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Best Home Office Chair for MostBranch Ergonomic Chair Pro

$499 $449 (10% off) Branch

A Premium Office ChairSteelcase Gesture

$1,499 Steelcase

Best Budget Office ChairBranch Ergonomic Chair

$359 $323 (10% off) Branch

Best Office Chair for Long HoursHerman Miller Aeron With PostureFit SL

$1,995 Herman Miller

I have been working from home for seven years, and let me tell you one thing: Investing in the best office chair you can afford is one of the smartest things you can do if you also find yourself in a home office for eight hours a day. It's not just about finding a comfortable seat—the best desk chairs utilize the right materials to dissipate body heat. They are adjustable enough to tailor the chair to your body. There are many options at varying prices, and my job over the past few years has been to test dozens, from budget-friendly chairs from Staples to Herman Miller classics.

My favorite office chair for most people is the Branch Ergonomic Chair Pro, as it strikes a good balance between price and features, but not every recommendation will work for every person. We all have different body types, which is why we've put together a collection of our favorites. Hopefully, we have a home office chair for you here.

For more home office buying guides, check out our Best Standing Desks, Best Laptop Stands, Best Home Office Gear, Best Mechanical Keyboards, and Best Webcams guides.

Updated April 2026: We've added the Herman Miller Sayl, Haworth Zody, and Razer Iskur V2 NewGen.

Table of Contents

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- How to Sit Properly at a Desk

- What Are the Most Common Office Chair Adjustments?

- How We Test Office Chairs

- How Does WIRED Select Chairs to Be Reviewed?

- Accessories for Your Chair

- Other Chairs to Consider

- Avoid These Chairs

- Best Home Office Chair for Most

Photograph: Julian Chokkattu

Courtesy of Branch

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Branch

Ergonomic Chair Pro

$499 $449 (10% off) Branch

$499 Amazon

$499 The Container Store

I often hear gasps when I tell people how much they should probably spend on an office chair. Most people just aren't ready to fork over more than $1,000. That's one of the reasons why Branch's Ergonomic Chair Pro is our best office chair recommendation for most people. At $499, it's not egregiously expensive, has a decent warranty period, and checks off a lot of boxes in build quality, comfort, and ergonomics.

A good chair often means one that offers a variety of adjustments, and Branch's Ergonomic Chair Pro goes above and beyond. The arms of the armrest can move in and out to fit wider or narrower bodies and can be locked into place. The armrests can move up and down, forward and back, and angle in or out. The seat depth can be pulled in if you’re short or pushed out if you’re tall. You can lock the recline in a few positions (I like it upright), but better yet, the Pro offers a seat tilt, which allows for a more active sitting position when you want to get work done. The high-density foam cushion is decently soft, and I like how the mesh backrest contours my back. You can align the lumbar support and have it push in a little deeper, which I found more comfortable.

I found this Branch seat a bit short (I'm 6'4"), but you can add the Tall Cylinder when purchasing to solve this. There's a headrest add-on, though I don't think it's necessary, and the fabric, vegan leather, or leather options let you personalize the design to suit your office.

I don't have many complaints with the Pro, except that I didn't find the recline tension knob to do much. It's otherwise well-built, with a powder-coated aluminum base and casters that roll easily on my hardwood floors. I initially received two left armrests in the box, but Branch says I received an early pre-production model and that this shouldn't be an issue anymore.

SpecsUpholstery options:Flocked Italian double mesh, vegan leather, or leatherMax capacity:275 poundsSeat height:17 to 19.9 inchesArmrests:5D adjustable armrests (removeable)Warranty:7 yearsVideo:Adjustment tutorial

- A Premium Office Chair

Photograph: Julian Chokkattu

Courtesy of Steelcase

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Steelcase

Gesture

$1,499 Steelcase

$1,510 $1,208 (20% off) Amazon

$1,539 Wayfair

Steelcase's Gesture is comfortable, no matter how you're sitting. It's an attractive chair, too, with several colorful upholstery options. The seat form is cushy, and while some might find it thin, it feels plush coming from a Herman Miller Embody. I like how you can extend the seat depth forward with a twist of a knob—super elegant, which

15 Best Office Chairs of 2026— I’ve Tested 65 to Pick Them | WIRED