So the time has finally come where the company accountant (or you) has finally given the green light to purchase a new office chair.

What seems like a very simple task can actually be very complicated. Why? Because of all the styles, models, and choices that are currently available in the office chair market.

Ten years ago, there were a few companies that dominated the office chair industry and they offered about 20 different models. Today, if you count up all the possible choices, you are probably looking at closer to 1000 different possible choices. So where do you get started?

For starters, ask what are you going to be using the office chair for? Is this a home office chair that you will be using? Is it a chair for someone else in your office and what are their needs? Or are you buying for a CEO or department head?
Once you have made this decision, here are a couple of features to help narrow your choice:

Low, middle, or high back chairs – Office chairs today are loosely grouped into models that include a high back, a mid or middle back, and a low back. High back (also called full) office chairs have a backrest that extends up past the shoulders and generally offers a headrest or pillow rest. The middle back chairs (also called ¾ models) generally have a backrest that stops about ¾ up shoulder level and may or may not offer a headrest. The low back models have the shortest backrest, which comes up to the middle of the back for most people. Low back models don’t have any type of headrest.

Swivel or non-swiveling – Certain jobs like secretary or receptionist will require quite a bit of movement so a chair that swivels will probably be a plus. Other job positions like data entry, customer service, etc. are more stationary and those employees will spend a great deal of time sitting in one position. A non-swiveling model would probably be best suited for them.

Material – Traditionally, office chairs have been produced from leather, but now a number of other materials are being used for office chair backing. Manufacturers are now using various fabrics, nylon, and even rubber as an office chair covering. Leather is still the standard on executive office chairs, but it has the drawback of retaining heat and not allowing much ventilation. On hot days, you may find your leather chair sticking to you as you stand up. Some of the other fabrics, especially those that are incorporated into a weave pattern, are becoming more and more popular since they breathe well and don’t retain heat.

Seat height – As different people come in different sizes, it’s imperative that office chairs have an adjustable height setting. In most cases, the height can be adjusted using a pneumatic system located directly under the seat. If the chair you are considering doesn’t feature adjustable height, I’d suggest looking at another model as fixed height chairs are one of the quickest ways to unhappy employees.

Back support – Out of all the features listed above, back support is probably the most important as it will play a role in comfort, productivity, and long term health. Choose a chair that offers proper back and lumbar support. Generally, the high or mid back models are going to the best choice for this. The low back models may work for short periods of time, but they aren’t really suited for a 40 hour work week. Many high and middle back models on the market today offer excellent back support coupled with adjustable lumbar support. In a perfect world, these will be your overall best choices as they offer the best support possible.

As you are evaluating office chairs go for function and comfort over style and appearance. When you consider how much time is actually spent in an office chair, it makes sense to review all your options and make a wise decision.

Choosing an office chair can be difficult. Let the staff at www.business-supply.com help. They offer expert advice in reviewing, selecting, and purchasing chairs for your office.