10 Best Office Chairs for Neck and Shoulder Pain

When people are shopping for a new office chair, they’re most commonly researching chairs that help support their lower back because they’re dealing with sciatica or some other type of back issue.

But neck and shoulder pain is nearly as common — and if you don’t have a proper office chair designed to support your neck and shoulders, that pain is only going to get worse.

Thankfully, there are a number of great chairs on the market that are specifically designed to help people with neck and shoulder pain. Because of that, though, finding the perfect chair for you can be a tad daunting.

Don’t worry. We’ve done the research and come up with a great list of 10 chairs that won’t necessarily solve your pain (that’s on you to stretch and build strength in those areas), but will certainly not make matters worse.

The Best Office Chairs for Neck and Shoulder Pain

• Steelcase Gesture – Editor’s Pick
• Secretlab Titan – Best for Gaming
• Staples Hyken – Budget Pick
• Duramont Office Chair – Best Under $300
• Raynor Ergohuman – Best Value
• NOUHAUS Ergo3D – Best Mesh Office Chair
• Steelcase Leap – Best Fabric Office Chair
• Herman Miller Embody – Premium Pick
• Serta Air Health and Wellness – Best Breathability 
• La-Z-Boy Delano – Best Executive Office Chair

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Steelcase Gesture – The Overall Best Office Chair for Neck and Shoulder Pain

It’s one of the more expensive chairs on our list, but it’s also the best chair money can buy for those dealing with neck and shoulder pain.

The Steelcase Gesture is an absolute winner all around. Here some of its highlights:

• Weight capacity. This chair is rated to hold someone who is up to 400lbs.
• Great wheels. The wheels on cheaper chairs don’t glide well on carpeting. This is not the case with Steelcase. You can roll around on carpet with ease.
• Ergonomic. The seat and back move in a synchronized system, which allows for all-day support. And when your back is well-supported, you’re sitting with good posture, which is good for your neck and shoulders.

If you’re not the handiest person, you’ll be glad that this chair comes fully assembled, along with a 12-year warranty, which is one of the longer warranties for chairs on this list.

There’s no headrest on this chair, which might seem peculiar for a chair that’s strong in helping with neck and shoulder pain. But the back support from this chair is absolutely stunning which, in return, helps with neck and shoulder pain.

The biggest downside to this chair is its price. If you can get your employer to subsidize some of the cost, it’s totally worth the investment.

Secretlab Titan – Best Gaming Chair for Neck and Shoulder Pain

Secretlab is a small online company that makes incredible office chairs, including the Titan, which, we determined, is the ultimate chair for gaming.

There’s plenty to like about this chair, from its modern racing style design to its incredible return policy. Let’s breakdown the ergonomics of the chair first:

• Total recline. A chair that can recline all the way back is great for stretching your lower back, which can help with neck and shoulder pain. The chair also can lock in a recline position.
• Headrest. The headrest is extremely comfortable because it’s made using memory foam. This allows your neck and shoulders to sink into the chair and stay supported throughout the day.
• Adjustable arms. The arms not only go up and down. They also pivot left and right, which is quite important for gamers.

This chair has plenty of, what we’ll call, non-chair qualities that are also positive.

• Price. You’ll be shocked at how low it is for the quality.
• Customizations. There are a number of stitching and color options, allowing you to custom-tailor the chair to your room and style.
• Returns. Secretlab has a 49-day return policy — no questions asked.

The biggest downside to this chair is its capacity. It’s only rated to support someone who is 290 pounds or less, which is on the lighter side for these chairs.

Staples Hyken – Best Cheap Office Chair for Neck and Shoulder Pain

Thousands of people who were looking for a budget office chair to support their neck and shoulder landed on a great option by Staples.

The Staples Hyken Technical Task sells out quickly. It has an excellent breathable mesh back and adequate lumbar support. It’s the headrest that sets it apart from other budget chairs, though. You can adjust that headrest slightly up and down, in addition to angling left and right.

The mesh backing is well constructed and does a great job of being breathable.

Now, as a budget chair, the Staples Hyken isn’t perfect. Some owners complained about some adjustment options dying after about a year’s use, which could be worrisome for prospective buyers. But you know what you’re getting into when you buy a cheaper chair.

This chair also doesn’t recline, which could be a potential issue if you have lower back pain and need to recline to get some movement during the day.

Everything about this chair is made of plastic, so its weight capacity is lower at 250 lbs.

As a budget chair, you’re limited for color choices. So, we hope you like black.

This chair comes unassembled, so be ready to put it together.

Check out my full guide on the Best Office Chairs Under $200

Duramont Office Chair – Best Office Chair for Neck and Shoulder Pain Under $300

If your budget is right around the $300 mark, the Duramont Office Chair is a great value. This office chair has excellent lumbar support and an even better headrest that can help with your neck and shoulder pain.

Marketed as the chair with more adjustments than any other chair in its class, the Duramont may be the answer your neck and shoulder have been looking for. The headrest can adjust up and down, but also at an angle, allowing you to pinpoint a position to give your neck the ultimate amount of support.

The chair’s ergonomics begin with its fully adjustable backrest:

• Lumbar support not only goes up and down, but also in and out.
• Tilt feature gives you a nice little recline, or can keep you sitting straight up.
• Mesh back is breathable, but also supportive.

When this chair arrives on your porch, you’re going to notice the weight of it. At 44.6 pounds, this is certainly one of the heavier chairs on this list, but it can easily hold 330 pounds. Some owners have reported that the weight of the chair gives them confidence in the quality of it.

There have been some quality control issues with this mass-produced chair, but if you have any issues, the company guarantees you a full refund if you don’t like within 90 days of use.

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

Raynor Ergohuman – Best Value Office Chair for Neck and Shoulder Pain

With its high backrest and highly-adjustable headrest, the Raynor Ergohuman is an excellent pick for supporting your neck and shoulders — and it won’t break the bank.

Now, this chair isn’t a budget chair, but it also doesn’t eclipse four figures.

Here’s why we really like it:

• Multiple colors. This is a rarity for more affordable office chairs. The Ergohuman comes in six different — and great looking! — colors. Check out the navy and the burgundy.
• That headrest. The Ergohuman’s headrest might be the best headrest on this list. It adjusts up and down, pivots left and right, and can be angled to perfectly support your neck and keep you in a strong working posture all day. It also looks really nice because it mimics the same mesh backing as the backrest.
• Nice recline. The back angle adjustment allows you to adjust and lock into three positions, which is quite handy. You’ll have plenty of opportunity to stretch out your back throughout the day.

While armrests are important to sit ergonomically, some people simply don’t like them. This chair has armrests, but it’s not important for the construction of the chair if you really don’t want them.

So, what are owners of this chair saying about it?

It’s breathable, thanks to its great mesh backing. Many people, though, have complained about the overall comfort of the chair, specifically the seat cushion being too hard. The foam in the armrests is also a bit too forgiving.

NOUHAUS Ergo3D – Best Mesh Office Chair for Neck and Shoulder Pain

The NOUHAUS Ergo3D is another budget office chair with a lot of upside.

It’s two biggest selling features is its highly adjustable headrest, which is helpful for those with neck and shoulder pain, along with its 4D armrests, which can adjust up and down, and pivot left and right, allowing you to hone in on that perfect typing position. That level of adjustment not only helps with shoulder pain, but also prevents things like carpal tunnel down the road.

The Ergo3D also comes in four great colors: black, burgundy, blue and grey. The blue is a favorite of mine because it makes a home office look a bit more modern.

This chair also reclines back to the preferred 135-degree angle and can lock there, giving you the opportunity to have a nice lower back stretch throughout the day.

The mesh backing is a bit too soft, but the lumbar support makes up for it. While it’s soft, it is comfortable to sit on.

Overall, this chair is quite heavy-duty and features high quality construction. The five-point base is evidence of this. Most office chairs opt for a four-point base. The extra leg and wheel easily allows for an adult up to 275 lbs., although it could probably hold more.

One owner of this chair gave it very high praise, saying it features “Herman Miller quality and features,” but at a budget price.

Check out our full guide on the Best Mesh Gaming Chairs

Steelcase Leap – Best Fabric Office Chair for Neck and Shoulder Pain

Mesh seems to be the future of office chairs, but some people are still really into fabric chairs. If that’s the case, check out the Steelcase Leap Fabric Chair.

The Grand Rapids, Michigan-based company sells premium products, so expect build quality and comfort to be extremely high.In terms of price, it’s on the higher end, but it’s not a four-figure chair.

This chair is highly customizable, with more than 30 beautiful color options to choose from.

There’s no headrest on this chair, but the back is wide enough at the top to give your shoulders some support. The lumbar support is excellent as well, which helps with not only lower back pain, but also supporting your upper body, including your neck and shoulders.

Here are a  few things we like about this chair:

• The fabric is made of 100% polyester, which is great for comfort and breathability.
• The wheels are designed to easily roll on different types of carpets.
• You can lock the recline of this chair into five different positions.
• It comes full assembled, which is always a nice perk.

If purchasing this chair from Amazon, make sure it specifically says it’s being shipped from and sold by Steelcase and not a third party, which could be selling a refurbished model.

Check out my full guide on the Best Fabric Upholstered Office Chairs

Herman Miller Embody – Best Premium Office Chair for Neck and Shoulder Pain

Read our full guide on the Best Herman Miller Office Chairs

Herman Miller chairs typically find themselves in the premium product category, and rightly so.

The Herman Miller Embody is no different. As the highest-priced chair on this list, you’re certainly buying into a luxury product that also does a great job at keeping you in a strong, ergonomic posture, which is important for those with neck and shoulder pain.

So, what makes this chair so special? Let us explain:

• No headrest, but the backrest goes up to the top of the shoulders, providing excellent support for your back, neck and shoulders.
• Designed for all-day use at a computer. Herman Miller consults a team of doctors in biomechanics, vision, and physical therapy to determine if that all-day use is really all-day use.
• Made from 95% recyclable materials at a 100% green-energy facility, which is a nice little bonus when you shell out more money for this chair.

Herman Miller custom makes each of its chairs, so don’t expect to receive your Embody the moment you check out. It typically takes a few weeks. You do get plenty of material and color options. I really like the white and titanium base, but that does add to the overall price of the chair.

Serta Air Health and Wellness – Most Breathable Office Chair for Neck and Shoulder Pain

Read our full guide on the Best Serta Office Chairs

For an executive-style chair, the Serta AIR Health and Wellness office chair has incredible breathability, which makes it a great chair for all-day comfort.

The seat cushion and backing use a bonded leather and mesh combination on a wood frame. It’s the mesh accents that add to the breathability factor of this chair. The combination also looks quite stylish for an executive-style chair.

In terms of its overall ergonomics, this chair has plenty of features:

• Flexible AIR Lumbar Technology. The lumbar zone twists and flexes in response to your movement, aiding in that all-day support. There’s a reactive cushion that helps stabilize your spine’s position.
• Cable levers make adjusting every aspect of this chair super easy.
• Elevated padded headrest should be all you need for adequate neck support.

Owners of this chair have praised it for its comfort, lumbar support and its ease of assembly.

Some of the main complaints, though, is that it’s too small of a profile for larger adults. Quality control can also be an issue at times on this mass-produced chair. Some users complained about chairs arriving with broken parts. While Serta promised to send a replacement, it took several weeks.

To avoid those issues, make sure you’re buying a chair that’s sold by Serta and not be a third-party retailer, who may be trying to sell off an open box or refurbished chair.

La-Z-Boy Delano – Best Executive Office Chair for Neck and Shoulder Pain

Read our full guide on the Best La-Z-Boy Office Chairs

If you’re looking for a classic executive-style office chair that can also keep your neck and shoulders supported, look no further than the La-Z-Boy Delano.

The high back on this chair offers shoulder and neck support as well, helping you keep a good all-day position while at work.

Obviously, the look of this chair isn’t for everyone. Executive style chairs don’t really fit in with today’s modern office. But if your home office features a mahogany desk and other old-school features, you’ll love this chair. You can pick from brown or black leather.

The cushion is the big selling point of this chair. The memory foam seat is soft enough to sink into, but firm enough to give you that needed support.

It has the capacity for an adult weighing up to 350 pounds. The chair, itself, weighs 60 pounds, so it is on the heavier end.

The Delano is priced slightly above budget levels. Owners have reported some quality control issues, and are recommending that if you buy through Amazon that it shows it’s being sold by La-Z-Boy and not a third-party retailer.

The one downside is the plastic plate on the seat, which controls things like tilting. It can be prone to breaking if you’re overusing that feature.

For the most part, though, this is a solid executive-style chair that will keep you comfortable while on the job.

Choosing the Best Office Chair for Neck and Shoulder Pain

When shopping for your next office chair specifically to deal with your neck and shoulder pain, there are a number of factors to consider. Use this guide to make the best-informed purchase.

Ergonomics

What is an ergonomic chair? It’s a chair that allows you to sit and work in the most proven position that’s healthy for your back, hips, arms, neck, shoulders and wrists. The best ergonomic chairs can accommodate a variety of different sized people. More expensive options from companies like Herman Miller and Steelcase, for example, are insanely ergonomic because they can support a 6-foot-3-inch, 225-pound man just as good as it can support a 110-pound, 5-foot-2-inch woman.

In terms of neck and shoulder pain, you want a chair that features an ergonomic headrest, in addition to multi-positioned lumbar support.

Remember, the human body is all connected. So a tight hip is going to pull on your hamstrings, which in return is going to pull on your lower back and so on and so on. So, a chair that is ergonomical all around is a necessity.

Build Quality

Build quality is certainly important when purchasing any office chair.

Think about how long you’ll be using this chair. If you work from home, it could be anywhere from six to 10 hours each day five days per week. That’s well over 1,500 hours of use each year. If you buy cheap junk, it’s not going to last.

So, what should you look for in terms of build quality? Here are some suggestions:

• Metal support. There are certainly office chairs made completely of high quality plastics that can last, but nothing is as tough as metal. Find a chair with at least a metal base so that can handle day-after-day use.
• Made in the U.S. You can find a quality office chair that’s mass produced overseas, but it’s not going to feature the same quality as an American-made chair. Of course, those American-made chairs, like those by Herman Miller, are going to be significantly more expensive.
• Quality mesh. Many office chairs feature mesh because it’s supportive and breathable. Make sure the mesh is taught and not fraying. Higher quality chairs feature top of the line mesh.

This isn’t always the case, but the higher quality bikes tend to come with longer warranties because the craftsmanship is so high in the first place.

Back Support

A chair with good back support is also going to help with your neck and shoulders. Why is that? Because if your chair is letting you slouch, you’re not going to be looking at your computer screen and typing in the best possible position.

Your first order of business is finding a chair with adjustable lumbar support. This is typically a slider that also protrudes in and out, allowing you to pinpoint the perfect amount of pressure to support your back. The best lumbar supports have adjustable heights, depth and firmness.

In addition to lumbar support, there’s also the backrest, which should tilt back at least 20 degrees. For those with bad back pain, you need a chair that can recline at least 135 degrees. If your chair can’t recline, you can’t stretch that lower back throughout the day. The backrest should be height adjustable.

Why is tilting so important? It allows your back to make “micro movements” throughout the day. The best office chairs allow you to lock in that recline position, which can be quite comforting for your back.

Headrest

An adjustable headrest — specifically something that can pivot — is extremely important if you need an office chair to help alleviate your neck and shoulder pain.

The headrest should adjust up and down, but also have the ability to pivot left and right. Not everyone’s neck pain is in the same spot, so having the ability to adjust left and right as well is a really helpful feature.

Not everyone needs a headrest, though. If you don’t suffer from neck pain, a headrest could actually be cumbersome for your back because it can restrict movement in the upper body. If you have neck pain, though, you’re definitely going to want a headrest.

Adjustability

Adjustability goes hand-in-hand with ergonomics. You need an office chair that can adjust at all points, from the backrest to even the front of the armrests if you want precise positioning for your wrists while typing. Remember, an ergonomic chair is a highly adjustable chair.

Most chairs on the market today adjust in all the right places: height, armrests, and back supports. More expensive models feature those more detailed adjustments, like 360-degree adjustable armrests.

These adjustments are typically located under the chair’s seat, but newer chairs are moving those knobs and adjusters to under the armrests for easier access.

Seat Comfort

You certainly don’t want to be sitting on anything too hard for an extended period of time. Thanks to chair technology (and our adaptation to those types of ergonomic chairs) our bodies aren’t accustomed to sitting hard surfaces. As a result, our muscles are going to get tired trying to support our full weight.

All of that being said, if a seat is too soft, you’re going to sink in and exhibit poor posture.

So, like Goldilocks ultimately found in the Three Little Bears, you need a chair that’s just right.

Memory foam is quite popular today because it’s firm enough to support you, but cushiony enough to prevent your muscles from wearing out from sitting on a hard surface all day.

Price

You should determine your budget before shopping for a chair. This will help you weed out chairs that are too cheap and too expensive.

A general rule of thumb is that you’re likely going to pay over $300 minimum for a new office chair designed to help with back and neck pain. If that’s too rich for you, you’ll need to save or find other ways to pay for the chair, like asking your work for a stipend if they’ve required you to work from home.

While higher-priced chairs tend to be higher quality, price is not always an indicator of quality. In fact, there are several office chairs priced in the lower range of the spectrum that are built very nicely and are true hidden gems.

If you want to save money on your chair, look for coupons online and bargain with a shop in person.

Recap of the Best Office Chairs for Neck and Shoulder Pain

Office Chair	Award
Steelcase Gesture	Editor’s Pick
Secretlab Titan	Best for Gaming
Staples Hyken	Budget Pick
Duramont Office Chair	Best Under $300
Raynor Ergohuman	Best Value
NOUHAUS Ergo3D	Best Mesh
Steelcase Leap	Best Fabric
Herman Miller Embody	Premium Pick
Serta Air Health and Wellness	Best Breathability
La-Z-Boy Delano	Best Executive Office Chair

Conclusion

You have plenty of options to choose from for an office chair that can help with your neck and shoulder pain.

Remember, you need a chair with an adjustable headrest and solid back support. If you suffer from bad neck and/or shoulder pain, you’ll want to purchase an ergonomic chair sooner rather than later.

We hope you found this guide helpful! Good luck with your purchase.