Topic
Office chairs
A good task chair adjusts to you rather than the other way round. The numbers that matter are seat height and depth in cm, the lumbar range, the armrest type and the maximum load in kg.
- Typical seat height
- 44 to 54 cm
- Typical load rating
- 120 to 150 kg
Start with seat height: with your feet flat and thighs roughly horizontal, the seat should sit near the height of the back of your knee. Most task chairs give a range of about 44 to 54 cm; shorter and taller users should check the listed range rather than assume.
Then compare seat depth (a sliding seat lets you keep two or three fingers of space behind the knee), lumbar height and depth, and the armrests: 2D arms move up and down and forward and back, 3D arms also pivot, 4D arms also slide in and out.
The HSE workstation guidance asks for forearms roughly horizontal at the keyboard. The desk-height fit works out the desk height that matches your elbows.
Common mistakes
- Buying on the headline load rating without checking the seat height range.
- Choosing fixed armrests that stop the chair sliding under the desk.
- Ignoring seat depth, which decides whether the backrest actually reaches your back.
Guides on this topic
- Why are Herman Miller chairs so expensive?Why Herman Miller chairs cost so much: materials, sizing, design, a 12-year warranty and resale value, plus what to check when buying one second hand.Guide
- What is an ergonomic chair?What ergonomic should mean on a chair: the adjustments, seat sizes and standards such as BS EN 1335, and how to choose one that fits your body and desk.Guide
- Task chair vs executive chair vs desk chair: what the names meanTask chair vs executive chair vs desk chair explained: what retailers mean by each name, the adjustments that matter and how to choose for home working.Comparison
- How to replace an office chair gas cylinderRemove a worn office chair gas lift, measure length and taper, choose class 3 or class 4, and fit the new cylinder, with tools and safety notes.How-to
- Office chair tilt or recline not workingChair will not lean back, will not lock or flops backwards? Check the tilt lock, tension knob, lever cables and mechanism in order before replacing parts.Fix
- Office chair tilt mechanisms explained: synchro, knee-tilt and forward tiltHow centre tilt, knee-tilt, synchro and weight-activated mechanisms move the seat and back, what tilt lock and tension do, and what forward tilt is for.Guide
- How to stop an office chair squeakingFind where an office or gaming chair squeak comes from (tilt, bolts, castors, gas lift or arms) and fix it with the right lubricant or a quick tighten.Fix
- Office chair keeps sinking: causes and fixesWhy an office or gaming chair slowly lowers while you sit: worn gas lift seals, a stuck lever, the hose clamp and pipe tricks, and when to replace the cylinder.Fix
- Office chair dimensions: standard sizes in cmOffice chair dimensions explained: typical seat height, width, depth, back height, base size and weight in cm and kg, and how to measure your own space.Guide
- Office chair castors for hard floors and carpetHard and soft office chair castors explained, which suits wood, laminate, tile or carpet, the common 11 mm stem, rollerblade-style wheels and how to swap them.Guide
- Kneeling chair vs saddle chair: which suits your desk?Kneeling chair vs saddle chair compared: how each seat holds you, desk height needs, adjustment, moving around and who finds each easier to use day to day.Comparison
- Kneeling chair vs office chairKneeling chair vs office chair: how each seat is built and adjusted, how long people tend to use them, ball chairs too, and why many people use both.Comparison
- How to use and adjust lumbar supportWhere a lumbar pad should sit, how to set its height and depth, and how fixed, adjustable, adaptive and pillow-style lumbar supports differ on common chairs.How-to
- How to set up and sit on a kneeling chairSet a kneeling chair's seat height, angle and shin pads, get on and off safely, match it to your desk height, and fit it into a day alongside a task chair.How-to
- How to make an office chair more comfortableHow to make an office chair more comfortable: adjustments to try first, then add-ons such as seat cushions, lumbar pads, footrests and headrests, cheapest first.How-to
- How to get rid of an old office chair in the UKHow to dispose of an office chair in the UK: selling, donating, council bulky waste, the household waste centre, retailer take-back and splitting parts.How-to
- How to take apart an office chairHow to take apart an office chair for moving, storage or disposal: removing castors, arms, back, seat and base, and which parts are best left alone.How-to
- How to assemble an office chair, step by stepHow to assemble an office chair: the usual order, which bolts to leave loose until the end, fitting the gas lift and the checks to make before first use.How-to
- How to adjust an office chair, step by stepSet seat height, seat depth, back angle, lumbar and arms in a sensible order, in line with the HSE workstation guidance, plus how each lever usually works.How-to
- How much space do you need behind a desk for a chair?How much space to leave behind a desk for an office chair: typical clearances in cm for sitting, pushing back and walking past, plus tips for small rooms.Guide
- How long do office chairs last?How long office and gaming chairs last by part and price tier: gas lifts, foam, mesh and PU covers, what warranties tell you, and signs it is time to replace.Guide
- Herman Miller warranty explained: length, cover and claimsHerman Miller warranty explained: how long it usually lasts, what it covers, why buying from an authorised seller matters and what it means for used chairs.Guide
- Herman Miller vs Steelcase: which chair maker suits you?Herman Miller vs Steelcase compared: Aeron and Embody against Series 1, Think, Leap and Gesture on sizing, adjustment, tilt, warranty and UK buying.Comparison
- Herman Miller vs Humanscale: how the two approaches differHerman Miller vs Humanscale explained: manual adjustment against self-adjusting recline, sizing, seats, arms and what to check before you buy either.Comparison
- Herman Miller vs Haworth: Aeron and Embody against Fern and ZodyHerman Miller vs Haworth compared: backrest designs, lumbar options on the Fern, sizing, seats and warranty points to check before you choose a premium chair.Comparison
- Ergonomic chair vs normal office chair: what is the difference?What separates an ergonomic chair from a basic swivel chair: the adjustment checklist, seat depth, lumbar, arms, tilt and when the upgrade is worth it.Comparison
- Ergonomic chair or lumbar cushion: can a cushion do the job?Ergonomic chair or lumbar cushion? What a cushion can and cannot change about a chair's fit, how to test your chair, and when a new chair is the better spend.Comparison
- Do you need an office chair mat?When an office chair mat is worth it on carpet or hard floors, which backing and thickness suits each pile, mat materials, sizes and when soft castors do.Guide
- Do you need a headrest on an office chair?Do you need a headrest on an office chair? When a headrest gets used, when it gets in the way, what to look for in an adjustable one and add-on options.Guide
- Buying a used or refurbished Herman Miller chairBuying a used or refurbished Herman Miller chair: what to inspect, identifying model and size, parts that wear, warranty points and how to avoid fakes.Guide
- Office chair armrests: 2D, 3D and 4D explainedWhat 1D, 2D, 3D, 4D and 5D armrests actually move, how armrests should meet the desk edge, and whether you need armrests on an office chair at all.Guide
- Herman Miller Aeron vs EmbodyAeron vs Embody compared: suspended mesh against a flexing pixelated back, sizes against seat depth adjustment, tilt, arms and who each chair suits.Comparison
Buying guides on this topic
- Best ergonomic office chairs for a home officeSeven ergonomic office chairs from Steelcase, Hinomi, ProtoArc, Hbada and COLAMY compared on seat depth, lumbar, armrests, tilt and load rating.Buying guide
- Best Herman Miller alternativesSeven chairs from Steelcase, Branch, Hinomi, Sihoo, ProtoArc and Hbada that borrow Aeron and Embody ideas, compared on back, lumbar, tilt and arms.Buying guide
- Best office chairs under £300Seven mid-range office chairs from Flexispot, ProtoArc, COLAMY, Tonfary, Sihoo, Songmics and Hbada compared on seat depth, lumbar, arms and load.Buying guide
- Best ergonomic office chairs with a footrestSeven office chairs with pull-out footrests from Elabest, Hbada, Flexispot, LarkLeaves and Efomao, compared on recline, lumbar, arms and load rating.Buying guide