Best Chair for Programmers [2021] – Full Buyer’s Guide and Reviews

Are you looking for the best chair for programmers?
Stop searching; this is the right guide for you!
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. If you purchase a product by using a link on this page, I’ll earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
No Time to Waste? Here’s My #1 Favorite!
If you are a programmer or a developer and you spend long hours at the office in front of your computer it is important to have a good office chair. When you spend long periods of time looking at a computer screen it increases the strain on the neck and promotes back pain.
In the long term, neck and back pain (which may seem normal at first) can turn into serious health problems. This includes changes in posture and even sciatica. Prevention is easy It is therefore crucial to have a good office chair for your work and especially for your health and well-being.
Chairs are an investment that will allow you to relax during working hours and feel comfortable all day long. If you are currently using a chair that is old and unsuitable for long programming sessions, it is time to invest in a chair that will help you work more efficiently.
The chairs I will be introducing to you are not just for programmers. They can also be appreciated by people who spend time in front of their desks. No matter what type of office work you are currently doing, these chairs are great choices and will help you get through the day smoothly.
7 Best Chair for Programmers
Comparison Table For Top 7 Chairs For Programmers
Chair name | Weight | Seat and Back | Specialty | Price |
AmazonBasics High-Back – Office Desk Chair with Casters | 35.3 pounds | Leather and PVC cushioning | Has 360-degree swivel | Shop now at Amazon |
Herman Miller Embody Ergonomic Office Chair | 51 pounds | RHYTHM fabric | Fully Adjustable Arms | Shop now at Amazon |
Steelcase Gesture Chair | 72.8 pounds | Textile | Gesture was inspired by the movement of the human body | Shop now at Amazon |
Hbada Ergonomic Office Chair | 19.8 pounds | Textile, Mesh | Low price | Shop now at Amazon |
SMUGDESK Ergonomic Office Chair | 6.93 pounds | Mesh | Best price | Shop now at Amazon |
Ergohuman High Back Swivel Chair | 64 pounds | Black Mesh & Chrome Base | 3 positions tilt-lock system | Shop now at Amazon |
Space Seating Office Chair | 24 pounds | Padded Black Eco Leather Seat | Adjustable Arms and Tilt Tension | Shop now at Amazon |
#1 AmazonBasics High-Back Executive Swivel Office Chair
No products found.
If you don’t want to spend a fortune on a high-end model, the AmazonBasics High-Back chair is an excellent choice for you. This chair is one of the best selling chairs on Amazon and has excellent customer feedback. On top of that, this model is one of the cheapest on the list which makes it very competitive compared to other high-end models (such as Herman Miller’s chairs).
This chair has been designed for executive tasks. This doesn’t mean that it can’t be used for programming. On the contrary, it has all the features for an optimal comfort for programming.
The AmazonBasics High-Back chair is very well upholstered, even on the armrests. The cushioning is made of leather and PVC. It is available in 3 different colors (black, white, or brown leather). The choice of these materials improves the tenacity and comfort of the chair, you will be able to sit for long hours without feeling tired or back pain.
Its height is also adjustable thanks to the pneumatic controller, it is perfect for people of small or large sizes. You will be able to adjust the height between 41.34 and 45.08 inches. The pneumatic controller allows you to control the inclination of the chair, it does not give the effect of a wobbly chair. A handle also allows you to control the inclination of the chair. The chair can rotate 360 degrees.
Chair Dimensions: 29.13 x 25.59 x 41.34-45.08 inches (LxWxH)
Chair weight: 35.3 pounds
Pros :
- Competitive compared to high-end models
- Good cushioning
- It rolls smoothly on the floor
- The weight and dimensions are very suitable
Cons :
- Armrests and backrest are not adjustable.
#2 Herman Miller Embody Ergonomic Office Chair
The Herman Miller Embody Ergonomic chair is one of the latest models of the Herman Miller brand. The Herman Miller brand is often considered one of the best brands of ergonomic chairs. It is an excellent choice for programmers who wish to acquire a high-end chair.
It is very comfortable thanks to its wide seat and agile backrest that allows breathability and remarkable movement. Its support for your back is exceptional. The seat and backrest of the chair are manufactured using a pixel matrix. According to the brand, its structure allows you to lower your heart rate and control your stress, which increases your concentration.
The chair has an elaborate design that adapts to your position. Indeed, it is possible to adjust the backrest so that it adapts to the curvature of your spine. Each part of the chair moves independently according to your movements. Thanks to its ergonomic design, your head will be directly in front of the computer screen, this reduces neck and shoulder problems. With its excellent support, you will be able to stay in a sitting position for long periods of time (and being a programmer, this is not negligible).
Thanks to its remarkable structure, your pelvis will not move backwards and this allows your hands and legs to be less pressurized.
The textile used is breathable, which reduces the sweat on your clothes. You will feel more comfortable and fresh during your programming session.
Although its price may be excessive, it remains an excellent choice in the long term (it is guaranteed 12 years by Herman Miller). It is available in 16 colors (the price varies depending on the color chosen).
Chair dimensions : 28 x 27 x 38.25 inches
Chair weight: 51 pounds
Pros :
- Has an official 12-year Herman Miller warranty.
- Very ergonomic.
- Robust
Cons :
Very expensive
#3 Steelcase Gesture Chair
The Steelcase brand is as well known in office seating as the Herman Miller brand. Steelcase did a great job designing the Steelcase Gesture chair. It is designed with high-end materials, which partly explains its slightly high price.
This chair is extremely robust and perfectly imitates the posture of the human body, especially the back and neck. It is offered with Live Back technology.This technology relieves your back by mimicking the shape of your spine, you will be free to move around and avoid feeling stiff muscles.
The armrests can move 360 degrees, so you will be able to move your hands as you wish.You will be able to change your position if you are tired and sit more relaxed. The armrests are extendable forward, backward, sideways and adjustable up and down. This reduces pressure on the wrists in particular and gives a comfortable feeling.
The seat is flexible which allows freedom of movement while sitting comfortably. It imitates your body perfectly and prevents you from feeling stiff muscles.
Pros :
- Robust and able to slide on the floor without problem.
- Flexible armrests
- High-end materials
Cons :
- It’s a rather heavy chair compared to other high-end models.
#4 Hbada Ergonomic Office Chair
The Hbada ergonomic office chair is not as well known as the Herman Miller and Steelcase brands. But for programmers looking for a reasonably priced chair, it can be interesting.
For people with a large body, it’s not really suitable. Indeed its reclining mechanism is more suitable for people of small or medium body weight.
If you work seated most of the time, you will appreciate its breathable net and headrest. The headrest can rotate a few degrees to give you more freedom in the movements of your head without tiring you out.
The design of the backrest is rather classic and only slightly improves your comfort.
The Hbada chair is available in two colors (black and white).
Chair dimension: 25,2 x 19,7 x 13,1 inches
Chair Weight: 19.8 pounds
Pros:
- Breathing
- The build quality is correct compared to the price
Cons:
- The armrests are a bit wobbly
#5 SMUGDESK Ergonomic Office Chair
No products found.
The Smugdesk office chair has all the features that programmers are looking for. It is one of the best quality/price ratio on the market.
This chair is perfectly ergonomic. Its reinforced seat provides lumbar support (ideal when you suffer from low back pain) and its neck support system rests your head ideally. The armrests are good value, even if they are made of plastic. This has the disadvantage of decreasing the feeling of comfort and reducing the ergonomics for the arms.
The chair has a breathable two-layer cotton padding. The headrest is fully adjustable and the chair can tilt 120 degrees. A coat rack is also available at the back of the chair.
For students, this is an excellent chair for a reasonable price. If you don’t have a large budget, I highly recommend it.
Chair dimensions: 25 x 23.62 x 42.91 inches
Chair weight : 6.93 pounds
Pros:
- Robustness
- Swivels perfectly on 360 degrees
- Its lumbar support
Cons:
The armrests are positioned low enough
#6 Ergohuman High Back Swivel Chair
As its name suggests, the Ergohuman is an ergonomic chair and has been designed to adapt to all postures of the human body. As a programmer, when you spend many hours at the office, you need a chair that has a perfect structure and this chair meets these criteria.
To relieve your back, this chair is equipped with a lumbar support system consisting of a seat, a cushion and an adjustable headrest. All this equipment allows you to support your body during your efforts and movements.
This seat is also equipped with swivel armrests. Thanks to this, you will be completely free to move and your hand will stay where you want it on the armrests by adjusting only these.
Ergohuman is equipped with a tilting and locking system with 3 positions. You will be able to modify your inclination as you wish according to what you are doing on your computer. The locking system allows you to lock the seat inclination, which is useful when you want to keep your position.
You can lower or raise the chair very simply and with a minimum of force thanks to the pneumatic cylinders installed on the bottom of the chair. The height can vary between 18.5 and 22.2 inches.
This is one of the best chairs for programmers today.
Chair Dimension: 26 x 29 x 52 inches
Chair weight: 64 pounds
Pros :
- You can adjust it as you see fit.
- 3 positions tilt-lock system
- Dedicated headrest
- Breathable seat and cushion.
Cons:
- High price
#7 Space Seating Office Chair
The Space Seating office chair is not very well known but competes with the biggest brands of high-end office chairs. It is also very well rated on various e-commerce sites. This makes it one of the best chairs for programming at a more than reasonable price.
The seat has a breathable net that works on the sides. It is comfortable but can be a problem during long programming sessions. The seat is slightly raised towards the back. If you measure more than 5’10”, the backrest will reach up to your neck. For smaller people, you will be able to rest your head properly. It is also possible to adjust the height of the seat thanks to its pneumatic adjustment.
The armrests can be tilted and contain soft PU pads that make them very comfortable. This is not cheap plastic as can be seen on some commercially available chairs.
The chair has a tilt lock mechanism, which allows you to relax between sessions of development.
Chair Dimension: 25.2 x 26.5 x 42 inches
Chair weight: 24 pounds
Pros:
- Very light chair
- Attractive price in view of the overall quality of the chair
- Available in different sizes
Cons:
- No headrest, can be disturbing for tall people
Best Programming Chair: What to Consider in 2020
Choosing the right ergonomic chair can be complicated. Here are a few things to consider when making your decision.
Best Chair for programmers : Lumbar Support Mechanism

This is one of the most important aspects in choosing an office chair. The lumbar support mechanism provides support for your back on the one hand and corrects your general posture on the other. This mechanism keeps your body upright and at the same height as your computer screen.
Best Chair for programmers : Posture Adjustments

A good chair for programming must be adjustable. That is to say that the seat and armrests must be adjustable. It must also have a neck support and an ergonomic backrest. These features will allow you to spend hours in front of your computer in different positions.
It is important that it can tilt to get up or down without difficulty. Height adjustment should be quick and easy to adjust to fit your height. Indeed, your feet must be flat on the floor.
Best Chair for programmers: Cushioning

Cushioning is important when you sit on the chair with your full weight, the cushioning should be comfortable. In addition to comfort, make sure the seat cushion is breathable.
Best Chair for programmers: Material and support

The choice of materials depends on your personal preferences. Some prefer leather and some prefer fabric. Each material has its own advantages and disadvantages. However, you should make sure that the chair has adequate support for your back. The aesthetic aspect should not be given priority over the ergonomic aspect.
Conclusion
In this article, we have reviewed the best chairs for programming. The choice can be complicated given the number of chairs available on the market. It is important to make sure you have all the information you need before you make your decision.
Being a programmer myself, I consider that one should not neglect one’s workspace, that’s why I decided to list the best current chairs.
Feel free to tell me in comments if you need more information about one of these chairs or if you want me to add some opinions about a chair that is not present in this listing.
For programmers who wish to improve their workspace, I invite you to read my previous articles.
The Best monitor for programming
The Best keyboard for programming
The Best mouse for programming
See you soon! 🙂
Comments
Leave a comment