What to Look for in the Best Reclining Office Chair

Foot Rest: If you’re looking for an office chair that reclines for naps, having a retractable foot rest or an ottoman can be a nice feature. And even if you don’t want to nap in your office chair, the foot rest can help provide support for your lower back as you recline while talking on the phone or using a wireless keyboard.

Tilt Control: As you recline in your office chair, it’s helpful to be able to limit the angle of the tilt, just so you don’t feel like you’re tipping over in the chair. Or you may want to recline freely to nearly a horizontal position. A good reclining office chair can give you the freedom of tilting in exactly the manner you want, usually controlling things with a knob or lever on the side of the chair.

Quick Tilt, Quick Return: One of the best reasons to use a reclining office chair is to allow you to take a quick break from sitting upright at your desk. You’ll improve circulation and prevent general aches and pains by moving several times during the day. Such quick breaks are important versus sitting upright in the chair for hours at a time. So you’ll want a reclining office chair that allows you to tilt back and return to an upright position relatively quickly, rather than having to adjust knobs and levers each time you want to change your reclining tilt, which can waste time.

Mistakes to Avoid

Not Having Enough Room: A leather reclining office chair with foot rest is going to require plenty of free space in your office, allowing the chair to recline to the desired tilt without striking walls or objects in the room.

Ignoring Other Features: Even when seeking an office chair with a reclining back, you don’t want to ignore other important aspects of an office chair, such as good lumbar support, some firmness in the seat cushion, and an ability to fully adjust the chair’s features to meet your needs, helping you avoid a sore back.