15 Best Office Chairs of 2026— We Tested 70 to Pick Them

Julian Chokkattu Matthew KorfhageGearAug 1, 2026 7:59 AMThe 15 Best Office ChairsSitting at a desk for hours? Upgrade your WFH setup and work in style with these comfy, WIRED-tested seats.CommentLoaderSave StorySave this storyCommentLoaderSave StorySave this storyFeatured in this articleBest Home Office Chair for MostBranch Ergonomic Chair ProRead more$499 BranchBest Premium Office ChairSteelcase GestureRead more$1,510 AmazonBest Budget Office ChairBranch Ergonomic ChairRead more$359 BranchThe "Buy It for Life" Office ChairHerman Miller EmbodyRead more$2,255 Herman MillerThere Are Three things you don't skimp on if you want a happy life: a good mattress, a good pair of shoes, and the best office chair you can find. Each one is key to a world free of unnecessary pain. Finding the right ergonomic chair can be the difference between a satisfying and focused home office life and a squirmy day filled with cricks and small dissatisfactions.The best desk chair is almost always an adjustable chair—one that can be tailored to your body’s unique shape and that offers enough lumbar support to avoid back problems even after long hours at the grind. Many chairs also utilize materials that can dissipate body heat, so you’re not stuck in Zoom meetings with a sweaty back. But the chair options out there can be bewildering. Luckily, the WIRED Reviews team has spent more than seven years sorting them out. WIRED gear editor Julian Chokkattu has tested more than 60 chairs at his last tally. Reviewer Mathew Korfhage and other staffers have tried a dozen more, and most of our top picks have been tested by multiple people with different heights and body types.WIRED’s favorite office chair for most people is the Branch Ergonomic Chair Pro ($499) because of its balance between value, features, comfort, and adjustability. That chair, and its lower-budget Ergonomic Chair ($359) cousin, have been tested and attested to by multiple WIRED reviewers. But we also offer chairs for every budget, from the preternaturally comfortable Steelcase Gesture ($1,510) to a $169 chair from Staples that leaves cheap Amazon brands in the dust.We all have differing body types and needs, which is why we’ve put together a broad collection of recommendations—and why we enlist people of all sizes to keep testing our top picks for comfort and durability. 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 August 2026: We've added the LiberNovo Omni Pro to our top picks, changed the Staples Essentials task chair into an honorable mention, and updated multiple listings including WIRED’s top-pick Branch Ergonomic Chair Pro. We also updated links and pricing throughout, removed discontinued items, and added context on lumbar support.Love WIRED? Add us as a preferred source on Google to see more of us.Table of ContentsHow to Sit Properly at a DeskWhat Are the Most Common Office Chair Adjustments?How We Test Office ChairsHow Does WIRED Select Chairs to Be Reviewed?Accessories for Your ChairOther Chairs to ConsiderAvoid These ChairsBest Home Office Chair for MostPhotograph: Julian ChokkattuPhotograph: Julian ChokkattuPhotograph: Julian ChokkattuCourtesy of BranchChevronChevronSave to wishlistSave to wishlistBranchErgonomic Chair Pro$499 BranchThe price of a good office chair often inspires actual gasps, easily cresting $1,000. This is typically justified. Most cheaper chairs reveal their shortcomings quickly and uncomfortably. Branch’s Ergonomic Chair Pro is WIRED’s top pick for most people in part because it’s available at an attainable price while still offering comfort, ergonomics, and build quality. At $499, it’s not egregiously expensive and it has a decent warranty period.One of the main markers of a good office chair is how well it can be adjusted to fit your particular shape and size. This is where Branch’s