The 9 Best Fabric Upholstered Office Chairs

Many people prefer sitting on fabric upholstered chairs over leather or mesh chairs. Most users enjoy the soft texture and breathability of office chairs. However, there are hundreds of fabric upholstered chairs to choose from. Which one is right for you?

Understanding the features and prioritizing what’s most important will help you decide on your next chair. 

In this comprehensive guide, we’ll review our picks for the best fabric upholstered office chairs available. We’ll look at a wide range of models from various prices ranges and compare them to help you decide which is best for you.

Let’s begin! 

The Best Fabric Upholstered Office Chairs

• Steelcase Gesture – Best Overall
• Secretlab OMEGA Softweave – Best for Gaming
• OFM Microfiber Office Chair – Budget Pick
• Serta Executive Office Chair – Best Value
• Steelcase Leap V2 – Best Adjustability
• Herman Miller Embody – Premium Pick
• Secretlab TITAN XL Softweave – Best for Heavy People
• CLATINA Executive Office Chair – Best for Big & Tall People
• Vinsetto Executive Office Chair – Best with Footrest

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Steelcase Gesture – Best Overall Fabric Office Chair

The Steelcase Gesture sets the standard for office chair technology and ergonomics. This chair is designed for maximum adjustability to help prevent back pain and body aches.

Made with polyester fabric, Steelcase Gesture has a very soft and smooth texture. Polyester fabric is also designed to be breathable and very easy to maintain. In addition, the chair comes fully assembled and includes a 12-year warranty. 

The Gesture features a 3D Liveback Technology that mimics your natural spine and movements when it comes to ergonomics. This means when you change postures, they’ll contour to your body shape. The chair also features a Core Equalizer, a clamshell-looking device connecting to your back and seat. Based on your recline position, it’ll automatically adjust the amount of lumbar resistance based on your size and angle of recline. 

It also includes many other adjustable features such as seat depth, seat height, height-adjustable lumbar, tilt resistance, backrest recline, and adjustable arms. Their adjustable armrest is four-directional, meaning you can set your forearms and wrist in a comfortable position. 

Pros:

• 3D LiveBack technology mimics the natural spine of your body and movements
• Able to support up to 400 lbs
• Lots of adjustable features to fit people of different sizes 
• Armrests are 4D adjustable, and arm caps pivot 30 degrees in and out
• Core equalizer adjusts the depth of lumbar resistance based on your size and position

Cons:

• Price is higher than most other office chairs
• The chair weighs a lot

Secretlab OMEGA Softweave – Best Fabric Gaming Chair

If you’re looking for a gaming chair but hate the stiffness or heat buildup that PU leather causes, consider choosing the Secretlab Omega Softweave. This chair blends different fabric forms with a fluffy and ultra-soft texture, making it comfortable to sit on for long periods. Furthermore, this blend of fabric is breathable, durable, and relatively easy to maintain. It comes in four color options: black, charcoal, cookies and cream, and the special D.V.a edition. 

The Secretlab Omega uses a highly-dense cold cured foam mix that strikes the perfect balance of firmness and cushion. That helps to relieve tension in your legs, buttocks, and back.

In addition, the backrest can recline up to 165 degrees and lock into any position you’d like. Whether you want to relax, watch a video, or nap, being able to recline ensures you get maximum support at every position. 

The Omega also is built with durability to ensure it lasts for a long time. For instance, it has XL PU casters to roll over any surface smoothly. It also has an aluminum base for strength and stability instead of cheap nylon material. 

Pros:

• Assembly is fast and easy 
• Armrests are 4D adjustable, so you can rotate and adjust to a comfortable position 
• The lumbar pillow is a large size
• Softweave fabric is breathable, soft, and durable 
• Pillows use memory foam to relieve tension 

Cons:

• Not ideal for people above 6 feet or weigh over 240 lbs 

Read out full guide on the Best Fabric Gaming Chairs

OFM Microfiber Office Chair – Best Cheap Fabric Office Chair

Buying a nice upholstered fabric chair doesn’t have to cost you a fortune. The OFM microfiber office chair offers plenty of plush microfibers cushioning to keep users comfortable for long hours. 

Microfiber upholstery is designed to be breathable and soft. It also has a nice suede and velvet texture to it which makes you feel cozy and comfortable. This material is stain and water-resistant. Also, the fabric is tightly woven to prevent any snags. 

Although it doesn’t have the most advanced adjustable features, it still has the important features you need, such as an adjustable seat height and backrest. This ensures your feet are flat on the floor and eyes aligned with the monitor for proper posture alignment. 

Pros:

• Incredibly affordable office chair 
• High backrest chair for full support
• Armrest for padded for additional comfort 
• Fully adjustable backrest and seat height 
• Plush microfiber cushioning to keep you comfortable all-day 

Cons:

• Armrests are adjustable 

Serta Executive Office Chair – Best Value Fabric Office Chair

Normally, executive office chairs are used as a symbol of status, especially in an office environment. With the Serta brand, their executive office chair is priced well below their competitors. Despite the low price, it’s still incredibly comfortable to sit on. 

The Serta chair uses deeply layered body pillow foams to help keep you comfortable. The cushioning is excellent for relieving pressure all around your body. Even the armrests and headrests are well padded compared to other chairs, which may have hard plastic. In addition, the seat has a waterfall design to lessen some of the pressure on the back of your legs. This increases circulation allowing you to focus better and stay productive. 

The chair uses a nice suede-like microfiber material. This material can easily color-dyed, which is why there are eight different color options to match the interior design of your office space. The material has a soft velvet texture to it keeping you warm cozy, which is great during the winter months. 

Pros:

• Extremely affordable compared to other executive chairs
• Deep layered of plush body cushions for enhanced comfort 
• Waterfall seat edge to relieve pressure on the back of your legs
• Made of microfiber material for easy maintenance 
• Available in eight colors 

Cons:

• Armrests are only height adjustable 

Steelcase Leap V2– Best Adjustability

The Steelcase Leap V2 is similar to the Gesture, except it’s got way more adjustable features. These adjustments help the users customize their seating experience. 

For instance, with the Leap V2, you’re able to adjust the lumbar support by height and depth. Depending on your build and size, you’ll need to position your lumbar accordingly. Whether you prefer a more pronounced lumbar support or less, you’ll be able to adjust it.

With the backrest, users can recline and lock into five different positions. Like the Gesture, it uses a 3D LiveBack technology to mimic your movement and your precise spinal shape so that you get sufficient support even when changing postures. 

And even though it doesn’t look like a heavy-duty chair, it can support up to 400 lbs. The arsenal of adjustability features, along with the breathable fabric and weight capacity, makes this an extremely versatile chair that fits most users. 

Pros:

• Made of 3 layers of breathable fabric 
• Waterfall seat edge helps improve circulation in your legs 
• Live back technology responds to the movements in your back for better support
• Armrests are 4D adjustable 
• The backrest can recline and lock into five positions 

Cons:

• Fairly expensive compared to other office chairs 

Herman Miller Embody – Best Premium Fabric Office Chair

The Herman Miller Embody has been frequently compared to the Steelcase Leap and Herman Miller Aeron. The Embody is filled with tons of ergonomic features to prevent the common health problems for prolonged sitting. 

It uses their signature pixelated support that automatically conforms to the body’s shape and micromovements. Their support system will evenly distribute your body weight and increase circulation in your body to help you focus better. Whether you recline or lean forward, the support will remain constant.

The Embody consists of a rhythm fabric that is very stronger and durable. They also have larger holes within the fabric, so it’s also more breathable than most fabric types. Since the fabric contains multiple layers, it has additional cushioning for support.

Although it lacks padding compared to other cushioned chairs, it has plenty of ergonomic and adjustable features to keep you comfortable for long periods. 

Pros:

• Herman Miller offers a 12-year warranty 
• Offers pixelated support system distributes weight evenly and increases circulation 
• Four different fabric layers that are breathable and soft 
• Made 42% of recycled materials 
• Narrow back helps to promote better posture 

Cons:

• The very high price tag

Read our full guide on the Best Herman Miller Chairs

Secretlab TITAN XL Softweave – Best Fabric Office Chair for Heavy People

Finding a quality office chair for heavy people can be quite challenging. The Secret LP Titan XL Softweave is a heavy-duty chair that can support up to 390 pounds. It’s also designed for people who are between 5’11 and 6’10. Compared to the standard Titan, the XL version is 25% larger and a full two inches wider. 

One of the stand-out features of the Titan XL is the internal lumbar system. Turn the knob to adjust the depth of the lumbar support. This is perfect whether you prefer a support system that protrudes outward a lot or something less pronounced for your lower back. 

The Titan XL has a fully flat seat allowing users to spill their legs to the edge. For big and tall users, it’s great to have extra legroom. Most other gaming chairs have ridges to restrict leg movement. 

Overall the Titan XL is similar to other gaming chairs, except it features the signature Softweave fabric and has lots of adjustabilities, such as a backrest recline and a 4D armrest. 

Pros:

• Able to adjust the depth of lumbar support by turning a knob
• The backrest can recline up to 165 degrees and adjust forward to 85 degrees
• Supports up to 390 lbs 
• Softweave fabric is soft, fluffy, and durable 
• Memory foam headrest pillow along with a cooling gel to keep your head cool

Cons:

• Armrests don’t have padding 

Read our full guide on the Best Office Chairs for Heavy People

CLATINA Executive Office Chair – Best Big & Tall Fabric Office Chair

Affordable office chairs for big and tall users are very hard to come by. Most heavy-duty chairs are priced much higher than normal chairs. However, the affordability, type of fabric, and cushion separate the Clatina from other chairs. 

The Clatina office chair supports up to 400 pounds and has an extra-wide seat to accommodate people of all sizes. We also like the textile fabric upholstery that this chair uses. Sometimes fabric upholstery can frail or irritate the skin. But this textile upholstery is skin-friendly and breathable. It has a soft texture to it combined with plush padding to enhance sitting for long hours. Even the armrests have thick padding to relieve pressure on your forearms, shoulders, and neck.

Users can also enjoy a few of the adjustable features on the Clatina to customize their seating experience. You can rock your chair back up to 120 degrees, which helps encourage movement and improves circulation. There’s also an adjustable seat height, so you can adjust the seat to match your desk height and body size. 

Pros:

• Very affordable office chair
• Supports up to 400 lbs 
• The fabric feels plush and is skin-friendly 
• Thickly padded armrests to support arms and shoulders
• Waterfall edge seat to relieve tension 

Cons:

• Only able to recline up to 120 degrees 

Vinsetto Executive Office Chair – Best Fabric Office Chair with Footrest

Sitting at a desk for long periods can cause all types of health issues, which is why finding an ergonomic and comfortable seat is important. The Vinsetto has a retractable footrest to enhance comfort when sitting for long stints. A footrest allows users to change positions while shifting their weight and reducing their back strain. Furthermore, having a retractable footrest will reduce fatigue, align your posture and ease pain in your ankles, feet, thighs, and knees. 

Vignette also improves comfort by having a high-density sponge padding throughout the chair and curved padding for armrests. This high density provides excellent support so that you won’t sink in too deep, and it holds its shape well-meaning it’s very durable. The Vinsetto also has a large detachable headrest pillow to provide additional support to your neck and head. 

The chair uses linen upholstery for a cool and soft texture. It has tiny holes allowing air to flow through. Also, this material is mildew resistant, anti-microbial, and abrasion-resistant. 

Pros:

• Thickly padded armrests and footrests to rest your arms and legs 
• Able to tilt up to 170 degrees 
• Adjustable seat height to fit people your desk height and body size 
• Extremely modern design 
• Padded lumbar support to relieve lower back pain 

Cons:

• Armrests aren’t adjustable 

How to Choose the Best Fabric Office Chair Buyer’s Guide 

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Ergonomics

If you plan on sitting on your chair for more than a few hours, you should strongly consider the ergonomic features that a chair has. There’s a reason why Herman Miller and Steelcase charge a premium for their chairs. 

For example, Embody allows flexible support to promote a healthy posture and prevent back pain. They have a pixelated support system that mimics your body movements to ensure optimal support at all times. Some chairs may have a waterfall edge design on their seats to provide support and relieve tension in the back of your legs. Another example of ergonomics is having a leg rest. Movement is key to preventing pain and improving your productivity. A leg rest lets you set your feet up, enhancing circulation and taking the pressure off your legs. 

One of the biggest components of ergonomics is lumbar support. Lumbar support ensures proper posture alignment, specifically your hips, shoulders, and ears should all be aligned. It also ensures that the natural inward curve of your lower spine is maintained. Your body tends to slump as it becomes fatigued from holding itself upright, thus causing vulnerability in your lower body. Lumbar support helps to keep the healthy posture intact for a long time. 

Build Quality

The build quality of the chair often equates to durability and support. For big and tall users, you likely want something that can fully support your weight. Typically chairs that use steel and aluminum bases have greater strength and durability. Avoid chairs that use plastic components in their base since they have a higher chance of breaking.

Aluminum bases are typically lightweight yet have a high strength to withstand large weights. However, steel bases are even stronger than aluminum and are used to support larger individuals. The only downside is steel tends to be more expensive and much heavier. 

Another aspect of building quality is a chair’s fabric and padding. Your seat cushion is an integral aspect of relieving tension from your body. Most office chairs use high-density foam because they retain their shape much longer than standard foam. It also returns to its original shape after being compressed. 

Comfort (seat comfort, back comfort, arm comfort)

Many components make a chair comfortable such as seat, back, and arm comfort. The most comfortable type of seat cushions are ones with thick and highly dense padding or uses memory foam padding. Some foams are highly resilient, meaning they have a quick bounce back to provide a very soft and supportive feeling. These foam types ensure that it relieves pressure in your hips and buttocks, while also conforms to your body. 

Back comfort can be determined by lumbar support, backrest height, and headrest. Having lumbar support prevents you from leaning forward and slouching. As a result, you won’t experience back pain. The tall backrest helps you to get full support on your entire back. A headrest pillow can help relieve the stress from your neck. 

Having a highly adjustable armrest helps to ensure your arm is positioned best for your keyboard. Typing in a neutral position prevents your wrist from bending at an angle, leading to carpal tunnel syndrome. Without a properly positioned armrest, your shoulders and neck will carry the burden of keeping your arms in a position suitable for working on your computer. 

Adjustability

The more adjustability functions a chair has, the more versatile it is to fit your body size, desk height and match your preferences in how you want to sit. Ideally, you want an office chair with an adjustable seat height, lumbar support, backrest recline positions, seat depth, seat width, armrests, and swivels. 

A chair with an adjustable seat height, depth, and width can help get you into a comfortable working position. The right seat height ensures you have optimal and balanced support for your entire body. It will ensure better posture, relieve pressure points behind your knees and improve blood circulation to your feet. Proper seat depth helps users maintain adequate back support while having their weight distributed evenly across their seats. Seat width ensures you can have adequate space to prevent feeling cramped in your chair. 

Lumbar support adjustments are typically overlooked. Everyone has their preferences when it comes to back support. It’s important to line up the lumbar support with the curvature in your spine. Some chairs have built-in lumbar support with a depth adjustment allowing you to adjust how much the support protrudes outward. There are also adjustable armrests to help relieve pressure on your arms, shoulders, and neck. Many armrests allow you to pivot in direction, change heights and angles to ensure optimal positioning for your arms. 

In addition, a chair should also have some sort of rocking feature and backrest recline adjustment. A backrest recline encourages movement, which enables you to adjust your posture based on the circumstance. Sometimes you may want to lean backward to read a book, watch TV or take a nap. The backrest recline ensures you get full back support while reclining. Most chairs vary in degree of recline from 120 to 180 degrees. 

Design

Office chairs can vary in all sorts of shapes and sizes. Executive style chairs are designed to have an imposing appearance with a high back, plenty of cushioning, and made of superior materials. Executive chairs are made for people who enjoy having lots of cushioning and want a luxurious look to their chairs. 

Another type of chair is ergonomic chairs. These chairs are usually the most expensive. In our list, this would include the Herman Miller and Steelcase Gesture chairs. You don’t have the padding you’d expect from a premium chair. However, they are designed meticulously with top-notch ergonomic features to prevent back pain. For example, they have a slimmer backrest to encourage a strong posture and innovative technology in the backrest to conform to your body’s natural shape. 

If you’re looking for big and tall chairs, they have their own design too. These chairs have wider seats, higher backrests, thicker padding, and reinforced frames to accommodate heavier loads.

In addition, gaming chairs are more adjustable features allowing users to change positions during and after gameplay. These types of chairs usually have more flamboyant color schemes and designs. Many gaming chairs mimic the design of a race car since they have two-toned colors.  

Leather Vs. Fabric Upholstered Office Chairs

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Breathability

The drawback to using leather chairs is their lack of ventilation. Leather is sensitive to fluctuations because it tends to have heat buildup easily. This is because leather doesn’t have any holes to allow air to pass through. Nobody likes to sit on an overheated chair! Some people who sweat once temperatures would want to consider fabric or mesh chairs instead. 

In general, fabric chairs are much more breathable and have ventilation to keep you cool. Since there are so many types of fabric that can be used, the amount of ventilation will vary. Some of the most breathable fabric materials are cotton, linen, and vinyl. Most fabric materials are tightly woven together, which means there are small pockets throughout the fabric. 

Durability

Because leather doesn’t have to be weaved together like fabric, leather can last up to four times longer than fabric. However, this all depends on the quality of leather used in the chair. Ideally, top grain leather has natural oils that prevent peeling, flaking, cracking, and tearing. Since leather has a protective coating and tight, strong fibers, it can repel odors and dander that could sink into some fabrics. Leather has a lifespan of 15 to 20 years. 

The durability varies on the type of fabric you choose. Synthetic polyester canvas fabric is currently the most durable fabric material in the market. They have tightly woven fibers that prevent dust, liquid, and dirt from penetrating inside. Also, this tight weave decreases the odds of snagging. Loose fibers can cause snagging and cause fabric tears. Quality fabric upholstery can last about seven to fifteen years on average. 

Feel

Leather has an incredibly smooth and consistent texture to it. However, lower quality leather might be stiff initially and requires some time to break into before it becomes more flexible. Once the leather is flexible, it’s much easier to conform to your body shape and become more comfortable with use. 

On the other hand, fabric tends to provide a cozy and softer feeling than leather. This coziness helps to keep you relaxed and calm. If you’re looking for the softest fabric, linen and cotton are excellent choices if comfort is your main priority.

Maintenance 

Fortunately, leather chairs do not require much maintenance. If dirt or spills occur, you can easily wipe it off with a lightly dampened cloth. This means you can be much more carefree about eating while sitting on leather office chairs. 

Genuine leather can be resistant to tears and punctures as well. However, if you get an office chair that uses artificial leather such as PU or faux leather, they typically are vulnerable to scratches and abrasions. In this case, you may want to keep your cat away from your chair! However, one issue with leather is that excessive exposure to sunlight can cause the leather’s color to fade. Ideally, it’s best to move your leather chair away from direct sunlight and radiators such as fireplaces to prevent damage. 

The type and quality of fabric play a huge role in the maintenance of this material. Fabric can be slightly hard to deal with in spills because the fabric can stain easier and be harder to clean. Spills or little bits of food can be stuck in the seams or pockets inside of the fabric. To clean your chair, you may need a handheld steam cleaner or other spot cleaning solutions to eliminate stains or spills. 

However, not all fabric is created equal. Microfiber is an ultra-soft polyester fabric that is both water and stain-resistant. Another great fabric material is vinyl seating which has a texture similar to leather. However, it has a protective coating that has a barrier against stains, abrasion, and germs. Cotton fabric is difficult to maintain because it may wrinkle and absorb moisture easily. 

Recap of the Best Fabric Upholstered Office Chairs

Fabric Office Chair	Award
Steelcase Gesture	Editor’s Choice
Secretlab OMEGA Softweave	Best for Gaming
OFM Microfiber Office Chair	Budget Pick
Serta Executive Office Chair	Best Value
Steelcase Leap V2	Best Adjustability
Herman Miller Embody	Premium Pick
Secretlab TITAN XL Softweave	Best for Heavy People
CLATINA Executive Office Chair	Best for Big & Tall People
Vinsetto Executive Office Chair	Best with Footrest

Conclusion 

Many people choose fabric upholstered office chairs because they can be very comfortable in varying temperatures, inviting, and easy to maintain. Fabric chairs also come in many-colored variations, so you can pick out the one that suits your workspace. 

Make sure to go through the buyer’s guide and prioritize the features that matter most to you. Whether you’re looking for an ergonomic chair to prevent back pain, or something plush and spacious, our list of fabric upholstered office chairs represents some of the best options in the market.