonomic and the orthopedic benefits it provides.
What makes a chair ‘Ergonomic’?
There are a couple of features that make a chair ergonomic, adjustability being the most essential. A typical ergonomic chair is equipped with features that provide adjustability, sufficient lumbar support, and has good depth and width (to afford your body some space and relieve pressure).
A good ergonomic chair supports the back’s natural position. Naturally, the spine has an S-shaped form, and features on the ergonomic chair support the back in such a way that this shape is maintained.
The best writing ergonomic chairs allow you to position your back in that natural S shape, effectively relieving stress on both the pelvis and spine.
I’ve expounded on the features in the “what to look for when buying a writing chair” section below.
Should I sit on a chair for hours?
The fact that a chair feels comfy doesn’t mean that you can sit on it for extended periods without taking breaks—standing and stretching.
Now and then, you should leave the chair and stretch or just walk around. This maintains your posture.
Good Writing Posture
On its own, an ergonomic chair will not improve your posture and ease your back and neck pains. The way you sit determines how much you gain from an ergonomic chair. For you to enjoy the full benefits of an ergonomic chair:
- Keep an arm’s length distance between you and the computer screen. The placement of your head should be level with the top of the screen.
- DO NOT SLOUCH. Try to position your spine and head in a natural position by sitting up straight.
- Your arms should be placed parallel to the floor.
- Do not cross your legs, and your feet should lie flat.
What to look for when buying a writing chair?
Ergonomic features
Lumbar Support
Lumbar support features are something you should include on your checklist, or it should be deal-breakers for you.
An ergonomic office chair needs to take care of the whole spine, shoulders, and pelvic region.
For lower back pain, the chair that you are going to get has to have sufficient lumbar support. You also have to make sure that the lumbar support is adjustable; because a chair is not tailor-made for one body type, you will need to adjust and readjust the lumbar support until the seat becomes optimally comfortable for you.
Some ergonomic office chairs have a self-adjusting lumbar support.
Adjustable Seat height
As I said before, your head needs to be level with the top of your computer screen. The chair should also have a height that allows your feet to lie flat on the floor.
That is why you should get a chair whose seat is height adjustable, so you can align your head with the computer screen and place your feet flatly on the floor.
Look for chairs that have pneumatic height adjustment mechanisms. These help you raise or lower the chair’s seat height with the most ease.
Set Tilt
Apart from relieving the pressure in your shoulders and providing lumbar support, the best ergonomic chairs are designed to help you correctly position your pelvis. In doing so, they protect your pelvis from posture problems that arise from sitting incorrectly for long periods.
A tilting seat helps you sit in a natural position. When a seat tilts outwards, it creates more space and improves your body’s mobility in the chair, improving your sitting experience in effect.
Reclining Backrest
The chair should also have a backrest that tilts. A reclining backrest aids in finding the best position that supports a user’s natural spine position. It helps take some weight from the user’s upper body and relieves pressure on the spine.
So, if you are having a tough time with back pains, leaning your chair may help reduce the pains.
Armrests
One of the ‘good posture’ tips talked about positioning your arms parallel to the floor. Even without armrests, placing your arms at a 90-degree angle from the floor is a good sitting posture positive.
However, the armrests help ease the tension in your upper body (shoulders precisely). Depending on the intended use and mobility, you can choose between slide-down armrests or four-directional armrests.
Headrest
The uppermost part of the spine also needs to be supported—a headrest pillows the back of the head and the upper neck. In effect, it alleviates tension in your upper torso.
Essential Non-Ergonomic Features
Material
Although I listed this feature here, I believe upholstery does play a role in the ergonomics of an office chair. After all, who would feel comfortable sitting on a chair with no padding?
Chairs come with different upholstery. The materials used include leather, fabric, vinyl, and mesh. Before choosing the material, you should know the pros and cons of each type.
- Leather – it is cleanable and durable but pricey and may make some users sweaty.
- Fabric – breathable but can irritate the skin.
- Vinyl – breathable and affordable but can irritate the skin.
- Mesh – Breathable and very comfortable but hard to clean and just like the other two, itchy.
Base and Wheels
Some prefer a base with no wheels, while others want to conveniently slide to a shelf or table. Chairs with wheels are more preferred (all the chairs reviewed in this article have wheels).
Having wheels makes the chair more mobile and gives you more freedom and convenience. However, you have to check the type of material used for the wheel and see whether it won’t do any damage to your floor.
Non Essential features
Cushioned Armrest
Cushioned armrests are a cute accessory initially, but after constant use, the upholstery wears out, and the ‘intestines’ get exposed. The chair then becomes ugly.
Footrest
None of the chairs that I reviewed have the extended footrest feature. I don’t know; maybe one has a detachable footrest that I might have missed.
For writers, a footrest is inutile. And just like the padded armrest, it will become an off-putting accessory when it gets wobbly, and parts start coming off.
Wrapping it Up!
As a writer, you sometimes find yourself failing to be at your desk, writing. An aching back, a stiff neck, et cetera. However, with a good posture and one of these best writing office chairs, you can optimize your comfort and focus, which can lead to longer and more productive writing sessions. In addition, for some writers, listening to music can also be a helpful way to improve productivity
Once again, a reminder of the top pick, the Herman Miller Sayl Chair, literally, the HOT SEAT.
An ergonomic design that is no other; a frameless 3D suspension back, lightweight, and made with the utmost consideration for the environment.
You simply can’t beat that!
