Written by: Martijn Werdler, EMTEK certified seating coach
Reading time: about 8 minutes if you go through all the steps.
Welcome to our decision-making aid for finding the perfect office chair! Before we begin, I would like to point out that the following information is primarily intended to help you choose the right office chair. However, in order to be able to sit without discomfort, it is also important to heed a few ergonomic tips and apply them every day. You can find these tips on our ergonomic workplace page (link to page). To get the most out of this selection guide, I recommend keeping a note handy to write down your choices at each step. After reading this selection guide, it will be easy to find the right chair.
Briefly summarized, I will go through the following 8 steps with you:
General questions
Step 1 Intended Use
Step 2 Considerations for daily usage time
Chair-specific topics
Step 3 Measurement is knowledge
Step 4 Adjustability
Step 5 Types of mechanisms
Step 6 NEN standards
Important decisions
Step 7 Budget Considerations
Step 8 Components and Quality
General questions
In the next two steps we make the first two important decisions when choosing the right chairs. Because chairs are specially developed for different purposes. Whether it's about ergonomics, chairs for tall and/or tall people or being able to play comfortably for a long time. If you already have clarity about these questions, it will help you enormously to gain an overview and make an initial selection from the overwhelming range of office chairs.
Step 1: Intended use (i: Consider the filter options)
It helps enormously when choosing if you know what you will use the chair for. Do you work from home, how long do you sit per day? Are you using the chair for professional office use or are you a gamer looking for comfort and support for long gaming sessions? The intended use has a major influence on the choice of a suitable office chair. The 7 most common categories are:
- HOME USE - Office chairs for working at home
- Office chairs for business use in the workplace
- Gaming chairs
- Ergonomic office chairs
- XXL office chairs
- Design office chairs
- Children's office chairs
It's good to know that an office chair can come in several categories. For example, a gaming chair can also be used as an office chair for home use, and an XXL office chair can be ergonomic. When choosing the right category for your specific situation, you should base it on what is most important to you personally.
We therefore focus on the following categories:
- Office chairs for home use - currently 278 chairs (153 ergonomic and 108 stylish)
- Office chairs for commercial use in the office - currently 346 chairs 140 Economy (65-395 €)
124 premium economy models (125–615 €) (i: Are gaming chairs included here?)
59 business class models (€370–925)
47 first-class models (470–1950 €)
(makes a total of 370, there seem to be 24 counted twice)
- Gaming Chairs – currently 27 chairs
- Children's office chairs - currently 41 chairs
- Ergonomic office chairs – currently 198 chairs (€135–1,330)
- Designer office chairs – currently 56 chairs (90–1,330 €)
- XXL office chairs – currently 41 chairs (€265–1,950)
TO DO: Write down your most important usage criteria on your notepad
Step 2: Lifetime considerations
A very important aspect when choosing the right office chair is how many hours per day you spend sitting. The functions of a chair for someone who only uses an office chair for 1 to 2 hours per day may be significantly more limited than for someone who sits in an office chair for an average of around 8 hours per day. Of course, you can buy an expensive ergonomic chair for 1 to 2 hours, but there is no need to be able to sit in a healthy manner for that amount of time.
So you can also say: the more time you spend sitting, the more important the comfort of the chair is. And by comfort I mean, in addition to the right seat and backrest, the presence of mechanisms that support “dynamic sitting” and all other adjustment options.
What you have to pay attention to when it comes to the duration of use can simply be summarized as follows:
-
Less than 3 hours
Almost any office chair will do. So it all depends on how much you want to spend. Apart from the seat height and the seat surface that suit your height (see step 3: Measuring is knowledge), other extensive adjustment options are not necessary for your office chair.
- 3 to 8 hours
We recommend chairs that are equipped with the necessary basic settings for comfort. In addition to the seat height and a suitable seat, it is recommended to choose a chair with fundamentally adjustable armrests and a height-adjustable and tiltable backrest.
- 8 hours or more
If you work in a chair for longer than 8 hours, it must offer the highest level of adjustability. In addition to all the previously mentioned functions, the backrest must be height adjustable and the armrests must be at least 3D adjustable (see Step 4: Adjustability).
If you take the above-mentioned usage time into account when making your choice, you will ensure that you not only sit comfortably, but also maintain a healthy posture and reduce the risk of physical discomfort.
TO DO: Write down your estimated usage time on your notepad
Chair-specific topics
You now know what you will be using the chair for every day and approximately how long. This enabled us to make an initial selection together from all the chairs available. In the following section we will go into more detail about all the possible dimensions and adjustment options for an office chair.
Step 3: Measuring is knowing
You have now decided, among other things, how long you want to sit every day. But every body is unique, and finding an office chair that fits your body is crucial to providing good support. Here are two important dimensions to consider when looking for the right office chair:
Seat height: With chairs without height adjustment, the likelihood that you will be able to sit properly is very low. Even with the aforementioned sitting time of 3 hours or less, we always recommend choosing a chair with height adjustment. Make sure your feet can be flat on the floor while your knees form a 90 degree angle. If that works, you know you're at the right height. Note that the standard seat height can be increased with our longer gas spring, available separately. You can also adjust the chair of your choice higher than the specified specifications.
I: Is there a “trick” visitors can use to measure the length of their lower leg at home?
Seat Depth: With correct posture, there should be a small gap between the back of your knees and the front of the seat of the chair. Make sure that when you are in a relaxed working position in the office chair, you can place about 3 fingers between the end of the seat and the back of your knee.
TIP: Take a tape measure and sit at home on any chair that has space between the front edge of the chair and the back of your knees. Lean your back firmly against the backrest. Then measure the distance between the back of your knees and the front edge of the chair. Then also measure the length of the seat. If you add these two measurements together, you get the maximum length at which the approximately 3 fingers no longer fit between them. So subtract about 3 to 4 centimeters from this and you have found your ideal seat depth.
Example:
15cm + 34cm = 49cm
49 cm – 4 cm (3 fingers wide) = You now know that you need to look for chairs with a seat depth of around 45 cm.
With these two dimensions we can clearly narrow down the selection of available office chairs. You now know what you will use the chair for and for how long and which two dimensions are most important.
Insert a picture of the correct ergonomic working posture?
TO DO: Write down your determined seat height and seat depth on your notepad
Step 4: Adjustability
So what really makes a chair a good office chair? Above all, a good office chair must be adaptable to your personal preferences and body dimensions. In addition to knowing the correct seat height and depth, the ability to further adjust the chair is particularly necessary in order to be able to adopt the correct working posture. It is therefore important to consider the following setting options:
Height: As already mentioned, a good chair must be height adjustable in order to achieve the correct sitting height. Fortunately, most office chairs are height adjustable, but the adjustment range varies depending on the chair. Therefore, check carefully whether the seat height calculated in step 3 is within the adjustment range of the selected chairs. At bureaustoel24.nl this can be easily checked in the technical data of each chair.
TIP: For many office chairs it is possible to purchase a smaller or larger gas spring for an additional charge. This allows the height of the chair to be better adjusted to your height. Continue reading at: (page about various gas springs)
Seat: Check whether the seat depth is adjustable or fixed. This can sometimes make the difference between good and perfect sitting. Consider this an added plus of a chair. This also allows the chair to be used by multiple people. Which in turn can be an advantage when working from home.
Armrests: It goes without saying that armrests should support the arms. However, this is not always the case. It is important to try out the armrests yourself. Check that (1) the shoulders and neck are relieved and (2) the armrests do not push the shoulders upwards. In addition, (3) the elbows should rest on the armrests directly under the shoulders. If you find that these three points are met, you have found an office chair with good armrests. The armrests are often too wide for women, making them unusable. There are 6 options for adjusting the armrests in office chairs, with which you can achieve the ideal position described above.
1 – Chairs without armrests. This option is not ergonomic, but may be fine if you spend little time in the chair. The advantage is that the chair is more compact and therefore takes up less space.
2 – Chairs with fixed armrests
3 – Chairs with 1D armrests are only adjustable in height. These armrests allow you to support your arms at the correct height at a 90° angle.
4 – Chairs with a 2D armrest can be adjusted in height and width. This is particularly comfortable if you have a wider or narrower frame. This adjustment option makes it possible to move the armrests closer to the body or further away from it.
5 – Chairs with a 3D armrest are adjustable in height, width and depth. The upper part of the armrest can be moved both forwards and backwards. Thanks to this adjustment option, you can more easily adopt an ergonomic sitting position.
6 – Chairs with a 4D armrest are adjustable in height, width and depth and have a rotating upper part. With this function you can always find the right support that suits the respective activities.
Backrest: The backrest can have several adjustment options in addition to the ability to tilt or lock it.
1 – Follows the spine. Most backrests do not conform to the spine because they slope backwards from the upper back and shoulders. When a backrest follows the spine, it actually always has an S-shape. It is important that you feel the curvature of the backrest exactly in the hollow (lumbar) area of your back. This way you prevent problems in your back, shoulders and neck.
2 – Backrest height adjustment. This function allows the height to be adjusted to the length of the back. This prevents back problems when you sit for long periods of time. Even with the previously mentioned S-shape, this adjustment allows the curvature to be positioned in the right place.
2 – Adjustment of the lumbar support. This feature allows you to adjust the backrest to the curvature of your lower back. Since the lower back has a hollow shape, this can be very comfortable when sitting as you feel more support. For office chairs that comply with the NPR 1813 standard, the adjustment range (curvature) is 170-230 mm, i.e. six centimeters. This is ideal for people of average height and proportions, but less practical for short or particularly tall people. Therefore, the following applies to the backrest: the larger the adjustment range, the greater the likelihood that it will fit well. (Link to the page: The “Fit Office”, for example, has an adjustment range of 18 cm.)
For more details on backrest tilt, see the next section, Step 5: Mechanisms
TO DO: Write down your most important wishes regarding adjustability on your notepad
Step 5: Mechanisms
The mechanisms of an office chair determine how the chair moves and adapts to your sitting posture. So while the adjustability ensures that you have a correct sitting posture that suits your body type, the mechanisms allow you to move a little within this setting or choose to sit in a fixed position instead.
In order to find out what is pleasant and important for you personally, we explain the three most common types of mechanisms below.
Tilting mechanism: With this mechanism, the backrest and seat tilt in the same proportion. The angle between the backrest and the seat remains the same when tilted.
Permanent contact mechanism: With this mechanism, only the backrest moves with the movements of the upper body. When you lean backwards, the backrest moves backwards with you. As you lean forward, the backrest follows your forward movement.
Synchronous mechanism: With this mechanism, both the backrest and the seat move. The movement of the seat is limited compared to the backrest (on average the ratio is 1:2.5), but ensures that you maintain a natural posture. Your body remains in optimal contact with the chair when leaning back, reducing the potential risk of discomfort.
If you take into account the sitting time chosen in step 2, you can keep the mechanisms in the same order.
Less than 3 hours - tilt mechanism
3 to 8 hours – mechanism for at least permanent contact
8 hours or more – mechanism for at least synchronous seating
So you can be sure that you are choosing a chair that ensures comfortable sitting.
TO DO: Write down the desired mechanism on your notepad
Step 6: NEN Norms
Choosing an office chair for a workplace is difficult. That's why many people, employers and buyers orientate themselves on standards and trends. However, be aware that an office chair that conforms to "the norms" does not necessarily provide the right support for your personal situation and that trends are mostly design-related and not aimed at seating comfort. Therefore, always choose the right office chair based on the level of support and comfort. As far as standards are concerned, we base our office chairs on NEN 1335 and NPR 1813. The first of the two is the European standard, the second is the Dutch adaptation to it. This is because in many cases we Dutch are simply taller than the average European. You can find out more about these standards in this article (link to page).
Important decisions
You have now determined the most important measurements and criteria. Since the selection of office chairs both from us and from other providers is enormous, there are a few points that you should take into account. We will cover these below.
Step 7: Budget Considerations
Determining your budget is the penultimate essential step in choosing the right office chair. You've probably already thought about this carefully. Office chairs vary significantly in price depending on features, materials, brand and design. Here are some guidelines to help you make an informed decision within your budget:
Weigh your priorities: In all the previous steps, you have made decisions about what is important to you. In particular, the decisions from steps 4 and 5 can have a significant impact on the price. Therefore, be critical when deciding what is really important to you. Is ergonomics crucial due to long-term daily use, or is price the deciding factor? You may have to make compromises in certain areas to stay within your budget.
Price versus quality: While it may be tempting to go for the cheapest option, it's important to consider the chair's durability and comfort. A slightly more expensive, higher quality chair may be a better investment in the long term, especially if you use the chair extensively. See also the last step in this decision guide
Invest in health and productivity: Remember that a good office chair is an investment in your health and productivity. Ergonomic chairs can help prevent back pain and other work-related physical ailments. You can find out more about ergonomics here (link to ergonomics page)
Compare Chairs: Take time to compare prices and features of different chairs. If necessary, keep an eye out for offers and discounts as these can help you find exactly the high-quality chair that fits your budget.
TIP: You can easily compare chairs on our website by adding selected chairs to the “comparison”. You do this on a chair's detail page by clicking "Add to Compare" under the "ADD TO CART" button.
Remember that the cheapest option in the short term is not always the most cost-effective and healthiest choice in the long term. A well-chosen office chair can last for years and contribute to a healthier work environment.
Step 8: Components and Quality
A final but unfortunately often forgotten step is to carefully assess the quality and completeness of a chair. Of course, as a buyer it is difficult to actually get an idea of the quality. Nevertheless, the following points can help you get a good impression of this quality.
The basic components of a chair
It may sound strange, but if you want to buy an office chair, you should definitely look for a chair that is “complete”. More and more trendy office chairs are being sold where appearance is more important than functionality. In my opinion, it is extremely important to focus on functionality. First, make sure you find the right chairs using all the steps above, and only then look at what you actually like within this selection. Always choose an office chair with a five-star base with castors, a gas lift, a seat, a backrest and two armrests. Whatever you do, don't settle for anything less.
A chair with interchangeable parts
It's a shame when a chair is thrown away just because an armrest is broken. However, this happens often. Not only is it a shame because the office chair is otherwise fine, but it also costs unnecessary additional money to replace the chair. When purchasing, always ask whether important parts, such as armrests or springs, can be replaced. After all, replacing parts is significantly cheaper and – what is at least as important – much more environmentally friendly.
Good workmanship quality
Unfortunately, quality is often neglected. The reason? Because price often plays a larger role in the purchasing process. But the same applies to office chairs: cheap is often expensive. The probability that a cheap office chair will break more quickly is greater than a more expensive one. What can you check for yourself here? The simplest approach is: examine the chair. Does everything feel stable and nothing rattles? Is the mechanism made of steel or plastic? Of course, a chair made of steel lasts longer. The peak load when standing up and sitting down is three to four times your body weight. A chair made of steel can withstand these forces better and lasts significantly longer.
Quality of the cover
When it comes to the quality of the cover, it is advisable to ask about or check the Martindale value of the fabric. Upholstery fabrics are subjected to the Martindale test to determine their quality. In simple terms, the fabric is placed in a device that applies pressure to the fabric and then performs rotating movements. The test result is a certain number of revolutions (rotational movements) that the machine was able to make until visible wear or broken threads were evident. When the chair's cover has been tested to 100,000 Martindale revolutions, you know that the fabric will last a long time. It is also important to know the quality of the foam. This prevents you from sitting on a wooden board after just a few years. (Are there any other criteria for this?)
Conclusion
I hope that these 7 steps have given you sufficient insight into all the facts you need to know about office chairs. With this information you should be able to choose the office chair that is right for you.
If you have any further questions, you can always call me or one of my other EMTEK certified colleagues on +31 (0) 26 - 353 0 253 or send an email to info@bureaustoel24.nl
Last task: On this page about office chairs you can already enter your results from the selection guide and then find out from this selection which office chair is perfect for you. Good to know: We can deliver it to your home within 5 days.