Although drafting chairs are traditionally paired with drafting tables, they are also more recently being used with standing desks. Professionals like lab technicians, architects, receptionists and cashiers can also benefit from drafting chairs.
Whichever way you use a drafting chair, here’s a look at five of the best ergonomic drafting chairs to make your work experience more comfortable.
Harwick Evolve Drafting Chair
The Harwick Evolve Drafting Chair provides pneumatic seat height adjustment from 24 to 31 inches, measuring from the floor. Built-in lumbar support helps to prevent and relieve lower back pain especially when sitting for long hours. There is also an infinite tilt lock that lets you lock your chair in any tilted position.
The waterfall seat edge helps to reduce the pressure on the back of your legs and makes them less likely to feel cramped. The seat has thick padding that boosts comfort and minimises muscle strain, while the backrest stays cool with mesh fabric.
Another thoughtful element for foot comfort in a drafting chair is a foot ring. In the case of the Harwick, the foot ring is twenty inches wide, and it is height adjustable.
Swivelling is a breeze in this drafting chair, courtesy of dual-wheel hooded casters. Not only do they provide 360-degree swivel but they also protect your hard or carpeted floors, all while supporting weights up to 325 pounds.
For close work, if space is a premium for you, or if you do not always use armrests, the Harwick Evolve has flip-up armrests that will allow you to move this drafting chair closer to your desk. And when you choose to use them, you can adjust their height to maximise comfort.
Pros:
- Height-adjustable foot ring
- Flip-up armrests
- Large weight limit of 325lbs
- Black leather option available besides the black or grey fabric
Cons:
- Lumbar support is not customizable
- Foot ring diameter might not be large enough to allow your feet to rest flat
Modway Veer Flip-up Arm Drafting Chair
The Modway Veer scores high in breathability with its mesh back that allows for continuous air circulation so your back won’t be sweaty.
The backrest also features an ergonomic design that matches the natural curve of your spine. This is vital for maintaining a healthy posture so you are less likely to be slouched over for an extended period.
This drafting chair also has a height adjustment range from 21.5″ to 29.5″ measured from the floor. This makes it a good pick for you if you’re not so tall.
The Modway Veer comes with a padded seat for the extra comfort you’ll need during long hours of sitting.
You will also enjoy the added comfort of the waterfall edge seat that helps prevent leg cramps and stiffness. The accompanying foot ring is easily raised or lowered to suit your perfect leg comfort as well.
The 360-degree swivel allows you to move around freely on five-point dual-wheel casters. The sturdy base and frame are able to support a maximum weight capacity of 331 pounds. That’s good news if you are a large person.
There’s also a handy tilt tension control knob. This helps you control how much force it takes to tilt your chair.
The armrests on the Modway Veer are padded for extra comfort and support when you do use them. When you don’t want them in your space, they can be rotated up and out of the way. That’s a great customizable feature when you want to get closer to your work or just to make storage a bit less of a puzzle.
Pros:
- Height-adjustable foot ring
- Good maximum weight capacity (331 pounds)
- More affordable alternative to other drafting chairs
- Easy assembly
Cons:
- Non-adjustable lumbar support
- Not suitable for taller people
Chairman Ergonomic Drafting Chair
The Victorian style Chairman Ergonomic Drafting Chair comes with pneumatic seat height adjustment from 22 1/4″ to 30″ from the ground. The backrest follows the natural curvature of the spine for better posture support.
The backrest also sports other ergonomic features. One is the breathable mesh fabric which makes sitting for hours more comfortable due to improved airflow around your back.
Another ergonomic feature of this drafting chair’s backrest is its 15 degree tilting angle. Having some amount of freedom to tilt the backrest helps reduce muscle soreness, and is a great way to incorporate active sitting into sedentary work.
The Chairman Drafting Chair has armrests that accommodate the natural shape of your forearms. Foam padding on the seat gives long hours of comfort. The seat is contoured to better match the body’s natural shape.
The Chairman’s seat also comes with a waterfall edge for better blood flow, which means less pressure on the back of your legs.
The healthy posture and comfort of your legs are aided by a footrest ring twenty inches in diameter. This footrest can rotate and is also height adjustable.
Swivelling is a full 360-degree experience on a 27.5-inch base that safely supports up to 295 pounds. This movability is complemented by five 2’’ universal dual-wheel casters.
The Chairman Drafting Chair only needs about 25 minutes for assembly, and comes with detailed assembly instructions. It’s also good to know that it comes with a twelve month warranty!
Pros:
- Adjustable seat height
- Footrest ring is height adjustable
- Waterfall seat edge
- Easy assembly
Cons:
- Armrests are not padded or adjustable
- Lumbar support is not adjustable
Flash Furniture Mid-back Mesh Ergonomic Drafting Chair
This Flash Furniture Drafting Chair has many ergonomic elements.
The seat height is adjustable from 24 to 32 inches, making it a suitable option for a taller person. Height adjustments are easily made with the handy pneumatic adjustment lever.
Tilting is customizable with a tilt lock mechanism. You may choose to lock the backrest in an upright position or release it to tilt. The adjustability goes even further with a tilt tension adjustment knob that adjusts the chair’s backward tilt resistance.
Versatility is also seen in the armrests, which can be used in place or flipped up. When they are moved out of the way, you get more room to be creative and more seating space to move around in.
When the armrests stay down, they provide rest for your forearms which can help with circulation. They are also padded, which makes them more comfortable for extended use.
A height-adjustable foot ring provides rest and support for your legs. Free circulation is also encouraged by the waterfall seat edge. This design feature takes pressure off the back of the legs and the thighs.
The curved back provides built-in lumbar support, while the mesh fabric keeps air flowing to quickly evaporate sweat. Swivelling is for a full 360 degrees and with a heavy duty base, the maximum weight capacity is 250 pounds. Dual wheel casters also add to the manoeuvrability across any flooring surface.
Pros:
- Easy to assemble
- Armrests are padded and adjustable
- Adjustable seat height
Cons:
- Lumbar support not adjustable
- Maximum weight may be too low for large persons
Boss Ergonomic Works Drafting Chair with No Arms
When you’re looking for a drafting chair on a budget, this Boss Ergonomic Works Drafting Chair might fit the bill.
This model is sold with no arms, which is beneficial in a few ways.
One, is the closeness it creates to your desk, which many designers might find convenient.
Two, is the sense of openness and freedom of movement it gives, especially if you don’t like feeling locked in by armrests.
Three, is the way this armless chair will fit under your desk when work is done, especially if you are already strapped for office space.
Built-in lumbar support is provided by this chair’s curved back. This is a must-have for postural support when you sit for long hours. The backrest is also flexible, which makes it suitable for active sitting during long bouts of work.
As well, the seat height is adjustable from 26.5 to 31.5 inches. These numbers make this drafting chair more suitable for you if you are taller.
The footrest works well for those who can find the right seat height to match, but it is not adjustable on its own. There is no mesh back which is typical for breathability. However, the back is small and curved, and will still allow air to flow around, especially if you’re not sitting in a space that is constantly hot.
Swivelling and gliding are easy with a sturdy five-point base on hooded double-wheel casters. The maximum weight capacity is a decent 275 pounds, which caters to most users.
Pros:
- Ten-year warranty
- Value for money
- Adjustable seat height
- Good maximum weight capacity
Cons:
- The seat is higher than the average office chair even at the lowest setting
- Integrated footrest ring is not adjustable
Final Thoughts
When you’re looking for a drafting chair, you’ll want to consider chair comfort, breathability, adjustability and (of course) affordability.
In terms of adjustments, seat height is critical since you’ll likely be using your drafting chair with an elevated surface of some kind (drafting table, standing desk, etc). Therefore, you’ll need to be able to adjust the seat height to work well with whatever surface you’re working on.
In this article, we looked at a selection of ergonomic drafting chairs worth considering. Hopefully, this quick snapshot has given you some options and helped inform your decision making.
Thanks for reading and have a nice day!