How to make an office chair more comfortable

Adjust what you already have

Work through each control in this order, as each affects the next.

1. 1

   Seat height: feet flat, thighs roughly level.

2. 2

   Seat depth: about two to four fingers' gap between seat front and the back of your knees.

3. 3

   Back angle: upright or slightly reclined and locked for typing.

4. 4

   Lumbar: in the curve of your lower back, at about belt height.

5. 5

   Arms: level with the desk, shoulders relaxed, not stopping you getting close.

6. 6

   Tilt tension: firm enough that the chair does not fall back when unlocked.

Fix the desk and screen too

Discomfort in a chair often comes from the desk and screen. If your keyboard is too high, you will lift your shoulders. If the screen is too low, you will lean forward off the backrest. The HSE suggests forearms level with the keyboard and the top of the screen at or slightly below eye level.

Use a laptop stand and separate keyboard, or a monitor riser, to fix screen height. Our standing desk height chart also lists typical seated desk heights.

Low-cost add-ons, cheapest first

If adjustment alone does not do it, these add-ons fix specific problems.

Using cushions well

A lumbar cushion should fill the hollow of your lower back, not push you forward. Our lumbar cushion comparison explains what a cushion can and cannot fix. A seat cushion raises you and can make the seat feel shorter; reset your seat height after fitting one.

Memory foam cushions soften with warmth and may flatten over time, while firmer foams keep their shape. Choose a cushion with a non-slip base and a washable cover.

Headrests and recline

Headrest attachments clamp to some chair backs and help if you lean back often for calls or reading. They do little during upright typing. Our headrest explainer covers when they help.

Unlocking the tilt and leaning back between tasks changes your position, which many people find more comfortable over a long day. Set the tension so you can rock back without falling.

Check the chair for wear

Comfort can fade as a chair ages. Turn the chair over and look for a gas lift that has started to sink, cracked plastic on the seat pan, loose mechanism bolts or castors with hair wrapped round the axles. Press the seat foam: if you can feel the seat board through it, the foam has compressed.

Many of these are cheap to fix. Castors and gas lifts are standard parts on most chairs, and tightening bolts takes minutes. Our squeaking guide and sinking chair guide cover the two most common faults.

Movement and breaks

Even a perfectly set chair gets uncomfortable if you sit still for hours. The HSE recommends breaking up long screen sessions with short breaks or changes of activity. Stand for calls, walk to get water, or switch to a different task for a few minutes.

Signs it is time for a new chair

If the seat foam has flattened, the gas lift sinks, the back will not lock, or the chair lacks seat depth, lumbar or arm adjustment, add-ons will only go so far. A chair that adjusts properly fixes several problems at once. Our ergonomic office chairs guide and office chairs under £300 guide compare current models by adjustment points.

Compare ergonomic office chairs →

Frequently asked questions

How can I make my desk chair more comfortable for long hours? Set each adjustment properly, fix desk and screen height, then add a lumbar cushion or footrest if needed. Take short breaks.

Are seat cushions worth it? For a thin or hard seat, a firm seat cushion can help. Reset your seat height after adding one.

Why does my chair feel uncomfortable after an hour? Often the seat depth, lumbar or arm height is wrong, or the screen is too low so you lean forward.

Is a gaming chair more comfortable than an office chair? It depends on your size and how you sit. Our gaming chair vs office chair article covers the differences.