The Perfect Modern Desk Chairs for Every Budget

TL;DR:

• Finding the right desk chair is crucial for comfort and productivity in the office.
• Consider features like adjustability, lumbar support, and durability when choosing a chair.
• Remember to prioritize good posture and take regular breaks throughout the day.

If you've ever spent time sitting in an uncomfortable office chair, then you know how important this piece of furniture really is.

A subpar office chair can lead to all sorts of pain and discomfort, not to mention unproductive workdays. However, finding the right desk chair can be a little tricky because what's cute and comfortable for one person might not be a great fit for someone else.

To make it easier, we're showcasing the best modern desk chairs for every aesthetic, body, and budget so you can experience the comfort you deserve while working hard at the office.

What Should You Look for in a Good Desk Chair?

Given that a lot of us spend more time at our desks than virtually anywhere else, our desk chairs play a very important role in our daily comfort. They also tend to set the tone for an office aesthetic, so the best chairs give equal attention to form and function.

When it comes to function, there are a few features you can look for that indicate whether a chair is the right fit for you. Katie Simpson, interior designer at Mackenzie Collier Interiors, recommends asking yourself, "Is the seat adjustable? Does it offer lumbar support? Can you purchase the chair with casters to move around the room easily?"

Additionally, if you have back problems or difficulty sitting for long periods, then you'll also want to look for an ergonomic chair, which is specifically designed to adhere to your body's natural contours and promote daily comfort.

Of course, you also don't want to invest in a chair only to have it break after just a few months of use, so Megan Dufresne, principal designer at MC Design, recommends that you "Always choose a chair made with good quality, durable materials. Chairs chosen for looks without considering comfort and longevity will end up being replaced."

11 Modern Desk Chairs for Your Home Office

1. Ergonomic Chair

• Brand: Branch
• Price: $329

Designed in Italy, this ergonomic office desk chair boasts seven adjustment points. These allow you to tailor everything from the seat height and depth to the arms and recline position so you can find the perfect fit for your body while promoting strong posture.

Read more: Branch Is on a Mission to Make High-Quality Office Furniture Accessible to Everyone.

The executive chair also happens to be super cute and has a customizable style. It comes in three different colors—black, gray, and light blue—with the option to choose between white and black frames. And the executive office chair's minimal, streamlined design will elevate your aesthetic without overwhelming it.

2. noho move

• Brand: noho  
• Price: $450

Speaking of minimal, this chair is a stunning example of how chic and effective a pared-back chair can be. The patented armless design includes an auxetic mesh seat that offers four-way flexibility while supporting your body's unique contours.

Read more: noho move Review: A Versatile Chair Designed to Save Your Spine and the Planet

Not your typical piece of office furniture, this mid-back chair naturally shifts with your body, whether you're tilting forward or reclining back, to provide easy, fluid comfort no matter your position. And thanks to its versatile design, the chair can work just as well as a dining chair or side chair as a desk chair. Given that it comes in two fun hues, there's no reason not to pick up a few different options for various spaces in your home.

3. Aeron Chair

• Brand: Herman Miller
• Price: $1,805

This best-in-class ergonomic office chair is ideal for anyone who takes comfort seriously. It was first designed by Bill Stumpf and Don Chadwick in 1994 and re-engineered by Chadwick in 2016 to include several material and comfort enhancements. This chair's hardware offers adjustable features to provide spinal support and promote healthy body posture, while its adjustable tilt mechanism naturally moves with your body.

But you don't have to take our word for it. It's also a favorite of interior designer Katie Simpson: “This mesh chair is the perfect combination of ergonomics and comfort. Every component of the Aeron is designed to maintain proper alignment and balance—no matter the sitting position."

If you like gaming, there's also a special gaming chair edition with a backrest that provides customized support and accommodates a gamer’s upright, active posture.

4. Noma Desk Chair

• ‎Brand: McGee & Co
• Price: $650

You'll be hard-pressed to find a better-looking chair than this stunner from McGee & Co. Its solid beechwood frame pays homage to the timeless style of mid-century modern design, while contemporary details, like an adjustable 360-degree swivel star base, make it easy to move around your desk.

Though it's not ergonomically designed for hours upon hours of comfort, according to Megan Dufresne, principal designer at MC Design, it's a great option for anyone who prioritizes style and durability: “For those not spending long hours at their desk, I recommend the Noma Desk Chair by McGee & Co. Its sleek design and solid wood build ensure a long-lasting chair, both in style and in durability."

5. Satine Office Chair

• ‎Brand: Lulu & Georgia
• Price: $849

Interior designer Katie Simpson also recommends this gorgeous and comfortable office chair from furniture brand Lulu & Georgia: “Mixing soft boucle upholstery with a warm ash finish, this timeless yet modern chair style offers a cozy, elegant design for everyday use."

The chair's beautiful bentwood back nods to modernist design while creating a look that will bring welcoming warmth to any space it inhabits. It also features a sneaky built-in swivel that lets you get comfortable without cramping the chair's streamlined style.

6. Finora

• Brand: Room & Board
• Price: $1,299

Available in a variety of colors, this ergonomic modern home office desk chair is made with form-sensing mesh that offers custom lumbar support. You can also adjust it in multiple ways, including the height, seat depth, and adjustable armrests, ensuring you find the perfect configuration for your body.

According to Room & Board's retail marketing manager Nicole Gaynor, “Finora has a breathable mesh back and seat that provides support and excellent airflow f. The sleek, modern silhouette and range of energizing color choices, like yellow, ocean, and navy, make it easy for Finora to stylishly blend with any office setting, from a corporate office to your home workspace."

7. Embody Chair

• Brand: Herman Miller
• Price: $2,025

We simply cannot have a desk chair roundup without highlighting another Herman Miller option. Herman Miller is a world-renowned furniture brand with international acclaim for its ergonomic design and high-quality chairs.

The Embody Chair high-back chair features a pixelated support system that reduces pressure and conforms to your body's micromovements—ideal for anyone who spends a lot of time working from home at their desk.

It boasts a pneumatic seat lift and adjustable armrests, enabling you to adjust the armrest height for superior comfort and posture.

It's also designer-approved and highly recommended by Megan Dufresne: “For those who spend hours at their desk every day and are able to invest in a high-end chair, I highly recommend the Herman Miller Embody Chair. This chair works with your body to provide the most comfortable experience possible for sitting at a desk all day."

8. Graham

• Brand: Interior Define
• Price: $376

If you have a specific color palette for your home office furniture, the Graham accent chair from Interior Define is a great choice. It comes in virtually every color you can imagine, whether you're seeking an emerald green accent or peachy pink.

And its versatility extends beyond its color options. The chair's style lends itself just as well to a home office as it does a living room, dining room, or bedroom accent. It also comes at a more budget-friendly price point than many of the other desk chairs out there.

9. Padme Office Chair

• Brand: Joss & Main
• Price: $579

This compact office chair features an adjustable seat and castors, resulting in a striking piece of furniture that effortlessly combines form and function. Its black and brown faux leather options will bring a design-forward definition to any home office.

The chair also has a seat height adjustment from 17 to 21.5 inches, so it will work well with various desks and spaces. Its modern, discreet look is a no-fail way to make your office feel more dynamic and inviting.

10. Renna Office Chair

• ‎Brand: Article
• Price: $399

The Renna Office Chair is a perfect partner in productivity, blending form and function with optimal comfort. Its sleek design and Scandinavian style make it not just a chair but an integral part of your office decor.

With a sturdy construction, this chair ensures that you're not just sitting but sitting well. The seat cushion and seat back are padded with comfortable foam, making it ideal for daily use.

Made from high-quality materials, including steel and 100% polyester fabric, this piece is as aesthetically pleasing as it is durable. The fabric is rigorously tested for abrasion resistance, enduring up to 50,000 rubs. That's over twice the industry standard, ensuring this chair stays with you for a long time.

11. Xiomara Swivel Office Chair

• ‎Brand: AllModern
• Price: $399

This piece is a modern office chair that blends style and functionality. With a sturdy aluminum frame and a five-legged wheel base, this task chair offers smooth mobility on any surface.

The adjustable height and center tilt allow you to customize your seating position for long-term comfort. The foam-filled, dark gray polyester upholstery provides a supportive and comfortable feel throughout your workday.

This minimalist chair fits seamlessly into any office setup. It has a weight capacity of up to 299 lbs. and features easy assembly for quick setup. Whether you’re working from home or in the office, this chair’s innovative design makes it a versatile choice for any workspace dimension.

What Types of Chairs Work Best as Desk Chairs?

Chairs come in infinite shapes, sizes, and styles, but some chairs are better suited as desk chairs than others. The right desk chair for you depends on a few factors, like your body's unique needs and how long you'll be sitting in it each day.

"If you plan to work seven hours a day, I suggest going with an ergonomic chair that provides lower-back support, promotes a proper posture, helps alleviate back pain, and is comfortable enough to sit in for extended periods of time," recommends Katie Simpson. On the other hand, "if your workspace is a place where you only spend a couple of hours a day, you have more flexibility with the office chair style and overall look."

In addition to comfort and support, you should also consider the desk chair's functionality. For instance, if you need to move around the room or a large desk quite a bit, you probably want to look for swivel desk chairs with wheels to make those movements easier. Additionally, if a chair's height doesn't align with your desk, then it certainly won't make for a very good desk chair, so be sure to measure both your desk and any potential chairs to ensure you find the right height fit—you should also look for an adjustable seat to ensure you're sitting at the right height all day.

For many of us, aesthetics play an important role too. After all, you don't want to spend much time and money on your workspace decor only to have your new chair cramp your style. So, think about how you want your office to look and feel. If you have a more traditional workspace aesthetic, then a traditional desk chair in a black or gray hue with casters and a swivel base could be the perfect aesthetic fit. But if your home office setup is a little more outside the box, then you might want an unconventional chair featuring a bold hue or pattern. And if you tend to update your aesthetic regularly, then a timeless chair in a neutral color could be your best option.

How you sit, aka your sitting style, also matters when you're looking for the best modern desk chair. Nicole Gaynor from Room & Board shared some tips for finding the right chair based on your personal sitting style:

• Start with a chair with adjustable seat height that allows a 90-degree angle at your knees.
• Consider your “sitting style.” Do you perch at the edge of your chair, sit all the way back, or a combination? Choose a seat depth that will work best for you.
• If you need a chair to lean back or relax comfortably and have space, consider adding an office lounge chair to your workspace and your regular office chair.
• Other considerations: adjustable lumbar support, adjustable arms, and the flexibility of a swivel chair when working in a small space.
• Remember, no matter what chair you choose, you need to be conscious of your posture. Bad posture can lead to sore neck, shoulders, and back.

Ensure your chair is easy to clean and make time for regular breaks throughout your long work day to stay comfortable and maintain a healthy posture.