In this article, we have reviewed the best office chairs for a short person. If you are in a hurry, the table below gives a quick snapshot of the top ones.
The average height of men in America is 5’9,” and women are 5’4″[1].
Life for people who are shorter than this height isn’t always a smooth ride. From getting bullied at school to not finding the right sized everything – clothes, shoes, belts, bags, there are many hoops you have to run through.
But we all think that once we make it to our first job, once we earn our financial independence, things will be fine. Money can buy anything, right?
The cruel fact is that most offices don’t even have chairs that you can sit on comfortably if you are short. It turns out average office chairs are made keeping average people in mind, and that “ergonomically-designed” chair that they are giving you will end up causing you a world of pain!
But no more. Let’s get you the happiness you deserve by helping you buy the best office chair for a short person.
So What Are The Best Office Chairs For A Short Person?
It’s fairly simple to understand the problem with average-sized chairs. If you are short, you will either:
- Not be able to reach the floor with your feet flat on the ground, or
- Not be able to sit with the backrest touching your back.
This is because the length of your leg (as measured from your hip joint to your ankle joint is smaller than the combined Depth and Height of the seat. This is despite most office chairs being height adjustable!
Let’s illustrate the problem:
As you can see, if the chair is either too tall or too deep, you can’t sit comfortably on it.
As a short person, you need to keep in mind both the things for the chair to be useful to you. Based on a bit of research and practical experience, we have narrowed it down to :
- Seat height between 18-22 inches tall and
- Seat depth less than 18 inches.
Remember, both the conditions need to be met for the chair to be useful.
This article has selected the best office chair for a short person based on the above two criteria. We have divided our products into two height ranges: Short People (5′ – 5’4″) and Very Short People (Below 5′). Let’s hope you get your perfect fit among these!
Our Top Choice For Short People – BestOffice Ergonomic Office Chair
The BestOffice PC Gaming Chair... is our top choice for best office chairs for a short person, because of the following reasons:
- Human-oriented ergonomic construction for better user mobility.
- Seat height is 18.11-21.6 inches, and seat depth is 18.5 inches.
- High-level comfort with a thick padded seat.
- Flip-up arm design to customize as per your needs.
- Heavy-duty metal base that can hold weight capacity up to 250lbs.
- 360-degree swivel and caster give better mobility.
- Adjustable headrest gives better comfort to your neck.
- Commercial gas lifters can be fastened up and down as per your convenience.
Our Top Choice For Very Short People- AmazonBasics Low Back Adjustable Office Chair
The Amazon Basics Low-Back, Upholstered... is our top choice for best office chairs for a concise person because of the following reasons:
- The office chair has a seat height of 15-20 inches and a seat depth of 17 inches.
- Contoured mesh back designed for better breathability and comfort.
- Adjustable settings allow for all-day comfort to your back.
- The computer chair swivels 360 degrees to give multi-tasking convenience.
- Smooth-rolling casters allow better mobility from one place to the other.
- 2-inch thick padded seat gives you the most comfortable seating experience.
- The heavy-duty solid office chair is capable of supporting the weight capacity of up to 250 lbs.
Best Office Chairs For Short People
#1 BestOffice Ergonomic Office Chair
BestOffice Ergonomic Office Chair is our top choice for best office chairs for a short person. The office chair is highly efficient for short people as it is made with a seat height of 18.11-21.6 inches and a seat depth of 18.5 inches. The versatile chair is designed for short people to sit comfortably for long hours of work.
Features and Benefits
- High-level Seating Comfort: The chair is designed to give better seating comfort to small people with its thickly padded comfortable seat to provide a better seating position for long hours. This chair’s pillow is adjustable and soft and lets you better relax your neck on this chair.
- Ergonomic Design: It is designed with human-oriented ergonomic construction to give better comfort for long hours and give more flexibility. The chair’s locking mechanism keeps your back upright and helps relieve the stress that may arise while sitting for a long time. Moreover, its flip-up arm design lets you adjust the armrests at your convenience.
- Heavy-duty Office Chair: The heavy-duty metal base gives excellent stability and can hold the weight up to 250 lbs. The commercial gas lifter can be fastened up or down for you to feel comfortable. This adjustable chair gives an excellent seating position for long periods with its highly efficient features.
- 360 Degree Swivel: This office chair has a 360-degree swivel and durable casters that allow for smooth-rolling mobility from one place to another and reduces the chances of falling off. The casters can move smoothly on your carpet without causing any kind of damage to it.
Why should you buy it?
Besides being a good chair for small people, it is also suitable for those who complain of neck pain while sitting for long hours. The chair is specially designed with a thickly padded comfortable seat and adjustable pillows that let you better relax your neck and move it comfortably in the desired position.
You might also like to read: 6 Best Gaming Chairs for a Short Person [2020]
#2 OFM ESS Office Chair
This office chair is an ergonomic swivel chair designed especially for short people. It has a seat depth of 19 inches and a seat height of 17-20.25 inches. It features an integrated padded headrest and padded arms for better comfort and ultimate seating experience for long hours.
Features and Benefits
- Ergonomic: The ergonomic swivel chair features segmented padding, integrated padded headrest, and padded arms to give a comfortable sitting experience for long hours. With the contoured segmented padding, you can better relax your back for long periods. The heavy-duty, ergonomic chair is capable of supporting weight capacity up to 275 lbs.
- Adjustable: This office chair features height adjustment, center-tilt control, and flip-up arms so that you can adjust the settings as per your convenience. The center-tilt control can be adjusted as per your settings.
- Premium Chair: The office chair is upholstered in soft thread leather and contrasting colored upholstery, making for a cool style. Moreover, its thickly padded seat gives better comfort for long hours. The smooth, pliable leather gives an upscale look when you place this office chair in your cabin and also in your living rooms or study rooms.
- 360-degree Swivel: The 360-degree swivel office chair moves smoothly and ensures better stability and seating position. The chair is designed with smooth and solid nylon casters. These casters hence, roll smoothly over the floor without damaging it and thus ensures better mobility and stability.
Why should you buy it?
If you are looking for a chair for a comfortable seating experience for long hours, then this one is ideal for you as it features segmented padding, an integrated padded headrest, and padded arms to give better comfort for long hours. The chair comes with customized adjustable features that let you change the settings as per your convenience.
#3 BestOffice Ergonomic Desk Chair
This versatile office chair gives high-level seating comfort to short people as it is made with a seat depth of 18 inches and with a seat height of 17.1-20.3 inches to provide better comfort to short people. The ergonomic chair gives excellent lumbar support with its mid-back design and adjustable features.
Features and Benefits
- Comfort: The office chair features a comfortable wide seat for short people. The durable mesh seat offers better breathability and allows air to circulate to keep you cool. The middle back design can provide excellent lumbar support to make you feel comfortable. The soft, moderate cushions fit into your sitting position for a long time and help release pressure from your back without putting much strain on it.
- Design: The cushion of this office chair and armrest, according to human body engineering, is designed to give more flexibility for long periods. The explosion-proof tray with a handle wheel lets you adjust the settings of the chair. The handle wheels further ensure your safety while you sit on this chair.
- Stability: The tension knob at the bottom of the chair provides a certain degree of tilt. Moreover, the adjusting lever can help you adjust the seat’s height and is suitable for people of different heights. The chair has a heavy-duty stable base with a 360-degree swivel caster for better mobility. So this chair can handle a weight capacity of up to 250 lbs. The heavy-duty stable base of this office chair is strong enough to manage your weight while you sit on it.
Why should you buy it?
This office chair is an ideal choice for people looking for a chair to give them better lumbar support while working for long hours. The chair features a comfortable wide seat and middle back design that provides excellent lumbar support to make you feel comfortable. It automatically takes your body’s natural curve when you sit on this chair and have more movement flexibility.
You might also like to read: Best Standing Desk Converter For Short Person
#4 Hbada Ergonomic Office Recliner Chair
This high back desk chair is specially designed to cater to the seating needs of short people. The chair has a seat depth of 18.5 inches and 17.3-20.5 inches height that is good for short people to sit on this chair.
Features and Benefits
- Ergonomic Recliner: With the multiple heights, tilt, lift, and lock settings, it gives better stability and safety while you sit on it. This chair tilts the backrest increasing the angle between your torso and thighs for a comfortable, ergonomic sitting position. The tilt lock function helps to let you find a better position.
- Comfort: The office chair features waterfall seat cushion slopes slightly downward to reduce the legs’ stress. The chair offers you built-in lumbar support, and a rotatable headrest enables you to sit on this chair in the right posture that automatically protects your neck and waist. The soft foam seat cushion gives add on stability and comfort to your back.
- Breathable Mesh: The ergonomic office mesh chair gives whole day comfort and better breathability that allows the flow of fresh air. Thus let you feel comfortable and relaxed during long sessions. The office chair is designed with a fully upholstered back and armrest to reduce stress from your back.
- Stable and Durable Frame: It is made with a solid steel frame, giving more stability to your chair. The silent wheelbase allows quick and easy movements on any kind of surface. The high back office chair is capable of holding a weight capacity of up to 250 lbs. The office is solid enough to last for a long time.
Why should you buy it?
If you are looking for an office chair that reduces your legs’ stress, this chair is ideal for you. It is designed with built-in lumbar support and a rotatable headrest that helps you sit on this chair in the right posture that automatically protects your neck and waist.
You might also like to read about: Best Office Chairs For A Tall Person
#5 OFM ESS Collection Mesh Back Office Chair
The mesh back office chair is ergonomically designed to conform to the upper body for added comfort. The chair is highly recommended for short people as it has a seat depth of 17.75 inches and a seat height of 17.75-20.5 inches.
Features and Benefits
- Comfortable: The comfortable swivel chair is specially designed for the needs of short people. This chair features pneumatic seat height adjustment and a 360-degree swivel that allows you to customize your comfort. The breathable fabric seat adds to your comfort and convenience.
- Better Support: The chair is specially designed to give correct seating position and posture support. The ergonomic back frame provides increased support and comfort, while its fixed arms offer better upper body support. With its simple control, the chair allows you to control the settings as per your seating needs so that you can relax on this chair without putting much pressure on your back.
- Heavy-duty: The office chair is made with a solid heavy-duty frame. The durable sandwich mesh and sculpted arms give whole-day comfort while you sit on this air and allow for better airflow. This heavy-duty solid office chair is capable of supporting a weight capacity of up to 250 pounds.
- Arms: The height-adjustable arms of the chair are specially created for the convenience of short people. The sculpted arms aids in providing upper body support so that you can feel relaxed and do your work without any pressure.
Why should you buy it?
If you are searching for an office chair that lets you sit in a better posture without hurting your back, then this one chair will be your ideal choice. The chair features an ergonomic back frame that provides increased support and comfort to your body, while its fixed arms offer better upper body support and a good seating position.
Best Office Chairs For Very Short People
#6 AmazonBasics Low Back Adjustable Office Chair
AmazonBasics Low Back Adjustable Office Chair is our top choice for very short people for the best office chair. The AmazonBasic chair is highly functional for short people as it is made with a seat height of 15-20 inches and with a seat depth of 17 inches.
Features and Benefits
- Height Adjustable: The height-adjustable settings of this chair are designed to give you ultimate comfort. The simple pneumatic control gives you the convenience to raise or lower the seat. To raise the seat, you can pull up the control handle and lean forward. To lower the seat, you can pull up the control handle to reach your desired setting level. It, therefore, helps you to choose the best seating position.
- Mesh-Covered Seat: The 2 inches thick padded seat is covered with mesh material. Moreover, the chair’s gently curved back provides mesh-only sections to enhance breathability for long hours. In addition to this, the office chair enables excellent lower back support for a long time.
- 360-degree Swivel: With its 360-degree swivel feature, the chair aids in offering a versatile range of motions. It swivels 360 degrees to give you better mobility and stability while you sit on this office chair. The durable casters further allow better mobility from one place to the other. Moreover, they roll smoothly on your carpet and floor without damaging it.
Why should you buy it?
Looking for an office chair that gives you better breathability and comfort for long hours, this one is ideal for you. It is made with a 2 inches thick padded seat covered with mesh material and has a gently curved back that provides better breathability and comfort.
You might also like to read: Best Kneeling Chair For Short Person
#7 HODEADAH Armless Swiveling Office Chair
The armless chair is an ergonomically designed chair with a padded back that promises to give ultimate seating comfort to a short height. This ergonomic chair has a seat height of 13-18 inches and a seat depth of 14.5 inches, which gives convenience to sit comfortably on the chair.
Features and Benefits
- Seat Height Adjustment: The task chair is designed to give your back supreme seating comfort during long working hours at the office. The chair can easily be adjusted from a seat height of 20 inches to 16 inches. The waterfall seat is specially created to reduce stress to your legs and gives you better comfort. The thick cushioned back lets you adjust the seat and get into your most comfortable position.
- Nylon Base: The durable nylon base of the office chair has dual casters for better mobility on the wood, carpet, and concrete flooring. It assures you to give better and smooth movements and stability while you work and move around. The chair upholstery is made from quality fabric that is easy to clean and assures to last for an extended period.
- Armless Convenience: What better than a chair that offers you incredible convenience to adjust the height and design as per your back needs. The chair is a 360-degree swivel chair and allows you to move around in a complete circle. Thus giving you the convenience to do multitasking at a time. It has an armless design that will enable you to slide your chair under your desk when not in use.
Why should you buy it?
If you often feel tired during your hectic working hours at the office because of sitting for an extended period, then this office chair is perfect for you. The ergonomic chair is designed with a waterfall seat that is specially created to reduce stress to your legs and gives you better comfort for the whole day. Moreover, the thick cushioned back let you adjust the seat and get into your most comfortable position.
#8 KOLLIEE Mid Back Mesh Office Chair
The mid-back mesh office chair is a highly efficient and multi-purpose chair for very short people. The chair is designed with flip-up arms and full lumbar support to put less strain on your back. The chair comes with a seat height of 15.5-19.5 inches and with a seat depth of 19.5 inches.
Features and Benefits
- Seat: The ergonomic office chair features a comfortable and thick padded seat cushion to comfort all day. The high resilience foam cushion is more comfortable and gives you relaxation for long hours. The high-density mesh back offers good breathability and enhances the back support, which is not easy to deform.
- Ergonomic Design: The ergonomic chair is specially designed to give better back support while sitting for long hours. This chair fits your lumbar and enables you to reduce your backpressure. You can ideally use this chair if you have extended hours of sitting work.
- Height Adjustable: The adjustable seat mechanism allows you to customize your seating position. You can use the lever under the seat to lift it and down to the position that gives you maximum convenience. The seat of this chair is height adjustable up to 4 inches.
- 360 Degree Swivel: The 360-degree rotation and hooded caster wheels allow for better mobility and roll smoothly on the floor without damaging it. The chair features a flip-up arm design that gives convenience to store this chair easily anywhere in your home or office.
Why should you buy it?
If you have any back problems, this office chair will ideally suit your back needs. The chair features an adjustable seat mechanism that allows you to customize your seating position. Moreover, this chair supports your lumbar and helps reduce backpressure. Hence, you can use these chairs in the office or anywhere where you need to sit for very long hours.
#9 Flash Furniture Low Back Designer Armless Office Chair
The office chair is an ideal choice for very short people. The armless chair gives a unique and designer look to your conference halls or office cabins. The office chair comes with a seat height of 16-21 inches and a seat depth of 16 inches, making it an apt choice for very short people.
Features and Benefits
- Design: The low back armless tan ribbed task office chair caters to your comfort needs. The chair features a pneumatic seat height adjustment lever that lets you easily position this armless chair wherever you need to place it. Its armless design gives you the convenience to store this office chair easily anywhere.
- Comfort: The task chair is designed to give a more comfortable seating position so that you can work with ease and relaxation. Its low back design provides comfort and cares for your back without putting much pressure on it. The full swivel seat allows you to move this chair easily from one workstation to another. The ribbed vinyl upholstery gives this chair a unique and stylish look and also adds to your comfort.
- Strength: The office chair comes with highly customized adjustment features. The office chair is made of a solid metal frame. This sturdy chair has a heavy-duty metal base with dual-wheel casters that assure smooth rolling and mobility on all kinds of floors. The solid constructed heavy-duty chair is capable of supporting the weight capacity of up to 250 pounds.
Why should you buy it?
Looking for an office chair that gives you better back support? Look no further as this office chair is what you need for your back comfort and support. This task chair is designed to give a more comfortable seating position as its low back design provides comfort and care to your back without putting much pressure on it. Moreover, its full swivel seat allows you to move this chair easily from one workplace to another.
You might also like to read: Best Mesh Office Chairs: Reviews & Buying Guide [2020]
#10 GreenForest Desk Office Chair
We could not have completed our list for the best office chairs for short people without mentioning the GreenForest Desk Office Chair. This office chair accomplishes the needs of very short people as it features a mid-back and armless design. It is a highly adjustable office chair for very short people with a seat height of 16.6 to 21.3 inches and with a seat depth of 15.2 inches.
Features and Benefits
- Seat: The ergonomic office chair features a thick, soft seat base, making it highly efficient for long sitting hours at the office. The breathable PP back further allows you to sit on this office chair for long hours. The comfortable and breathable mesh chair gives a better airflow and keeps your seat cool for the whole day. The fishbone design back gives a more cute look to this chair.
- Strong body: The office chair features a strong base that gives it a more substantial look. The heavy-duty solid build chair is capable of supporting the weight capacity of up to 200 pounds. Its white painted metal 5 caster wheelbase gives more powerful support to your whole chair. The caster wheels roll smoothly over the carpet without the fear of damaging it.
- Adjustability: This office chair features a one-touch pneumatic height adjustment that is perfect for your desk or table of different heights. Moreover, you can easily adjust the height of the chair that better suits your back needs. The one-touch pneumatic features give you ease and comfort to adjust the settings accordingly.
Why should you buy it?
Besides being an ideal office chair, this one chair is perfect to use for your home or your kids’ study room. The office chair features one-touch pneumatic height adjustment that is perfect for your desk or table of different heights and lets you adjust the settings accordingly. Moreover, the fishbone design back gives a more cute look to this chair.
Buyer’s Guide: Best Office Chairs for Short Person
With office workers who have petite bodies and have to sit for a long time on office chairs, a wrong sized chair can cause the circulatory system to get interrupted, leading to joint problems. You should look at the below factors before buying an office chair.
Seat Height
If you are a short person, you must carefully look for the seat height before buying any office chair. A wrong choice may lead to discomfort and back issues for you. You should look for a chair that can be lowered between 18 to 22 inches, or in some cases, even lower.
Seat Depth
When it comes to the standard office chairs, the seat depth that is often recommended is usually around 18 to 20 inches deep. But for the people who have short height, seat depths can be 18 inches or less. But if a chair is a bit deeper, but it has a low height, you can also choose that chair.
Lumbar Support
Looking for an office chair with better lumbar support is also crucial as an improper sitting posture is one of the primary reasons for back pain because sitting for long hours on an uncomfortable chair can strain your back and spinal cord. Therefore, excellent lumbar support does not pressurize your back and has cushions, mesh fabric, or be solid depending upon your choice. However, you must ensure that it is wide enough to support your entire back in a better way. A chair with good lumbar support can help you to sit comfortably for long hours.
Tilt Function
The office chair with tilt function is good to give comfort and more flexibility of movements. There are certain office chairs for short people that offer a tilt degree to them, allowing you to lean back and stretch your legs if you need to. These chairs’ tilt function may differ between the models as you will either have a tension-based tilt that can be locked in a place for better security, or it may have a free moving option.
Strong
The strong heavy-duty chairs are always an ideal option to choose if you are looking for a solid chair. These chairs are heavy-duty base chairs that are sturdy and strong and are capable of holding heavyweight people. The ergonomic office chairs are specially designed to hold people of different weights and heights.
Frequently Asked Questions: Best Office Chairs For A Short Person
How deep should office chairs be?
When you talk about a standard office chair, the seat depth is usually around 18 to 20 inches, which is considered an ideal seat depth for standard office chairs. But for short people, the perfect seat depth is less than 18 inches for the chair to be ergonomically fit.
How do you measure the seat depth of an office chair?
To measure an office chair’s seat depth, you need to follow just a few simple steps. Measure the back of the buttock along the thigh to the back of the knee as when you are seated, and you should be able to place your two fingers together between the edge of the seat and the back of your knee. A seat slide can, however, offer a minimum of 50 mm additional seat depth.
Are mesh office chairs better?
When we talk about mesh chairs, comfort can be discussed in ergonomic terms. A softer mesh is better but may sag and stretch over time. The mesh seats are breathable and will allow fresh air to circulate. These mesh seats let you sit on your chairs for long hours to get better comfort and convenience. So the mesh office chairs can be an excellent option for you to sit comfortably for long hours.
Should my office chair have armrests?
Office chair armrests provide a place to rest your forearms and to relieve the strain from your arms. Moreover, chairs with adjustable armrests are more comfortable as they give you better convenience to adjust the settings. The ergonomic office chairs’ flip-up arm design provides better comfort to adjust the chair and store it in whatever place you want.
Are high back chairs better?
A high back office chair is useful if you sit for long stretches and don’t need to be mobile when seated. These chairs are ideal for those who have long working hours, mostly sitting on a chair. Sitting for long hours on an uncomfortable chair with a low back may put more strain on their back and cause-specific back and neck issues. If you have severe back pain, you must look for a high back office chair with lumbar support. It should also have adjustable height, depth, and angle for maximum comfort while working long hours.
Do I need a headrest on my office chair?
Headrests are not common and are optional for different kinds of chairs. Although not every person requires a headrest for optimal ergonomics, they help improve your comfort and let you sit on these chairs for long hours. Most commonly, the headrests are designed not to be used all the time and only to use it when required.
Do office chairs have a weight limit?
The standard office chair can hold a weight capacity of up to 250 pounds. However, big and tall chairs are designed to handle the weight capacity between 300 to 800 pounds. The weight of the chairs can vary depending upon the chair you are looking for. The chairs designed for short people are highly adjustable and built with heavy-duty frames to hold heavy people’s weight.
How do height-adjustable chairs work?
Pneumatic is the name given to the office chairs that are height adjustable as they use a lever underneath the seat. This action further helps to compress the air inside the chamber, which results in a lifting motion that automatically allows the seat of your office chair to rise as per the settings.
Why are regular chairs not suitable for short heighted people?
Firstly, the standard chairs will contain bigger seat cushions, and the backrest might be too tall, so they cannot support short people properly. When your legs cannot touch the floor, you can face many problems with interrupted blood flow, waist fatigue, and other back issues.
Secondly, when your feet are not touching the floor while sitting, it is not good for your back.
Conclusion
Now next time when you reach your office, don’t compromise on a tall chair that does not suit for stature. Select any of the above-mentioned chairs which give you the right posture and support for your height.
In our opinion, the BestOffice PC Gaming Chair... is the best choice among the various options that we have considered for short people because it has a seat height of 18.11-21.6 inches and a seat depth of 18.5 inches. The versatile chair is designed for short people to sit comfortably for long hours of work.
The Amazon Basics Low-Back, Upholstered... is the best choice for very short people because it has a seat height of 15-20 inches and a seat depth of 17 inches, which means even someone as short as 4’6″ can sit comfortably in it.
If you are looking for a value for money option, you can also consider the Home Office Chair Ergonomic Desk... , which offers great value and features at a very reasonable price point.
References:
Fruitful information provided by this article. All aspects regard officer chair for the short persons are fully deliberated in true letter and spirit.