The 6 Best Office Chairs For Back Pain To Reduce Stress On Your Spine

Research consistently shows that prolonged sitting can lead to back pain, and sitting on the wrong chair only makes the issue worse. If you’re in the market for a new office chair to keep you ache-free at your desk, you need one that offers ample ergonomic support—particularly for your lumbar spine—to encourage healthy posture. Out of the best office chairs for back pain, our top recommendation is the Herman Miller Sayl Chair, thanks to its adjustable lumbar support and flexible design that helps your body maintain its natural alignment. If you’re on a budget, consider the Mimoglad Ergonomic Office Chair—one Forbes Vetted writer credits its movable lumbar support and plush cushioning with reducing stiffness in her lower back.

If daily aches have become your norm, investing in the right office chair is essential—especially for those who spend most of their day seated. "A poorly designed office chair encourages poor posture, which adds up over time," explains Dr. Ehsan Jazini of VSI. "When you’re sitting eight hours a day, five days a week, a chair without proper spinal support can weaken your core muscles, which stabilize the spine and put pressure on the discs in your spine, which leads to back pain.” With this advice in mind, we rounded up the very best office chairs for back pain, including picks that staffers have been using for years.

Herman Miller’s Sayl is the best office chair we’ve tested, as you can easily customize it to fit your body and your style. It has an adjustable seat depth and optional lumbar support, so you can dial in exactly how much lower-back cushioning you prefer. Even the armrests give you choices: Pick fixed, height-adjustable or fully adjustable options, depending on your comfort (and your budget). And whereas most office chairs have rigid frames, the Sayl’s back features a flexible elastomer design inspired by suspension bridges. The strands vary in tension to match your spine’s natural curve, giving you firm support exactly where you need it without restricting movement. The Sayl also offers plenty of aesthetic variety, with six frame colors, 16 upholstery options and two caster types to suit just about any workspace.

What our editors say: Forbes Vetted reviews editor Anna Perling is a fan of the Sayl’s adjustability and ergonomic support. “The curved back support is somehow both firm and flexible; it feels like a hug for my back,” she says. “Herman Miller also offers an awesome 12-year warranty, which made me feel confident in my purchase.”

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You don’t need to drop hundreds of dollars to ease your back pain while working. This top-rated pick lets you customize nearly every part of the chair, including lumbar support, headrest height, armrest positioning and even the angle of the backrest. Its breathable mesh back helps you stay cool, while the seat has four inches of cushioning for extra comfort during longer workdays. And unlike the limited color options typical for office chairs at this price, this model comes in nine different shades, from classic neutrals to more fun picks like Carrot Orange and Orchid. It’s also protected by a five-year warranty, which is generous for such an affordable chair.

What our editors say: Updates writer Alexandra Garrett, who shares that she has a history of back problems, says, “I really appreciate the Mimoglad’s adjustable lumbar support, wide headrest and 4-inch thick foam cushion. After several months, I’ve noticed that my lower back is less stiff at the end of the day.”

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For those suffering from hip tightness and pain as a result of inadequate lumbar support or improper posture, the ergonomic Branch Verve Chair is a helpful option. You can adjust several of its components—including its seat height and depth, armrest height and the padded lumbar support—to make sure your spine is aligned in such a way that alleviates the strain on your hips. Specifically, you’re able to move the lumbar support so your spine maintains its natural curvature, as well as adjust the seat to alleviate pressure on your hip joints. It doesn’t hurt that the chair comes in an attractive, breathable knit fabric and six stylish colors.

What our editors say: “I love the amount of support this chair gives to my lower back and hips,” says senior home and kitchen editor Amanda Arnold, who’s been using the chair for over three years. “During the work week, I sit in it for eight hours a day and never experience any aches or pain.”

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This Gabrylly chair is specifically designed to ease pressure in your neck and back, with extra attention paid to the headrest. Unlike many chairs with stiff or barely adjustable head supports, this one tilts backward up to 45 degrees and moves vertically, letting you find a comfortable angle without awkwardly craning your neck. The chair also reclines between 90 and 120 degrees, so you can lean back easily to stretch or relax. Its armrests adjust smoothly up and down with a quick button press and even flip up completely if you prefer to move freely. Another nice touch: The breathable mesh back helps prevent overheating, which is ideal if your home office tends to run warm.

What our experts say: “Fixed or improperly placed armrests can lead to poor shoulder positioning—either causing shoulder elevation or slouching—both of which contribute to neck strain and overall postural fatigue,” says Michelle Davis, PT, DPT. She recommends looking specifically for chairs with adjustable armrests and headrests to minimize tension in your upper spine and neck.

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Considering how much time you spend in an office chair and the impact that has on your back, it makes sense that some may want to really splash out. If you have the money to spare and durability is of the utmost importance, the Steelcase Gesture is a worthy investment—and one that comes with a 12-year warranty. Like all the best office chairs, the majority of its features are customizable, including its seat height and depth, armrests (which rotate 360 degrees), recline and headrest. It’s also designed to support your spine by mimicking its full range of motion. Choose from a huge range of upholstery options, including several handsome types of premium leather. The headrest is also noteworthy in its number of available adjustments: It can move vertically, tilt and rotate 90 degrees, so you can adjust it in a way that supports proper posture and reduces pressure on your spine.

What our editors say: Deputy editor Dave Johnson praises his Steelcase Gesture for how comfortable it is—especially for all-day use. “It does a great job of supporting my back no matter how I'm sitting,” he shares. “The armrests are so easy to adjust that I find myself moving them around a lot to accommodate whatever I'm doing instead of leaving them in one place like I have done with other chairs I've owned.”

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This X-Chair option is a winning pick for those in the market for a handsome leather chair that doesn’t skimp on back support. To start, it comes in three top-grain leather and two premium leather upholstery choices to add sophistication to your work space. But it’s more than a looker—the X4 Executive Chair features a responsive Dynamic Variable Lumbar support, which adjusts to your body and movements, 4D armrests and a supple, foam-filled seat that’s height- and depth-adjustable. For an additional charge, you can also choose to upgrade to 360-degree armrests, a heated massage cushion, a wider seat, locking wheels, memory foam cushioning and a chair that arrives fully assembled.

What our editors say: “The X4 Executive Chair is so nice and comfortable to sit on,” says Consumer tech editor Rebecca Isaacs shares. While she found setup to be somewhat of hassle, she says she loves “the plush seating and the support it provides my back,” as well as the armrests. If you’re thinking of upgrading the chair, she recommends adding the headrest and locking wheels.

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Why Trust Forbes Vetted

At Forbes Vetted, our home editors spend hundreds of hours each year researching, testing and reviewing furniture and office gear, focusing on products that are both well-made and comfortable. Our remote team has personally used dozens of different office chairs, in addition to testing, researching and writing about the best office chairs of 2025.

• This article was written by Forbes Vetted home and kitchen editor Kelly O’Sullivan and overseen by senior home and kitchen editor Amanda Arnold, who collectively have more than a decade of experience evaluating furniture and home products.
• Our writers and editors personally recommend several chairs featured here, including the Herman Miller Sayl, Branch Verve, Steelcase Gesture, Mimoglad Ergonomic Office Chair and X-Chair X4 Leather Executive Chair.
• We consulted four medical experts to guide and support our recommendations: Dr. Ehsan Jazini of VSI (formerly Virginia Spine Institute); Dr. Vivek Babaria, DO, board-certified interventional spine and sports medicine physician at DISC Sports & Spine Center; Dr. Pola Ham, occupational therapist and assistant professor at Touro School of Health Sciences; and Michelle Davis, PT, DPT.
• We regularly revisit this piece to ensure our recommendations remain accurate and available. It was most recently updated in May 2025.

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How We Chose The Best Office Chairs For Back Pain

To find the best office chairs for back pain, we consulted four medical experts—including a board-certified interventional spine physician, an occupational therapist and two physical therapists—and carefully researched highly rated chairs from trusted furniture brands. We also relied on our editors’ real-world testing and experience using these chairs daily.

• We prioritized models from reliable brands we’ve personally tested and trust, including Herman Miller, Steelcase, Branch and X-Chair.
• We focused specifically on the features our experts highlighted as most important for back pain relief: adjustable lumbar support, customizable seat depth, reclining options and flexible armrests and headrests.
• We considered everyday comfort and ease-of-use details, such as seat cushioning, breathable materials and intuitive adjustment controls.
• We included chairs at a range of prices, from affordable yet supportive options to premium ergonomic chairs specifically designed to alleviate chronic back pain.
• We selected chairs with consistently strong user reviews, prioritizing picks that earned ratings of four stars or above from people who use them regularly.

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