The Herman Miller Aeron is the undisputed best ergonomic chair for short people. It supports sizes 4’10” to 5’9″ (147-175 cm) with world-class posture support. But a fully-loaded version costs $1600+. Lower on the pricing scale, the field of suitable mid-back ergonomic chairs is surprisingly thin! What’s the best ergonomic office chair for short people? Beyond the Herman Miller Aeron, the answer may surprise you!
Generic, one-size-fits-all chairs are a hallmark of the B2B office furniture industry. Since the early 1990s, that sector has earned billions each year by outfitting corporations, schools, and government offices.
B2B chair buyers prioritize generic sizing, rugged durability, and discounts for bulk orders(1). Individual personalization is a non-factor. This is why the field of ergonomic office chairs for short people is woefully thin.
In 2022, the Herman Miller Aeron (size A) is the only model on the market specifically designed for short users (4’10” and up). The rest have generic dimensions for average sizes (optimistically rated for sizes 5’3″ (160 cm) and up).
How To Assess An Ergonomic Chair
What qualities make a chair ‘ergonomic’? What makes a chair ‘not ergonomic’? Before you start shopping, it’s helpful to understand what ‘ergonomic’ actually means. It’s not complicated!
According to OSHA, BIFMA, The Handbook of Human Factors and Ergonomics, Dr. Allan Hedge, and other institutional leaders, ‘ergonomic’ simply means ‘adjustable.’
In seating terms, any chair with adjustable arms, an adjustable lumbar, and a reclining backrest qualifies as ‘ergonomic’. Lumbar support keeps the spine in alignment. Adjustable arms provide extra bracing to hold it upright. A reclining backrest lets it move.
Combined, this trio helps users to sit in healthy neutral sitting postures. These align the spine as if in a healthy standing position (25-45° lower back curve and 0° neck tilt).
An aligned spine lets users sit comfortably for long periods without musculoskeletal strain. As a result, users gain more energy to power high-performance brain work.
The good news: any chair with these basic adjustable features can do the job. Spending more gets you luxurious extras — but a similar level of back support!
The bad news: the Herman Miller Aeron (size A) is the only ergonomic office chair on the market specifically designed for short users (4’10” and up).
The next best mid-back office-style options offer generic dimensions that will (sort of) fit sizes 5’3″ and up.
Aeron (size A) from Herman Miller $1645
Learn more: Detailed Aeron Remastered Ergonomic Chair Review
Best Ergo Office Chairs For Short People
Not counting the Aeron Size A, the best compact mid-back ergonomic chairs offer generically average dimensions for sizes 5’3″ and up. To make use of these models, most short sizes will need to deploy two hacks. First, remove the headrest.
Headrests on mid-back chairs have poor adjustability that distorts neck posture. Short people will find the neck distortion aspect especially problematic.
Second, add a footrest. Most desks are 28-30″ high. To keep feet planted while syncing one’s chair and desk, a footrest will help short users sit taller in their chairs.
With headrests removed to support good neck posture, here are the best affordable ergonomic office chairs for short people. All support sizes 5’3″ and up.
- Secretlab NeueChair: an affordable, luxurious full mesh alternative to the Aeron. 5-year warranty, $649 from Secretlab.
- Sidiz T50: good features (includes a seat slider). 3-year warranty, $199.00 on Amazon.
- Flexispot Soutien: good features and low seat height, but not very durable. 1-year warranty, $269 from Flexispot.
- Staples Hyken: full mesh chair with advanced tilt functionality — but poor durability. 30-day warranty, $205.30 on Amazon.
Secretlab NeueChair
$649 from Secretlab
Size rating: 5’3″ to 6’0″
Let’s assume a short person sized 5’1″ wanted a premium mid-back office chair. But he can’t afford to spend $1600 on an Aeron chair. The next-best luxury alternative for (sort of) compact sizes is the Secretlab NeueChair (pronounced ‘noy-yuh’).
The Neue fits sizes 5’3″ and up; slightly shorter sizes can add a footrest to make it usable. Then, two useful adjustable features make it possible to support smaller sizes.
The first is a depth-adjustable seat with a 16.5-18.5″ range. Those with shorter thighs can slide it back to 16.5″ for an excellent fit.
The second is a height x depth-adjustable lumbar support. Those shorter than 5’3″ can lower the support to better fit their size.
Summary of features
When you pay more than $300 for an ergonomic chair, expect luxury extras — not back support necessities. For instance, the Neue has a polished ADC12 aluminum frame covered in adaptive mesh upholstery.
NeueMesh is a 3-layer mesh that combines top-grade polyester fiber and DuPont yarn. These extras deliver a plush experience that will make you feel happier. On the flip side, if money’s tight, cheaper, less luxurious options can provide a similar level of back support.
- Armrests: 2D adjustable (up and down, side-to-side).
- Seat: height and depth adjustable.
- Backrest: recline from 85° to 130°; tilt tension and angle lock.
- Lumbar: height-adjustable
- Warranty: 12 years on the frame; 5 years on components; 3 years on armrests, casters & gas lift.
- Seat width x depth: 19.6″ (W) x 16.5″-18.5″ (D)
- Backrest width x height: 19.5″ (W) x 22.4″ (H)
- Floor to seat range: 18.5-22″
- Size rating: 5’3″ to 6’0″; up to 240 pounds
Secretlab rates the NeueChair to fit sizes 5’3″ to 6’0″. Its flat, wide seat supports both slim and thick sizes. Adding a footrest can make this chair usable for slightly shorter sizes.
NeueChair Advice
Compared to the Herman Miller Aeron, the neueChair is half the price, does a similar job, and feels almost as luxurious. However, while the Aeron Size A fits sizes 4’10”, the Neue is rated for sizes 5’3″.
This means that shorter sizes will pay a premium for an imperfect fit. A smarter alternative is a Secretlab Titan Evo 2022 Series gaming chair.
A small-sized Titan will deliver a better fit, superior functionality, more styles to choose from, and a $200 savings!
- Lovely aesthetics
- Height x depth-adjustable lumbar
- High-quality mesh upholstery
- Imperfect fit for short sizes
- Titan gaming chairs offer better value for $200 less
Bottom line: from a general perspective, the NeueChair is a solid luxury alternative to the Aeron ($800 less). From a short person’s perspective, its inferior fit and higher price makes it a questionable pick over a Titan Evo 2022 gaming chair.
NeueChair from Secretlab for $649
Learn more: Secretlab NeueChair Review: Affordable Luxury Mid-Back Ergonomic
Sidiz T50
$199.00 from Amazon
Size rating: 5’3″ and up
The Sidiz T50 is an attractive chair suitable with a solid build, good adjustability, and a 3-year warranty. Sidiz rates this model for sizes 5’3″ and up; slightly shorter users should add a footrest to use this at a desk.
The T50 serves up handy usability for small sizes. Its 4-way adjustable lumbar lets you toggle both height x depth. You can also reduce the depth of the seat from 21-18.3″ — ideal for shorter legs.
On the downside, the (included) T50 headrest is awkward. It’s a hard plastic piece covered in foam and faux leather. You can adjust the height and angle — but it’s tricky to find a good fit.
Shorter users will find the headrest fit even worse. FOr best results, short users should remove the headrest and forget about it.
T50 Ergonomic Features
The T50 has good lumbar support, 3D arms, and a decent backrest recline. It also has a small 90-115° recline range with 5 lockable positions. This range is enough to let you move your body while sitting.
But with a max 115° recline, it forces you to sit in near-upright working postures at all times.
- Backrest: recline and lock in five positions between 90° and 115°.
- Lumbar support: height and depth adjustable.
- Headrest: height and depth-adjustable.
- Upholstery: breathable mesh backrest; fabric padded seat.
- Seat: adjust height, depth, and seat slope.
- Armrests: 3D adjustable (up/down, forward/back, angled left or right)
- Warranty: 30-day money back guarantee; 3-year warranty.
- Seat width x depth: 19.3″ (W) x 18.3″-21″ (D)
- Backrest width x height: 19.1″ (W) x 23″ (H)
- Seat height range: 15.7-18.7″
- Size rating: 5’3″ to 6’0″; up to 250 pounds
T50 Advice
The biggest issue I’ve found with the T50 is the headrest. You can adjust its height and angle, but this only helps for average sizes of around 5’9″.
Smaller sizes should remove it entirely. Then, the T50 is a good package — for average sizes. Those 5’3″ or shorter will find the fit usable, but less than perfect.
- Good ergonomic functionality
- Affordable
- Breathable mesh backrest
- Limited recline to only 115°
- Poore headrest adjustability
Bottom line: the T50 offers good looks and solid functionality for a reasonable price. Sizes 5’3″ and less will find the fit usable but a bit cavernous.
To learn more, check out our detailed Sidiz T50 chair review.
Flexispot Soutien Office Chair
$269.99 from Flexispot
Size rating: 5’3″ and up
Flexispot makes a range of home office products with health-supporting qualities. Its Soutien ergonomic office chair is a cheaper version of the Sidiz T50.
For around $150 less, you get similar features, a shorter (1-year) warranty, and slightly better dimensions for short people.
Features
The Soutien office chair fits sizes 5’3″ to 6’0″. It has almost every feature you need. The only thing missing is lumbar support depth-adjustability (you can only adjust the height).
- Backrest: recline and lock with a 90° to 115° range; Italian chenille fiber upholstery.
- Lumbar support: three height adjustments; self-adjusting ‘rebound’ system maintains lumbar pressure as the user moves.
- Headrest: height-adjustable.
- Seat: padded fabric covering; depth-adjustable (16.1-29.1″ range).
- Armrests: 4D adjustable with cushioned top covers.
- Warranty: 1-year warranty from Flexispot.
- Seat width x depth: 19.3″ (W) x 18.3″-21″ (D)
- Backrest width x height: 19.1″ (W) x 23″ (H)
- Seat height range: 15.7-18.7″
- Size rating: 5’3″ to 6’0″; up to 250 pounds
Soutien Chair Advice
As with most mid-back office chairs, the ill-fitting headrest is the biggest issue with this chair. The Soutien version has decent height adjustability (a 3″ range) but no angle or depth adjustability.
Removing the headrest gets short users a decent sitting experience. The Soutien’s extra-low 15.7″ seat height can support those with very short legs. As well, its lumbar support offers 3 height adjustments — the lowest setting should fit most sizes around 5’2″ and up.
- Ultra-low seat height range
- Good ergonomic features
- Great price
- Awkward headrest
- Poor durability (1-year warranty)
The Soutien chair is a cheaper alternative to the Sidiz T50. Both offer similar adjustability. The Soutien is less durable, it’s guaranteed for only one year. However, if sizing is the priority, short users will find a slightly better fit in the Soutien.
Soutien chair from Flexispot $269.99
To learn more, check out our detailed Soutien ergonomic chair review.
Staples Hyken
$205.30 on Amazon
Size rating: 5’3″ and up
The Hyken is a full-mesh beauty with generic dimensions for average sizes (rated for users 5’3″ to 5’10”). On the plus side, despite its low price, it nails the ergonomic fundamentals.
It has height-adjustable lumbar support with a 3″ range. Its 1D armrests have a 4″ height range. It also boasts a good recline range of 100-140°. As a bonus, sync-tilt is built-in: as you recline, the seat tilts up at a 2-1 ratio.
All of this costs just $205.30. So what’s the catch? Durability. After a year of full-time use, expect many parts to loosen and the mesh to start sagging.
Hyken Specifications
The Hyken chair comes bundled with an ill-fitting headrest. Users of all sizes should remove it to ensure the best results.
Minus the headrest, this is a good option for short people. For one thing, its low price makes it a smaller risk — if the fit doesn’t work, you haven’t lost much.
For another, its 16.5″ seat depth and 16.9″ minimum seat height suits shorter legs.
- Backrest: recline and lock with a 90° to 140° range (4 lock positions); synthetic mesh upholstery.
- Lumbar support: height-adjustable.
- Headrest: non-adjustable.
- Seat: padded fabric covering; fixed (not depth-adjustable).
- Armrests: 1D adjustable (up and down).
- Warranty: 30-day return policy.
- Seat width x depth: 19.3″ (W) x 16.5″ (D)
- Backrest width x height: 16.2″ (W) x 23.2″ (H)
- Seat height: 16.9-19.7″
- Size rating: 5’3″ to 5’10”; 250-pound weight capacity.
Hyken Advice
The Hyken is proof that you don’t need to pay big money for complete ergonomics. Given the price, there’s nothing significant to complain about — everything works as expected.
Even so, you get what you pay for. After a year of full-time use, saggy mesh and loosened parts will render your Hyken noisy and unstable. If you can live with needing yearly replacements, expect no other worries.
- Decent ergonomic features
- Great price
- Poor durability
- Not a great fit for sizes 5’3″ or less
For short users, the Hyken offers a decent fit. Note that all short users 5’10” or less should stack their Hyken chair with a footrest. That should make this chair usable for sizes 5’0″ and taller.
With a footrest, very short people can expect a solid ergonomic experience with a decent (but not perfect) fit. If money’s tight, the Hyken is ideal.
Staples Hyken from Amazon $205.30
Learn more: Staples Hyken Office Chair Review
Full Back Gaming Chair Alternatives
Besides the Aeron size A, there are only three ergonomic chairs on the market specifically designed for short people. The Noblechairs Epic Compact (only available in Germany) is the smallest, catering to sizes 4’1″ (124 cm) and up.
Two other models stand out with ultra-compact dimensions and 5-year warranties:
- Secretlab Titan Evo 2022: fits sizes 4’11” to 5’6″ (285-pound support). $449+ from Secretlab
- AKRacing California: fits sizes 4’9″ to 5’6″ (330-pound support). $429.00 on Amazon
For slightly taller sizes, the DXRacer Craft Series fits sizes 5’2″ and up. This review compares the suitability of each:
Hacking Office Chairs For Short People
The best available ergonomic office chairs for short people fit sizes 5’3″ and up. Short people sized 4’10” to 5’2″ will need to deploy two hacks to make use of these.
Mid-Back Chair Headrests Distort Posture
The average person now uses a cell phone 3 hours per day — usually with a sharp forward head tilt. Because of the damage caused by text neck syndrome, institutional ergonomic standards now demand multi-device support for the back and neck.
Neck support as a priority makes headrests on mid-back chairs obsolete. These distort posture by tilting the head off-center.
As well, mid-back office chair headrests have crude adjustability. Short people are especially vulnerable to these jabbing into their neck — while forcing an unhealthy forward tilt!
In comparison, removing a headrest from a mid-back chair makes it easy to sit with the back and neck in a healthy alignment.
Add An Ergonomic Footrest
The second essential hack is to add an ergonomic footrest. Healthy neutral sitting demands feet planted on the floor. However, most desks are 28-30″ high.
To keep planted feet while syncing their chair and desk, a footrest can help all users 5’10” or shorter sit taller.
Conclusion
The best ergonomic office chair for small sizes is the Herman Miller Aeron. The Size A version fits people 4’10” to 5’9″. It boasts elite ergonomic features, ultra-adaptive mesh upholstery, and a 12-year warranty.
The best cheaper alternatives aren’t as enticing. For one thing, they’re not as well-optimized for short people — all fit sizes 5’3″ and up. For another, there’s not much variety. Among the four options, all have basic, old-school office styles.
Bottom line: the four ergonomic office chairs in this review are decent options for short people. The Herman Miller Aeron is much better (but more expensive). There are also five premium small gaming chairs worth a look:
Best Premium Gaming Chair For Short People
Footnotes
- ‘Guidelines (Principles) in selecting office furniture’.Office Management, https://accountlearning.com/guidelines-principles-in-selecting-office-furniture/, (accessed 5 October 2022).
