The Best Office Chair Tier List

Do you agree with my list? What is your favorite chair?

"Even the best chairs, can be the worst for someone else" best advice

What a legend. Autonomous Kinn gave him a chair, and he puts it in the lowest tier. Savage.

Bro, where are you keeping all these CHAIRS lmao.
Great vid

I just bought a Volvo S60 passenger seat at the local scrap yard for 20 bucks and put it on the base of my old office chair. Best decision I made. Real leather, real lumbar support... I even can wire up the heating part if I want to :)

The moment that you realized you are not a kid anymore is like watching The tier list of office chair instead of watching the tier list of League of Legends champions

Thank you for putting racing chairs at e tier. I couldn't agree more.

The fact that no chair got rated S-tier makes me believe humans aren't supposed to sit down. I'll keep that with me :)

Being the same build and having similar preferences as you, this review is very helpful.
Never seen such flexible chairs you placed in A tier.
Definitely taking a look at those options.

Ain’t no way I just watched a office chair tier list and enjoy it fam the streets are cold rn

Me: Sitting on my racing chair, oh boy so comfy.
David: Gaming Chairs are so shit i'm not even going to cover them.
Me: Wow what an uncomfortable chair ew you disgust me.

I literally was in the first 0:40 second of the video and was stunned by all the production - nice music, graphics it looks and sounds so good. Thank you for the list!

i went to the steelcase showroom to test out both gesture and leap. sitting experience are very similar on both but gesture has more adjustability on the arm and looks way better. the head rest is good but i think it could be better though. anyway i have using a gesture with the headrest for a year now, most comfy chair i have ever owned. make sure you put into consideration of how warm/cool your room is when picking the fabric. some of them are just way too hot for summer but they will keep you warm in the winter.

so on the A-tier level he's put:
00:41 - Steelcase Leap v2 with Headrest
02:00 - Herman Miller Embody
05:28 - Steelcase Gesture

Legend. Too many paid reviews online, good to see someone doing it right.

I really like the Herman Miller Verus, it's HM's cheapest chair but very good. The mesh back is so comfortable and springy. You can cross your legs on it too and it's got lots of adjustability.

Never in my life did I think I needed a video for an office chair but here I am. Well done!

The tier list:
S - (none)
A - Steelcase Leap, Steelcase Gesture, HM Embody
B - Logitech Embody, HM Aeron, HM Mirra 2, Steelcase Amia
C - Ikea Markus, Ikea Volmar, HAG Capisco
D - Staples Hyken, ikea Hattefjall, Ikea Jarvfjallet
E - Autonomous Kin (aka ErgoChair pro), Gaming chairs / Secret Lab Titan
HM = Herman Miller.

You keep being my favorite reviewer of truly functional and aesthetic office equipment.
Used you recommendations for my 49" DELL, the Ergotron display arm, the PowerToys for splitting the screen real estate and even ordering the all-in-one USB-C cable by Cable Matters which turned out to be the only cable that worked with my Lenovo Laptop to use as single cable for everything. Heck, even the screen lightbars - were an idea I believe I got from you initially.
I'm currently on the fence with the Embody vs Aeron vs the Steelcase Gesture as my top 3 shortlist. Generally leaning towards the Embody, but the Gesture arm-rest design looks really great - since I sometimes need to move away the arm-rests for stuff like meditation or working close to the screen with my hands on the table.
If you have any additional info for comparing these two (Embody vs Gesture) - I'll really appreciate it!
Great vid as always! Love your stuff! :D

brief, informative and straight to the point. everything you want in a review

Great video! I'm leaning towards SteelCase and directly ordering from them. Thoughts being they have a 30 day return period, with free return pick up. Herman Miller may be comparable, but everything I'm seeing is leading me between the Leap and the Gesture. Hopefully one day we'll both find our "S" tier chair!

Loved this, I hope you keep trying new chairs and adding them to the tier list.

Very concise video with just the right level of details put into it. Thanks for your insights David!

Thank you for this list, this helped me discover what options would likely be best for me. Ended up getting the Staples Hyken, and where it is not for you, it is for me. Great work!

Your reviews always seems honest and you focus on meaningful things instead of what manufacturers advertise. Thanks, your videos have been really helpful when I have been updating my setup. I just changed my old gaming chair to used Martela Logic 400 chair. Still getting used to it, because it is much more firm and less relaxed than my old chair, but I do get much better posture with it. I hope my back will get used to it eventually, because finding a good chair is extremely hard and expensive. It shouldn't be.

Ive been researching desk chairs 4 months as the dinner table chair for my home desk is starting to be not real comfortable for long focused sessions. This is exactly wanted I needed, thank you.

I appreciate your honesty. No bs, not long winded, hence I subbed.

I love my Steelcase Gesture with Headrest at home so much that I got a second one for my office. I sat in my first one so much (seriously, so very much) that the seat started to wear down... and Steelcase shipped me a brand new chair to replace it and all I had to do was use that shipping box to send the other one back to them. I specifically got this model because I have a neck problem, and I haven't regretted this chair model for a second.

This is one of the most helpful videos of all time. Thank you

Just went through the ordeal of getting the wrong chair. And I thought I was being the only picky one. Thank god for you video, it validates everything I am picky about

After trying all the different high-end Herman Millers, I definitely like the Aeron the most - the way the mesh is structured just fits and accommodates my weirdly proportioned body better than anything else. I have a slightly short leg (by about 8-9mm) and the resulting tilt in my hip resulting in an uneven weight distribution both when standing and sitting, and somewhat-off curvature of my spine, mean that I often get specific hot spots which after (admittedly brief) testing, the Aeron seems to alleviate very niecly.
The Mirra feels like an amazing chair also, but it's definitely meant for people with a straighter back than I have (the right side of my back is shifted slightly back - it's invisible, but you feel it when resting "flat" against something that assumes a "normal" back). I love the customisable placement of the back support, and the chair just generally feels way more high quality and comfortable than you'd expect from the plastic-y look of back rest.
The Embody's upper back support is something super unique and I think many, many people will love this one. It's got all the perks of what a gaming or "executive" chair wish they did (and market themselves to have), and the weird "spine" on its back really does help a lot with back support. I just prefer the mesh of the Aeron for aforementioned reasons. For taller people and anyone wanting the best version of the gamer/racing/"executive" vibe and styling, this is definitely the one - I think it's got wide marketable appeal and I'm honestly surprised to have seen next to nobody talking about it online, especially considering the recent popularity of gaming chairs, when this is just the straight up upgrade and ultimate evolution (in a really, really good way).
Now if only I had the money to go after any of these at the moment.. considering to get another mesh chair as a stop gap while slowly putting toward an Aeron - the Komene mesh chair included in Gamers' Nexus' video about gaming chair alternatives looks like something I'd love to try, especially at the price of 240€ via Amazon over here. Definitely tempted to give that one a try, since financing a 1600€ payment for a fully kitted-out Aeron is probably not a great idea right now with other things in my life that also need taking care of.
(For context, I currently have an Ikea Markus but the seat pan is just a bit too deep for me, I hate the arm rests but want some on my chair, and I want to switch to a headrest-less design for putting up/tying my hair in the summer without losing the ability to rest my back comfortably and recline into my chair. General comfort is good since I got a footrest to alleviate the seat pan complaints, but the arm rests and headrest issues of course persist. That, and I just really enjoyed testing out different mesh chairs, and like mentioned before, the Aeron's specific way of supporting my body feels tailor-made which is just such a premium experience. Plus, no sticky thighs in the summer with mesh - huge benefit when working from home in a country where home AC is incredibly rare.)

I have two aeron chairs at home. Brilliant, comfortable chairs. I've had them for years and have never had any problem, besides for the faux leather being like catnip for two cats in a row, so that now the arm rests are just foam, no leather. Still so comfortable that I have no desire to replace them. Love these chairs.

Probably the best video out there on chairs thank you so much for the thorough list of subjects! Even including both the original and logitech versions of the embody chair was very helpful 💚

Great video. I switched from a gaming chair to a Gesture 6 months ago and it’s been nice. Your video comparing it to the Leap helped me make up my mind. Keep up the good work!

Calm voice, slick presentation. Thanks, all of them are out of budget for most in India😂

This is the most chill and enjoyable vid I have watched I’m so long

Great review! I'm in the market for a new computer chair and it looks like you have given me a lot of options to consider. Thank you!

Just got a Hyken and even though it is not a premium office chair, it is an immediately noticable upgrade from any normal chair

This man has gone almost a full year without updating his "dream minimal aesthetic setup". Congratulations.

Great list. Just wanna say your channel was a life saver in getting my home office set up.

The video is interesting, but I think it would be great to make a video where the TIERS are price brackets, because if a chair is great but at 1500 €, is it really 5x better than a chair at 300 €?

Loved the video! I´m looking for a new chair, so my question is which chair do you recomend, The Herman Miller Cosm(High back) or the Secretlab Neue?

I bought the Steelcase Leap when Covid forced me to work from home. I have chronic lower back problems, but I'm comfortable sitting in this chair all day

Bro, you gave some very insightful advice, I never really thought about, and that I am wholly grateful for! Great video muh dude, and again thank you so much! 😁😁

Also, Markus is INCREDIBLY sturdy. I've had one for 7 years and it's still in perfect conditions. The padding is good, lumbar support and everything. Nice budget option

I had a significant amount of experience with my work office Aeron. I never quite liked it but I had no choice. For home office setup I went with the Steelecase Gesture + headrest. I have not regret it. Excellent chair.

I got a racing chair for the hype and I regret it everyday doing school work kills me on it. Love your videos

I own the autonomous Kinn Chair ( I am 300 lbs and 6'4) for the last year and I have some qualms with what David mentioned
I found it disappointing that he gave this E tier since I thought it was at least C. I actually personally enjoy the lack of cushion on the bottom seat. Someone that has already some nice cushion on their butt, I find that really any cushion is too much. I never got the whole part when he said it was a bumpy seat though since I can never feel the bumpiness of the seat. There are little wrinkles that developed in the mesh part on the seat but it doesn't apply any textural difference to the seating experience. I must say that he is correct on the lack of lumbar support sometimes, especially when you're slouching. This chair really kind of forces you to sit up all the time which could be good or bad, depends on what you want. While it does hurt to say sometimes, people my size also have a hard time fitting their more wider waists inside of a chair. The Kinn chair can fit my wide bum pretty well with no issues. The time to actually get this was unfortunately when it was 100$ cheaper, before the rebrand. I got it before the rebrand and while it was black Friday so I ended up spending 412$ (with taxes and shipping). What I was actually most impressed by was their customer service. I went to their website, sent a picture since my caster wheels wouldn't move due to dog hair getting into it. and they sent me a whole new set of casters along with another gas spring free of charge, and within a couple days of shipping. I think the shipping time was fast due to me living close by their main warehouse in California but they at least gave a tracking number within a day. I think that good customer service is usually overlooked in many KRplus reviews since they don't have to ever live that reality.
If you got to the rest of this comment, Thanks for reading!

I have a Hyken myself and I'm personally pretty fond of it. I think I was able to get it on sale for about $125 and I'm a big fan of how it feels.

Agree 100% with the ones I have experience with. Recently tried a Herman miller aeron vs steelcase gesture and the gesture won by a large margin

I discovered a new part of youtube, this video is so clean that I can use it to sanitize my eyes

I once sat on an Aeron chair, it felt like I'm setting on a cloud.

Could you add more chairs to your tier list. The list itself was actually amazing and very helpful. Also i have been saving up and researching for a chair and would like your thoughts on the workpro quantum 9000 with a fabric seat.

The tip at the end is great.
Just throwing my two cents in for anyone who needs a bit more research, I have a lesser known chair called the Oak Hollows Aloria.
It's absolutely incredible for someone of my height + build being both 6'2 and big boned, it has enough adjustability and space for me to even put my legs up like if I were sitting in a dispatcher chair or leather armchair. I'd put this thing as an easy A tier for myself as it has both helped me with back pain and is suitably comfortable due to it having pretty strong resistance when leaning and how it fits my body type really well.
However, if you're a shorter person or are lankier in stature, this chair is a nightmare, even on the lowest possible setting with the smaller sized gas cylinder, this thing was taller than my last chair at max height. It goes so tall that if I used the standard cylinder and put it up as high as it could go, my feet would be dangling off the ground. The resistance is also a problem if your body isn't the right size to "doorstop" it from springing back because the push back makes it difficult to just lean comfortably as you'll have to constantly be at war against it to get it to sit still without using the locking mechanism.
Like David said, try before you buy and keep. I would also like to add that you shouldn't be worried about being picky for a nice office chair. Think about it, you're gonna be sitting in this thing for the next 3-5+ years, if it ain't comfortable and it causes problems, don't suck it up and "deal with it" cause doing that will lead to back problems in the future.
Also, remember to stand up and give yourself a good stretch now and then!

Great video, David! Keep it up.
It seemed like your latest monitor setup is a single ~40 inch 16:9 screen (correct me if I'm wrong). How are you liking it productivity wise? How do you feel it compares to separated screen real estate that multiple monitors bring? There's tools that help you split Windows into zones but it's never the same.
Thanks for the video!

I’m a 3d character artist, been using the Hag pulse for a while, completely removed my back pain but it doesn’t have much padding so added extra padding but it does get a bit uncomfortable after a while because of that. Thinking of getting the more expensive version Capisco or an alternative. Working long hours drawing on a Wacom Intuos tablet requires either a saddle seat or forward tilt in a chair or just sitting backwards.

Awesome video David. I am on my way back to college and realized how important a comfortable chair is. Double thumbs up

After doing a 'sit-test' at Herman Miller retailer, I agree that the Mirra 2 is underrated. I tried all their chairs and liked it more than the Aeron for task work and gaming positions. Still, the Embody ended up being my choice.

The office i used to work on had the HM Aeron. I now work from home for another company and to say I miss them is an understatement 😢 I never got a single back cramp with those chairs and now my neck be hurting everyday

I was ready to pull the trigger on an Aeron. Went to the store to give it one last try. Just for fun, I also sat down in the Cosm. Boom. That was it for me. The Cosm only has one adjustment: height. Everything else, the chair decides for you. It just so happens that all those "decisions" are perfect for me. I got the high back version. I've had it for a couple of years and I use it for many hours each day. It looks cool and never causes me any problems. It just stays out of the way. The sales person said people either love or hate that one ... so I recommend finding out which category you belong to.

No fuss or frill straight to the point reviews A+.

I've tried a few on your list. Give the RH Logic 400 a try if you can get it. Might make your S tier as armrests are removable.

David is the ultimate curator of technology and peripherals. David's insights have saved me from buying throw-away items and focus on products providing long-term value. FYI: My Steelcase Leap has served me well and is one of the best chairs you can buy. All day comfort with zero back discomfort.

Recently bit the bullet and bought herman miller mirra 2.
My lower back pain has vanished 90%, no more leg pain. no more that feeling of blood pooling in my feet & legs. Can be adjust to the smallest detail.
Best purchase ever.

Why is this so calming to watch

I have the Ikea Markus chair with a leather bottom. I bought it two years ago and do not really regret it. The only thing for me is I've had it long enough that I have gotten used to it, and find it to be a little to comfortable at times. I fall asleep in it a lot. I am ready to move onto a chair that I can be a little more productive in, lol. I would recommend it for an everyday chair. Very good build quality in my opinion.

I went for an aeron over a mirra for the fact the aeron can take on a headrest, and the mirra can't.
totally agree that it punishes you for not sitting properly however, relaxing is not an option

I had an ErgoChair Pro back when it was about $300 but got worn off, so I made the switch to an IKEA Markus. I used that for about a year, it's incredibly good at first, and really liked it, but the cushion started to get very thin and it gave me some bad lower back pain - wondering if wouldn't be a problem depending on your weight.
It was time to order a new chair so I went with the ErgoChair Pro+, unfortunately, before watching this video.
Not sure why I didn't check your channel first, I'm a subscriber for so long, hoping it doesn't suck that bad or I'll have to return. Thank you for the unbiased review.

He went over his preferences and they where exactly mine too, a man of taste and class

can add the prices next time for your Tier List please. Great video btw

I remember watching the Markus review ages ago

right now I have the Vitra ID Mesh and I love it.

Thank you for such an incredibly helpful video!

Clutch tier list. Was just about to buy a chair

Mirra is so underrated. Can easily be picked up for under $200 and IMO is more comfortable than the Aeron classic with much better lumbar support. Only thing you are losing out on is headrest options

Pretty great to see reviews from someone who is almost the exact same size as me. I’m trying to transition from console to PC gaming. My preferred sitting method for console was on the floor, cross legged. I can’t seem to ever get comfortable in a chair, constantly changing positions. I’ve seen some interesting cross legged chairs marketed as yoga or meditation chairs, but they seem overpriced and look DIY capable. The HAG Capisco looked promising, but not sure if I could make it my main chair. With the high prices and almost certain cons for each, I’m highly considering making a custom wide seat or bench design.

Great video man.
Wish the tier A list was consolidated in the end other than pictures. I will have to go through the chair mash up again.
But super cool review.

"I have only sat in the Secretlab Titan for a minute in the store... D tier."
"This Ikea chair is cheap and kinda sucks... C tier."
What a quality review this is. *sarcasm off*

Remember, your milage may vary depending on your body type. I'm on the bigger, taller side (220+ lbs, 6'2) and when I compared the Ikea Markus vs the Jarvfjallet in an Ikea store, I found the Jarvfjallet to be more comfortable, even though it ranked lower on this tier list. It's currently the chair I use now.

Here's a video I never thought I'd watch, but here we are. Thank you for existing

This was a cool video. I've been using the Steelcase Leap V2 for about 2 years and I'm mostly happy with it. But I would like to try the Humanscale Freedom with headrest.

legend has it he'll post again one day

It would be great to have a summary of the chairs with a more detailed comparison to price

I would of liked how you compare some of the reclining options of the various chairs as some mechanisms are better than others. Thanks for sharing 👍

Very nice and detailed review, loved this

This is one tier list I've been longing to see from you, and you delivered. Thank you David.
P.S: Hopefully you can include the Autonomous ErgoChair 2 (now rebranded as ErgoChair Pro) in a future review, as it is the more popular choice among the rest. I've personally owned mine for quite a while and I might list it as in between B and A tier.

THIS IS THE VIDEO I NEEDED! Got a Herman Miller (refurbished): Please note you can buy parts and repair/replace these yourself which makes it worth in the long run.

Wow I really appreciate the unbiased ratings for all and not picking a favourite and immediately putting it in S tier 🤝

Excellent review. Well done. Thank you.

just gonna throw my experience out there. I've a Secret Lab Titan for almost a year. It still looks as good as it did on day one, no sign of wear, and it's plenty comfortable. I can sit in it for 8 hours and be perfectly fine. I love it. It's a bit expensive but so far it's worth it

Still loving my Ikea Markus ❤️

GREAT and super solid stuff ! Thanks a lot.

Steelcase gesure here. Had it for a few years, and its been incredible. If you have the budget, try the A-tier rank. Its worth the extra money. I get zero fatigue using this chair over hours and hours.

As much as I love my Aeron, I totally agree with the criticism that it forces you to sit a certain way. Definitely its biggest weakness.

As an owner of 2-3 years of personal experience on the Titan Large chair, I would personally say C tier over D. I think first time impression could possibly lead to D for many reasons, but I CANNOT fathom another chair with the same lounging potential. I can cross my legs on it, lean it back, slouch, put more bottom padding like a seat cushion from purple or another for more comfort, there's enough space behind you too place some small back pillows if you want adjustability. It sounds like a lot of praise but honestly I would still say C tier over all. Mine is an older model and my issues have been addressed in recent years because the PU leather will eventually start peeling (mine took a lil less than 3 years) and the arm rests can get wobbly if u get an older model. I would recommend the MESH chairs of them however. Again this is probably still a C tier, and you might find something better for lounging/office use. But it's not a bad chair unlike most racing gaming chairs.

this really made sense. Thanks for this vid it made me realize how important to buy the right chair for me which to find comfort :)

Hey David..love the video, it was very informative. I am currently seeking a chair for my home office setup. On a side note, can tell me the brand and model number of the large monitor you use in your video, including the resolution setting used. THANK YOU..

I own an autonomus ErgoChair 2 and its amazing, thanks for your review, love ur channel

Straight to the point. Love it!

WOW, props for making an honest critique of the high budget chairs. I too find them good, to great, to meh again, depending on the task.
I need a good tilt/swivel chair for rocking and slouching but the only high quality one seems to be Steelcase Siento - I haven't sat in it and therefore have no opinion on it.