10 Best Office Chairs for a Short Person

As a short person, finding a chair that fits your height and body type can be quite difficult. Sitting on a chair that is too big can result in a lack of circulation in your legs, along with neck and back pain. 

For the purposes of this review, we’re defining short people as 5’6″ and under. Unfortunately, in this height range, the options are much more limited. However, we did find chairs with smaller dimensions than regular-sized office chairs, or they have a wider range of adjustability so that it’s suitable to fit your needs. Here are the ten best office chairs for short people. 

The Best Office Chairs for Short People

• Herman Miller Aeron – Editor’s Choice
• Staples Hyken – Budget Pick
• Secretlab NeueChair – Best Value
• Herman Miller Embody – Best for Back Pain
• Raynor Ergohuman – Best for Neck Pain
• Steelcase Gesture – Best Ergonomics
• Steelcase Leap Plus – Best for Short Heavy Person
• Secretlab OMEGA – Best for Petite Person
• Serta AIR Health and Wellness – Best Executive Style
• HON Wave – Best for Short Fat Person

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Herman Miller Aeron – The Best Office Chair for a Short Person

Check out our full Herman Miller Office Chairs Review & Buying Guide

In our opinion, the Herman Miller Aeron is the best overall choice for short people. It comes in three different sizes Size A, B, and C. Size is designed for smaller individuals because its specifications are smaller. It’s designed for people between 4’8″ to 5’10”. Its seat to floor height is 14.75″ to 19″, much smaller than other office chairs. 

The Aeron is known for its patented 8Z pellicle mesh material, which is very flexible, soft and offers a responsive feel that adapts to your posture and movements. It also has a very prominent water edge design to keep blood flowing throughout your legs. 

In addition, this chair uses its proprietary PostureFit SL function, which is two adjustable lumbar pads. It flexes separately and can be adjusted to fit the exact curvature of your spine to prevent back pain. 

One of the unique adjustments that the Aeron has is its forward tilting capabilities. The edge of the seat pan dips forward by five degrees so that you can lean forward for increased focus while still having a backrest. The forward sloping seat pan improves blood flow in your lower extremities as well. 

Pros:

• Size A chair is made for individuals who are between 4’8 and 5’10
• Herman Miller offers a 12-year warranty 
• Two lumbar pads can be adjusted independently for proper fit
• PostureSL fit encourages healthy posture 
• Harmonic tilt allows you to recline and change positions smoothly 

Cons:

• Quite expensive 
• Firmer sit due to the lack of foam padding

Staples Hyken – Best Cheap Office Chair for Short People

For those who are on a tight budget, you can’t go wrong with the Staples Hyken. Even at its incredibly low price point, it offers plenty of adjustments such as seat height, seat depth, tilt tension, headrest, and more. 

One of its unique features is its multi-tilter function, which allows you to control the tension. Users can adjust the amount of tension or force needed to be applied to tilt. If you’re working, you’ll want to keep the force high so that you get a strong and supportive backrest. When you’re looking to take a break, you can decrease the tension and recline comfortably. 

Another aspect we like is how it uses a mesh material for its seat and backrest. Unlike leather upholstery, this mesh material will allow air to pass through to keep you from sweating and allow you to feel refreshed throughout the day. In addition, there’s a headrest where you can adjust the height and angle. Headrests are quite helpful, especially when you’re reclining so that you receive proper neck support. 

Pros:

• Extremely affordable compared to other office chairs 
• Waterfall seat edge design reduces pressure and increases circulation in the lower body
• Includes an adjustable headrest 
• Mesh back provides ventilation to keep you cool
• Plenty of adjustable features to fit your height and body size 

Cons:

• It doesn’t have any cushion
• Mesh can sag over time

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

Secretlab NeueChair – Best Value Office Chair for Short People

The Secretlab NeueChair is one of the more under-the-radar chairs that most people don’t know about. It has a similar appearance to the Herman Miller Aeron, except it’s priced much lower. The mesh is very high-quality, unlike some of the other cheap office chairs out there. Its patented NeueMesh is a three-layer mesh that is designed for elasticity and breathability. The flexible nature of the mesh allows you to move around while still receiving nice support and responsiveness from your chair. It’s also thoroughly tested for durability and abrasion resistance. 

In addition, we also like the ControlShift lever that the NeueChair offers. These are two levers placed under each armrest for convenience. Most levers are placed under the seat, which is hard to reach. This hand lever lets you adjust the seat height and lock or unlock the backrest tilt. 

The NeueChair has a focus mode where you can slide the seat backward, and the backrest will automatically push forward into your lumbar. This lets you lean forward without sacrificing the backrest support you need for a healthy posture. Also, there’s height-adjustable lumbar support designed to fit your specific height and curvature in your spine. 

Pros:

• Made with a three-layer mesh that optimizes for durability, feels, and flexibility 
• Offers height-adjustable lumbar support to fit the curvature of your spine 
• Mesh material keeps you cool throughout the day 
• The convenient lever located under the armrest for easy access
• Plenty of adjustable features like the armrest, seat depth, seat height, and backrest recline 

Cons:

• Lumbar support doesn’t have a depth adjustment
• Headrest sold separately

Check out my guide on the Best Office Chairs Under $500

Herman Miller Embody – Best Office Chair for Short People with Back Pain

For those who have a history of back pain, it’s important to find a chair that provides excellent back support. One of its signature features is the pixelated support system that distributes your weight evenly across the chair. Many customers describe sitting on the Embody as floating because there’s almost no pressure felt while sitting. The chair has a narrow back design with flexible ribs to encourage a healthy posture and active sitting. 

In addition, the Embody has a Backfit adjustment allowing you to adjust the shape of the chair’s backrest. This way, you can ensure your backrest is in line with your spine’s natural curvature, and you remain in a neutral position. 

We also like how the Embody arrives fully assembled so that you don’t have to spend time trying to assemble the chair yourself. Not to mention, it comes with an incredible 12-year warranty in the event something goes wrong. 

Pros:

• Pixelated distributes weight evenly and reduces pressure 
• Backfit lets you adjust the curve of the backrest to fit your spine’s natural curve 
• Chair arrived fully assembled ed
• Herman Miller offers a 12-year warranty 
• Able to adjust seat depth and back angle to customize your seating position 

Cons:

• Armrest cant pivot angles like the Aeron can 
• Expensive

Check out my guide on the Best Gaming Chairs for Back Pain

Raynor Ergohuman – Best Office Chair for Short People with Neck Pain

Most mid-back and low-back chairs don’t address the concern of potential neck pain. However, Raynor Ergohuman solves this problem. With a full backrest, it ensures you stay in an upright position without having to strain your neck while working. The real benefit to the headrest occurs when you’re in a reclined position. Without a headrest, your head will simply tilt back or forward when you’re reclined. This can cause unnecessary strain on your neck. 

With this chair, it has three positions to recline to at 90, 110, and 135 degrees. Each position can be locked into position. The chair is also sectioned off into three parts: the headrest, midback area, and lumbar area. There’s an ergonomic synchro-tilt feature with a 2:1 ratio, where the seat tilts upward by one degree for every two degrees you recline. This ensures you maintain a healthy seating posture so that you can still work effectively while reclined. 

One thing we’ve noticed is it’s an incredibly wide range of height adjustments. This chair is designed for users between the height of 5’2″ to 6’6″. It’s also highly adjustable so that users can adjust the seat height, depth, tilt tension, backrest angle, and headrest. 

Pros:

• The backrest angle has a three-position tilt and locks feature 
• Available in five colors 
• Headrest height and angle can be adjusted to prevent neck pain 
• It comes with a lifetime warranty 
• Height adjustment makes the chair suitable for people between 5’2″ to 6’6″ 

Cons:

• Lumbar depth can’t be adjusted

Check out my guide on the Best Office Chairs for Neck and Shoulder Pain

Steelcase Gesture – Best Ergonomic Chair for Short People

For those who want to improve productivity while also reducing the risks associated with sitting for long periods, we suggest the Steelcase Gesture. The Gesture uses its signature 3D LiveBack technology, which mimics and flexes based on the natural motion of your spine and contours to your body based on your posture. This means that even as your changing postures and moving in your seat, you’re always fully supported. 

From what we’ve seen, the Gesture has one of the best adjustments that any office chair has. It has all of the main adjustments like seat height, seat depth, lumbar adjustments, and backrest recline. In addition, they offer their Core Equalizer, which links the seat and back. Based on your recline position and size, it will automatically adjust the amount of lumbar resistance to keep your lumbar fully supported. 

The upper back force is similar to a tilt tension where you can control the amount of pressure needed to recline. Not to mention the arms can pivot 30 degrees in and out for optimal productivity. 

Pros:

• Provides a 3D live back technology designed to mimic the motion of your spine 
• It offers plenty of adjustable features to fit people of all sizes 
• Made of sturdy, high-quality material to support users up to 400 pounds
• The armrest can rotate 360-degrees to support users who use multiple tech devices 
• The core equalizer feature adjusts the amount of lumbar resistance based on your lumbar position and size 

Cons:

• It doesn’t have a back height adjustment 
• The chair weighs over 70 lbs 

Steelcase Leap Plus – Best for Short Heavy Person

Finding a chair that supports a lot of weight while also being designed to fit a short person can be difficult. Most chairs with a high weight capacity also are made for tall people. The Steelcase Leap is highly adjustable to fit your height while also supporting users up to 500 pounds. According to Steelcase, it’s been thoroughly tested to handle that much weight without any loss in performance. 

This Leap Plus model has all of the features that the original Steelcase Leap has. Like the other Steelcase chairs, it uses 3D LiveBack technology to mimic the shape and movements in your spine. Unlike the Herman Miller or other office chairs that use mesh, this one uses a soft fabric such as 3D knit. It’s very soft, skin-friendly, and breathable to sit on. 

In addition, we like how adjustable the armrests are. They can be pivoted in and out, adjusted up and down, forward and back, so that your arms remain in a neutral position. Having the armrest properly adjusted can reduce the strain in your shoulders, neck, and wrists. 

Pros:

• Supports up to 500 lbs, which is more than most office chairs 
• Armrests can pivot in all directions to enhance comfort
• Steelcase 3D live back technology conforms to your body shape and movements 
• Uses a textile fabric and foam padding for comfortable seating
• Available in six colors 

Cons:

• More expensive than other Steelcase chairs 

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

Secretlab OMEGA – Best Office Chair for Petite Person

The Secretlab Omega is the smallest product line that they offer. It is designed to support people from 5’3″ to 5’11” and withstand up to 240 pounds. Although it’s a gaming chair, it offers plenty of ergonomic features to suit your office needs. 

Users can choose between premium PU leather, software fabric, and genuine NAPA leather upholstery. In addition, this chair has cold cure foam padding to reduce the pressure in your body. Reducing the tension in your body allows you to relax and eliminate the strain which leads to pain. 

It also comes with a memory foam neck and lumbar pillow along with cool gel inserts infused in them. The neck and lower back are the two most prominent places where sweating occurs. The cooling gel controls the temperature and prevents heat from building up. 

We also like their built-in lumbar system. In the back of the chair, there’s a knob that lets you adjust the height and depth of the lumbar. Everyone is unique in terms of their spine and their preference for support. The Omega lets you choose how much support you need for your lower back and seamlessly fits it in the curvature of your spine. 

Pros:

• Secretlab offers plenty of flashy designs to choose from
• It comes with a memory foam head pillow and lumbar pillow 
• The chair is suitable for people under 5’11” and weigh under 240 lbs 
• Armrests are 4D adjustable, which help reduce carpal tunnel 
• The backrest reclines up to 165 degrees 

Cons:

• It doesn’t have a seat depth adjustment

Serta AIR Health and Wellness – Best Executive Office Chair for Short People

Check out our full Serta Office Chairs Review & Buying Guide

The SERTA Air Health and Wellness is one of the most comfortable chairs in the market. It has plenty of body-forming cushions all around the chair. Even the armrests have thick padding on them. This relieves the pressure and aims to spread it evenly across the chair. 

However, unlike most executive-style chairs, this one allows ventilation. Sitting in a warm seat feels uncomfortable, which means it’ll be difficult to sit for hours at a time. Throughout the backrest, there are small pockets of holes that are accented in the chair to allow airflow and breathability. 

The Serta AIR utilizes bonded leather which provides a very prestigious look to the chair while also being very supple to sit on. The leather is easy to maintain because it’s resistant to spills, scratches, and abrasions. 

Pros:

• It features a dynamic lumbar zone that flexes and twists based on your movements 
• AIR lumbar technology has accents of tiny holes to allow airflow 
• Convenient cable-actuated levels for easy access to adjustments 
• It offers a lot of padding throughout the chair for ultimate comfort 
• Bonded leather is easy to clean and maintain 

Cons:

• Not as ergonomic as other options
• Lacks adjustability options compared to ergonomic chairs

HON Wave – Best for Short Fat Person

Finding a chair with a bigger weight capacity and specifications isn’t so easy, especially since it also has to meet a short person’s height requirements. Luckily, the HON Wave is the perfect solution. Compared to other office chairs, it has wider seat dimensions. Its back width is 23″, and the seat dimensions are 19″ D and 22″ W. In addition, the chair has a weight capacity of 450 pounds. 

As a fat person, you’re probably more likely to sweat more due to the increased heat retention. The HON Wave offers a mesh fabric to keep you cool when you’re sitting all day. In addition, this one of the few chairs has still offered a thick seat cushioning despite using mesh material. Most mesh materials don’t have any cushioning in the chair. 

Also, there are some adjustable features like lumbar support, tilt tension, seat height, and armrests. We like that the armrests can be adjusted by width, height, and toward you or away from you. Everybody is different in body size, so these adjustments ensure you don’t have to strain yourself while you’re sitting. 

Pros:

• Weight capacity is 450 lbs 
• Breathable mesh fabric to prevent sweating and keep you cool 
• Knee-tilt and synchro-tilt mechanisms help users stay in a balanced position even while reclining 
• Waterfall seat edge reduces pressure and increases blood flow circulation
• The backrest and seat width is wider than other chairs 

Cons:

• Armrests are only width and height adjustable

Choosing the Best Office Chair for Short People – Buyer’s Guide 

Finding the right chair can save you a lot of time and wasted money on something that doesn’t fit your needs. Here are some factors to consider and look out for when you’re in the market for an office chair.  

Materials & Build Quality

There are many materials and components used for an office. This includes the upholstery, cushioning, base, wheel casters, hydraulics, and more. The upholstery should be durable and be resistant to potential damage. For example, leather is often stain and abrasion-resistant. 

If your chair has foam cushioning, it should be highly dense or have high resilience. High-density foam retains its shape for a long time, ensuring you’ll have a supportive cushion for many years. High resilience foam has a nice bounce-back effect and a quick response, so you feel supported and comfortable while sitting. 

Also, look for chairs that have a steel or aluminum base. Aluminum bases are lightweight, strong, and offer a modern look. Steel chairs are the most durable and can withstand more weight. However, they’re typically more expensive. 

The manufacturer’s warranty can be a great indicator of the build quality of a chair. Most low-quality chairs only offer a one or two-year warranty. Many of the chairs we’ve listed offer at least a five-year warranty. For example, the Herman Miller and Steelcase manufacturers provide a 12-year warranty to customers. The materials used are durable and strong, so they’re confident that most customers won’t need the warranty. 

Ergonomics

Ergonomics is a buzzword these days. Essentially, it means designing something to be more efficient and safe for the human body. So what makes an office chair ergonomic? Adjustability is a big component because it allows users to customize their seats based on their size. 

However, a chair that is ergonomic will also encourage a healthy posture and adapt to your movements. For instance, the tilt tension and synchro-tilt functions will adjust the pressure and move the seat along with you as you’re moving. It links the movement of the seat and back together. As you recline, the seat slowly raises to maintain good posture and allows you to stretch the torso and chest area without adding pressure to your legs. 

Another example of ergonomic features is the 3D LiveBack technology from Steelcase. Other chairs have similar features as well. It promotes active sitting because the chair will flex and bend as you move in your chair, ensuring you’re always supported. 

Back Support

There are a few components you’ll want to look at to ensure the backrest is something you’ll find comfortable. First, consider the upholstery. Most manufacturers will offer a leather, fabric, or breathable mesh backrest. 

Mesh material is great for allowing airflow to your seat to prevent sweating and keeping you cool all day. Most people prefer mesh material, especially for an office chair set. However, the leather chair feels smooth and supple. In addition, it’s usually coupled with a cushioning underneath, meaning it’s very comfortable and relieves tension throughout your body. Fabric materials are the softest while still offering some ventilation. 

In addition, the backrest should have a feature to accommodate your lumbar area. The lumbar area is the most vulnerable spot since it’s more mobile, which means it has to carry on more weight. This area is the most susceptible to back pain and injury. As a result, the chair should have an adjustable lumbar cushion that fits the curvature of your spine. Some chairs have a built-in lumbar cushion that is both height and depth adjustable to fit your needs. The lumbar support is designed to promote a healthy posture and reduce the load your lumbar needs to carry. 

Adjustability

As a short person, there are various adjustable features to consider, such as seat height, seat depth, armrest, backrest angle, lumbar support, and headrest. Adjusting your seat height ensures that your feet are planted flat on the floor, and your knees are 90-degrees. It also means your head is leveled in relation to your monitor screen. You don’t want your feet to be dangling because the chair is too big. 

Proper seat depth ensures that users can lean back on the backrest without cutting circulation at their knees. Lack of proper seat depth causes people too far forward or back. Leaning forward for long periods will cause strain in your back. Reclining your backrest is helpful in allowing you to rest during your breaks. When you’re in a reclined position, this offsets the pressure in your spine and reduces the load needed to maintain an upright posture. 

In addition, some of the high-end chairs have a synchro-tilt function allowing you to maintain an upright posture while reclining. For every two degrees, the backrest reclines; the seat only rises 1 degree, so you’re always in a parallel position, and your feet still remain relatively flat on the floor. 

We also recommend looking for adjustments in the armrests. Many highly adjustable armrests, such as the Secretlab Omega, allows you to adjust its height, width and pivot in and out. The Steelcase Gesture lets you rotate the armrest by 360 degrees. Either way, you’re able to prevent carpal tunnel syndrome with an adjustable armrest. 

Seat Comfort

Similar to the backrest of your chair, most chair manufacturers will choose between a leather or mesh seat. Leather seats are usually accompanied by thick and supportive cushions. High-quality foam cushions can provide plenty of ergonomic and comfort benefits. With a cushion, it reduces the compression on your tailbone, spine, and hips. Pains in these areas often lead to joint and spine issues. By lessening the pressure, you increase circulation and blood in areas like your legs, pelvis, and back. In addition, the reduced tension takes some pressure off your spine, allowing you to maintain a healthy posture with minimal effort. 

So what type of seat cushion is best? We recommend using some sort of pressure-relieving foam, such as gel memory foam. For example, Secretlab offers high-density foam seating cushions along with a memory foam headrest and lumbar pillows. Memory foam is designed to compress slowly, which reduces pressure. And the gel-infused foam will regulate temperature to keep the seat from heating up. 

However, not all chairs use foam cushions. Many high-end chairs use mesh material. Low-end mesh can feel rigid and stringy. Some customers even complain that they can feel the frame of the chair while sitting. Fortunately, higher-quality chairs like the Aeron and Ergohuman use a softer mesh material that is extremely flexible. Soft mesh flexes and conforms to your body much easier. It can evenly distribute your weight to reduce pressure and promote more movement while sitting.

In addition, some chairs even offer a waterfall seat edge. This seat design purposely slopes downward to relieve the tension behind the knees or the back of your thighs to improve circulation in your lower body. 

Weight Capacity

For those who weigh near 250 pounds or more, it’s important to consider the weight capacity of a chair. The standard weight limit for most office chairs is 250 pounds. Some smaller chairs have an even lower weight threshold. We suggest looking at the HON Wave or Steelcase Leap Plus chair to support your weight. These chairs are built with high-quality materials and have a strong base. In addition, they’ve been thoroughly tested to ensure they live up to their claims. 

Price

Although most customers are likely to price shop to find the cheapest office chair, personally, we recommend finding chairs with the best value and long-term benefit to your health and productivity. For most people, office chairs are used either for a few hours or a full 8-hours workday. As working from home becomes increasingly popular, it’s wise to invest in a high-quality office chair that can prevent health problems and increase your focus. 

If you’re looking for a budget-friendly option, we recommend the Staples Hyken. For a mid-tier chair that costs a little more but has nearly all the features you’ll need, we recommend the Secretlab Omega or Secretlab NeueChair. And lastly, if you want a premium chair with lots of ergonomic capabilities, we suggest choosing between any of the Herman Miller or Steelcase chairs that we’ve listed in this article. They offer unique features that are designed to conform to your body, promote a healthy posture and prevent health problems from prolonged sitting. 

Recap of the Best Office Chairs for Short People

Best Office Chairs for Short People	Award
Herman Miller Aeron	Editor’s Choice
Staples Hyken	Budget Pick
Secretlab NeueChair	Best Value
Herman Miller Embody	Best for Back Pain
Raynor Ergohuman	Best for Neck Pain
Steelcase Gesture	Best Ergonomics
Steelcase Leap Plus	Best for Short Heavy People
Secretlab OMEGA	Best for Petite People
Serta AIR Health and Wellness	Best Executive Style
HON Wave	Best for Short Fat Person

FAQs

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What is the best office chair for short people?

The Herman Miller Aeron is an excellent choice for short people. With its Size A model, it is ideal for people who are between 4’8″ to 5’10” tall. In addition, there are plenty of adjustments in the chair to customize to your needs. 

What height should my office chair be?

The height of your chair should be at the point where your knees are at a 90-degree angle, and your feet are flat on the floor. In addition, your forearms should be parallel to your desk. Most highly adjustable chairs such as the Embody, Gesture, and Ergohuman can be adjusted in the range of 15 or 16″ to about 21″ in chair height. 

We did find recommendations from BFIMA regarding the best chair seat heights for optimal work and productivity. 

Your Height (feet)	The Ideal Chair Height (inches)
4’11”	15.9 inches
5’0”	16.2 inches
5’1”	16.4 inches
5’2”	17 inches
5’3”	17.2 inches
5’4”	17.5 inches
5’5”	17.8 inches
5’6”	18 inches
5’7”	18.3 inches
5’8”	18.6 inches
5’9”	18.9 inches
5’10”	19.1 inches

What is the best office chair for sitting all day? 

Although cushion seats are great, comfort correlates with ergonomics. The more ergonomic a chair is, the easier it is to sit all day without feeling pain. The Steelcase Gesture provides premium ergonomic features to ensure you feel comfortable all day. With its 3D LiveBack technology, it will mimic the movements in your spine and contour to your body. In addition, the seat and back are flexible, which encourages movement in your chair.