How we score ergonomic chairs

Every chair on this site gets an overall score out of 100, built from six weighted criteria: lumbar support & ergonomics (25%), adjustability (20%), materials & build quality (20%), comfort/padding (15%), value for money (10%), and design (10%).

We don't destructively test chairs the way some sites cut running shoes in half — instead, each sub-score is based on a close reading of manufacturer specs, the mechanism design, materials used, adjustability range, and how the chair is positioned relative to comparable models we've already scored.

The weighting reflects what actually affects day-to-day comfort and health over years of sitting: lumbar support and adjustability carry the most weight because they're the features most linked to reduced back and neck strain, while design carries the least because it's the most subjective.

Because every chair is scored against the same six weighted criteria, scores are directly comparable across brands — a 92 on a Herman Miller chair means the same thing as a 92 on a Steelcase chair.