9 Best Armless Office Chairs

The classic armed ergonomic office chair isn’t for everyone. In fact, arms can get in the way at times. Let’s say, you have a keyboard underneath your desk with a sliding tray, arms would inhibit your arms from comfortably resting on the tray. Or perhaps, you’re looking for budget-friendly chairs for the conference room. They are generally more affordable since there are fewer components involved in manufacturing the product. 

Armless office chairs are an excellent solution for people looking to save space, costs and enjoy more freedom of movement. These chairs still provide adequate ergonomics to keep you comfortable and properly supported. Fortunately, we’ve compiled a list of the best armless office chairs in the market. 

The Best Armless Office Chairs

• HAG Capisco – Best Overall
• Herman Miller Aeron Classic Armless – Best for Back Pain
• Amazon Basics Office Chair – Budget Pick
• IKEA JÄRVFJÄLLET – Best Under $300
• Serta Essential Mesh Task Chair -Best Breathability
• HAG Capisco Puls – Best for Short People
• Flash Furniture HERCULES – Best for Heavy People
• Giantex Home Office Chair – Best Leather
• DRAGONN by VIVO – Best Kneeling Chair

HAG Capisco – Overall Best Armless Office Chair

Contrary to the unique design, the HAG Capisco is perhaps the most ergonomic chair on our list. Saddle chairs are often used by health professionals such as physical therapists, doctors, and ultrasound technicians. Professionals who are “at-risk” of sitting all day use saddle chairs to help prevent health problems. 

In fact, these chairs are designed to relieve back, hip, and coccyx pain, as well as improve leg circulation. That’s because the seat design opens up your hips and rotates the pelvis forward. This helps to keep you in an upright posture.

One unique aspect of the Capisco is the ability to change or rotate in four seating positions. Users can sit forward with the backrest behind them. Additionally, users can turn the backrest either left or right. Lastly, the backrest can be turned forward where your chest rests on the backrest. Changing positions increases blood flow, which prevents pressure points and numbness aches. 

Additionally, the Capisco has a wide range of adjustments including seat height, seat depth, back angle, tilt tension, and back height. Since it has a 10.2-inch seat height range, users can use the Capisco on all types of workstations such as standing desks and kitchen countertops. 

Pros:

• Features 10.4 inches of lift height, making it great for people who use standing desks or high countertops
• Four seating positions to adapt to changing postures 
• Plenty of adjustments including seat height, seat depth, and backrest height 
• Available in many beautiful upholstery colors 
• Saddle design helps the hips open up and sit forward to prevent hip, buttocks, and back pain 

Cons:

• Polyester upholstery isn’t the most breathable 

Herman Miller Aeron Classic Armless – Best Armless Office Chair for Back Pain

The Herman Miller Aeron Classic Armless chair is a variation of the classic Aeron. It comes with all the advanced features that the classic Aeron has minus the armrest. 

The Aeron is constructed with its patented 8Z Pellicle Mesh material. Unlike most mesh materials which can feel rigid, the 8Z Pellicle has better adaptive and durable characteristics. It varies in tension levels from tight to loose. The mesh is tighter around the edges and looser in the center. 

These adaptive qualities will flex and bend based on your micromovements. As you move or change positions, the mesh flexes to provide continuous support. 

Furthermore, the armless Aeron features a unique kinematic knee-tilt mechanism that dissipates thigh and knee pressure during recline. This chair was designed with a knee-tilt mechanism that pivots the chair’s seat around a point beneath the seat and behind the sitter’s knees. As the chair reclines, the user’s feet remain relatively flat, which provides greater stability and eliminates pressure at the knees and thighs. 

Pros:

• 8Z Pellicle Mesh offers adaptive qualities that flex and bend in response to your movement for continuous support
• The kinematic knee-tilt mechanism reduces pressure off your knees and thighs 
• The chair has many adjustments like seat height, seat depth, back angle, and tilt tension
• Height adjustable lumbar support to prevent lower back pain 
• Tilt tension keeps you balanced while reclining 

Cons:

• Some people may prefer a thick padded cushion instead of a mesh material 

Amazon Basics Office Chair – Best Cheap Armless Office Chair

The hallmark of all AmazonBasics products is affordability. For those looking for the bare essentials, AmazonBasics office chair is a great option. Of course, you won’t find any fancy bells and whistles. However, you’re paying only a fraction of the cost of normal armless office chairs. 

Additionally, the chair has a well-padded cushioned seat and backrest. Cushioned seats are useful in dispersing your weight throughout the chair, preventing pressure buildup. If you’re used to using stools or four-legged chairs, this office chair will be a nice upgrade. 

Furthermore, the chair has a breathable textile upholstery fabric that allows airflow to your seat. Sitting with a sweaty back can be incredibly uncomfortable. AmazonBasics office chair helps keep you cool and dry throughout the day. 

Like most office chairs, this one comes with an easy-to-use pneumatic adjustment, so you can adjust the height to meet your needs. Ideally, you’ll want your feet planted on the floor while your arms can comfortably rest on the desk. 

Pros:

• Very affordable 
• Thick-padded seat and back for all-day comfort
• BIFMA certified means that the chair is made from durable materials
• Cv seat height to fit many types of workstations
• Spacious seat dimensions for greater freedom of movement 

Cons:

• No lumbar back support  

IKEA JÄRVFJÄLLET – Best Armless Office Chair Under $300

When it comes to finding an ergonomic office chair that is also affordable, most chair buyers are stuck between a rock and a hard place. Fortunately, the Ikea Järvfjället is different. It’s designed ergonomically to keep you comfortable and accommodate your needs. 

The Järvfjället chair is designed with a tall and curved mesh backrest with a padded headrest and thick-padded seat foam cushion. It has plenty of adjustable options such as seat height, lumbar support, back angle, and automatic tilt-tension. Typically, office chairs require you to adjust a knob to adjust the tilt tension force needed to recline. However, this chair tilts according to your weight, making it very intuitive. 

Many armless chairs are mid-back chairs, and some don’t have lumbar chairs. However, the Järvfjället has height-adjustable lumbar support that can be maneuvered up or down to precisely fit your lumbar curve. Furthermore, the headrest can also be adjusted by height as well to support your neck. The soft and flexible polyurethane foam on the headrest reduces neck pain and serves as an external cue to keep your posture upright. 

Not to mention, this chair has an impressive 10-year warranty and is ANSI/BIFMA certified. This means you’re guaranteed to receive a chair that offers excellent durability and stability. Otherwise, you’ll receive a replacement or refund from IKEA for defective any components. 

Pros:

• Mesh backrest to keep your back cool and dry 
• The leather seat cushion is smooth, comfortable, and easy to maintain
• IKEA offers a ten-year warranty 
• The adjustable and lockable tilt function lets you increase control and stability in different seating positions 
• A padded headrest supports your neck while also encouraging a healthy posture 

Cons:

• Chair design may look strange to people who prefer the traditional office chair 

Serta Essential Mesh Task Chair -Best Breathability

Sitting on a chair for hours can lead to sweaty backs, thus making it extremely uncomfortable to sit. That’s where mesh chairs come into play. The Serta task chair utilizes mesh to allow air to circulate throughout the backrest, keeping you cool and feeling refreshed. Mesh material helps prevent heat buildup, which helps users sit all day without feeling uncomfortably hot. 

Additionally, the chair features a leather-upholstered seat with an extra thick three-inch non-recycled foam. The foam is highly resilient and highly dense, which prevents the foam from deteriorating over time. Furthermore, a seat cushion helps to lessen the stress on your hips and coccyx when sitting due to the equal weight distribution. As a result, sitters are less likely to experience pressure points, leading to pain or numbness aches. 

Overall, the chair is a well-built chair that accommodates most users. In fact, Serta states that the suggested height range for this task chair is for people between 5’2” to 6’4” tall. The chair is constructed with a metal base and utilizes a heavy-duty Class IV gas lift. Furthermore, the chair has been tested and certified according to BIFMA standards for quality assurance. 

Pros:

• Very affordable seating option
• Breathable mesh back maximizes airflow to keep your well ventilated 
• A combination of leather and mesh upholstery provides a nice balance of comfort and breathability 
• Backrest slightly curved inward in the mid and lower back area to provide some lumbar support 
• The seat cushion uses a three-inch-thick non-toxic foam to alleviate pressure 

Cons:

• It doesn’t have a reclining function 
• Only has a one-year warranty 

HAG Capisco Puls – Best Armless Office Chair for Short People

Finding a quality chair can be an overwhelming task. However, it can be even more difficult for short people. Working from an office chair that isn’t designed for your build could lead to back pain, hip pain, neck pain, and lack of blood circulation in your legs. 

Fortunately, the HAG Capisco Puls features many adjustable options to allow users to adjust the chair to their liking. For instance, the chair features an adjustable seat height, back height, seat depth, and back-tilt. Additionally, the chair has a slim and compact design, which fits shorter people better. 

You may be wondering, what’s the difference between the HAG Capisco and HAG Capisco Puls? The main difference is the design and build of the chair. Hag Capisco Puls has a more narrow and firm saddle design allowing users to sit with their legs closer together. That’s because the center curve is less pronounced than the original HAG Capisco. This gives users greater flexibility in movement and more ways to change sitting positions. 

Another excellent benefit of this chair is the customization. Users can choose between three upholstery options: leather, polyester, and vinyl. Each fabric has different colors to choose from, allowing you to match the interior design of your room. Leather and vinyl offer a more upscale look with less maintenance involved. However, polyester has more colors to choose from and a softer, more cozy feel compared to other fabrics. 

Pros:

• Plenty of adjustments available to accommodate short people 
• 10.4” seat lift is ideal for all workstations such as high countertops or standing desks 
• Saddle seat promotes healthy circulation and promotes sitting forward to prevent muscle fatigue 
• Users can adjust seat height, seat depth, back tilt, and back height 
• Sitters can choose various positions such as sitting forwards, backward, or sideways 

Cons:

• Quite expensive compared to other armless office chairs 

Flash Furniture HERCULES – Best Armless Office Chair for Heavy People

Heavy-duty armless office chairs aren’t easy to find, since there aren’t many options available. Fortunately, the Flash Furniture Hercules chair is specifically designed for heavy users. That’s because it can support up to 400 pounds, making it one of the most durable and stable armless chairs in the market. Furthermore, it is designed with extremely wide and tall dimensions, giving big and tall users more space to move around in the chair. 

But the Hercules also offers plenty of thoughtful ergonomic features. It has a waterfall seat edge, where there is additional padding and rounded padding on the edge. This prevents any cut-off in circulation at the knees and improves circulation in your legs. 

The chair features their unique LeatherSoft padding which features leather upholstery and three inches of polyurethane padding. As a result, it gives plenty of support and cushion to keep users comfortable. Heavy individuals require a thicker cushion to help dissipate and evenly distribute the weight across the seat. The Hercules chair also has adjustable options such as seat height, tilt tension, a rocking function, tilt-lock, and reclining back angle. 

Pros:

• It supports up to 400 lbs and is ANSI/BIFMA certified 
• The Hercules offers a back recline and tilts tension allowing sitters to relax and take pressure off of the spine 
• Unique LeatherSoft material is smooth and enhances comfort
• Large big and tall design accommodates people of all sizes and gives greater freedom of movement 
• Built-in lumbar support and high back design encourages a healthy upright posture 

Cons:

• Leather material isn’t usually the most breathable 

Giantex Home Office Chair – Best Leather Armless Office Chair

Leather office chairs add an elegant touch to your room or workspace. Whether you need a chair for your conference room or home office, leather has a lavish look and feel. The Giantex features a premium brown bonded leather material that is smooth to the touch and has a glowy aesthetic appeal. Not to mention, leather is easy to clean, and stain and fade resistant. 

Besides the visual appeal, the chair has a curved backrest, designed to better support your lumbar curve. This helps to prevent lower back fatigue and keep your posture in an upright position. 

The Giantex has a seat-height adjustment that ranges from 17.5 inches to 21.5 inches making it suitable for most workstations and accommodating for the user’s height. It has a 360-degree swivel design and PU dual-rolling casters made to fit all types of floor surfaces like carpet and hard floors. 

Pros:

• Brown PU leather is stain and fade resistant
• The leather material and design offers an elegant touch to any room 
• Adjustable seat height range is between 17.5 to 21.5” making it favorable for most workstations 
• The backrest curves to support your spine and lumbar, and reduce muscle fatigue
• The sponge foam cushion is high resistance and permeable to relieve pressure and tension 

Cons:

• The chair isn’t able to recline

DRAGONN by VIVO – Best Kneeling Chair

Sitting for long periods can have negative effects especially when sitting with poor posture. The DRAGONN by VIVO kneeling chair aims to encourage active sitting, which promotes more movement and engages your muscles to keep your posture intact. The kneeling chair is designed as an angled seat that shifts your body forward. Instead of a backrest, you rest on a seat cushion and shin pad. 

As a result, the pelvis is tilted forward to ensure proper spinal alignment. Also, the core and back muscles are engaged, which are strengthened over time. When the muscles strengthen, it allows you to hold your posture for longer and prevents the chances of muscle fatigue. 

Furthermore, a 110 degree thigh angle is created (instead of the normal 90 degree angle with a traditional chair), which ultimately reduces pressure on your lower back and prevents disc or degeneration. The hips slide forward ensuring equal weight distribution and pressure relief. 

Besides the design, the Vivo chair offers thick padded cushions to alleviate pressure in the buttocks and shins. Not to mention, users can adjust the seat height from 21 inches to 31 inches making it suitable for standing desks. 

Pros:

• Pelvis and hips are tilted forward for optimal spinal alignment and weight distribution 
• The chair has a wide range of height adjustments, from 21” to 31”
• Thick padded knee and seat cushions are comforting 
• Strengthens abdominal muscles, which helps to keep an upright posture
• Lockable casters prevent chairs from sliding unintentionally 

Cons:

• Some users may not like having pressure on the shins 
• Leg movements are restricted due to the design of kneeling chairs 

Choosing the Best Armless Office Chair – Buyer’s Guide 

When it comes to buying armless office chairs, it’s important to look for a functional design that fits your needs. We’ll cover the various factors to consider when evaluating whether the chair is worth buying. 

Materials and Build Quality

Purchasing an office chair isn’t worth it, if it’ll only last you a year or two. Chairs with poor build quality and constructed with low-quality materials will deteriorate quicker and provide a bad experience. 

We recommend looking at the materials and components that the chair uses. First, consider the base and frame of the chair. Metal components like steel and aluminum last the longest. Sometimes they may combine nylon or plastic frame with reinforced metal.

Check to see that the chair has been approved or certified by ANSI/BIFMA. This organization puts the chair through stringent tests to evaluate the product’s strength, durability, and sustainability. 

If foam padding is used, look for thick padded cushions. Seat cushions should have high density or high resiliency characteristics. This prevents deformity or deterioration over time. A flat seat cushion isn’t very useful since it’ll lead to pressure buildup and potential pain from sitting too long. 

Ergonomics

An ergonomic chair refers to how it helps the user maximize efficiency and comfort. This means the design and features are made to keep the user comfortable for long periods. Often, a chair must be able to keep a sitter in a healthy posture so that they don’t receive aches and pains after prolonged sitting. 

An office can have a wide variety of features to enhance ergonomics. For example, the Hag Capisco is an office chair that resembles the saddle seat of horseback riders. These chairs open your hips and rotate the pelvis forward, so that you can achieve better spinal alignment. 

Moreover, the minimalist design offers a greater range of movement, so that you can receive better blood flow circulation to your entire body. Not to mention, it engages your core and back muscles to strengthen over time and reduce the risk of future injury. 

Another example isthe kneeling chairs. These chairs tilt the knee angle downward, which increases circulation to your legs. Like the saddle chair, the user is forced to sit forward and upright which ultimately fixes bad posture. As a result, these chairs are an excellent solution to stay healthy and remain pain-free for extended sitting. 

Seat Comfort

Without seat comfort, sitting would be incredibly uncomfortable and lead to all sorts of pain. For example, sitting on a hard surface would cause pressure points to build up and place excess stress on joints and muscles. The lack of support would lead to poor posture, lack of blood flow circulation, and ultimately pain throughout your body. 

Seat comfort can come in the form of a seat cushion or flexible mesh upholstered seat. A seat cushion is designed to support your tailbone, hips, and thighs to prevent excessive force onto your body. A thick cushion can dissipate that pressure and distribute the weight evenly throughout the chair. 

Conversely, high-quality mesh material can offer adaptive qualities that flex and contract based on the user’s movements. This ensures continuous support and encourages actively changing sitting positions. Not to mention, mesh materials offer breathability to prevent the seat from heating up. 

Some office chairs like the Hercules have a waterfall seat edge, which is rounded and slopes downward. There may have extra padding to help allow circulation to your lower extremities. 

Adjustability

Every office chair needs a wide range of adjustments. Adjustments allow users to adopt the right seating conditions to fit their height and build. All tall individuals will need to lift the seat height, while a short person may need to lower it.

For armless office chairs, look for adjustments such as seat height, seat depth, back angle, tilt tension, headrest, and lumbar support. Seat height ensures you’re sitting in a position where your thighs are 90 degrees and feet flat on the floor. Additionally, the seat height raises or lowers the chair to fit the workstation. 

Seat depth ensures the user has optimal backrest without getting cut off of leg circulation from the seat edge. The more adjustments an office chair has, the better the user can fine-tune the chair to their needs. 

Back Support

Sitting for extended periods places a lot of stress on your spine, lower back, and tailbone. As a result, every office chair should have quality back support (unless you opt for a kneeling chair). Back support keeps your back in an upright position and prevents slouching. 

Ideally, you’ll want to look for a backrest with adjustable lumbar support, back angle, and tilt tension. When resting on the backrest, there’s a gap between the lumbar and the chair. As a result, a lumbar curve is needed to fill that void to support your lower back and reduce the stress placed on the lumbar. 

Furthermore, a reclining backrest aids in letting users relax and take pressure off the spinal. The tilt tension lets the sitter adjust the amount of force needed to recline so that the chair feels stable when reclining. Keeping proper back support prevents lingering back pain and helps circulation throughout the body. 

Weight Capacity

Weight capacity is often tied to the build quality of the chair. That’s because high-quality components that have been stress-tested offer greater durability and can withstand more load. On average, office chairs typically can hold 250 pounds. However, if you fall within the upper limit or even surpass the weight limit, we recommend finding a heavy-duty chair that can support your weight. 

Sitting on a chair where the user exceeds the weight limit capacity is dangerous. It can lead to the components deteriorating and increases the odds of the chair falling apart. 

For example, a heavy user can recline on a compact chair and fall over. That’s because if the backrest is flimsy, it won’t be able to fully support the user, which puts them at risk of injury. For heavy users, we suggest the Flash Furniture Hercules chair, which supports up to 400 pounds. 

Price

Price plays a role in nearly every purchasing decision we make and office chairs are no different. A college student may have a different budget than a business executive looking to make purchases for their office. Fortunately, we’ve included a list that runs the gamut in terms of costs, from budget-friendly to luxurious options. 

If your budget is tight, we recommend chairs such as the AmazonBasic or Serta Mesh task chair. These chairs offer essential features you’ll need, such as padded cushioning, breathable backrest, and seat height adjustment. 

However, if ergonomics are more important, we like the Herman Miller Aeron armless chair or the Hag Capisco saddle chair. These chairs are designed uniquely to promote better posture and active sitting, which in turn prevents pain and is conducive to long hours of sitting. 

Recap of the Best Armless Office Chairs

Armless Office Chairs	Best For
HAG Capisco	Best Overall
Herman Miller Aeron Classic Armless	Best for Back Pain
Amazon Basics Office Chair	Budget Pick
IKEA JÄRVFJÄLLET	Best Under $300
Serta Essential Mesh Task Chair	Best Breathability
HAG Capisco Puls	Best for Short People
Flash Furniture HERCULES	Best for Heavy People
Giantex Home Office Chair	Best Leather
DRAGONN by VIVO	Best Kneeling Chair

Conclusion

Armless office chairs add versatility to your space since you’re able to tuck them easily under desks or tight corners. They offer many advantages like space-saving design, greater freedom of movement, and many of these chairs encourage active sitting. 

Choosing the right chair can be challenging. However, fortunately, we’ve handpicked the best armless office chairs to choose from. The choice is yours. Now, you’re ready to pick out the one that suits your needs and preferences!