10 Best Big and Tall Office Chairs

Best Big and Tall Office Chairs

If you’re a big and tall individual, you won’t be able to settle for just any chair on the market. Cramming yourself into a chair that’s too small can promote poor posture over time, leaving you with aches and pains.

If you’re someone who has a larger frame and spends the majority of your day sitting down, then it’s imperative for you to find a big and tall office chair that is comfortable for your specific needs.  

However, with so many options available online, it can be difficult to determine which chair is the perfect fit for you. 

In this guide, we’ll be reviewing our picks for the 10  best big and tall office chairs on the market. For each chair we’ll discuss some key aspects including features, build quality, adjustability, values, and more to help you decide which is the right chair for you. 

Let’s get started!

The Best Big and Tall Office Chairs


Steelcase Gesture – Overall Best Big and Tall Office Chair

Editor Choice
Steelcase Gesture Chair
$1,424.00

The Steelcase Gesture is the company's top-of-the-line ergonomic office chair. It's a premium chair featuring excellent build quality, adjustability, and comfort.

Read our Steelcase Gesture Review

Buy on Amazon
03/11/2024 12:44 am GMT

If you aren’t scared off by the price of Steelcase Gesture, this office chair has some of the most ergonomic and adjustable features to fit a wide scope of users. For big and tall users, the seat height adjustment can adjust between 16 inches and 21, while also having a weight capacity of 400 lbs. 

Although the cushion itself isn’t very thick, it has tiny air pockets built-in that conform to your body to reduce pressure and increase blood flow. The edge of the seat has a slight bend to limit the amount of pressure under your thighs. This is a pressure point that usually can cause pain in your legs and affect posture.

In addition, the Steelcase Gesture uses 3D live-back technology to mimic and flex any natural movements of your body. This ensures your spine and lumbar are fully supported while changing postures, preventing back pain. The backrest is contoured as well to align with the S-Shaped curved of your spine. 

Pros:

  • 3D live back technology mimics movement and contours to all postures
  • Wider seat width with extended arm range to fit bigger users
  • Plenty of chair adjustments to ensure a personalized fit
  • Made of high-quality materials to support up to 400 lbs
  • The core equalizer feature automatically adjusts the lumbar resistance based on the recline position and size 

Cons:

  • Quite an expensive chair 
  • The chair itself weighs over 70 lbs

Herman Miller Aeron – Best Premium Big and Tall Office Chair

Check out our guide on the Best Herman Miller Office Chairs

One of the major selling points of the Herman Miller Aeron is its ergonomics. When it comes to sitting for long periods, slouching and poor posture can lead to severe back pain. Heavy people are prone to more pain since the extra weight can cause extra stress to your muscles and ligaments. The Aeron features a PostureFit SL mechanism made of high-density foam to support the S shape of your back. 

In addition, the chair uses a woven pellicle mesh material to relieve pressure points in your back. The upholstery is also designed to allow body heat, air, and moisture to pass through to keep you cool for long periods. Bigger individuals may also sweat more because they generate more heat for their larger body mass. 

With the size C model, the chair fits individuals with a height range of 5’10 to 6’6. It has a weight capacity of 350 pounds, making it a great choice for big and tall people. If you’re a taller individual and would prefer to have a headrest on your Aeron, I’d recommend checking out the Engineered Now Headrest on Amazon.

Pros:

  • Aeron C size supports up to 350 lbs and ideal for people between 5’10 to 6’6
  • Uses patented 8Z pellicle offers soft and adaptive support
  • The pellicle material provides ventilation to keep you cool
  • The seat is designed with a prominent waterfall edge to improve blood flow 
  • The chair comes fully assembled 

Cons:

  • It doesn’t have a seat depth adjustment
  • Fairly expensive compared to other office chairs 

Secretlab Titan XL – Best Big and Tall Gaming Chair

When it comes to gaming chairs, it’s hard to beat Secretlab Titan XL. The XL model has the same features as the standard Secret Titan gaming chair, except it’s 25% larger. The Titan XL is two inches wider and has a completely flat seat instead of the bucket-style seat, which gives you more space to move around. Overall, the chair supports the height between 5’11 and 6’10 and has a weight capacity of 390 pounds. In addition, it uses a sturdy aluminum base, XL wheel casters, and high-density memory foam to fit heavier individuals. 

One of the main selling points we love about the Titan XL is the built-in lumbar support. With the lumbar system, users can easily adjust the height and depth of the support using a knob. Simply twist the knob to increase or decrease the amount that the cushion protrudes outward. Since everyone is unique in their body types and preferences, having this adjustability helps reduce your back pain and encourages a healthy posture. 

In addition, we like that you’re able to choose between a PU leather upholstery or a fabric one. The softweave fabric is soft and allows for airflow to keep you cool. In comparison, PU leather is smooth and has a more luxurious texture to it. 

Pros:

  • Available in Prime 2.0 leather or Softweave fabric upholstery 
  • The armrest has 4D adjustability to ensure proper position and relief from your shoulders and neck
  • The XL model supports up to 390 lbs and fits people between 5’11 to 6’10
  • Built with high strength aluminum reinforced with gussets and ribs 
  • Able to adjust seat angle and backrest angle and lock the position into place 

Cons:

  • People may find the seat cushion to be a little too firm 

Check out our guide on the Best Big and Tall Gaming Chairs

SPACE Air Grid – Best Cheap Big and Tall Office Chair

Budget Pick
SPACE Seating Professional AirGrid
$216.99

The SPACE Seating Professional AirGrid is a budget mid-back office chair that features a breathable mesh back and comfortable Eco Leather seat.

Buy on Amazon
03/11/2024 02:59 am GMT

Unfortunately, most big and tall office chairs are quite expensive. However, the Space Air Grid is affordable and doesn’t sacrifice quality either. This chair features a soft fabric padded seat cushion to allow ventilation while also distributing the pressure evenly. The backrest is made of its unique Air Grid mesh upholstery to allow air to pass through, which keeps users cool throughout the day. Warm seats tend to feel extremely uncomfortable, which isn’t suitable for long hours of sitting.

The Air Grid has a very convenient 2-in-1 synchro-tilt control lever, which allows you to control the recline and the amount of tension for the backrest. Controlling the tension is important to allow you to change positions without having any sporadic movements smoothly. 

Overall, the Space Air Grid may lack some minor adjustability features such as depth and width adjustments or deep recline, but we find it an excellent low-cost option for big and tall people. 

Pros:

  • Extremely affordable office chair
  • Foam padding seat relieves tension in your hips and buttocks
  • Supports up to 400 lbs 
  • Durable Air Grid mesh material keeps you cool
  • 2-in-1 synchro-tilt control allows you to adjust the tilt tension

Cons:

  • Only reclines up to 15 degrees backward

Check out our guide on the Best Office Chairs Under $200

Duramont Office Chair – Best Big and Tall Office Chair Under $300

Best Under $300
Duramont Ergonomic Office Chair
$289.99

The Duramont Ergonomic Office Chair is the on the best values in terms of price vs performance on the market offering excellent build quality, adjustability and comfort.

Read our full Duramont Office Chair Review

Buy on Amazon
03/11/2024 04:27 am GMT

If you want an all-around office chair that is comfortable and ergonomic without emptying your wallet, the Duramont office chair is a good bet. Duramont features a high-density molded foam cushion to improve posture and reduce the stress placed on your back, buttocks, and hips. The chair also uses mesh upholstery suitable for heavier individuals prone to sweating or people who live in warmer environments.

One of its best features is the adjustable lumbar support. Many office chairs offer either no lumbar cushion or one that is not adjustable. The Duramont chair has a built-in lumbar system with a knob in the back of the chair to adjust the height and depth of the lumbar cushion. This ensures the lumbar fits the curvature of your lower back and keeps you from slouching. 

Users can also adjust the recline angle of their backrest and headrest. The headrest can be adjusted, but height and tilt forward and backward. Its backrest can recline up to 120 degrees which allow users to relax and change seating positions. 

Pros:

  • Made with durable material and supports up to 330 lbs
  • Includes a knob to adjust the height and depth of lumbar support
  • Soft and thick cushion with a sloped front edge to reduce pressure on the back of your thighs
  • Headrest support can be adjusted in different angles
  • Wheels are made of rubber to roll on any surface and doesn’t scratch hardwood floors 

Cons:

  • There isn’t any depth adjustment 
  • Armrests are 2D adjustable 

Check out our guide on the Best Office Chairs Under $300

Ikea MARKUS – Best Value Big and Tall Office Chair

Best Value
IKEA MARKUS
$435.99

The IKEA MARKUS is a stylish office chair that features a modern mesh and fabric design, excellent comfort, and adjustability options.

Buy on Amazon
03/11/2024 08:14 am GMT

Ikea is known for its minimalistic and sometimes quirky chair designs. The Markus is no different. The chair backrest is incredibly tall, ranging from about 18 inches to 22 inches. This means tall people will have a full backrest and head support for their office chairs. 

The chair features a highly dense foam for its cushion along with a polyester fabric upholstery. Polyester is very soft and easy to clean. The material also has tiny pockets to allow air to circulate, which keeps your body cool. Since it uses darker colors, it’s also not likely to stain.

One unique feature we’ve enjoyed is their brake sensitivity mechanism. While sitting, you’re able to freely move your casters and swivel freely. When standing, the casters will lock, which prevents the chair from moving and sliding around your office. 

Pros:

  • Ikea offers a generous ten-year warranty 
  • Includes pressure-sensitive casters so that it locks while standing and moves when you’re seated 
  • Mesh allows air circulation, which keeps users cool all-day
  • It comes in 1 piece, so no assembly required
  • Includes built-in lumbar support to relieve back pain

Cons:

  • Armrests are not adjustable 
  • Only supports up to 242 pounds 

Steelcase Leap Plus – Best Big and Tall Office Chair for Heavy People

Best for Heavy People
Steelcase Leap Plus
$1,970.00

The Steelcase Leap Plus gives you the same comfort and adjustability that you would expect with a wider seat area and studier build supporting up to 500lbs.

Buy on Amazon
03/11/2024 01:17 am GMT

The Steelcase Leap Plus offers all of the same features as the standard Leap, except it has a wider seat and a taller back. This chair holds up to 500 pounds making it very suitable for heavy individuals.

Just like the standard Steelcase Leap, it shifts shape to mimic your body movements and support your spine as you move. One feature to support tall people is the ability to adjust the seat depth. Adjusting your seat depth allows users to ensure proper posture by maintaining g back support while also having their weight distributed across the seat cushion. This ensures your legs are scrunched up or too far from the seat and prevents cutting off circulation from your knees. 

We also find the armrests to be highly adjustable. Armrests are a crucial aspect to ensure your neck and shoulders don’t strain from having to hold your arm in an uncomfortable position. The Leap Plus armrest can be adjusted by height, pivot in any direction and angle, move forward and backward, and is width adjustable. 

Pros:

  • The natural glide mechanism allows you to comfortably recline and change positions without straining your neck
  • Able to adjust tension while reclining
  • Supports up to 400 lbs
  • Able to adjust the seat depth, which is ideal for people with long legs
  • Live back technology conforms to the shape of all users 

Cons:

  • Not much seat padding
  • It doesn’t have a back height adjustment 

Check out our guide on the Best Office Chairs for Heavy People

Herman Miller Embody – Best Big and Tall Office Chair for Back Pain

The Herman Miller Embody is known for a great office chair to prevent back pain. Most office chairs have wide backrests to provide additional support. However, the Embody is designed with a slim curvature design to align with your spine. This slimmer design also allows you to move freely and stretch easier compared to other chairs. In addition, the top part of the backrest also bends, providing more flexibility when you’re in an upright position or when you’re reclined.

The Embody has its signature pixelated support that flexes with you every time you move your back to ensure proper support even when you’re changing positions. With its BackFit adjustment, you’ll be able to adjust the angles of the backrest for your ideal reclined position. 

When it comes to the Herman Miller, we love the premium build of it. The chairs are manufactured in the U.S. and ships fully assembled to the customer. Herman Miller also provides a 12-year warranty for your chair. This means you know the manufacturer stands by the quality of the chair. 

Pros:

  • Able to support up to 300 lbs
  • Seat depth is adjustable for people with long legs
  • Backrest adapts to your micromovements for all-day comfort
  • Made of durable and earth-friendly materials
  • Narrow back promotes healthy posture while allowing the user to move around 

Cons:

  • Quite a hefty price tag 

Vertagear Triiger 350 – Best Mesh Big and Tall Office Chair

With the Vertagear Triiger 350, you’re getting a high-quality office chair to keep you comfortable and pain-free. This chair’s backrest has a unique combination of mesh and padding support. The mesh backrest is firm and flexible enough to redistribute a person’s body weight and limit back strain. However, it also serves the purpose of allowing ventilation and letting airflow keep you cool. 

The chair does have padding in various areas that are susceptible to strain. For example, the sides, headrest, and lumbar region offer to pad to reduce the pressure and keep you pain-free.

We also love the armrests that the Triiger 350 has. It has four-directional adjustability, meaning that you can pivot the arms to work best for your body shape. The armrests can also be removed without compromising the chair’s structural integrity. 

In addition, the wheel casters are made of rubber, making them ideal for both hard and soft floors. And they can be locked in place, which is useful when you’re away from the chair. 

Pros:

  • Mesh material is flexible and allows air circulation
  • Waterfall seat edge design reduces pressure and increases blood flow
  • Adjustable seat height, backrest height, and seat depth to support tall people
  • Armrests are 4D adjustable 
  • Made of aluminum alloy for durability and lightweight 

Cons:

  • The headrest isn’t used mesh upholstery

Check out our guide on the Best Mesh Gaming Chairs

La-Z-Boy Bellamy – Best Big and Tall Executive Office Chair

Best Executive Style
La-Z-Boy Bellamy
$401.49
Buy on Amazon
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03/10/2024 07:53 pm GMT

Read our full La-Z-Boy Office Chairs Review and Buying Guide

There are many advantages to getting executive chairs over standard office chairs. The La-Z-Boy Bellamy is made with premium mahogany wood and genuine leather. These chairs are usually available for the person in the upper-echelon of a company. However, now they’re available for everyone. The Bellamy chair provides an elegant style that fits with any interior design and signifies status.

Besides the aesthetics of the chair, the Bellamy has deep layers of memory foam cushions that contour to your body. The entire seat is covered with padding, including the headrests, lumbar area, seat cushion, and even armrests. The memory foam padding is a premium over high-density foam because it offers body-hugging support to support your vertebrae and spine while reducing the amount of pressure on your back. This foam type is ideal for people who have back pain. Memory foam is also hypoallergenic, meaning that it is resistant to allergens such as dust mites. 

Pros:

  • Includes a memory foam layering system for enhanced comfort
  • Stylish armrests made of premium wood
  • Contoured lumbar zone to relieve lower back pain
  • The lever located on the side for convenience
  • Soft bonded leather upholstery looks attractive and easy to clean

Cons:

  • Leather material may be prone to heat build-up

Choosing the Best Office Chair for Big and Tall People – Buyer’s Guide  


Build Quality

All of your chair’s components should support your build and weight so that it lasts for many years. Manufacturers such as Herman Miller and Steelcase offer a whopping 12-year warranty because they’re extremely confident about their product lasting for a long time. Some chairs offer a mere 1-year warranty and use plenty of plastic components, which really can hamper the longevity of the chair. 

Always look into the components being used for the chair. For example, steel and aluminum frames are typically durable enough to last a decade or longer. All padding should use a high density of memory foam to ensure that the foam maintains the structure for a long time. The wheels should have dual casters to prevent easily breaking and ideally made from a rubber material to limit wear and tear. 

Back Support

Big and tall people tend to have a higher risk for lower back pain. This is caused by the increased weight in the mid-section. As a result, the pelvis pulls forward, which strains your lower back. 

When sitting, you should find an office chair with comfortable lumbar support. Without lumbar support, it’s easy to break your posture and slouch forward. The lumbar cushion will maintain the curvature of your lower back while also keeping your shoulders, hips, and ears in alignment for a healthy posture. Ideally, you want to find lumbar support that allows you to adjust the cushion by height and by depth. 

Your backrest should also help to redistribute the weight and support your body movements. The 8z pellicle mesh material from Herman Miller has varying levels of tension. The points where the body makes contact are forgiving and will mimic micromovements. In contrast, the non-contact portions like the edges are more rigid. 

Headrest

Contrary to popular belief, the headrest shouldn’t be used all the time. When working, your head should be slightly off the headrest while still in a neutral posture position. However, headrests are important when it comes to resting your head during breaks or doing repetitive tasks.

For example, when you’re making a phone call or reclining your back, it’s useful to relieve any tension in your neck to prevent unnecessary strain. Headrests should be height adjustable since everybody has a different body type. Also, some headrests can even be tilted forward or backward. This allows users to get the support needed even while changing positions. If possible, we recommend a mesh headrest because it will ensure that your head doesn’t get too sweaty. 

Adjustability

Adjustability is one of the biggest factors to consider when buying an office chair. These chairs should have a wider adjustability dimension than other offer chairs. 

Ideally, look for chairs with adjustable seat height, seat width, seat depth, backrest height, lumbar cushion, backrest angle, tilt tension, armrests, and headrests. Not every chair will have each of these adjustment options. But it’s important to know what’s out there, so you know what to look for. For example, adjusting seat width gives you more space to move around, and seat depth ensures tall people can have proper back support without cutting off circulation in your legs. 

For backrest recline, some chairs can only recline about 15 to 30 degrees. While gaming chairs such as the Secretlab have a deep recline, where users can essentially nap. Some chairs even have the capability to rock back and forth. Reclining your backrest allows you to rest your spine and take pressure off your neck, which is useful for long hours of sitting. 

Armrests need to be in the right spot and will eliminate any discomfort in your shoulders and neck. The armrest should be positioned parallel to the desk height. Other adjustments like the width and pivoting its direction help ensure your arms are placed comfortably for productivity and efficiency. 

Seat Comfort

Seat comfort can come in many shapes and forms. Some seat cushions don’t have much padding but are firm and contain ergonomic features to relieve pressure points. Other chairs use thick and dense padding foam material to redistribute your body’s weight to reduce strain. 

Chairs with seat cushions contours to your body while also significantly reducing the amount of pressure on your tailbone, hips, and spine. Too much pressure on your tailbone can cause extra stress on your spine, which negatively compromises your posture. A high-density foam cushion or memory foam cushion will redistribute the weight effectively to protect your posture. 

One feature to look out for is a waterfall seat edge design. This seat design slopes downward to reduce the strain on the back of your thighs and improves blood circulation in your legs. 

Weight Capacity

Big and tall people need a chair that has a higher weight capacity than your average office chair. Standard chairs typically can hold up to about 250 pounds. With Big and Tall Chairs, they usually have a weight capacity that is 350 pounds or more. 

Some chairs are built with much stronger and more durable materials, which allow for a greater weight capacity. For example, the Steelcase Gesture can support 400 pounds, while the Steelcase Leap Plus can hold up to 500 pounds. 

Price

Unfortunately, big and tall chairs are naturally priced higher than standard chairs. Since these chairs are larger and require greater durability, that means stronger material is needed. 

On the low end, we found big and tall office chairs such as the Space Air Grid and the Duramont office chairs, which are comparable to standard office chairs. If you’re looking for a medium-range chair with more ergonomics and adjustability, we suggest chairs such as The Secret Lab Titan XL, Ikea Markus, and the La-Z-Boy Bellamy. For those searching for a premium chair with patented ergonomic features to promote healthy posture and eliminate back pain, we suggest the Herman Miller or Steelcase chairs.

Recap of the Best Big and Tall Office Chairs

Big and Tall Office ChairAward
Steelcase GestureBest Overall
Secretlab Titan XLBest for Gaming
SPACE Air GridBudget Pick
Duramont Office ChairBest Under $300
Ikea MARKUSBest Value
Herman Miller AeronPremium Pick
Steelcase Leap PlusBest for Heavy People
Herman Miller EmbodyBest for Back Pain
Vertagear Triiger 350Best Mesh
La-Z-Boy BellamyBest Executive Office Chair

Conclusion

When it comes to finding an office chair, comfort and ergonomics play a big role in choosing one right for you. 

A big and tall chair should have all the adjustments and specifications to fit your height and weight. Also, it needed ergonomic features to support your lower back and relieve pressure points. There are also other factors to consider like price point, warranty, build quality, and others.

We’ve hope our big and tall office chair’s list and buyers guide have helped you determine which chair suits your needs. 

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