Working from your couch or bed sounds comfortable, but try doing it for hours at a time. It simply isn't practical to have your computer and anything else you need right in front of you while you try to sit back all nice and comfy. If you're working from home for any substantial amount of time, you should set up an ergonomic workspace that you can use without hurting your arms, back, or neck. That means you need a proper chair, ideally in front of a desk or table.

Office chairs are meant for long periods of productive sitting; they should enable you to keep your hands on your keyboard and mouse without stretching awkwardly. You have plenty of options to choose from, starting at around $100 and easily surpassing $1,000. With that in mind, these are our top picks for office chairs (and gaming chairs), and what you should know before buying yours.

Office Chairs vs. Gaming Chairs

What's the difference between office chairs and gaming chairs? Not much. Gaming chairs, in general, are bulky office chairs with more considerations for sitting in different positions for longer periods. They usually have tall backs with head and lumbar cushions, and often provide more support than cheap office chairs. They also tend to be better made, with higher weight limits and more considerations for larger users. Gaming chairs typically offer a wider range of colors and designs, too.

(Credit: Will Greenwald)

Most gaming chairs also have a recline function that office chairs lack. A lever on the side of the seat lets you tilt the back and recline while the seat stays level. You shouldn't use this feature while you're on video calls with your boss, but it's a nice option to have when you're done with work (or between meetings) and want to sit back.

Gaming chairs tend to cost more than office chairs, but the extra money is usually worth it, as the additional support and better build quality go a long way. Gaming chairs also usually have warranties of several years, while cheaper office chairs might have one that lasts just 90 days.

This is all to say that if you like a gaming chair's design and features, don't worry that it isn't called an office chair. It should work in your office just fine.

Office Chair Ergonomics: Weight Limits, Height, Support, and Tilt

(Credit: Wayfair)

A cheap chair might look good on paper, but it might not be a good fit in person—literally. If you're pushing past 200 pounds, check the weight capacity of any office chair you're considering. You should also see if the product listing shows the seat width and depth. Even if it can support you, you don't want your hips squeezed by the armrests, or to perch on an uncomfortably narrow seat. If you're particularly short or tall, verify that the seat height range works for you too. Almost all office chairs have a gas cylinder that lets you adjust the height, but some have a larger range than others.

In addition, office chairs can have low or high backs (we've even seen a couple with no backs), which can make a big difference in how they feel. Cheaper chairs tend to have low backs that end around or just under the shoulders. They might support your lower half, but they won't do much for your upper back and head. Still, if you mostly work by leaning forward rather than sitting upright or slightly back, that level of support should be sufficient.

Lumbar support is also important, but this is harder to test. Most office chairs claim to have some form of lumbar support, but it might be as simple as a slight arc against your lower back. Try to get a close look at the chair design in order to gauge how much support it can provide.

Tilt is a helpful feature that adds to your overall comfort and range of movement when you sit for long periods. Few office chairs have the reclining function of gaming chairs, but you might still be able to sit back a bit on them. Many models have an adjustable tilt that lets the entire seat move backward across a limited angle when you lean; it typically springs back to the upright position when you lean forward or stand up. This tilt mechanism often uses a scissor hinge located at the base of the chair where it attaches to the gas cylinder. It adjusts seat height and usually features a knob that lets you fine-tune how freely it moves. You can often restrict the tilt completely via a lever.

What's the Best Office Chair Material?

(Credit: Herman Miller)

Chairs come in a variety of materials including fabric, leather, and mesh. The best material ultimately depends on your taste, but there are a few factors to consider.

Leather, even the PU leather that most affordable "pleather" chairs use, tends to look the nicest, but it also wears down the fastest. It scratches and tears easily, especially if you have a pet. Fabric is usually more hardy, but is the easiest to stain and can collect the most odors. Mesh chairs are the lightest, most springy, and the least likely for pets to want to sit on. The mesh material serves as the chair's entire support structure, unlike the foam padding in fabric and leather chairs, and may not provide all the support you need.

Should You Buy a Cheap Office Chairs from Amazon or Staples?

Ideally, you should go see and feel furniture before you buy it. That isn't an option with most big-name gaming and office chairs, which is why our reviews are so useful. You might be able to sit in a generic office chair before you take it home, however. Your local big-box office supply store like OfficeMax or Staples should have a bunch of desk chairs of various builds and prices available for testing. Just be aware that these house brands tend to be much more basic than the chairs we've reviewed, often using inferior materials like less supple PU leather or less generous padding.

(Credit: Amazon)

If you want to spend even less, countless dirt-cheap office chairs are available online, with hundreds listed on sites like Amazon and Wayfair. There's nothing wrong with considering any of these models, but it's a bigger gamble than buying a chair at an office store where you can at least try it out. You might end up with a comfortable, sturdy desk chair, or you might get stuck with a hunk of junk that hurts your back.

Target and Walmart also have plenty of cheap options online, and you might be able to try the chairs out at the stores themselves. Discount stores that sell far more types of products than office stores will have fewer chairs on display to try, and you might only find two or three models out of dozens that could be listed online.

(Credit: Westend61/Getty Images)

Complete Your Home Office

You can also improve your experience by purchasing a standing desk, a new webcam, a best-in-class headset, or any of our other must-have home office devices. Once your setup is in place, make sure to check out our 20 tips for working from home.