The best office chairs for lower back pain
An office chair for lower back pain needs one thing above all: support you can move to the exact spot your back curves. Here's what to look for, and the chairs that get it right at every budget.
A chair can't cure back pain. If your pain is severe, lasts more than a few weeks, or spreads down your leg, see a doctor or physical therapist. What a good chair can do is stop your setup from making things worse.
What actually helps your lower back
- Lumbar support that reaches the right spot. Your lower back curves inward just above your belt line. Support should fill that curve, and since everyone's curve sits at a different height, adjustable support matters most.
- A seat you can sit all the way back in. If the seat is too deep, you perch forward and the backrest never touches you. Look for adjustable seat depth.
- A little recline. Leaning back slightly takes some load off your lower back compared with sitting bolt upright, so a backrest that reclines and locks is worth having.
- The right seat height. Feet flat and thighs level keep your pelvis from tipping, which changes the curve of your lower back.
Three kinds of lumbar support
| Lumbar type | How it works | Chairs in our finder |
|---|---|---|
| Adjustable | You slide a pad or panel up and down (sometimes in and out) until it sits in the curve of your lower back. | 28 of 48 |
| Self-adjusting | The backrest flexes to follow your spine as you move. Nothing to set, but nothing to fine-tune either. | 9 of 48 |
| Fixed | A built-in curve in one position. Fine if it happens to land in the right place for your body. | 11 of 48 |
Our picks
Series 1
Its lumbar support slides up and down the backrest, the seat depth adjusts, and the whole chair is covered by a lifetime limited warranty. Hard to beat at its price.
- Height-adjustable lumbar support
- Adjustable seat depth
- Lifetime limited warranty
M18
Rare at this price: lumbar support that adjusts two ways, plus a headrest and a 330-pound rating.
- Dual-adjustable lumbar
- Headrest included
- Rated to 330 lb
- Seat depth isn't published
High Back Mesh Chair
Its lumbar pad moves up and down and in and out, and the arms flip up when you want to change position.
- Lumbar adjusts in height and depth
- Headrest included
- Rated to 330 lb
- Fixed 20.5″ seat depth runs long for shorter people
Ignition 2.0
A popular mid-range chair with an adjustable lumbar bar and a mesh back that stays cool.
- Adjustable lumbar support
- Fabric seat, mesh back
- Rated to 300 lb
Breck
Back pain is often worse when your feet don't reach the floor. This chair goes down to 15.5 inches and its seat is shallow enough to sit all the way back.
- Height-adjustable lumbar
- Seat lowers to 15.5″
- 12-year warranty
Amia
Steelcase's adjustable LiveLumbar support plus an adjustable seat, a 400-pound rating and a lifetime limited warranty.
- Height-adjustable lumbar with a firmness pad
- Seat slides from 15.5″ to 18.5″
- Rated to 400 lb
Doro S300
If you shift around a lot, its two-piece lumbar support moves with you instead of staying in one place.
- Dynamic lumbar support
- Adjustable headrest
- Adjustable seat depth
Set it up right
- Set the seat height first: feet flat, thighs level.
- Slide the seat so there are two or three fingers of space behind your knees.
- Sit all the way back, then move the lumbar support until it fills the curve just above your belt.
- Unlock the backrest and lean back a little before locking it.
- Stand up and move every 30 to 60 minutes. No chair replaces that.
Want a match for your exact height, weight and sitting style?
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