After conducting thorough research, we nominated the Serta Essential Mesh Low-Back Armless Office Chair as our Top Pick and the best armless office chair. We liked that this pick featured built-in lumbar support in a breathable mesh back design. Likewise, the seat edge offered a waterfall design for added comfort that minimized the risk of placing pressure on the backs of your legs.
To create our guide for the best armless office chairs, we focused on the following criteria: seat height, lumbar support, adjustability, and the materials. Seat height adjustment is important and with armless chairs, this is usually limited to a three- to five-inch range. Likewise, a supportive backrest is important — especially if you’re going to be sitting for hours on end. And of course, durable materials and the ability to adjust other features on your chair are important when considering the best office chair. Keep reading to learn more about our criteria and to shop from our recommendations.
Top 10 Best Armless Office Chairs
#1 Serta Essential Mesh Low-Back Armless Office Chair
Award: TOP PICK
WHY WE LIKE IT: One of the best armless office chairs with lumbar support and a seat with a waterfall edge to help minimize pressure on the legs.
Read Full Review: Serta Essential Mesh Low-Back Computer Desk Task Chair
- Seat height adjustment from 16.75 to 20”
- Built-in lumbar support
- Seat features a waterfall edge
- Backrest upholstery looks a little cheap
Without a doubt, Serta is one of the best brands when it comes to ergonomics. The brand is best known for mattresses but is also synonymous with comfortable office chairs and make some of the best office chairs for back pain. Their Essential mesh low-back model is the best armless office chair with lumbar support that we found from our research. And we like that it’s available in three colors.
This chair can support up to 250 pounds, but still provides built-in lumbar support thanks to the breathable mesh backrest. While we’re not big fans of the upholstery trim on the seatback, you’ll still appreciate the waterfall edge on the seat for added comfort. You’ll also get seat height adjustment from 16.75 to 20 inches and 360 degrees of swivel motion. This computer chair is the perfect complement for any desk setup. You may also like the best reclining office chairs that come with three reclining postures, a forward tilt tension, and seat angle adjustment.
#2 BestOffice Ergonomic Armless Office Chair
Award: HONORABLE MENTION
WHY WE LIKE IT: The best affordable office chair for budget-focused shoppers in an affordable price range thanks to a simple ergonomic designed breathable mesh backrest and almost five inches of seat height adjustment.
- Best on a budget
- Breathable mesh back
- Seat height adjustment from 18.3 to 23 inches
- Lumbar support not as extensive as other chairs
Whether you just need a chair for occasional use or are shopping on a budget, you’ll be pleased with this pick from Best Office. Their simple high back chair is designed to be breathable thanks to the mesh fabric. And you get a fairly decent seat height adjustment range from 18.3 to 23 inches that’s controlled through a gas lift, making it one of the best affordable office chairs.
Related: If you want to try something different, check the best big and tall office chair.
We like that this is one of the best affordable office chairs and that it’s available in eight bold colors, so there’s truly something for everyone here — especially if you’re trying to match your desk chair to your home or office decor. While assembly is required, you’ll like that you can quickly get this chair up and running in as little as 10 to 15 minutes. The quiet rolling casters are designed to work on a variety of flooring surfaces too. And as is fairly standard with armless office chairs, this pick can support up to 250 pounds. For a chair with a more generous weight capacity, take a peek at the best office stability chair.
#3 HON ValuTask Low Back Armless Office Chair
Award: BEST FOR HOME USE
WHY WE LIKE IT: A smart home office chair that’s well-padded with synchro tilting and tension adjustments that can support up to 250 pounds and offers a modest two and a half inch seat adjustment.
Read Full Review: HON ValuTask Low Back Task Chair
- Supports up to 250lbs
- Seat height adjustment from 17 to 20.5”
- Includes tilt tension adjustments
- Fabric upholstery may encourage heat build-up
When you’re outfitting your home office, you want something comfortable but that also doesn’t look garish. This HON ValuTask armless office chair is a great compromise between a supportive chair and something that blends in with your home. It offers plenty of essential features and also won’t break the bank.
We like that this pick is designed to support up to 250 pounds — which is a fairly commendable weight capacity for this product category. You’ll also enjoy the tilt and tension control, which allows you to adjust your backrest angle. The seat height can be adjusted from 17 to 20.5 inches, using the pneumatic height adjustment controls. The only drawback we found with this chair was that while it’s plush and well padded, the all-fabric construction might encourage heat buildup. You may prefer the best ergonomic office chair with a mesh backrest and a padded cushion seat.
#4 AmazonBasics Upholstered Low-back Armless Office Chair
Award: BEST PADDED SEAT
WHY WE LIKE IT: A fully padded adjustable height armless office chair that can support up to 250 pounds and provides four inches of seat height adjustment range.
Read Full Review: AmazonBasics Upholstered, Low-Back, Adjustable, Swivel Office Desk Chair
- Supports up to 250lbs
- 360-degree swivel with 5-caster base
- Seat height adjustment from 18 to 22”
- All-fabric upholstery may cause heat buildup
Some people prefer a fully padded chair, but don’t want the oversized effect of a classic executive chair. This AmazonBasics chair is a great compromise since you still get lumbar support, but you’ll have a fully cushioned backrest. This simple chair can support up to 250 pounds, which is fairly standard for armless office chairs.
You’ll also get tilt control as well as the ability to adjust your chair height in a four-inch range from 18 to 22 inches. And as is also common, you’ll get 360-degree swivel control, a tilt mechanism, and five casters that are designed to work on a range of flooring types. And the padded seat helps to relieve pressure on your hips and legs. And for back pain relief, consider the best office chair seat cushion.
#5 Flash Furniture Mid-Back Black Mesh Office Chair
Award: BEST QUALITY
WHY WE LIKE IT: One of the best office chairs because of its versatility thanks to the flip-up arms, more widespread lumbar support, and independent height adjustment for the back and seat.
Read Full Review: Flash Furniture Mid-Back Mesh Chair Review
- Available in eight colors
- Combination mesh and cushioned seat
- Independent seat and backrest height adjustment
- Not a true armless office chair
There’s a major debate over whether armrests are essential or not. On the one hand, they help to take the load off of your arms and encourage better posture. But in reverse, they can also encourage uncomfortable pressure points on your forearms and even encourage hunched shoulders. So, even though the Flash Furniture chair isn’t a true armless office chair, we’re including it because it’s a high-quality versatile task chair with flip-up arms. This makes it one of the best office chairs because it gives you the option to have armrests if you want them and to flip them out of the way when you don’t.
Related: We also recommend the best steelcase office chairs.
As is fairly standard with office chairs, this is a breathable mesh back pick with large built-in rib lumbar support. You’ll like that you can choose from up to eight upholstery colors designed to be compatible with a wide array of decor schemes. Even though assembly is required, you’ll like that the seat height can be customized from 18 to 23 inches and the back between 19 to 21 inches. You can also adjust the armrests from 7.75 to 10.25 inches, and the waterfall seat edge helps relieve pressure from your legs. And for your back, you will love the fine-tuning backrest knob on the best office chair for back pain.
#6 Modway Prim Armless Office Chair
Award: BEST DESIGN
WHY WE LIKE IT: One of the best ergonomic armless office chairs with a lux effect thanks to the tufted bonded PU leather design that includes lumbar support and almost three and a half inches of seat height adjustment.
Read Full Review: Modway Prim Ribbed Armless Mid Back Swivel Conference Office Chair
- Padded bonded leather finish in 7 colors
- Seat height adjustment from 17.5 to 21”
- Built-in lumbar support
- Casters can be wobbly
If you want a chair that’s equal parts form and function, this fun pick from Modway is a great way to elevate your home office or business workplace. We’re loving the tufted bonded leather that gives this the impressive style of an executive chair without looking bulky or oversized. Specifically, you’ll like that you can choose from seven colors to expertly match your decor.
The Modway Prim is one of the best ergonomic armless office chairs thanks to the fully padded construction throughout the backrest and seat. The built-in lumbar support provides the comfort that you need while the waterfall seat edge ensures that you’re not creating painful pressure points on your legs. The seat can be adjusted from 17.5 to 21 inches for almost four inches of height control. And with a 250-pound weight capacity, this is a relatively universal armless chair option. You may also like the best ergonomic kneeling chair that relieves discomfort.
#7 OFM Essentials Collection Armless Office Chair
Award: BEST FOR WORKPLACES
WHY WE LIKE IT: A sleek faux leather upholstered office chair that provides built-in lumbar support, over four inches of seat height adjustment, and is designed to support up to 250 pounds.
Read Full Review: OFM Essentials Collection Armless Leather Desk Chair
- Adjustable seat height from 16 to 20.75”
- Supports up to 250lbs
- Ergonomic backrest designed to support your spine
- Upholstery is bonded leather
Armless office chairs are preferable for so many reasons. Whether you’re concerned about armrests banging into the side of a desk edge, or feel confined by them, an armless chair can be the way to go. The OFM Essentials armless office chair is a great, elevated, option for people who like armless chairs but want something that looks a bit more sophisticated.
We like that this faux bonded leather chair is designed to support up to 250 pounds — which is fairly standard. But you also get a well-padded backrest that’s ergonomic with lumbar support to protect the natural curve of your spine. And you’ll get almost five inches of seat height adjustment from 16 to 20.75 inches. Best of all, while this isn’t our Best on a Budget selection, it’s still incredibly affordable. For a 7inch height adjustable option, take a look at the best office stools.
#8 AmazonBasics Low-Back Armless Office Chair
Award: BEST SEAT HEIGHT RANGE
WHY WE LIKE IT: A budget-friendly simple armless office chair with a mesh seat that’s breathable thanks to the mesh backrest with built-in lumbar support, is available in four colors and offers five inches of height adjustment.
Read Full Review: AmazonBasics Low-Back Office Chair
- Wide seat height adjustment from 15 to 20”
- Available in 4 colors
- Includes tilt and locking functionality
- Low weight capacity at 225lbs
Again, budget shoppers shouldn’t be penalized for being conscious of what things cost. This AmazonBasics armless office chair is a great choice since it’s incredibly affordable but still provides the essentials. Let’s focus on the fact that considering the price point, this pick includes built-in lumbar support — which isn’t always standard for armless chairs. Likewise, we like this chair is available in four colors, giving you more compatibility for home or workplace design schemes.
In terms of actual chair functionality, you’ll get tilt and locking controls so you can find the perfect angle for your back. The seat height can be adjusted within a five-inch range, which is fairly large for this product category. You can switch between 15 to 20 inches for the seat, using a simple lever to adjust the height. And as is common, you’ll get 360-degree swivel control and five smooth casters for easy movement. For added comfort at those long meetings, invest in the most comfortable office chairs.
#9 Office Star Sculptured Armless Office Chair
Award: BEST FOR STANDING DESKS
WHY WE LIKE IT: A sturdy armless office chair with a large 10-inch height adjustment and built-in foot ring that makes this perfect for using with a standing or drafting desk.
Read Full Review: Office Star Chairs
- 18.25” seat depth
- Includes height-adjustable foot ring
- Adjustable back height feature
- Higher minimum seat height may not be compatible with shorter people
Standing desks are all the rage these days, but many people fail to realize that you may need a chair with a wider height adjustment range if you decide to invest in one. The Office Star task chair is a great option because it features the largest seat height adjustment range of all the chairs featured in our guide. With 10 inches of height adjustment from 23 to 33 inches, this is perfect for pairing with standing desks or even drafting tables.
However, because the lowest height you can achieve is 23 inches, this might not be ideal for shorter people. Still, we like that you also get a foot ring with this chair, which makes it comfortable to use at taller heights. And that foot ring is adjustable so you can also shift it depending on the total height of the chair. And this is one of the few picks that also features an adjustable backrest. The Office Star chair can support up to 250 pounds. A better model would be the best executive leather office chair that can support up to 275 pounds.
#10 Boss Office Products Mesh Armless Office Chair
Award: BEST FOR COMPUTER DESKS
WHY WE LIKE IT: A simple high back armless desk chair with almost four inches of seat height adjustment and a large weight capacity of 275 pounds.
Read Full Review: Boss Office Products Budget Mesh Task Chair
- Adjustable tilt with lock mechanism
- Large weight capacity at 275lbs
- Seat height adjusts from 18 to 21.5”
- Only available in black
If you’re frustrated with the lower weight capacities of the other chairs we featured, you’ll like this pick. The Boss Office Products chair is designed to support up to 275 pounds. While this isn’t as large as other chair categories, for a high back armless desk chair, it’s relatively impressive. Especially when you realize that most chairs tap out around 250 pounds.
Aside from the higher weight support, we like that this chair still has plenty of other essential features to make it attractive. You’ll get a mesh combination design with a breathable mesh backrest with ergonomic back support and a padded seat. The seat height can be adjusted four and a half inches from 18 to 21.5 inches. And of course, you’ll get a 360-degree swivel and five casters that are effective on hard and soft flooring surfaces. This is one of the best office chairs on the market today.
How We Decided
Armless office chairs are a great option for people who prefer not to be confined while sitting down. To create our guide, we considered the following key features — seat height, lumbar support, adjustability, and the materials.
All of the picks in our guide offered seat height adjustment. For the most part, we noted that seat height adjustments for armless office chairs were somewhat smaller, usually falling in the range of three to five inches. However, we did include one armless office chair that was designed for use with standing or drafting desks. Because of this, it offered a 10-inch range in contrast to our other recommendations.
Lumbar support isn’t always standard with armless office chairs. While all of them promise ergonomic back support, only a handful of the chairs in our guide included built-in lumbar support. This was usually limited to the options that offered padded backrests.
In terms of adjustability, we did include a few selections that allowed for the backrest to be independently adjusted from the seat. Almost all of our recommendations included a tilt function with a lock as well. And finally, you’ll see that the most common materials were mesh and faux or bonded leather.
Best Armless Office Chairs Buyer’s Guide
The Most Important Factors to Consider
- Seat Height
One of the most important features for any office chair is adjustable seat height. You’ll typically find that most office chairs — even those without arms — usually offer a height adjustment that usually ranges from three to 10 inches. Premium seats can also allow for independent adjustments for the backrest. - Lumbar Support
No matter what chair you’re using, one that offers lumbar support should be a priority. Specifically, look for options with built-in or adjustable lumbar support that allows your spine to maintain its natural curve. While most office chairs offer lumbar support, you’ll need to decide whether you prefer one with fixed positions or adjustability. - Adjustability
Some armless office chairs support tilt or recline features just like the best reclining office chairs. So, you’ll want to check for the depth of the recline or tilt angle as well as whether there’s a lock feature to prevent tilting or rocking if you prefer not to use that feature. - Material
Office chairs are available in a range of materials. The most common options include leather, faux leather, fabric, and mesh. Mesh is often a fan favorite because it’s breathable. Likewise, they usually offer the most color options and potential patterns if you prefer. - Additional Features
Depending on the height of your armless office chair, a footrest can be a nice added feature. Especially if you use an office chair in it’s tallest setting — say for a standing desk — you’ll want to ensure that you’re not putting unnecessary pressure on your legs by having them dangle. Instead, a footrest helps you maintain proper posture.
