The Herman Miller Aeron is easily the best ergonomic office 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 compact mid-back ergonomic chairs is surprisingly thin! What’s the best ergonomic office chair for short people? Beyond the Herman Miller Aeron, the options 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 2023, 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
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 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).
Aeron (size A) from Herman Miller $1645
Learn more: Detailed Aeron Remastered Ergonomic Chair Review
The good news: any chair with these same adjustable features can do the job. Spending more gets you luxurious extras — but a similar level of back support!
The next best mid-back office-style options offer generic dimensions that will (sort of) fit sizes 5’3″ and up. Proper usage matters. Regardless of the chair, tuck your hips, plant your feet, and support your lower back at around a 100° recline angle for best results.
Best Ergo Office Chairs For Short People
Beyond the Aeron Size A, the best compact mid-back ergonomic chairs sit sizes 5’3″ and up. All serve up variations of the adjustable lumbar + armrests + recline support concept. There are two considerations before browsing chairs.
First, you don’t need an office chair headrest. All models (like the pictured Steelcase Gesture headrest) do not support the neck while the user sits upright.
Instead, they only cradle the neck during deep reclines. That makes them irrelevant when considering the back support potential of a chair.
Further, most headrests only let you extend the height or toggle the angle. Short users will find that office chair headrests get in the way more than they help.
Second, short sizes should use an ergonomic 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.
Best Small Office Chair Ranking Factors
Rankings are based on the chair’s back support quality (most are consistently good) + warranty terms + price = value for money.
Some models support sizes 5’3″ to around 5’9″ (160-175 cm). Others are rated to support sizes 5’4″ and up. Adding a footrest can make most models usable for sizes 5’2″ and up as an extreme.
- Steelcase Series 1: supports sizes 5’4″ and up with a height-adjustable lumbar, seat slider, 12-year warranty and more; $470.64 on Amazon.
- Nouhaus Palette: supports sizes 5’4″ with a height-adjustable lumbar, 3-year warranty and colorful styles; $199.99 on Amazon.
- Secretlab NeueChair: a flashier, full-mesh version of the Series 1. Supports sizes 5’3″ and up with solid ergonomics and a 5-year warranty; $649 from Secretlab.
- Sidiz T50: good features (includes a seat slider). 3-year warranty; $419.00 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; $220.37 on Amazon.
Steelcase Series 1
$470.64 on Amazon
Size rating: 5’4″ to 6’2″
When poised next to a Steelcase Gesture chair, the Series 1 looks tiny. But in fact, all of the best Steelcase ergonomic chairs are rated to fit sizes 5’4″ to 6’2″.
The Series 1 offers everything the $1300 Gesture chair does, minus a lockable backrest recline. Instead, you can only rock or lock the seat. Size-wise, my 5’9″ (177 cm) frame fit perfectly.
For smaller sizes, the lumbar support is easy to adjust from 6.5″ to 8.75″ above the seat. By reducing the seat depth and sliding the lumbar all the way down, users slightly shorter than 5’4″ should be able to make use of these chairs.
Series 1 Key Features
To justify its low price, the Series 1 does not let you tilt and lock the backrest at custom angles. That aside, it comes stacked with ergonomic goodness.
The armrest and lumbar support adjustability suitably support sizes 5’4″ and up. Those with short legs can also make use of the slider to reduce the depth of the seat.
As a sweetener, like all Steelcase chairs, the Series 1 has a premium build that’s guaranteed for 12 years.
Summary of Specifications
- Height-adjustable lumbar: 6.5″ to 8.75″
- Recline + Sync tilt: 100-124° rocking range; 2° seat sync-tilt during recline
- Adjustable arms: 6.5″ to 11.5″ height range; 40° pivot left or right
- Seat: 15.75″ to 18″ adjustable depth
- Warranty: 12 years
| Spec | Aeron Size A | Titan Small | Series 1 |
| Seat width x depth | 15.75″ (W) x 16.75″ (D) | 17.7″ (W) x 18.9″ (D) | 19.2″ (W) x 15.75″ to 18″ (D) |
| Backrest width x height | 20.25″(W) x 21″ (H) | 20″(W) x 32.3″ (H) | 21.5″ (W) x 21.5″ (H) |
| Seat height range | 14.75″ to 19″ | 17.7″ to 20.5″ | 16.5″ to 21.5″ |
| Size rating | 4’10” to 5’9″; 300 pounds | 4’11” to 5’6″; 285 pounds | 5’4″ to 6’1″; up to 300 pounds |
Buying Advice For Short People
If looking for elite ergonomics at an affordable price, the Series 1 is hard to beat. There are two downsides that short people should consider.
First, despite its impressive adjustability, those shorter than 5’2″ will find the dimensions too large for regular use.
Second, it’s a rather plain-looking chair compared to others in this review. But if you can get over that psychological hurdle — and manage the fit — the Series 1 offers superb value for money.
The Series 1 is also available from SmartFurniture for SmartFurniture $561.
Nouhaus Palette Office Chair
$199.99 on Amazon
Size rating: 5’4″ to 6’2″
After the Series 1, the Nouhaus Palette is our pick as the best cheap office chair for short people. It fits sizes 5’4″ and up with decent features and a solid build guaranteed for three years.
The Palette’s features + styling + aesthetics is a breath of fresh air in this genre. It resembles the super-popular Haworth Fern. That model gained mass appeal for its ultra-flexible backrest — with a pretty viewing window at the back.
The Palette re-engineers that eye candy with its own viewing window + height-adjustable lumbar combo. Like the Fern, it comes in an array of colorful fabric seat and mesh backrest combos.
Palette Sizing
The Palette is larger than the Aeron Size A. But its specs match up surprisingly well with Secretlab’s small-sized Titan chair:
| Spec | Aeron Size A | Titan Small | Nouhaus Palette |
| Seat width x depth | 15.75″ (W) x 16.75″ (D) | 17.7″ (W) x 18.9″ (D) | 20.25″ (W) x 17.3″(D) |
| Backrest width x height | 20.25″(W) x 21″ (H) | 20″(W) x 32.3″ (H) | 18.3″ (top) x 20.5″ (H) |
| Seat height range | 14.75″ to 19″ | 17.7″ to 20.5″ | 17.5-21.25″ |
| Size rating | 4’10” to 5’9″; 300 pounds | 4’11” to 5’6″; 285 pounds | 5’4″ to 6’2″; 240 pounds |
Functional Highlights
Like the Series 1, the Palette lacks a tilt-locking recline. You can rock from 90-135° or lock upright — but not lock at reclined angles.
Its coolest feature is an adjustable lumbar — with a rear viewing window. Its lumbar support also lowers to the bottom of the seat pan — excellent adjustability for short people.
Functionality Summary
- Upholstery: padded fabric seat; mesh backrest
- Lumbar support: height-adjustable (4″ range)
- Armrests: 1D (3.4″ height adjustment range)
- Recline: 90-135° rock + 1° seat tilt
- Warranty: 3-year protection from Nouhaus.com.
Nouhaus Palette Advice
There are two clear downsides for short people. First, the Palette only lets you rock the chair or lock it upright. Other chairs in this review also let you lock at angles.
Second, like the Fern chair, it has a non-height-adjustable lumbar curve built into the backrest. Most Fern users will find that the curve hits too low. In the Palette, shorter (under 5’6″) may find this non-height-adjustable curve annoying.
- Colorful fabric x mesh designs
- Spacious seats
- Good lumbar support
- Smaller dimensions than the Titan XL
- Solid 3-year warranty
- No tilt-lock recline
- The built-in lumbar will annoy shorter sizes
- Some may find the seat too stiff
Downsides aside, this is an intriguing ergonomic office chair for short people. Given its price and warranty, there’s very little risk here. Given its adjustable features, it’s well worth a try if pricier small chairs disappoint.
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
$419.00 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
$220.37 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 $220.37. 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 $220.37
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). $273.88 on Amazon
For slightly taller sizes, the DXRacer Craft Series fits sizes 5’2″ and up. This review compares the suitability of each:
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 six ergonomic office chairs in this review are decent options for short people:
- Steelcase Series 1: supports sizes 5’4″ and up with a height-adjustable lumbar, seat slider, 12-year warranty and more; $470.64 on Amazon.
- Nouhaus Palette: supports sizes 5’4″ with a height-adjustable lumbar, 3-year warranty and colorful styles; $199.99 on Amazon.
- Secretlab NeueChair: a flashier, full-mesh version of the Series 1. Supports sizes 5’3″ and up with solid ergonomics and a 5-year warranty; $649 from Secretlab.
- Sidiz T50: good features (includes a seat slider). 3-year warranty; $419.00 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; $220.37 on Amazon.
The Herman Miller Aeron is much better (but more expensive). There are also five premium small gaming chairs worth a look:
Best Premium Gaming Chairs 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).
