Choosing the best office chair for big guys requires a second thought before you buy it. Many factors, like weight capacity, durability, and adjustability, will count in making comfortable chairs for large people. Here I will review the best picks to help you make an informed choice.
What Is the Best Office Chair for Big Guys?
Editor’s Note:
- Seat dimensions: 18.8″D x 20″W, 18.9″-22.6″H
- Weight capacity: 330 lbs
- Various colors available: red, blue, gray, white, black
- Reclines from 90 to 170 degrees
- Adjustable seat height and armrests
- Removable head & lumbar pillows
- Bluetooth speakers last 6 hours once fully charged
- Charging time: 3 hours
- 5 meters range
- Compatible with multiple devices
Big guys can be over 250 lbs or over 6’3″ tall. Regular office desk chairs, however, often have a weight limit of 250 pounds. Reaching this limit may reduce the lifespan of the chairs you use. Therefore, you should look for chairs with a load heavier than your weight. These gaming chairs are the best pick.
“I’m 6’3″, 300 lbs and it’s comfortable. I’d suggest getting the aluminum base if you’re worried about the weight.” This review from an Amazon customer has spoken for the reason why this gaming chair is for big guys. With a weight limit of 330 lbs, the chair can hold people over 250 pounds and even over 300 pounds well.
Latest Guide to the Best Big and Tall Man Office Chair
Buying office chairs for big guys always requires careful selection. In this process, you need to take many factors into account. Here is a brief guidance on what features to look for.
1. Weight Capacity
Regular office chairs for people of average build are able to hold up to 250 lbs. This is enough for people who are not overweight. However, if you are 250 lb or more, then you need to buy chairs with a larger weight capacity.
You may wonder how much weight a computer chair holds. Common weight limits of office desk chairs include 250 lb, 275 lb, 300 lb, 330 lb, 350 lb, 400 lb, 450 lb, and 500 lb. There are chairs holding less than 250 pounds, but they are less recommendable for big guys like you. After all, if you register yourself as a big person, then you are heavier than average. Those low-capacity chairs will not stand up to long hours of sitting in your office rooms.
Therefore, it is better to choose chairs that hold more than your weight. If you weigh 250 lb, then chairs with a weight limit of 275 or 300 pounds will be the best. For people over 300 pounds, choose the 350 or 400 groups. By doing so, you will not see the chairs break or wear over time.
If you are looking for 1000-pound-capacity chairs, guest chairs are available. They can also act as computer chairs only if they are of the right height for your desk. But mind that the chair height, unlike that of office chairs, is often unadjustable. So, double-check if the height allows you to sit in the right posture in front of your desk before you buy.
2. Seat Height
If you are big and tall, then pay special attention to the seat height, which is often adjustable. There are no exact standards for office seating heights, but they mostly fall into the range from 16″ to 20.5″. For taller guys, the taller seats may be the best.
Proper postures while sitting require you to put your feet flat on the floor. When doing so, you need to position your knees at the same height or slightly lower than your hips. Meanwhile, the angle that your thighs and calves form should be at least 90 degrees. Taking this into consideration, 20″ high seats are improper if you are 6’3″.
A wise solution is to choose the big and heavy-duty drafting chairs. These chairs are taller than normal office seats, which are often no more than 22″ tall. Drafting chairs can rise from 22″ to over 30″ tall. They often come with a ring footrest under the seat to support your feet and thus relieve leg pains. Courtesy of their high seats, tall guys can sit in a more comfortable and healthier position. But before you make your purchase, ensure that your desktop height matches the chair. The desk height should be 8 to 9 inches taller than your chair seats.
3. Seat Size
The right size of chair seats is essential if you want to sit comfortably for hours without causing pains.
Again, there is not a one-size-fits-all standard for width and depth of office desk chairs. However, the common chairs for average people are 19″ to 21.75″ wide and 15.75″ to 18.5″ deep. But if you are on the bigger side, you will need more room for your butts. I bet it is uncomfortable to squeeze yourself into a narrow seat. It is a hassle for you to get up from it. Nor is such a chair an ergonomic place for you to stay for long hours. Therefore, I’d suggest big and tall guys buy chair seats larger than 20″ x 20″.
But if you are short and heavy, then be careful not to buy deep seats. Ergonomic chair backs can support your spine only when you lean your back against them. Plus, good sitting postures need you to keep a small gap between the back of your knees and the chair. On a deep seat, however, this is hardly feasible.
Plus, by seat dimensions here I mean the actual place for you to use. That is, you need to take the room for armrests away when sizing the seat up. With wider and deeper seats, you are less likely to suffer from hip pains arising from long sitting hours.
Except for width and depth, another number in seat sizes is thickness. Generally speaking, thicker seats are more comfortable, whether you are big or small. Some chairs have cushions as thick as 6″. This will be of great help if you stay on your chairs for most of your day.
4. Back Dimension
Most backs are as wide as your seat. So once you have chosen the right size of your chair seat, then no worries over the back width. All you need to care about is the height of the backrest, which can be divided into the high back, mid-back, and low back.
High Back:
-Pros:
- Supports your head, neck, shoulder, and full-back
- Best for shoulder and neck pain relief
- Often comes with better adjustability
-Cons:
- Takes much room in small places
- Less flexible than mid and low backs
Mid Back:
-Pros:
- Generally larger than low-back chairs, better for big guys
- More versatile than high back for smaller sizes
-Cons:
- Less comfortable than high backs for long hours
- Inadequate support for upper back
Low Back:
-Pros:
- Supports your lower back
- Some have nice mid back support
- Allows movements of your upper back
-Cons:
- Fails to support your upper back
- Mostly small size, less recommendable for big guys
Click here to buy the Best High / Mid Back Desk Chair for Big People.
5. Leather / Mesh
Most large people are sweaty guys. In this regard, mesh upholstery outperforms leather covers for they allow better airflow. SPACE Seating, for example, has the AirGrid design for their chair backs. This technology will make you feel cool even after sitting for long hours.
Another difference between the two is the cushioning. In general, leather chairs can have thicker padding while mesh seats often have 2″ or 3″ paddings.
Some chairs have a mesh back and a leather seat, which is a way of combining the pros of these two materials. In my experience, airflow is more important for the back than for the seat while the padding is the other way round. So, I’d highly recommend the chair below. It will bring you comfort and coolness.
Chair Sitting Problems Tall People Suffer
When you are a tall person who needs to sit comfortably at your desk, there tend to be a few problems unless you buy a chair that is specially designed for people of a certain height. Because of this, you should learn all about a few of the problems that tall people encounter when this is not the case. With this in mind, read these points below to learn a little bit more about some chair sitting problems that tall people suffer so that you can do whatever is necessary not to encounter these problems.
1. Knees Knocking the Desk
When it comes to sitting in an office desk, one of the most prevalent problems for people who are tall is the fact that their needs not against the desk. There are a few ways to prevent this. First and foremost, you can invest in an adjustable desk that lifts and lowers to your liking. You can also purchase an office chair which will lower enough to allow you to sit at the desk without your knees and legs getting in the way in the process.
Click here to buy the Best 17.7″ – 20.7″H Desk Chair for Tall Person.
2. Back Problems
Next, many tall people happen to suffer from back problems as part of sitting in a chair that does not support them. You can prevent this by purchasing a chair that is ergonomically sound and set up to support your spine. Make sure that before purchasing one of these chairs, you sit in them and try them out so that you can get a feel for the cushioning, arm support, and maneuverability. This will allow you to make sure that you are in good hands with this chair and that you are spending your money wisely on something that will help you to maintain your comfort levels.
Click here to buy the Best Big Guys Office Chair with Ergonomic Back Support.
3. Legs Falling Asleep
Another problem that tall people run into when sitting in chairs is that their legs fall asleep. The reason for this is the chair may be pinching them or too much of a tight fit to allow more blood circulation. You should purchase a chair that best suits your body type, or at the very least buy one that allows you to make adjustments. Otherwise, you should make sure that you take frequent breaks to stretch and walk around so that you can keep your blood flowing and so that your body does not become tired.
Click here to buy the Best Sit-Stand Desk Chair with Anti-Fatigue Mat.
With these three tips in mind, you can see some common chair sitting problems that tall people experience. If you happen to work at a job that requires you to sit in a chair for long periods of time, these are some things that you would need to keep in mind and understand. Once you understand these matters, you will also be in a much better position to fix them so that you do not have to suffer through your workdays and so that you can keep your body feeling great.
Extra Tips on Choosing the Best Office Chair for Big Guys
When buying big and tall office chairs, the first thing to look for is whether the chair is made of metal. At least, the base and attachments of the chair should be constructed using metal. This will help distribute your weight evenly on the chair. The chair should be comfortable to support your back. But when you are overweight, chair cushions tend to compress easily. This is why it is important to pay attention to this point when purchasing an office chair for overweight people.
It is best if the chair consists of wider arms to support the extra weight. It should be wider enough to accommodate the obese person. These are some of the important factors to consider when buying office chairs for overweight people.
Best Office Chairs for Big & Tall Person Recommend
Office chairs designed for overweight people are designed to sustain those extra pounds of an overweight person. There are chairs that can sustain up to 150-200 pounds without any problem. They will not break under pressure of the weight of an obese person. In fact, obesity is one of the biggest problems in the U.S. as well as around the world. This article highlights some of the most important factors to look for when purchasing office chairs for overweight people.
The average office chair is not designed to hold much weight. They are designed for the average person working in an office. A studier chair is something that you can make use of, and something you can use for a long period of time. In fact, it is a worthy investment for the office in the long run. Just imagine how many chairs you may have to buy if each chair keeps on breaking when an overweight person sits on it. Here are some of the important things to look for when you plan to purchase an office chair for an overweight person.
Alera Ravino Big and Tall Series High-Back Swivel
Flash Furniture Hercules Series Capacity Big and Tall Black Mesh Office Chair
And if you are tall but not so heavy, this Boss Black Leather Plus Executive Chair may fit you better:
Boss Black Leather Plus Executive Chair
A Roundup of the Most Important Tips Before You Buy
- Choose chairs that hold more than your weight.
- If you are 6’3″ or taller, drafting chair seats that rise to 30″ or taller are best for postures.
- Your chairs should be 8 to 9 inches lower than your desktop.
- Overweight guys can look for seats bigger than 20″ x 20″.
- Some seat cushions can be as thick as 6″ and are sure to be more comfortable.
- High backs and mid backs are more recommendable for big and tall persons.
- Mesh is more breathable for sweaty guys while leather covering holds more padding.
- You can also buy mesh backs with leather-covered seats.
Final Words
Choosing the most suitable office chair for the overweight or tall person has many requirements. After all, none of you want to end up with an uncomfortable chair when you need to spend most of the day with it. So, if you don’t feel like going to malls and try the chairs in person, I’d strongly suggest you take a look at the chairs I select for you. Keep the tips I provide in mind, and you are closer to ergonomic chairs for big guys.
