Table of Contents
Introduction
With all the known benefits of armrests, what possible advantage can be found in an armless office chair?
The right armless office chair, especially one with lumbar support, has several upsides like space-efficiency and being easier on your pocket.
In this article, you get to see the top 5 best armless office chairs with lumbar support.
Is an armless office chair ergonomic?
Armrests are considered a standard part of an ergonomic office chair. But can an armless office chair be ergonomic?
For starters, there are armless office chairs with ergonomic features we typically see in armed office chairs: swivelling, breathable material, height adjustability and adequate seat dimensions are some of them.
Then there is lumbar support which is a key component of an ergonomic office chair [1].
Perhaps most surprising is the ergonomic value inherent in the armless feature.
Armrests can be misused. For example:
- An armrest is often used to lean to one side
- Poorly adjusted armrests can cause problems
- Armrests that are not removable may prevent the chair from going close to the desk so you reach and stretch more.
But armless chairs carry one other ergonomic benefit: active sitting.
What is active sitting?
Active (dynamic) sitting means to actively engage at least some of the muscles of your body while sitting in a chair. Those muscles could be the leg muscles, or in the case of an armless office chair, the back and abdominal muscles.
It allows you to make tiny adjustments that will keep certain muscle groups active.
Without armrests, you move your upper limbs and trigger the need to constantly adjust your sitting.
These small constant adjustments add up:
- Increasing core strength
- Burning calories
- Increasing concentration
- Improving circulation
- Relieving muscle tension
Check out this video to see an active sitting demo:
Top 5 best armless office chairs with lumbar support
So where can you find armless office chairs with great ergonomics? Here are the top 5 best armless office chairs with lumbar support.
Serta Essential Armless Task Chair
This design marries faux leather with mesh. The outcome is a fusion of style and comfort.
The mesh backrest supplies built-in lumbar support that is breathable and flexible. The spine’s natural curvature is preserved and back pain is prevented. Simultaneously, there is enough flexibility to prevent a static posture so you get the benefits of active sitting.
The seat comes with 3″ foam and a waterfall edge. Both features enhance comfort when you’ll need to sit for long hours.
The Serta has seat height adjustment within a range of 17 inches to 20.75 inches. With the backrest at a height of 17 inches, this office chair is most suitable for you if your height is from 5’2″ to 6’4″.
The large diameter 360-degree casters offer stable and easy mobility. Strength and stability are guaranteed up to a weight of 250 pounds.
Then there’s the armless feature. With no armrests in the way, the Serta is great for small offices, dorm rooms or your home office. Just pop this chair under your work space, and you’ll be on your way!
KEY FEATURES:
- Thick foam
- Built-in lumbar support
- Adjustable height
- Combines faux leather with mesh
- 360-degree swivel
SPECIFICATIONS:
- Dimensions – 23 x 22 x 36.5 inches
- Weight – 17.64 pounds
- Manufacturer – Serta
PROS:
- Waterfall edge
- 30-minute assembly
CONS:
- Not ideal for persons over 6’4″ tall
Kolliee Armless Office Chair
This armless chair boasts mesh fabric on the backrest and seat. Mesh is renowned for its ability to keep you cool. Mesh also has flexibility without being easily deformed.
As a backrest material, you escape a static posture but keep just enough support. On the seat, mesh will keep you cool for long bouts of sitting.
Comfort is also guaranteed with high resilience foam. It doesn’t deform easily and is padded to 2.2 inches.
Notice this chair’s built-in lumbar support with a Y design. The ergonomically shaped backrest follows the natural curve of your spine. This translates into lumbar support that lowers your chances of back pain.
The Kolliee has seat height adjustability of 17 to 21.7 inches. That’s a good range of customization when you want to get the perfect seat height.
The backrest is 17.3 inches tall and like the previous chair, makes it unsuitable for taller individuals.
The Kolliee has a weight capacity of 250 pounds. It comes with 360-degree swivel casters for smooth shifting across your floor. Its legs can be detached – a plus if you’re in a really tight workspace, or just find swivelling annoying!
Assembly is straightforward and a video is supplied by the manufacturer. You get all parts and tools for the assembly process too.
KEY FEATURES:
- Mesh on the backrest and seat
- High resilience foam
- Seat padding of 2.2 inches
- Built-in lumbar support
- Seat height adjustability
- Weight capacity of 250 pounds
SPECIFICATIONS:
- Dimensions – 17.7 x 18.1 x 33.1 inches
- Weight – 18.21 pounds
- Manufacturer – Kolliee
PROS:
- Detachable legs
- Not easily deformed
- Seat height adjustable
- Easy assembly
- Y design lumbar support
CONS:
- Not suitable for taller individuals
OFM Essentials Collection Armless Office Chair
The OFM Armless Office Chair has a curved backrest that will improve your posture by accommodating the natural shape of your back.
Both the backrest and the seat have comfortable padding, and bonded leather adds some luxury. What this office chair upholstery lacks in breathability, is compensated for by plush comfort and stylish design.
The seat dimensions of 19.30″ by 18.25″ make this chair wide by any office chair standard. There is no waterfall edge on the seat, though, so you might need to take breaks to improve leg circulation.
The adjustable seat height allows you to modify your chair height from 16 to 20.75 inches.
That’s over 4.5 inches of variation you have to customise your chair height. This is a practical benefit if you change your shoes, or if you share your office chair.
This chair has a 250-pound weight capacity. If you’re on the plus side, you will need to shop around for a higher weight capacity office chair.
Effortless swivelling and rolling will be your experience with the five-point base, smooth rolling casters and 360-degree swivel. No swivel, no office chair!
Without any armrests, this chair is easily pushed under your desk. Its armless feature can also make it easier to get in and out of your chair. With armrests in place, you are limited to a forward exit. Without armrests you can get up from three angles!
What’s more, is that assembly is no longer than 30 minutes.
KEY FEATURES:
- Curved backrest
- Comfortable padding
- Adjustable height
- 250-pound weight capacity
- 360-degree swivel
SPECIFICATIONS:
- Dimensions – 27.25 x 22.75 x 37.75 inches
- Weight – 1 pound
- Manufacturer – OFM
PROS:
- Affordable
- Stylish look
- Sturdy and durable
CONS:
- No waterfall seat edge
- Metal bars on back might need pillow for added comfort
Molents Armless Office Chair
The backrest of this armless office chair uses mesh. This helps especially in a warm environment.
The Molents also has a tilt function. That’s amazing functionality in an armless office chair!
Another great feature is the Y-bracket reinforcement backrest. It provides strong lumbar support.
With the adjustable seat height, you can customise the seat height from 16 inches to 20 inches. Your comfort is assured with a 2.2-inch padding that does not deform easily. Mesh fabric covering the seat enhances breathability.
You can efficiently move around with the 360-degree swivel on its heavy-duty five-point base. The nylon casters make movements smooth and quiet – even when carrying a maximum weight capacity of 250 pounds!
Unfortunately, the Molents is not recommended for taller, or larger-bodied people.
KEY FEATURES:
- Mesh fabric
- Tilt function
- Y-bracket reinforcement
- Adjustable seat height
- 360-degree swivel
- Weight capacity of 250 pounds
SPECIFICATIONS:
- Dimensions – 20.1 x 17.5 x 35.8 inches
- Item Weight – 13.77 pounds
- Manufacturer – Molents
PROS:
- Compact size
- Sturdy base
- Mesh fabric
- Easy assembly
- Space-saving
CONS:
- Unsuitable for heavier and taller people
- Hard plastic on the backrest can be painful
Amazon Basics Low-Back Computer Chair
The Amazon Basics Low-Back Computer Chair has the smallest seat padding on this list. With a cushion thickness of 2″ it is hard to imagine this seat offering any comfort. But it does!
Contoured mesh gives lower-back support while providing much-needed air circulation. The backrest can be removed but while in place, it doesn’t allow tilting.
The pneumatic seat-height adjustment grants height selection for more than 4 inches. Unfortunately there is no waterfall seat edge.
This chair swivels 360 degrees and five durable casters grant smooth mobility. The maximum weight capacity is 275 pounds, 25 pounds mire than other chairs in this list.
Despite this added weight allowance, this chair suits more petite people.
KEY FEATURES:
- 2-inch thick seat padding
- Contoured lumbar support
- Mesh fabric
- More than 4″ seat height adjustability
- 360-degree swivel
- Weight capacity of 275 pounds
SPECIFICATIONS:
- Dimensions – 20.47 x 20.08 x 32.87-37.4 inches
- Weight – 16.75 pounds
- Manufacturer – Amazon Basics
PROS:
- Compact design
- Affordable price
- Lumbar support
- Higher weight capacity
- Easy assembly
CONS:
- No back cushion
- No waterfall seat edge
- Thin seat cushions become uncomfortable eventually
Before buying an armless office chair with lumbar support
If you are used to resting your arms while working, an armless chair will take some getting used to. Here are some of the questions you need to ask before you go armless!
Are chair arms necessary?
Arms on an office chair do not guarantee functionality. What makes the difference is how you use your workspace: some may find arms to be valuable; others think they just take up space. So, arms on an office chair aren’t actually a necessity.
Will the lumbar support be good?
The lumbar support for each armless office chair is slightly different. How you ultimately decide on lumbar support depends on your current medical state and how much lumbar intrusion you will find comfortable.
To breathe or not to breathe?
The question of which type of material you choose comes down to personal preference. However, mesh fabric is known for better airflow. Leather (both genuine and faux) won’t allow for this kind of breathability.
Conclusion
Armless office chairs that provide lumbar support are a great ergonomic option if your workspace is small or if you are on a tight budget.
References
[1] https://www.spine-health.com/wellness/ergonomics/office-chair-choosing-right-ergonomic-office-chair