Top Five Tips when Buying an Office Chair
I have done tips on buying a desk in the past. When this reader sent in his chair buying tips, I had to pass them along.
- Consider how much you want to spend on your office/comp chair. If you use your computer everyday, 24/7 like Chris, then you might want to buy a very comfy chair. Having your rear hurt while sitting doing work on your computer is a real pain.
- Do not go over you budget. Nowadays, office chairs tend to cost a lot. But never buy a chair just because it’s low cost.
- Make sure you know how much space you can use. I have a pretty small house. My computer is right next to my dad’s workspace and is exactly 2 foot in front the sofa so I have no space for a plastic mat on the floor for rolling wheels of a chair. So I use an uncomfortable chair that is 10 years old. (I am too lazy to go out and spend money to buy a smaller, more comfy chair, but don’t be like me =D)
- Go to the stores you trust to buy a chair. I mainly go to IKEA for all my house furniture. But there’s also Marlo. Those are the places I trust. Sometimes when you go to a random furniture store, they have raggedy chairs that will break fast. My sister had an office chair that lasted about 4 years until she pulled the handle for the chair to go lower broke. So the chair can’t go up and the chair is all the way down. She can’t even reach the computer with that chair! So she had to buy a new one. So the chair you buy must last a while (like till you die).
- Some people buy the plastic mat for their chair if it has wheels. (thats what I do) If you buy one, make sure to replace it every year or 2. After a lot of rolling, it starts to wore out and get cracks. The first mat I ever bought got cracked up, and A LOT of holes in it. One day, I’m walking to my desk, and my toe got stuff in one of those holes…man it hurts. So make sure after a lot of holes get on your mat, you replace it. You could get hurt.
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23 Comments
ima_mac
March 7th, 2008
at 12:39am
I totaly agree, the right chair makes a huge difference! I had been using one of those 1/2 back cheap chairs you get from target with no arm rests, and no thought for comfort built in. Until i found a nice full back leather reclining chair by the dumpster of my apartment building. I will never go back to those cheap chairs. I have yet to invest in a mat, but have been really thinking about it.
seb
March 7th, 2008
at 3:56am
Hi Chris
Why do you advertise for Easy Chair Millionaire. I’m really curious to know your motivations.
Thanks
Seb
Al Petru
March 7th, 2008
at 4:23am
You missed a couple of points that I would add. I prefer arnrests that are comfortable and adjust also. I would avoid some of these new chairs with the armrests that are too short in length or immediately slant downward. You should first adjust your chair and then adjust your padded armrests so you can rest your arms and elbows on them and straight out from there is your keyboard and mouse. This added support will give you a lot of comfort and less numbness and tingling in the fingers and hands. Make sure you have some sort of back support. Some people also like the lumbar (lower back) cushion.
Kurpun2
March 7th, 2008
at 11:02am
Hey! Grat post but I was just wondering if stores like staples, office depot etc. Were good places to buy chairs or not??? Or if the chairs from there were most likely to be cheap???
johnr9816
March 7th, 2008
at 11:08am
completely agree I can’t stand a uncomfortable chair I’d rather lay in bed or sit on the sofa with my laptop. which i did until i got a new comfy reclining office chair
Andre'
March 7th, 2008
at 11:20am
Chris,
Thank You Lots Chris. I agree with you alot, but I also agree with Al Pertu about the arm-rests on the chairs and cushions. Those tips are going to help me big time in the future.
Thanks,
BittenBagel
Kingdutch
March 7th, 2008
at 12:55pm
Nice guide,
wish I had that before I bought my latest computer chair. It was real comfy but now couple of months later it’s broken. Hmm guess I’m either not going back to Office Center for a computer chair or just gonna make sure it doesn’t just break.
(Somehow the back wouldn’t give support it just fell to front or back. I was either sitting hanging over my keyboard or like a dentists chair (EEE!))
King
Appleunbox
March 7th, 2008
at 2:00pm
I just bought an office chair. It was not cheap and certainly what I wanted. Comfortability is very important to me.
macmastery
March 7th, 2008
at 2:13pm
The chair makes the difference, you want to be comfortable when you work, play and surf the web otherwise you wont enjoy it :) I personally have a leather recliner computer chair and I find it really great especially when it gets warm and snug :D
billyuno
March 7th, 2008
at 2:16pm
I actually went so far in the other direction that I came out on the other side. I have a shiatsu style massage recliner that I “inherited” from my mother (who simply never used it, and had no room for it) and an “over-the-bed” table, that I have my LCD monitor, keyboard, and mouse on. I tend to spend hours at a time in the chair, and it’s not only comfortable, it’s therapeutic too!
Now excuse me while I turn on vibration mode.
Sean Tomo
March 7th, 2008
at 2:59pm
thanks this will help me a lot as i have suffer from back pain with a terrible chair,
thanks chris!
TeddGCM
March 7th, 2008
at 5:55pm
I am now an advocate of the ergonomics sect. Recently I woke up in the morning to an awful pain in my back. I went to the Dr. after 2 days of suffering and found that the muscles around my cyliac nerve (It runs from your lower back, across your buttocks and down your legs) were inflamed, causing pressure on the nerve and thus causing the pain. Turns out this was caused by poor posture while sitting. I am now much more concious of my sitting posture and I must say, it makes a BIG difference!
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March 7th, 2008
at 6:52pm
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Nate Greene
March 7th, 2008
at 8:53pm
look in your phonebook for a back specialization store in your area. They will usually custom fit you andf let you try out the chair for a while.
NJ Tech Geek
March 7th, 2008
at 9:26pm
Top Five Tips when Buying an Office ChairHow OEM’s Respond to Customer Calls Software and Life Choices Wireless Carrier Wish List Teleport
Rutger
March 7th, 2008
at 9:35pm
Thanks for these tips. I am going to be buying an office chair and desk for my room next week. I am going to print these out and take them with me. I am definitely going for comfortable, as I am home all day and at my computer. And I need it to last for a while, as I have things to save for (college and a car) so I am glad my parents are paying for this one!
tpavra
March 7th, 2008
at 10:59pm
These are good tips, 5 years ago, I too blew the bank, and got a leather office chair for 99GBP, it has lasted in 2 states and 5 houses, including the UK and USA. I have considered plastic mats for under the chair, however, the chair can move perfectly fine on carpet.
Lesser
March 7th, 2008
at 11:44pm
I have an alright computer chair at the moment….but its slowly falling apart. Makes alot of noises…Lol. I gotta start looking around for a comfy chair. I wish I had the kind of cash to get a chair like Chris has!
beast
March 8th, 2008
at 12:48am
Good timing Chris. I sat in my chair the other day and the dang thing broke and I fell right on the floor. Looks like I’m going to the chair store.
Adam Reyher
March 8th, 2008
at 1:30am
I can attest to not going cheap. I purchased a chair for more money that I thought I should (at the time) but I won’t regret it. Not only is it comfortable and gives good support, but it’s also good looking and durable.
- Adam
michaelper22
March 8th, 2008
at 8:07pm
Right now I’m using a fabric-covered task chair whose padding has been totally flattened out. I’m working out details with ym dad to buy the $630 Herman Miller Cella Loaded chair, and eco- and ergo-friendly office chair with all of the bells and whistles (lunmbar support, adjustable everything).
Gord
March 13th, 2008
at 11:43am
A good computer chair is so important. I had a bad one and it gave me a pinched nerve in my neck. If you ever had one of these it is very painful and it can last for months. My doctor told me to get a new chair and it has made a world of difference. A few tips: try out the chair in the store for at least 15 minutes. Don’t get one that rocks as it will lead to bad posture. And make sure it has proper back support and makes you sit forward and upright.
Gord
Marius Purcaru
March 15th, 2008
at 9:37am
Chris, nice advices. Thanks!
P.S! I have purchased a chair from Staples and it is pretty good. I am a kind of fed up with it though and want to get rid of it. I will be looking perhaps in Ikea store (thanks for the advice, there’s one store next to me, and I wasn’t even thinking go in Ikea…).
God bless you for your advices. All be bl3sseD!