Best Office Chair for Neck Pain (Top 5 Choices)

If your neck is telling you that your office chair is not good enough, you will probably know neck pain well enough.

Since you will probably be spending a lot of time at your desk, be it in your home or work office, you should consider an office chair that gives you both comfort and practicality.

In most cases, you don’t even need to compromise on the aesthetics of the chair in order to achieve top level ergonomics. Since this chair will probably be in your home or in your office at work, it will likely be seen every day.

For that reason, we think that the aesthetics are just as important as the ergonomic support of the chair for the neck area.

If you are in a hurry to order your new office chair that caters to your neck pain, we hear you! That is why we have included this preface to the rest of the guide.

Here is a super quick look at the office chair that we think deserves the top spot and at some of the most important reasons why.

The Duramont Ergonomic Adjustable Office Chair is at the top of our list, and here are some of the main reasons why:

• Made from a lightweight, breathable material.
• Adjustable in many different ways, including the headrest, to accommodate for neck pain.
• Metal frame and wheelbase.

Top 5 Office Chairs for Neck Pain

Duramont Ergonomic Adjustable Office Chair

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The top spot of our top five list of the best office chairs for neck pain is one from Duramont. Since ‘ergonomic’ is in the name of this office chair, you can expect to see a lot of supportive and comfortable features.

The mesh material that makes up most of the upholstery of this chair is the only material on the back, so you don’t need to worry about sweating at work due to the breathable nature of the design.

In terms of adjustability, the Duramont office chair has many features. Not only the height and tilt of the chair itself, but the armrests too.

The most important thing for neck pain, though, is that the headrest can be angled forward and back, as well as the height being adjusted.

The concave shape of the headrest hugs your head as you sit, so it should universally fit everyone even before you make the adjustments.

Pros

• Breathable mesh material on every part of the chair that is upholstered.
• Curved headrest that can be adjusted by height and angle, so your neck pain will be alleviated when you are working.
• Metal framework for more security.

Cons

• The castor wheels are not the best quality.

Check out our Duramont Ergonomic Office Chair Review to learn more.

 Staples Hyken Technical Mesh Task Chair

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Second on the list is Staples’ answer to an ergonomic office chair. Staples have designed this chair with ergonomics and support in mind. But the look of the chair does not suffer from its ergonomic design.

The mesh material that makes up the back of the chair is translucent and thin, making it breathable and perfect for prolonged periods at your desk.

This same mesh material is used on the seat of the chair but has padding encased for added comfort. The headrest that is attached to the top of the chair is also upholstered in the same mesh, giving a slightly bouncy feel for your head.

Since this chair has the attached headrest that is adjustable, the Staples Hyken is a great option for people with neck pain. The adjustability allows you to perfectly change the height and angle slightly to accommodate for your neck ache when working.

Pros

• Mesh material is breathable and supportive to your every move.
• The headrest accommodates for neck pain by being slightly adjustable.

Cons

• The headrest is only adjustable to a certain point.

Nouhaus Ergo 3D Ergonomic Office Chair

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The third chair on the list is the Ergo 3D from Nouhaus. This chair is split into four sections, three of which make up a modular style back.

The lumbar support juts into the area of the seat, providing more support, and the head rest is adjustable as a totally separate piece.

Since the mesh material that covers the chair is highly breathable, the headrest is no exception. You can lean fully back to ease your neck pain throughout the day without fear of overheating.

The modular design also means that the lumbar support is adjustable and responds to the amount of pressure that your back puts on it when you are working, making this chair a perfect option for its ergonomic features.

Aesthetically, this chair is modern and stands out from the crowd of office chairs. But this does not mean it is holding back on its performance in other categories.

In fact, the Nouhaus ticks a lot of the boxes in most of the important categories when it comes to office chairs that also cater to neck pain.

Pros

• Mesh material that promotes the circulation of air and breathability near your skin.
• Modular design of the chair means that some of the different sections are adjustable, including the headrest, making this chair perfect for neck pain.
• Available in a choice of colors.

Cons

• The instruction manual that tells you how to put the chair together could be clearer.

Hbada Ergonomic Office Desk Chair

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The fourth on our list for office chairs for neck pain is the Hbada Office Desk Chair. Easily the sleekest of the five in terms of its aesthetics, this office chair has bold white details that stand out against the black upholstery of the seat and back.

The crisp lines of the chair are modern and will add an interesting flair to any home or work office.

The head rest is a separate piece that is attached to the back of the chair in order to allow for more adjustability. The height of the headrest can be changed to accommodate for your own height, meaning this chair could be used by more than one person and still fit anyone who sits in it.

You can also change the tilt of the headrest within a 30-degree range. This is a nice range of adjustability to find the right angle of support for our neck when working at the computer.

Pros

• Modern aesthetic design makes this chair stand out with its sleek and strong lines and framework.
• The headrest can be adjusted in two ways to promote comfort in your neck to avoid neck pain.
• Other adjustable features include the lumbar support and the armrests.

Cons

• Some buyers report that the material is not comfortable on the seat of the chair.

Learn more about the Hbada ergonomic office chair in this review.

Steelcase Gesture Office Desk Chair

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The last chair on our list of top five office chairs for neck pain is the Steelcase Gesture.

This office chair is available in many different colors, making it one of the best chairs on the list for color options. The back of the chair is made up of one main section, with the headrest attached on a hinge that is not adjustable by height. The Gesture is also available in three different height ranges, so you can get the perfect fit for you.

In terms of adjustability, the Steelcase Gesture is well-equipped. The armrests, tilt and height are all adjustable. The headrest is adjustable only by angle, but this means you can change the way that the cushion meets your head when you are leaning back. The addition of the headrest will alleviate some of your neck pain.

Pros

• A sleek design with a professional overall look to the chair from all angles.
• Available in a large range of colors so you can fit the perfect one to fit into your home or work office.

Cons

• Unlike the other chairs, the Steelcase Gesture’s headrest only allows for adjustment on a tilt, not by height.

Related: Read our comparison of the Gesture vs. the Herman Miller Embody to see how it stacks up. 

Best Office Chair for Neck Pain Buying Guide

It can be hard to navigate the market when it comes to searching for the perfect office chair for neck pain.

Since the top five have been detailed above, we think you will also benefit from reading what we think are the some of the most important design categories to consider when it comes to office chairs.

Each section will dive deeper into the reasons we think each aspect is important, as well as highlighting which of the chairs on the list are strong in these areas.

Ergonomics

The most obvious category is ergonomics. Since you want an office chair that considers neck pain, the ergonomic design of the one that you choose to buy is extremely important.

Each of the chairs that have made the top five list have lumbar support as well as head rests. In most cases, as with the Nouhaus Ergo 3D chair, the headrest is adjustable both by height and by the angle that it tilts at. When you are looking for a chair that you want specifically to alleviate neck pain, this is definitely a feature that you may want to consider.

Size Options

As humans, we all come in different shapes and sizes, so it is natural that one size won’t necessarily fit all when it comes to things like office chairs. The most notable differences would be height and weight.

Once you know your measurements, it is advisable to compare yourself to the measurements that the manufacturers recommend them for. Your choice in office chair might change depending on this.

For example, the Staples Hyken, our second choice, can support up to 250 pounds, whereas the Nouhaus office chair can support a little more at 275 pounds.

Interestingly, the only chair on the list that caters for people of different heights is the Steelcase Gesture, giving you the option of standard, low height and high height. Should this be something that is important to you, the Steelcase could be your chair, even if it is at number five on our list.

Material

You are going to be spending a lot of time in your new chair, so you don’t want to compromise on anything. Not only are the adjustable features and the ergonomics important when it comes to an office chair, but the material that the chair is upholstered in is also something to consider.

Most of the chairs on our list except the Steelcase Gesture and the Hbada chair, have a back panel that is solely upholstered in a breathable mesh material. This allows for a slightly springy support versus the full cushioned support that the Steelcase provides.

Final Thoughts

Having taken a look at our top five best office chairs for neck pain, it’s clear that the competition is fairly even. Our number one spot is reserved for the Duramont Chair due to how it performs in certain categories compared to the others. But since it is a close call, it’s safe to say that all five of the chairs we have put forward have the potential to be number one.

This is mainly due to the fact that everyone’s neck pain can be different, you might want a chair that has a completely adjustable headrest, both height and tilt, or you may only find the tilt a necessity.

But based on the Buyers’ Guide and the frequently asked questions section, it should be clearer to you which of these office chairs is better for you and your specific neck pain needs.

Since neck pain isn’t the only thing that an office chair should cater for, all of the chairs that we have chosen are also designed with other useful features, such as lumbar support and adjustable armrests.

These are other things that you should definitely consider when buying an office chair.