Even if not a fan of gaming chairs, you should appreciate the effects they’ve had on the seating industry. Many traditional office chair makers now offer comparable ergonomic features. This article reviews a new breed of big and tall office chairs.
Traditional office chairs have fixed backrests, fixed armrests, and adjustable seat height. Gaming chairs exceed office chairs with a reclining backrest, adjustable spine support pillows, and adjustable armrests.
A new breed of big and tall office chairs fits between the two feature sets. These are more expensive than traditional office chairs but cheaper than pro PC gaming chairs.
Best big & tall ergonomic office chairs
At present, there are only a handful of models offering adjustable armrests and lumbar support. All except the cheapest BestOffice options come with solid warranties from major office chair brands.
Sadie big and tall
Amazon price: $189.98
The Sadie Big and Tall HVST141 has a subtle design and pleasing features. It’s made by Hon Furniture. Hon is a sub-brand of HNI, the 4th-largest office furniture company in the world. Hon chairs come with a superb pedigree and also a lifetime warranty.
Big and tall computer users wanting superb ergonomics for full-time sessions should look into this chair.
Chair features
The Sadie HVST141 Big and Tall chair gives you solid ergonomic support in a subtle office chair design. Gaming chairs only offer height-adjustable lumbar support. This model adds depth-adjustable functionality as well. That means you can fine-tune your lower back support in a way that’s customized to your body.
- Functionality: 2D armrests; adjustable lumbar support; rocking function with tilt-lock.
- Upholstery: mesh backrest; fabric seat with resiliant foam padding.
- Waranty: 3-year warranty from Hon Furniture.
Sizing
This model has a smaller seat width than the Hercules chairs, but still with enough room for most large sizes. The flat wide seat gives the legs plenty of room to move.
- Seat width & depth: 22″ (W) x 20.9″ (D)
- Backrest width x height: 22″ (W), 22.3″ (H)
- Floor to seat range: 19.9″ to 22.5″
- Total height: 47.6″ to 50.8″
- Size rating: 5’6″ to 6’2″; maximum weight capacity 400 pounds
Advice
The Sadie Big and Tall by Hon Furniture is a solid ergonomic chair. You can tailor both the lumbar and armrests to your needs and also the height of the chair. The seat offers thick, firm resistance that ensures consistent comfort over long periods.
While not as flashy as gaming chairs, this heavyweight model offers comparable ergonomics at a very reasonable price.
Wahson Big and Tall
Amazon price: Price not available
This is a full-featured ergonomic chair with support for 400 pounds and a great price. The warranty is solid. You get a 30-day money-back-guarantee for covering immediate quality issues. Beyond that, there’s also a 12-month limited warranty to cover mechanical failures.
Chair features
That Wahson Big and Tall Office Chair has impressive ergonomic features. The seat has a 2″ depth adjustment. Armrests have a 2″ adjustable width range. They also have a 3″ height adjustment range. The backrest comes with a 4-level lockable recline. On top of that, it’s height adjustable. Within the backrest, there is also height-adjustable lumbar support.
- Backrest: height-adjustable backrest; adjustable lumbar; 4-level lockable recline.
- Other features: 2D armrests; depth-adjustable seat; rocking with tilt tension.
- Upholstery: ventilated mesh backrest, padded fabric seat.
- Warranty: 30-day return policy; 1-year limited warranty.
Sizing
For a 400-pound chair, the seat dimensions are small. However, the Wahson Big and Tall has a flat wide seat. The armrests also extend wider than the seat to give extra room if needed. These dimensions should fit most except extremely wide users.
- Seat width & depth: 21″ (W) x 19″ (D)
- Backrest width x height: 20.9″ (W), 23.2″ (W)
- Floor to seat range: 17″ to 20″ (W)
- Chair height: 37″ to 40″ (W)
- Size rating: 5’6″ to 6’2″; maximum weight capacity 400 pounds
Advice
The Wahson Big and Tall offers excellent value for money. It might be too small for extreme wide sizes. Everyone else will enjoy a solid level of customization. You can adjust the backrest, lumbar support, recline angle, and armrests. These adjustments give you plenty of options to support your body while sitting.
BestOffice 400 lbs mesh chair
Amazon price: $159.99
This chair offers mediocre value for money. On the plus side, it’s cheap and has decent features. It supports up to 400 pounds and comes with 3D armrests, a height-adjustable backrest, and a spring-supported seat. On the downside, it only comes with a 30-day warranty.
Chair features
Features are decent on paper. The lumbar support is fixed to the backrest, which is height-adjustable. That ensures that you can align the lumbar support to fit perfectly into the small of your back.
- Functionality: 3D armrests; height-adjustable backrest; rocking with tilt-tension.
- Upholstery: ventilated mesh backrest, padded fabric seat with spring support.
- Warranty: 30-day return policy only
The big red flag is the 30-day return policy. Beyond that, there is no warranty protection. Although they feel quite solid, these models are not built to last.
Sizing
This chair has an extra-wide seat with plenty of legroom. S
- Seat width & depth: 23″ (W) x 22″ (D)
- Backrest width x height: 22″ (W), 24″ (W)
- Floor to seat range: 17″ to 20.5″ (W)
- Size rating: 5’6″ to 6’0″; maximum weight capacity 400 pounds
Advice
Ergonomic chairs have movable parts that adapt to the needs of your body. A cheap ergonomic chair with moving parts and no warranty is a risky investment.
Even though this model is the cheapest in this review, it offers the worst value for money. Up-front, you can save a few dollars buying this chair. But six months down the line, you may need to buy a replacement.
Space Seating Big and Tall
Amazon price: $299.84
The most expensive chair on this list has lesser features but a longer warranty. It comes with adjustable armrests and lumbar support, but nothing else except rocking and seat height adjustment.
Chair features
The Space Seating Big & Tall chair offers spacious dimensions, a solid warranty, and solid features. The key thing missing is a reclining backrest. This model can rock, but the backrest can’t lock at recline angles.
- Functionality: 2D armrests; adjustable lumbar support; rocking function with tilt-lock.
- Upholstery: mesh backrest; fabric seat with foam padding.
- Waranty: lifetime on gas lift, base and casters. 3 years on upholstery and fabric.
Sizing
Sizing is similar to the other chairs on this list. The seat has enough width and depth to accommodate most large sizes.
- Seat width & depth: 22″ (W) x 21″ (D)
- Backrest width x height: 20.75″ (W), 22.5″ (H)
- Floor to seat range: 19.75″ to 22.25″
- Size rating: 5’6″ to 6’0″; maximum weight capacity 400 pounds
Advice
The Space Seating Big & Tall has lesser features than other models in this review. It’s also the most expensive chair, but the 3-year warranty is the only standout feature. This ranks last because it offers the worst value for money. Paying extra for this model doesn’t give you anything more than longer warranty protection.
Flash Furniture Hercules (fabric)
Amazon price: $499.64
The Hercules Series GO-2085-GG is a soft fabric padded executive-style chair. It has standard office chair functionality with a few ergonomic enhancements.
It works well as a 9-5 office chair, but in fact was designed as a 24-hour chair. Also known as multi-shift task chairs, 24-hour office chairs are for multiple-shift environments. They support workers in dispatch offices, medical stations, call centers, etc.
The Hercules GO-2085-GG is a spacious chair with wide dimensions and support for up to 400 pounds. It looks like a traditional office chair. But it has ergonomic enhancements that users can customize for their needs. Designed for multiple-users, these chairs are tough, rugged and super-sturdy.
Chair features
The Hercules GO-2085-GG has standard office chair functionality. You can’t lock the backrest and angles. Instead, you can rock the backrest and seat, adjust the rocking tension, or disable rocking. Built into the padded backrest is fixed head support.
There are also a couple of ergonomic add-ons. First is adjustable lumbar support, controlled by a pressurized knob under the seat. Second, are 2D armrests that let you adjust the height and width.
- Functionality: 2D armrests; adjustable lumbar support; tilt tension and rocking.
- Upholstery: padded seat and backrest with built-in neck support; black fabric cover.
- Warranty: 5-year limited warranty.
The 5-year warranty only covers non-moving metal parts. Component parts (pneumatic cylinder, control mechanism, base, casters) are warranted for 2 years. Everything else (fabric and padding) come with a 1-year warranty. That’s not a concern, as the fabric is an ultra-durable nylon mesh that’s almost indestructible.
Sizing
The Hercules GO-2085-GG has an extra-wide seat and a significant floor-to-seat range. Users under 5’6″ might find this model too large for efficient desk-work. Average sizes and up will find this a spacious, ultra-comfortable chair with a rock-solid build that can take a beating.
- Seat width & depth: 25″ (W) x 21″ (D)
- Backrest width x height: 22.44″ (W), 30″ (W)
- Floor to seat range: 21.5″ to 25.5″
- Total height: 45″ to 49″
- Size rating: 5’6″ to 6’3″; maximum weight capacity 400 pounds
Advice
This is a 24-hour office chair for multiple-shift environments. It’s rugged, durable, and customizable for each user. You can adjust the height, the armrests, and the lumbar support depth. As a home office chair, it provides comfort and solid ergonomics for big and tall users. Even if you sit in this chair 24 hours a day, it’s designed to handle the load. Looking for solid ergonomics for heavyweights? The Hercules is a great option.
Flash Furniture Hercules on Amazon $499.64
This model is also available for sale via FlashFurnitureStore.com. Check prices.
Flash Hercules (mesh)
Amazon price: $313.90
The GO-99-3-GG Hercules is also a 24-7 chair designed to support rotating shifts. It has a ventilated mesh back design and padded fabric seat. This model has a weight capacity of 500 pounds.
Chair features
The Hercules mesh chair has a height-adjustable backrest and depth-adjustable lumbar support. Those features ensure that every person using this chair can enjoy a perfect fit. It also comes with height-adjustable padded arms and standard rocking with tilt tension.
- Functionality: 1D armrests; adjustable lumbar support; tilt tension and rocking.
- Upholstery: padded fabric seat; mesh backrest.
- Warranty: 5-year limited warranty.
The 5-year warranty only covers non-moving metal parts. Components (pneumatic cylinder, control mechanism, base, casters) are covered for 2 years. Mesh, fabric, and padding come with a 1-year warranty.
Sizing
The Hercules GO-99-3-GG has an extra-wide seat and a height-adjustable backrest that should fit most short to tall sizes.
- Seat: 25.5″ (W) x 22″
- Backrest: 23″ (H) x 22″-25″ (W)
- Floor to seat range: 18″ to 22″
- Total height: 45″ to 49″
- Size rating: 5’5″ to 6’3″; maximum weight capacity 500 pounds
Advice
This model is cheaper than the Hercules fabric chair, with greater functionality and a more subdued style. It’s comfortable, built like a tank, and suitable for the widest possible sizes.
BestOffice 500 pound support chair
Amazon price: $264.99
This is an extra-wide chair with decent features and a very low price. Extra-large users wanting cheap and easy ergonomic support should consider this model.
Chair features
This chair comes with height-adjustable lumbar support, and a rocking/recliner function. The standout feature is the super-wide seat. The ergonomic extras make this a comfortable and healthy sitting option for extra-large computer users.
- Functionality: 1D armrests; rocking with tilt-tension to to 125°; height-adjustable lumbar support.
- Comfort: mesh backrest, fabric-padded seat
- Support: heavy duty steel frame that supports up to 500 pounds
- Warranty: 30-day money-back guarantee.
Sizing
The BestOffice 500-pounder has the widest seat among all ergonomic office chairs. This is the cheapest — and widest — ergonomic office chair on the market.
- Seat width & depth: 27.4″ (W) x 24.4″ (D)
- Backrest width x height: 27.3″ (W), 28.6″ (H)
- Floor to seat range: 18.9″ to 22″
- Total height: 41.9″ to 45″
- Size rating: 5’6″ to 6’2″; up to 500 pounds
Advice
It’s cheap, wide, and lets extra-wide users sit in comfort. On top of that, the adjustable lumbar will help to align the spine while sitting. As a result, big and tall users can fortify good posture habits while also enjoying simple, solid computing comfort.
Big and tall gaming chair alternatives
The first is a viable alternative that will provide equal or better support than the models in this review. The second option is too small for extra-large users. However, it serves as a good reference to compare against. Those models boast the most sophisticated ergonomic features on the market.
Big and tall gaming chairs
The best gaming chairs for big guys cost between $529 to $229. The pricier models come with superb ergono and come with exceptional features. Those include tall reclining backrests, 4D adjustable armrests, and multifunction tilt-lock.
All gaming chairs also come with height-adjustable neck and lumbar support pillows. Those help users to enjoy comfortable posture support while sitting at a desk.
Regular-sized ergonomic chairs
If you’re not a fan of gaming chairs, there is also a range of office chairs to consider. At the top of the list are pricey ergonomic task chairs from Herman Miller, Steelcase, and other top brands.
Note that none of these models are specialized for big and tall users. If you have extra-wide proportions, the best synchro-tilt chairs may be too small for you.
- Traditional office chairs: fixed backrests and armrests; no adjustable lumbar support. ($70 to $170)
- Cheap ergonomic office chairs: these are slim-fitting chairs with adjustable armrests and lumbar support. Some models also have angle-adjustable backrest recline. ($170 to $250)
- Affordable task chairs: you get 4D adjustable armrests, sliding seats, varied recline options, and more. ($350 to $799)
- Synchro-tilt task chairs: the best ergonomic chairs in the world from Herman Miller, Steelcase, etc. These models stand out with robust synchro-tilt functionality. ($450 to $1500)
Conclusion
At present, there are only a few big and tall ergonomic office chairs available. Models often go out of stock, replaced by new ones.
On the bright side, heavyweight computer users seeking potent posture support now have more choices. If you’re not a fan of gaming chairs, these big and tall models are a great ergonomic alternative.
