Our Guide to the Different Types of Office Chairs

Your choice of office chair for your work environment is incredibly important. Think about the long periods of time people spend sitting at their desks in your workplace. The perfect chair can improve their productivity, posture, health and wellbeing, so it’s worth investing in the right style.

But with so many different types of office chair available, finding the right one for your office environment can feel overwhelming. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll explore the different types of office chair to help you make an informed decision that suits your workplace and people.

How does office furniture affect productivity?

Your work environment can affect you in many ways. Your office furniture choices can inspire creativity, promote a positive work culture and even attract top talent. Aesthetically, it represents your business, its brand and ethos. A workspace that feels inviting, comfortable and impressive is likely to result in a more positive attitude towards work.

First and foremost, you want your employees to feel comfortable throughout their workday. Comfortable employees are more productive as they’re not distracted by awkward seating positions, poor lighting and desk set ups. Physical comfort is better for your employee’s health and wellbeing. As a result, they’re better able to focus and be productive and efficient in the office environment. Furthermore, you’ll reduce lost workdays and potential compensation costs from back pain and postural issues.

What to consider when choosing chairs for your office space

Whether you’re setting up a new office space or upgrading your existing one, it's important to consider various factors before making a decision.

Available space: measure out the dimensions and space available for each work station. Make sure people can move without colliding into each other or a wall. What’s the desk space or meeting room layout? Consider your space requirements carefully so that you can create a harmonious and efficient work environment for your employees.

Aesthetics: whilst functionality should be a priority, style is important too. Your office furniture should reflect your brand. Stay true to your brand style and colours to create a cohesive and impressive look and feel throughout the office.

How it will be used: there’s not necessarily a ‘one size fits all’ solution to choosing the right office chair. Think about how it will be used. Is it for a seated or standing desk? Is it for someone who remains seated for extended periods or to use in a conference room? It’s important to assess the user’s requirements when choosing their perfect chair.

Who it will be used by: consider the employee that will be sitting in the chair. A standard office chair may not be comfortable seating for someone of shorter, taller or heavier stature, for example.

Budget constraints: determine how much you can afford to spend. Then you can prioritise your needs and make informed decisions.

10 Different Types of Office Chair

To help you choose the right office chairs for your business, this guide will help you to decipher the different types of office chair available. These are the ten most common styles.

Task chairs

Task chairs are probably the style you picture when you think of a standard office chair. They’re an affordable and durable type of chair - a good all-rounder. Task chairs feature comfortable and upright backrests and adjustable heights.

However, they’re not intended to be used for extended periods of time. They’re fine for a few hours (four hours max), but not for a full workday. You need something more robust and heavy duty for that. Operator chairs are very similar to task chairs, but are designed for longer usage by specific operators like administrative or office workers who type for hours at a time.

Ergonomic office chairs

Ergonomic office chairs feature a range of adjustable features to support and accommodate various body types and seating positions. They’re becoming an office staple as they aid good posture and benefit your employees’ health and wellbeing. They’re robust and can be used for longer periods of time.

Ergonomic features include:

• Adjustable lumbar support to help maintain spine alignment

• Adjustable seat that can tilt for better pelvic positioning

• Adjustable seat height so feet are flat on the floor and arms are level with your desk

• Adjustable armrests to reduce shoulder strain and arm fatigue and fit under the office desk

• A headrest to support your neck.

High back office chairs

High back office chairs are ergonomically designed with taller people in mind to ensure they have adequate back and neck support throughout the workday. With a higher backrest, they offer taller people a comfortable surface to rest backs and necks.

You may also need to invest in big and tall chairs which provide extrabuy room for those who need a little more space to sit comfortably. With heavy-duty construction, they ensure long-lasting use and safe support for a higher weight capacity than standard office chairs. 

Executive office chairs

Executive chairs are similar to task chairs, but tend to offer more sophisticated features and comfort. Ultimately, they’re an office status symbol showing the seniority of the person using it. Often, executive office chairs will use more expensive upholstery with high quality materials like leather.

Executive chairs are typically larger than a standard office chair with a higher back. They often feature padded armrests, lumbar support, a swivel base, and a tilt mechanism to recline the chair.

Kneeling chairs

If you suffer from back pain or simply want to ensure a better posture while you work, a kneeling chair could be the solution. A kneeling chair’s designed to reduce the stress on lower backs by sharing weight between knees and buttocks.

Standing desk chairs

More and more people are choosing to use a standing desk to avoid spending long hours in a seated position. Standing desk chairs are a great option for people who want to alternate between sitting and standing whilst working. Typically, they have adjustable height and, often, a footrest for additional support while they’re standing up.

Task stools

Task stools provide comfortable and stylish seating anywhere stool height task seating is preferred, say in a research lab, medical environment, IT classroom or sit-stand workstation. Adjustability is a key feature so the user can tailor the task stool to their preferred position.

They’re ergonomically designed to support good posture. A footrest is often included to aid better leg positioning and circulation.

Gaming chairs

As the name suggests, gaming chairs are intended for gamers who spend long periods of time rooted to the spot. They have ergonomic features like extra padded seats and armrests. As such, they can be used for work purposes too as they’re designed for computer users.

Gaming chairs often come in bold colours and patterns. They can make a fun, stylish seating solution for workplaces that align with that brand ethos.

Conference chairs

Not all office seating is at a desk. Conference chairs are used during meetings (also known as meeting room chairs). As such, they’re used for shorter time periods. That means they don’t need as many ergonomic features.

Conference chairs are lightweight so they can be wheeled into position easily (when on casters). They may need to be stored when out of use, so many come with stacking design.

Folding chairs

You may need additional seating for an event or conference, for example. Folding chairs or stackable chairs are a great option to bring out for such an occasion. These armless chairs are designed to be lightweight, portable and easy to store.

What are the most durable materials for office chairs?

Your choice of upholstery is an important consideration. You need to factor in the office setting and climate.

Leather office chairs are a stylish and sophisticated choice. They’re also practical as they’re durable and easy to clean. Leather office chairs are better in cooler environments. When it’s hot, leather can become sticky and encourage sweat production.

In warmer climates or office spaces, it’s advisable to choose a breathable fabric for your office chair. Mesh office chairs have optimal breathability and their ventilation creates a constant cooling effect.

Polypropylene and polyester are durable, stain-resistant, anti-static and easy-to-clean making them a popular choice for office chairs.

Discover KI Europe’s office chair solutions for today’s organisations

KI Europe’s award-winning furniture sets benchmarks for the industry. Our in-house design, engineering and production experts work with designers to create furniture that’s elegant, practical and durable.

Our office seating is remarkable for its style, comfort and support. Importantly, it caters to individual seating preferences. Explore our office chair solutions and more seating options.

Our customers are central to our design approach. If you’d like to enquire about our products, please contact us via our website