Best Office Chairs for Big Guys – Picking the best office chair will likely come down to your needs. With so many different body types and preferences, there isn’t a clear cut best, big office chair for everyone.
The most important thing to consider is size first. Ensuring the seat and back fit you comfortably is a great place to start. If the chair is the correct size, you’ll want to ensure it has a good capacity. Picking something right at your current weight could pose an issue in the future.
Picking a proper big and tall office chair can take a while. However, once you lay your eyes on one of the chair models, make sure you check its weight capacity as well as the seat width and back height.
ROUND UP
If you want your chair to serve you for a long time, don’t forget to check its warranty. Of course, there’s no single best office chair that would fit every bigger or taller person. Yet, it’s still possible to find the one that would fit your body type the most.
back to menu ↑1.REFICCER
Features
- 【 Bonded Leather Office Chair 】 Forget about the uncomfortable office chairs that make it impossible to concentrate on your work. This REFICCER big and tall executive chair was designed for your comfort. The chair has thick and soft padding and waterfall seat edge for less pressure on the back of your legs so you can stay comfortable even when you have to sit down for hours
- 【 Ergonomic & Adjustable Design 】 Seat-side actuated levers help you raise or lower your seat and rock back in your chair. Awesome tilt tension knob underneath the seat is to adjust the flexibility of rocking back in your chair
OUR TAKE
First of all, there is the apparent comfort of this leather office chair. There is quite a lot of padding here and this is obvious before you even sit down. There is the thick headrest, the large seat and the cushioning on the armrests too.
The key feature here is the use of the “double padded” memory foam. This is a nice touch for this big and tall desk chair and compliments the high weight allowance of 400lb.
There is also a chance to recline the seat a little and take advantage of the rocker motion for increased relaxation during a long day.
back to menu ↑2.Steelcase Leap Plus
Features
- Leap Plus offers the same benefits, aesthetic appeal and functionality of Leap with support for users up to 500 lbs.
- Live Back technology that allows the back of the chair to mimic the movements of the spine
OUR TAKE
The Steelcase Leap V2 is an office chair with a focus on ergonomics and adjustability and is ideal for virtually any body type.
While the price is rather hard to stomach, the build quality and comfort benefits over the lifespan of the Steelcase Leap chair help justify the premium cost.
Adding in the 12-year Steelcase warranty, investing in a Leap will ensure that you’ll have an elegant and comfortable seat for more than a decade.
Compared to comparing premium office chair models on the market, the Leap offers several competitive advantages at a similar or lower price making it a solid buy.
back to menu ↑3.HON Wave Chair
Features
- MESH BACK CHAIR: This task chairs breathable mesh back conforms to your upper body for added support to keep you cool and comfortable while you work
- ERGONOMIC ADJUSTMENTS: Let this comfortable computer chair take care of your body while you work with customizable and adjustable rate and ease of recline plus height adjustable arms for added upper body support
OUR TAKE
It isn’t easy for guys who are built big and tall. Our heads hit doorways and chandeliers and we don’t usually fit in chairs very well. That really stinks because it’s important to fit in your office chair properly so that you get proper lumbar support. If you don’t fit, it is bad for your health. Luckily the HON Wave Big and Tall executive chair is made for larger people and one of the best office chairs under $300. If you’re looking for a slightly smaller chair, take a look at the Smugdesk ergonomic office chair review
This executive leather desk chair is specifically made for those who are bigger and taller than the average human. With that in mind, it also has a high weight capacity and is built to be durable. If you’re somebody that loves to read, you should also take a look at our review of the Sunflower Chair with built-in bookcase.
back to menu ↑4.Serta 44942
Features
- Made of Black bonded leather with contrast stitching
- Product dimensions – 30” D x 26.75” W x 43”-45” H | Seat size – 20.25” W x 19” D | Seat height – 19”-21” | Back size – 26” H | Weight capacity – 250 lbs. | Arm height – 25”-27”
OUR TAKE
The first thing that stands out about this chair is the fact that it has thick padding across the seat and back rest. These layers and ComfortCoils are designed to offer “extravagant comfort” and there are plenty of positive reviews from users that feel comfortable and supported in this Serta chair. This appears to be especially true for larger users that feel secure and relaxed in the wide seat.
There are also a number of comments about the adjustability of this ergonomic chair and the way that this adds to the experience – although some say it is not ideal for anyone over 6ft tall.
There are beneficial features such as the elevated headrest and adjustable lumbar zone and users appreciate the use of the simple lever system at the side of the seat. As a result, many office workers are happy to sit on this chair for a long shift.
back to menu ↑5.OneSpace Taft Mesh
Features
- One of the widest big and tall chairs available; a new level of larger occupant support and working comfort
- Lumbar adjustable seat; durable and supportive pocket coil cushioning conforms to any body contour
OUR TAKE
Quality and comfortable office chair can make your workday easier and prevent some health problems in the future. So, if you’re a person who is big and tall, what should you do if you find regular office chairs too small and inconvenient?
Even though there are tons of different office chairs on the market, the number of big and tall office chairs is a bit limited. Of course, there’s no magic chair that would be a great fit for everyone. But, we set out on a mission to find the top nine best big and tall office chairs to help you enhance your work setup.
While reviewing the best heavy-duty office chairs, we considered the chair’s weight capacity, dimensions, comfort, and style. Dive in if you’re in search of a high-quality big and tall office chair.
back to menu ↑Best Office Chairs for Big Guys – BUYER’S GUIDE
1. Seat Width and Depth
The first thing you must consider when looking for a new large office chair is the seat width and depth. If you’re unsure the width you need to be comfortable, measure your current chair. If that isn’t as wide or narrow as you’d like, estimate what width you require to be comfortable.
While seat width is fixed, seat depth can be extended on chairs with depth adjustment functions. They provide adjustment both directions, creating a better fit for shorter and longer legs than a fixed seat. While this feature isn’t as common on heavy capacity chairs, higher-end models will offer it.
When looking at the different models of chairs available, there are certain design aspects that can impact the seat width. If the chair has side bolsters, this can restrict the width of the seat. You’ll find these on gaming chairs. If there is a hard-plastic frame exposed, this can sometimes be uncomfortable to sit on.
back to menu ↑2. Seat Height
Getting your legs in the proper position will require proper seat height. The standard size office chair will offer a range between 16” to 20”. If you’re over 6’4” tall, 20” high for the seat is already too short for proper ergonomics.
All body types are different, some users carry more height in their torso and others in their legs. What height you require will depend on how your body is proportioned. The recommended way to sit is with your feet flat on the floor and your upper and lower leg at a 90-degree angle.
To find this height, we recommend positioning yourself on an existing chair and verifying the measurement to get your legs positioned this way.
back to menu ↑3. Back Height
The average back height of an office chair is between 19-22” tall. If you’re under 6’2”, backrest height doesn’t often become an issue. If you’re over 6’2”, some backrests will be creating discomfort from their design.
It’s important to consider the design and shape of the backrest. If the upper frame of a backrest is made of hard plastics, it can dig into your shoulder blades. This will lead to extreme discomfort if you’re tall.
Chairs that include headrests can also pose an issue for tall people. If the headrest isn’t tall enough, they can hit you in the shoulders. Some will create a minor annoyance, while others will push you forward. Both are bad when considering proper ergonomics in a chair. Selecting a chair with a headrest should only be done if the chair is designed for a tall user.
back to menu ↑4. Weight Capacity
Standard office chairs are typically rated for 250 up to 275 lbs. While you may be under the rating for the chair, it might not be a good option for you. If you’re looking for a solid investment, that will last a long time, I would suggest picking a chair at least 10% over your current weight. Selecting a chair that is close to your weight brings the potential for issues down the road.
Something additional to consider with weight capacity: just because a chair is rated for 400 lbs., doesn’t mean that it will fit someone that weight comfortably in the chair. A good example of this is the Steelcase Leap and Gesture chairs. Both are rated at 400 lbs. but are standard size office chairs. If you’re 300 to 400 lbs., there is a good chance you won’t be comfortable in their products. This is where consideration of chair dimensions is so important.
back to menu ↑5. Ergonomic Adjustments
One of the common things we’ve found with big and tall office chairs, especially low-cost products, is they tend to be fairly basic. Because of the capacity required, manufacturers like to limit the movement in the components to avoid chairs breaking. That doesn’t mean that big and tall chairs can’t come with good ergonomic adjustments.
If you’re looking for well-built big and tall chair with all of the common ergonomic adjustments, you will need to start your search over the $700 mark. This can be expensive for some budgets but looking below this price is likely to leave you with a broken chair sooner than later.
Looking at the chairs in our list, the least expensive true “ergonomic” option starts at $700. Well-built chairs below that price will only feature a few adjustments or won’t offer capacities over 350 lbs.
back to menu ↑6. Warranty
One of the most important things to look at when protecting your investment is a solid warranty. Because of the high capacities, manufacturers warranties will vary significantly here. Some products in the big and tall category will be offered with warranties as short as 30 days.
Our best pick for warranty comes with a 15-year warranty that is rated for 24/7 usage. It’s important to look at the fine print of the chair you’re considering. Manufacturers will often provide warranties for 40-hour weeks and limited coverage of certain components.
If you’re looking for a good warranty, you should plan on spending more than $500 for your next chair. Almost all the products under that price point will offer warranties that are two years or less. In understanding the value associated with a solid warranty, it might be worth the extra money to get a better chair with a longer warranty.
back to menu ↑Frequently Asked Questions
back to menu ↑Do You Need A Big & Tall Office Chair?
While there aren’t a ton of options for bigger and taller office chairs on the market as there are for smaller-to-medium-sized users, there still are enough heavy-duty chairs out there to give you a variety of options. Above, we have listed our picks for the top big and tall office chairs currently available. So, if you are in the market for a bigger chair, one of the options listed above should get the job done for you.
back to menu ↑WRAP UP
Even though there are tons of different office chairs on the market, the number of big and tall office chairs is a bit limited. Of course, there’s no magic chair that would be a great fit for everyone. But, we set out on a mission to find the top nine best big and tall office chairs to help you enhance your work setup.
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