With standing desks becoming increasingly popular in the last years, many people are using them to avoid getting stuck in a chair all day. Despite its name, standing desks are not meant to be used for long periods of time because prolonged standing can cause lower back pain, and other major issues in the future such as cardiovascular problems.
In this case, a tall office chair would be the solution for you. This lets you alternate between standing up and sitting down, so you get the benefits of a standing desk, while also minimizing health risks. Additionally, an adjustable desk chair would provide you a comfortable posture.
What’s interesting is that some people have customized their workspace by adding a mini elliptical or treadmill to work out while using a standing desk. Others have opted for a standing desk to be more comfortable and avoid working out.
If you’re one of the latter and thinking of buying a tall standing desk, you can find plenty of them online. But getting your hands on the best chair is more challenging than you might think. You might need some prior knowledge about what factors you should look for to make the right decision.
What is a Standing Chair?
Before going through our options, let’s talk about standing chairs. If you were to use a normal desk chair for your standing desk, it just wouldn’t work because they don’t go as high as a standing chair.
Standing office chairs have a minimalistic design, no armrests or backrest. They also have taller height adjustments than a normal office chair, plus the ability to tilt forward in a leaning position. This lets you be more active while working for long hours.
Majority of standing chairs are designed for you to sit on the front portion of the seat, instead of sitting all the way back. This allows you to sit in a more upright position, with your knees at 90-degree angle instead of 135-degrees.
Things to Know Before Buying a Tall Standing Desk Chair
As an office worker, you should find a tall office chair for your standing desk. But before doing that, there are certain features that might make or break your decision. Once you take a look at the features that we have mentioned below, your choice will become easier.
Height
Height is always important with any office chair. There’s a way of evaluating the height of a standing desk chair by checking if your feet are firmly on the ground and your forearms are resting at a right angle on the desk. As a rule of thumb, taller people should opt for a taller chair so they sit comfortably.
An ergonomic office chair would most likely have a gas lift to adjust the height. In this way, you can customize the height of the chair according to your preferences.
Width and Depth
The width and depth of the chair are mostly associated with the seat. As with any chair, the seat should be wide enough to provide comfort, whereas a narrow seat causes uneasiness and pain the thighs.
Ideally, the chair should have a three-finger space between the chair and the back of your knees. Again, ergonomic chairs could come with a seat slider to adjust the height. But the depth of the seat shouldn’t be too low because that can inflict pain when you place your hands on the desk.
Backrest
In order to be productive in your office, it’s crucial to have a well-designed backrest that supports your neck and spine. Ergonomic standing chairs usually come with an adjustable backrest for optimum comfort. For extra comfort, we suggest opting for a chair that has a breathable material like mesh, so you don’t sweat after sitting for longer hours.
Armrests
A tall office standing chair should have the armrests placed at a height where your forearms are at right angle after you place them on the armrests. A padded or adjustable armrest is even better as it ensures maximum comfort.
Lumbar Support
An ergonomically designed office chair has lumbar support as well. A lumbar support is essential for you to stay productive for longer hours because it helps to treat and avoid chronic back pain. It also helps your spine to stay upright while you work.
Caster Wheels
Caster wheels for office chairs are the wheels that are used to move around. Since you’ll be in an office and doing multiple tasks at a time, it makes sense that you will need to move your chair more quickly. That’s where caster wheels come into help, especially if they are made of high-quality material, ensuring they don’t break overtime.
Weight
The best types of chairs for a standing desk are the ones that move at a swift motion. For that purpose, it’s important to have a chair that you can easily carry it around. A lightweight chair is perfect as it can be moved from one place to another.
Fabric
In terms of fabric, you need to remember that office chairs should have a seating surface that’s non-slippery, but with a firm touch to it.
Top 6 Tall Office Chairs for Standing Desks
After reading about all the beneficial effects that standing chairs have for you, it’s only natural that you will want a guide to find the best chair for your standing desk. We have provided a comprehensive buying guide for you and we included some of the best standing work chairs that will help you avoid feeling in pain.
Drafting Chair, Tall Office Chair Standing Desk
Our choice for the best overall standing chair has got to be this Hylone office chair. This one checks all the boxes and all of its parts are adjustable which makes this suitable to anyone. As a bonus, it comes with a modern design that’s hard to miss out on.
Features: What makes this chair our best pick is that all of its parts are adjustable, starting from the height, the armrests, and the foot ring. They can all be customized to your personal needs. Also, the swivel drafting chair can go up to 31.2 inches, so even the highest desks can benefit from it. Whenever you want to adjust your legs and relieve some pressure, you can always adjust the footrest. The flip-up arms are very convenient when you need to get closer to the desk and have an upright posture.
Design: Apart from its sleek design that we just love, the mesh material on this chair is breathable, so you won’t sweat or overheat while working. The armrests are padded to add to that extra comfort, whenever you need to relax after a long day. Even the dual-wheel casters provide excellent stability and mobility. If you want to add a modern flare to your office, this chair comes in 4 different colors like:
- Grey
- Black
- Black frame and grey mesh
- Brown
What we like:
- Fully-adjustable standing chair
- Made of mesh material that’s highly breathable and comfortable
- Can swivel around effortlessly
- Flip-up padded armrests
- Ergonomic design
- Weight limit is 285 lbs
What we don’t like:
- Might be too big for smaller office spaces
NOUHAUS ErgoDraft
We have to add the Nouhaous ErgoDraft to our list of the best standing chairs because of its combination of an ergonomic chair with a tall cylinder that gives you the best ergonomic tall office chair. Not only that, but this chair is one of the first drafting chairs that’s not awkwardly short.
Features: Speaking of a tall cylinder, this one raises between 23.4 inches to 30.9 inches from the floor to the seat. It comes with an adjustable headrest and a height adjustable footrest to ensure that the chair will be comfortable no matter your height. The best features are the Syncro tilting backrest which reclines up to 135 degrees and the lockable casters that prevent you from moving when you don’t want to.
Design: Yes, the ErgoDraft provides maximum long term comfort for you, but the design is also ergonomically perfect since it fits most heights. It has strong variable arms with a Soft-Grip PU material that’s comfortable. The seat is made of soft and breathable ElastoMesh material that keeps you cool at all times. Plus, the heavy-duty construction ensures a strong base that’s made of HD aluminum base and footrest. Since this is pretty simplistic, you can only find it in a grey or black color.
What we like:
- Tall backrest tilts and reclines up to 135 degrees
- Height adjustable footrest
- Large headrest pivots and moves up and down
- Lockable casters prevent unwanted movements
- Ergonomic contemporary design
- Easy to put together
What we don’t like:
- It only works if you have a tall desk
MOOJIRS Ergonomic Drafting Chair
In the third place, we have the MOOJIRS Ergonomic Drafting Chair. This chair has an S-shaped backrest and adjustable features to turn this into a worthy opponent. Everything about this chair ensures comfort and durability because of how well-made is.
Features: The standout feature of this one is the curved backrest because it properly supports your back after sitting there for a long time. It comes with an adjustable footrest, so you can rest your feet whenever you feel tired. The chair also comes with a seat adjustment range of 23.82 inches to 29.33 inches. It swivels at 360-degrees thanks to its high-quality casters that provide excellent mobility around the office.
Design: The S-shaped backrest, along with the mesh material is the best design features that we like. The fact that the seat and back are made of mesh means that you’ll feel fresh all throughout summer. Also, the waterfall seat is great because it reduces pressure in your legs when you’re sitting that high. The integrated cushion is designed to fit into the curves of the hips and waist, allowing you to sit in a straight and healthy position.
What we like:
- Made of durable Korean mesh material
- Waterfall edge seat
- Integrated lumbar support
- Comes with an adjustable foot ring
- Weight limit is 300 lbs
- Strong aluminum alloy base
What we don’t like:
- It doesn’t come with a tilt function
Hylone Drafting Chair, Tall Office Chair for Standing Desk
Another amazing Hylone tall chair is this drafting one. Since it comes with flip-up arms, you can easily store the chair under your standing desk and that minimizes the space it takes up. Plus, it includes many features that a lot of drafting chairs lack.
Features: While we’re at these features, the Hylone can rock up to 120-degrees and this will help relieve any pressure on your lower back after standing for a long time. Other adjustable features include the foot ring which is height adjustable and ideal for standing desks or sit-to-stand desks. You can adjust the height, tilt tension, and seat tilt because of the extra tall gas lift. And since it’s an ergonomic chair, it’s only natural that it has a built-in lumbar support that curves your body and provides comfort.
Design: The curved backrest of the Hylone is not there to only keep your posture aligned; it also serves as a cooling effect because it’s made of a mesh material. What we really like is the durable chrome-plated steel foot ring as it just enhances the overall design of the chair, plus it gives you an extra space to place your feet. Another thing is the waterfall edge seat as it relieves pressure and allows blood flow to your legs. Because of its minimalistic design, the chair matches any office since it comes in:
- Black
- Brown
- Grey mesh and black base
What we like:
- Curved mesh back gives your back a cool sensation
- Adjustable tilt and tension mechanism
- Fully-adjustable
- Flip-up arms to save more space
- Waterfall edge seat keeps your posture healthy
- The foot ring and the seat are height adjustable
What we don’t like:
- Perhaps the padding on the seat is too thin for some people, so you might want to add an extra seat cushion
SOHO Soft Pad Drafting Chair
Let’s add a slight pop of color with this SOHO Soft Drafting Chair which is an excellent option if you’re into classic office chairs, but you want something to keep you comfortable. This is a bit pricey, but we think it makes up for its convenient features.
Features: If you’re looking for a standing chair that’s adjustable in height, this one can go up to 33 inches, so it’s ideal for any standing desk setup. It includes an attached footrest which is always nice when you want to kick back and relax. The chair also has detachable arms and an aluminum base that hold up to 400 lbs, so you know this is highly durable. And for such a durable chair, this one is surprisingly lightweight at only 50 lbs.
Design: Finding a proper standing chair that’s both functional and stylish is challenging, but this Soho drafting chair comes in 10 colors in both vegan leather and poly-cotton fabric. To add to that extra style and comfort, the seat cushion and backrest are padded to provide you support throughout all day. The colors of the chair are a great combo with the steel frame and foot ring, and we’re obsessed with some of the colors, such as:
- Brown
- Black
- Blue
- Dark Brown
- Dark Blue Fabric
- Grey
- White
What we like:
- Available in plenty of stylish colors
- Faux leather looks amazing in any office interior
- Weight capacity is 400 lbs
- Height adjustable
- Extra padded for an all-day comfort
- Thin yet durable aluminum base
- Assembly is super fast and easy
What we don’t like:
- The price might throw off some people
Office Factor Stool Clerk Teller Drafting Chair
If you’re on the short side but still want a standing chair with flip-up arms, then this Office Factor Drafting Chair is the perfect choice for you. More importantly, this comes with some of the most convenient features and is a breeze to put together.
Features: One of the best features about this drafting chair is the adjustable foot ring that can match the length of your legs, even if you’re really short. Even the base is stable and wide enough to hold up to 250 lbs and keep you balanced, to prevent you from tipping over. This chair also has smooth gliding wheels that roll across the floor effortlessly, along with a drafting stool that tilts the seat back to a comfortable position. Another great feature is the adjustment mechanism which you can use to lift the chair to its full height of 30 inches or lower it to fit the desk height.
Design: Although this is a simplistic drafting chair, the unique shape of the backrest is perfect for supporting your neck and back while you’re working. This chair is designed to fit your preferences both in height and style. Its wide base keeps you balanced, while the mesh design allows you to stay cool during the heat. Not to mention that it comes in three different colors and two styles:
- Black
- Burgundy
- Gray
What we like:
- Adjustable seat height and foot ring
- Flip-up arms with lock
- Curved mesh backrest for added support
- Tilt function
- Assembly is easy
- 5 year warranty
What we don’t like:
- The lift moves too smoothly, so it can be a bit difficult to set it at the adequate height
- The padding could be better
How did we pick the Best Standing Desk Chairs?
If you’ve come this far, you’ve already learned a lot about what features you should consider when buying a standing desk chair. But there are some categories that best represent what we looked for before coming up with this guide.
- Build Quality
The construction quality of a standing desk chair reflects what components were used and how aesthetically pleasing it is. Higher quality components such as fabrics or cylinders are better options, but it’s also worth mentioning that chairs that look attractive will score higher than chairs that don’t.
- Warranty
Warranty is important with any product, not just standing chairs because it guarantees you for a specific amount of time that you will have a long-lasting and durable chair. Additionally, a warranty is a reflection of the manufacturer’s effort in their chair. Usually, longer warranties are provided on high-quality chairs, while low-end products have short warranties.
- Portability
Portability just shows how easy it is to move a standing desk chair from one place to storage. Lightweight chairs are a must, especially if you’re working in a standing desk which requires you to move around. We made sure to provide some lightweight chairs that have built-in handles or flip-up arms, so you can move them with one hand or store them under the desk for more space.
- Range of Motion
In this category, we measure how active you can be while sitting down all day. Active chairs can produce many different types of motions; some may wobble, others bounce or tilt. This is not a bad thing though because the more motion that a chair has, the more active you can be during your working hours. The chairs that promote the most activity are surely included in our list.
- Seat Shape
Last but definitely not least, the shape of the seat has a huge impact on whether or not the chair will be comfortable. The seats on standing chairs are much different than the ones on normal office ones since they have less padding and they’re smaller in size. Some of the most typical shapes in a standing desk chairs include: concave, saddle seat, or convex with a rounded seat. This category is based on the level of support that the seat offers and for how long it allows you to sit and feel no discomfort or numbness whatsoever.