Do you have a bad back? If so, you’ve come to the right place. I’m writing this article because I got an email from a user who frequents this site asking me what is the best chair for his bad back. He explained to me how he had tried exercise balls (check out this article on them here) and other chairs, but how no chair seemed to work just quite right.
So what are the best office chairs for a bad back? That depends on how much you are willing to spend, so in this article, I’ll list the BEST chairs for a bad back in order of best to “least-best” chairs.
What Chairs Prevent Back Pain?
What do you need in a chair to prevent back pain? The most important thing is the ability to move freely and recline because you start to notice pain and discomfort once a chair restricts you to certain positions like sitting straight up. This means you need a chair that has good recline abilities and multiple adjustments that will prevent back pain from even starting.
Chairs that have synchro-tilt or similar features (means that the back can adjust and lean back while the seat stays flat) are ideal, whereas chairs that have center-tilt are not quite as good since the seat is locked to the backrest (DXRacer chairs are like this).
| Office Chairs | Steelcase Leap  |
Embody  |
Ergohuman Chair  |
HON Nulceus  |
Alera Chair  |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adjustable Tilt with Back Tension |
|||||
| 10 Year Warranty | |||||
| 5 Star Arm Rest Adjustability | |||||
| Lumbar Support | |||||
| Seat Depth | |||||
| Use case | 8+hours | 8+hours | 8+hours | 5+ hours | 3-4+ hours |
| Editor Rating | Steelcase Leap Review | Embody Review | Ergohuman Chair Review | HON Nucleus Review | Alera Chair Review |
| Buy Now | $942+ | $1200+ | $624 | $430+ | $155 |
#1 Steelcase Leap
The Steelcase Leap is the best chair for reclining and preventing back pain. The reason is that it has adjustable lumbar support to fit the curve of your back and a “live back system” that supports your back as you move around–but it also has a feature called “natural glide system” that adjusts the seat forward as you lean back, so you maintain good posture.
These features, coupled with adjustable back tension, lock tilt positions, make for the best reclining chair on the market that encourages movement to prevent back pain from sitting up too straight.
Check out the full Steelcase Leap review.
#2 Herman Miller Embody
Second only to the Steelcase Leap, but still a bit more expensive, the Herman Miller Embody is perhaps the “coolest” looking ergonomic chair out there right now. The reason is that the back support looks like a human spine with interlocking plates and mechanisms that support your back in various positions.
The Embody’s seat is constructed the same way and provides for a truly ergonomic experience. This chair isn’t quite as good for reclining as the Leap, and it doesn’t have as adjustable arms, but it’s still a very very good chair.
Check out the full Herman Miller Embody review.
#3 Ergohuman Chair
The Ergohuman chair might be one of the weirdest and perhaps the ugliest ergonomic chair on this list, but it’s great for back pain. The reason is that the backrest is completely adjustable with two separate parts (lumbar and upper back).
The chair also has amazing tilt options, and a headrest to keep your head and neck comfy. This chair is very durable and definitely deserves a spot on this list. It’s probably the best ergonomic chair in the $600 region no questions asked.
#4 HON Nucleus
While not quite the same league as the two chairs (regarding quality and warranty), the HON Nucleus is also half the price. This chair is still quite good though for people who have a bad or sensitive back since the chair has a unique material that supports your spine.
The chair also has important ergonomic adjustments for wide range of users since it has an adjustable seat depth, adjustable arms (width and height), and good ergonomic design.
Check out the full HON Nucleus review here!
#5 Alera Chair
Finally, getting under the $200 mark, we have the Alera chair. This chair has a remarkable amount of adjustments for an office chair that is so cheap. A lot of people call this the “poor man’s Herman Miller Aeron” chair, and I find that to be true. This chair won’t last for years and years like some other chairs on this list, but it will be decently comfortable for someone with light back pain.
Check out the full Alera chair review.
#6 Furmax Gaming Chair
Lastly, we have the Furmax Gaming Chair which is a great budget chair under the $100 zone. It’s not going to have a special ergonomic design or functionality like our other chairs to prevent back pain, but it’s a decent chair with a good comfort level for the price.
Tom Spark is a chair researcher, VPN expert, and a geek product extraordinaire. When he’s not spell checking his articles with Grammarly, he’s playing video games, watching too much Netflix, and deciding if he likes his current chair or not.
Gary Hall - February 21, 2017 @ 04:39
Fantastic post! I am thinking to purchase this “Steelcase Leap”. I like it. So, mate thank you so much for sharing this valuable post!