office chair guide

Confused and befuddled by the myriad of chair options?

We've created this handy buyer's guide to help you choose the most suitable office chair for your needs.

Please CLICK HERE to download the guide in a PDF format (opens in a new window).

- Task Chairs
- Computer Chairs / Operator Chairs
- Manager's Chairs
- 24 Hour Chairs / Heavy Use Chairs
- Ergonomic Office Chairs
- Mesh Chairs / Mesh Back Chairs
- Faux Leather Chairs / Executive Leather Chairs
- Draughtsman Chairs / Factory Chairs / Technical Chairs

Office Chair Terminology

Castors - Chair wheels that are generally made from polypropylene. They can be noisy on hard surfaces and may potentially cause damage to some surfaces.

Soft Castors - These wheels are more rubbery than ordinary castors. They are good for hard floors because they're less likely to cause damage and make less noise.

Glides - Polypropylene cups fitted to the chair legs to prevent the chair from moving. These are often fitted to factory & draughtsman chairs to prevent accidents when working at a raised height.

Cantilever Frame - Please click here for an example of a chair with a cantilever frame (opens in a new window)

Skid Frame - A skid frame chair will be fitted with polypropylene blocks which help prevent the chair from sliding. Click here for an example (opens in a new window).

Swivel Base - A swivel base allows your chair to spin around, often 360°

Auto-Return Swivel Base - Also known as a 'Memory Return Swivel Chair', this type of chair will automatically return to its original position. An example of this is our Aria 1 Charles Eames Style Executive Chair.

Lumbar Support - This provides support for your lower back and helps to prevent or reduce instances of back pain. Most commonly found on ergonomic office chairs and mesh chairs.