Computer programming is already hard enough. The last thing you want when sitting in front of a computer screen all day is your back or neck hurting. Moreover, too many suffer back, neck, and arm pain from sitting in the wrong position at a desk all day.
One of the most important accessories is a good office chair that allows you to sit in a neutral and ergonomically friendly position. However, finding an office chair that provides such comfort and support is easier said than done, especially if you are looking for something relatively cost-effective.
However, we have a list of the top five contenders for the best chair for computer programmers, and we want to take a closer look at their features and synthesize what they offer.
Comparison Chart
Homall Gaming Chair Office Chair High Back Computer Chair Leather Desk Chair Racing Executive Ergonomic Adjustable Swivel Task Chair with Headrest and Lumbar Support (Red)
Office Chair Ergonomic Cheap Desk Chair Mesh Computer Chair Lumbar Support Modern Executive Adjustable Stool Rolling Swivel Chair for Back Pain, Black
Furmax Office Chair Desk Chair Leather Gaming Chair Computer Chair Racing Style Ergonomic Adjustable Swivel Task Chair with Lumbar Support and Arms (Black)
Hbada Ergonomic Office Chair High Back Desk Chair Recliner Chair with Lumbar Support Height Adjustable Seat, Headrest- Breathable Mesh Back Soft Foam Seat Cushion, White
Best Chair for Computer Programmers: Reviews
Homall Gaming Chair
This is an excellent option if you are looking for a high-end gaming chair with many comfort features and don’t mind paying for them.
Review
This high-end gaming computer chair has been designed for all-day comfort. First, it has a wide and well-padded seat cushion made of shaped cotton to support you from the underside. It allows you to sit all day without causing backside pain.
Moreover, it features a well-padded backrest with a lumbar cushion. This cushion is designed to sit in the small of your back and provide lumbar support, which helps to prevent back pain and fatigue when sitting all day.
In addition, it has adjustable armrests to keep your arms in an ergonomic position. These armrests are soft and well-padded for all-day comfort. There’s also an adjustable pillow to support your head and neck comfortably.
This whole chair is made out of high-density shaping foam that hugs your body. Moreover, it features a faux leather exterior that is soft and skin-friendly. At the same time, this faux leather is durable. The only downside is that it’s not overly breathable.
This office chair allows you to adjust the height and tilt and recline the seat as needed. It also has a rocking function that you can lock and unlock.
Furthermore, it has a durable steel frame that can support up to 300 pounds of user weight. The rolling rubber casters are extremely quiet and tested for 1,000 miles; they can easily roll over most surfaces.
Although this is not the cheapest office chair, we think it is worth the investment, considering its many features designed to keep you comfortable. For this reason, it is perfect for programmers, gamers, and casual internet surfers.
Pros
- Very durable
- Skin-friendly materials
- Soft and supportive
- Many comfort features
- High weight capacity
- Easily rolls over most surfaces
Cons
- Fairly high price
- Not very breathable
BestOffice Ergonomic Office Chair
We recommend this model if you want a simple office chair designed to keep you comfortable without spending a fortune.
Review
As we said, this is a minimalistic office chair with a few features, but it’s exceptionally lightweight, compact, and affordable. This office chair is made of high-quality composite mesh. The backrest features mesh as the primary material, combined with a lumbar support system.
We like the lumbar support system, which helps prevent back pain when you sit all day. Moreover, although the mesh is not overly soft, it is supportive and molded to provide maximum support. At the same time, this mesh is highly breathable, so you’ll never get too hot when sitting in this chair.
Furthermore, this office chair has a wide, thick, and well-padded seat. This seat should hug your backside and support you from the underside up. Moreover, there are supportive and ergonomically designed armrests; although they aren’t well-padded, they provide good support.
This chair’s tilt and height are adjustable to suit your needs. In addition, this office chair is made of relatively sturdy and durable materials, which means that it should not only last for a long time but can also hold 250 pounds of user weight.
Another small bonus is that this office chair takes just 10 or 15 minutes to assemble, and you can easily do it yourself. Rolling caster wheels allow you to easily roll over most surfaces, allowing for great portability and mobility. In addition, this office chair can swivel 360 degrees. It might not be the fanciest office chair, but we think it deserves consideration for the price.
Pros
- Great price
- Adjustable height and tilt
- Supportive back and seat
- Nice armrests
- Rolls over most surfaces
- Fairly durable considering the low price
- Breathable
Cons
- Armrests aren’t adjustable
- No neck support
Furmax Office Chair
This affordable office chair is designed to keep you comfortable all day. So it is surprising that it is made of high-quality materials, which is more than we expect for the price point.
Review
This office chair is made of faux leather, which always looks nice. However, this faux leather is highly durable and resistant to various forms of damage. Moreover, it is difficult to stain yet easy to clean and water resistant. The only downside to a faux leather chair is that it’s not breathable. Although it is faux leather, it looks like natural leather, and you probably won’t notice the difference—unless you look at the price tag.
This office chair solves the problem of not being too breathable with some ingenious design features, mainly the padded mesh backrest and the two ventilation holes in the back of the chair.
In addition, the chair features adjustable lumbar support to suit your needs. This means your back should never become painful or fatigued from a long day of sitting.
At the same time, this is a high-back office chair that supports your head and neck. It places your head, neck, and back in alignment to prevent pain from occurring. Furthermore, the armrests also have a good deal of padding for all-day comfort.
In addition, this office chair allows you to adjust the height and tilt to suit your needs, and the back can be reclined to various positions. Furthermore, this office chair has a rocking function, so you can turn it into a rocking office chair.
Moreover, this particular office chair has a 5-star base for support, with rolling caster wheels for mobility. These rolling caster wheels can roll over most surfaces with relative ease.
This chair is made with durable materials and can hold 280 pounds of user weight. The bottom line is that for the low price, we think this chair could be one of the best options on the list today, especially if you are working on a tight budget.
Pros
- Very low price
- Durable considering the low price
- Many comfort features
- Very supportive
- Easily rolls over most surface
- High weight capacity
Cons
A bit chunky and heavy
Hbada Ergonomic Office Chair
Suppose you are looking for a high-end and ergonomically friendly office chair that looks like it belongs on the set of Star Trek. If so, this is a great one to check out. Now, it’s not the cheapest office chair, but we think it is worth the investment with all the excellent features. So let’s take a look.
Review
This office chair comes with many features to keep you comfortable all day. For example, it has an S-shaped backrest to provide maximum lumbar support. In addition, this is an ergonomically designed chair, which allows your back to stay in the proper position and alignment to prevent pain and fatigue from occurring while sitting.
Even better is that the lumbar support is adjustable to suit your exact needs and the shape of your back. Moreover, it has a head and neck rest that is adjustable for height and tilt, allowing you to position it for maximum support.
The headrest and the lumbar support keep your neck, head, and spine in proper alignment. Moreover, the armrests have great padding to keep you comfortable all day.
In addition, this office chair can recline quite a bit, and the armrests adjust to a natural and neutral position in the recline position.
Most of the backrest is made of very high-quality mesh. Although it might not be overly soft, the mesh is highly supportive and breathable. This means you won’t get too hot while sitting in this chair.
Although the back is mesh, the seat is made of high-quality foam with excellent padding and shaping to provide support from the underside.
Furthermore, this office chair has a five-star base with a solid and durable metal frame. This frame can withstand much punishment, and the recommended maximum weight load is 299.83 pounds.
The base has rolling caster wheels, so you can easily roll over any surface. Although this is not the cheapest office chair, we think it is more than worth the cost because of its comfort features.
Pros
- Looks very modern
- Great back, neck, and arm support
- Highly adjustable
- Superior durability
- Solid steel frame
- Tons of comfort features
Cons
- Big price tag
- Heavy
SIHOO Ergonomic Mesh Office Chair
This is the most expensive office chair on our list; however it is made of high-quality materials, has many comfort features, and will provide maximum support, particularly for your back and neck. So although it might be expensive, we think all-day comfort is a worthy investment.
Review
This is one of the most comfortable and ergonomically friendly office chairs. The S-shaped frame keeps your back in alignment, which allows you to sit in it all day without back pain or fatigue.
The high-quality lumbar support keeps your lower back well supported and properly positioned. In addition, this lumbar support is fully adjustable.
Furthermore, this office chair has a head and neck support feature that is fully adjustable for both tilt and height, so you can shape it to your needs. Head and neck support is essential for comfort. Moreover, the office chair allows your back, head, and neck to all stay in proper alignment.
Most of the backrest is made of high-quality mesh. The mesh is not the softest material but offers plenty of support. In addition, the mesh is highly breathable, so you’ll never get too hot when sitting in this chair.
The seat is made of high-quality foam that has been upholstered with durable materials. In addition, the seat is ergonomically designed and shaped to hug your backside for maximum support and softness.
Furthermore, the armrests will keep your arms in a neutral and ergonomically friendly position and adjust for height. In addition, the chair itself is adjustable for height, has a reclining feature, and the tilt is adjustable.
Moreover, the 5-star base is made of solid aluminum. Although it’s pretty heavy, this aluminum is durable and can withstand much punishment. The maximum recommended user weight is 330 pounds.
The base has rolling caster wheels, so you can easily roll over most surfaces. Although it is not a cheap office chair, we think that it might just be the best one on the list, especially in terms of its comfort features.
Pros
- Many support features
- Very comfortable
- Highly adjustable
- Superior durability
- Easy rolling
- Looks nice
Cons
- Heavy
- Big price tag
Buyer’s Guide
When shopping, you want to keep a few things in mind. Below are the essential features and factors to consider when purchasing an office chair for programming.
Adjustability
One of the most important things to consider when buying an office chair is its adjustability. You should be able to adjust the overall height and the tilt. Moreover, being able to adjust the backrest is beneficial as well.
Look for an office chair with adjustable lumbar support. In addition, adjustable head and neck support are essential as well. You want everything to be flexible to achieve a comfortable and perfectly aligned position.
Everyone is different, and standard office chairs are usually a one-size-fits-all type of thing. If you don’t get one with adjustable features, chances are it won’t be comfortable for you.
Seat Height
The seat height should be adjustable. You want your seat at a height that allows your feet to be flat on the ground with your knees bent at a 90-degree angle. A chair that is too short or tall will not serve you well.
Material
Generally speaking, the chair’s base will be either aluminum or steel, with steel being the tougher, although heavier. So if you are a bigger person, consider steel.
The seat cushion and the backrest are generally foam padding and mesh, with foam padding being softer and more comfortable; however, mesh is more breathable. Foam padding, or even leather, is more durable than mesh.
Lumbar Support
Perhaps the most crucial feature is lumbar support to keep your back in proper alignment and prevent pain. An adjustable lumbar support feature will let you modify the backrest to keep your back in the correct anatomical alignment.
Seat Cushions
An office chair should have thick and well-padded seat cushions. Even better is if you find a chair with a molded seat cushion to provide maximum support to your backside.
Tilt Mechanism
Look for an office chair with a tilt mechanism so you can adjust the seat itself for ergonomic friendliness.
FAQ
Are Gaming Chairs Good For Programmers?
Gaming chairs are built with comfort in mind, with many adjustable features. Therefore, gaming chairs are perfect for programmers, as these chairs are just designed for those who sit for long periods.
Does the Ergonomic Office Chair Pay Off?
An ergonomically designed office chair always pays off in comfort, especially over the long term. Conversely, sitting in a poorly designed office chair can result in severe back and neck pain and may even cause long-term damage.
Is a Mesh Or Leather Office Chair Better?
Mesh is the better option if you want something minimalistic and lightweight, not to mention that it can also breathe. However, leather is the better option if you want soft padding. Leather might not be very breathable, but it is comfortable, looks nice, and is durable.
What is the Difference Between a Gaming Chair and an Office Chair?
The difference is that a standard office chair won’t have quite as many adjustable comfort features as a gaming chair. As a result, gaming chairs will be more expensive, but they also tend to be much more comfortable.
Final Thoughts
We think the SIHOO Ergonomic Mesh Office Chair is our list’s best chair for computer programmers. Although it’s not the most cost-effective option, it has superior durability and comfort to keep you pain-free all day.
