When you click through from our site to a retailer and buy a product or service, we may earn affiliate commissions. And we pore over customer reviews to find out what matters to real people who already own and use the products and services we’re assessing. We gather data from the best available sources, including vendor and retailer listings as well as other relevant and independent reviews sites. We ask our panelists what they think about the aesthetics of each chair they try we consider fabric choice, color, and other customization options to be a bonus.ZDNET's recommendations are based on many hours of testing, research, and comparison shopping.

Appearance: We prioritize comfort over appearance, but not everyone will be happy with the bland blacks and grays of most office furniture.

Expensive chairs also have warranties that cover just about anything that breaks, whereas the warranties for cheaper chairs don’t cover normal wear and tear. We look for office chairs that come with a warranty of at least five years, but preferably longer.

Warranty: Though a typical no-name chair might be covered for one or two years, most high-end chairs come with at least a 10-year warranty.

And at $1,000, there are more color and accessory options and even higher-end materials and finer adjustments for lumbar support. Starting at around $300, chairs are more adjustable and built with high-quality materials.

Price: Office chairs below $200 are made with cheaper plastic and metal, tend to have fixed armrests and seat depths, and usually look bland and have inferior warranties.

For those who like to move around while working, caster quality is also important. Seat cushions in particular can give out quickly, with the cheaper foam leaving you with an office chair that feels saggy. Cheaper chairs are notorious for developing weird squeaks and creaking sounds over time. Durability and materials: A lot of minor things can go wrong with a chair-the arms could come loose, a knob could crack, or a piece might break off entirely.The best chairs allow you to customize the tilt distance and the amount of force needed to lean the chair back. Good chairs offer adjustable seat height, arm height, tilt, and seat depth. Adjustability: A more-adjustable chair ensures a better fit for a wider range of bodies-and it’s more likely you’ll be happy with the chair you buy.Ease of reclining: Reclining is important for “sustainable sitting,” according to our experts, because you can move your body a bit more while you’re seated.A good backrest will support you regardless of how you sit. Lumbar and back support: Because people have different torso lengths and lumbar curvatures, adjustability is key, according to professor Alan Hedge, an ergonomics expert.How we felt after we got up from a chair was just as important as how we felt while we were sitting.

We evaluated office chairs based on seat, backrest, and armrest comfort. Comfort: Finding the perfect, most comfortable office chair is a subjective endeavor that also depends on the type of work you do, your body size, and how you sit.

Office task chairs