Best Office Chairs for Lower Back Pain in Australia (2024)

Investing in an ergonomic office chair that offers optimal support for your spine and lumbar region protects your lower back from discomfort.

In this article, I review seven office chairs for lower back pain in Australia, starting with my top three picks and an in-depth review of each recommended product to help you make an informed choice.

My Top Picks

Short on time or don’t want to read the entire article? Here are my top three office chairs for lower back pain in Australia:

Herman Miller Aeron

Best high-end chair with multiple adjustment points, PostureFit technology, and an innovative tilt mechanism to combat lower back pain.

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ErgoTune Supreme

Best mid-range chair with high-end ergonomics, ATLAS lumbar support, and durable mesh build to manage lower back pain.

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SIHOO M57

Best value office chair with an ergonomic shape, an adjustable lumbar support, and a ridge backrest design for relief from lower back pain.

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Top 7 Ergonomic Chairs for Lower Back Pain Relief in Australia

If you are already experiencing lower back pain, avoiding active seating or stools is advisable without first consulting with a medical professional. This guide focuses specifically on traditional office chairs with excellent lumbar support for your lower back and good posture office chairs.

1. Herman Miller Aeron

Best Overall Chair for Lower Back Pain

Herman Miller Aeron is a high-quality office chair made for comfort and style. It’s an excellent choice for people with lower back pain because of its adjustable and ergonomic features. The chair has a practical design and fits any office or workspace—its mesh seat and backrest offer good support and let air flow through, making it comfortable for long hours of sitting.

To combat lower back pain, the highly-rated office chair has multiple adjustment points, allowing you to customise the chair to fit your body perfectly. You can change the seat height, armrest height and angle, backrest tilt, and lumbar support to find the most comfortable position.

Aeron has a PostureFit lumbar support feature that supports the lower back and helps maintain the natural s-shape of your spine. There is a secondary pad that supports the lumbar region and the harmonic 2 tilt, an innovative tilt mechanism that allows the chair to move with you as you sit.

The Aeron chair uses 8Z Pellicle material to provide support in eight different zones. This design reduces pressure points that block blood flow, making the chair more comfortable and supportive. It's also available in three sizes and many feature variations. For build materials, the Aeron chair is made with ocean-bound plastic and an aluminium frame.

Pros

• Breathable mesh fabric
• High adjustability features
• Accommodates various body types
• Adjustable lumbar support
• 12 years warranty

Cons

• High price tag

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2. ErgoTune Supreme

Best Ergonomics for Lower Back Pain

The ErgoTune Supreme offers excellent support and adjustability for anyone with lower back pain. Like Aeron, it features a mesh backrest and seat that ensures breathability and airflow. ErgoTune's mesh comprises a 2:1 fabric and polyester blend, which makes it more affordable than Aeron.

ErgoTune Supreme is also highly ergonomic, boasting over eleven adjustment points to customise the chair to alleviate lower back pain. You can adjust the seat height, depth, angle, and tilt, as well as 5D GyroBrace armrests, lumbar support, and a 3D headrest for good seating posture.

The chair's GyroBrace armrest allows adjustments in height, width, length, and pivot up to 270° of the GyroBrace armrest. It also features a dedicated lumbar support, ATLAS (Auto Tuning Lumbar Area Support), to maintain your spine’s natural shape and relieve lower back pains. The ergonomic chair's robust aluminium frame supports up to 150 kg user weight.

Pros

• Comfortable mesh backrest
• Auto-adjust lumbar support
• 5D armrest and 3D headrest
• True tilt technology for precise reclining
• Easy to assemble
• 12 years warranty

Cons

• Armrests aren't very comfortable
• Mesh material stains easily

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3. SIHOO M57

Best Value Chair for Lower Back Pain

The SIHOO M57 Chair is an affordable office chair that offers good comfort and support for your lower back. With its straightforward design, the chair has a breathable mesh backrest and a cushioned seat, ensuring a comfortable sitting experience without compromising quality.

Key to the SIHOO M57 Chair is its ergonomic shape and features. You get multiple adjustment points, including seat height, armrest height and angle, backrest tilt, and lumbar support. The M57's bi-directional adjustable lumbar support ensures adequate support, especially for users with lower back pain. The best-value office chair also features a 3D armrest and an adjustable headrest, with a backrest that reclines between 90° and 120°.

SIHOO's ridge backrest design aligns with the spine's natural shape, complemented by the waterfall arc seat design for comfortable seating. Combined with the adjustable features, these elements work together to alleviate lower back pain. The office chair has a solid aluminium base that can support up to 150 kg, along with smooth-rolling and silent castor wheels.

Pros

• Mesh fabric backrest
• Adjustable seat depth, height, and tilt
• 3D armrest and adjustable headrest
• Adjustable lumbar support
• Ridge backrest design
• Waterfall arc seat design

Cons

• Light seat padding

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4. NOUHAUS Ergo 3D

Best Chair With Recline Angle

The NOUHAUS Ergo 3D offers ample comfort and support for your lower back. The design integrates a breathable ElastoMesh backrest with a contoured seat that provides excellent comfort. It also has an adjustable mesh headrest and a multi-functional mechanism tailored to mirror your body's shape.

In terms of ergonomics, the office chair features a 3D armrest and lumbar support with Dynamic Variable Lumbar property for excellent spine support. It also has an adjustable seat height and recline lock function. The backrest, which tilts up to 135° and offers adjustable tilt tension, allows you to find the perfect angle to relieve pressure on your lower back.

That aside, NOUHAUS' Ergo 3D has a high-quality build with a sturdy aluminium frame and a wheelbase that ensures longevity and durability. The chair supports up to 125 kg, making it a suitable choice for many users. It also features blade-type castor wheels for smooth movement on hardwood floors and a seamless class 4 HydraLift height adjustment mechanism.

Pros

• Generous 135° tilt angle
• Dynamic Variable Lumbar system
• Comfort-enhancing contoured seat
• Smooth-rolling blade-type castor wheels
• Breathable backrest

Cons

• Relatively pricey
• No armrest and headrest lock

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5. HBADA Butterfly Office Chair

Best Chair With Adjustable Seat Depth

The HBADA Butterfly Office Chair is an affordable ergonomic option, ideal for those experiencing lower back pain. It stands out in its price range due to its adjustable double lumbar support, allowing for precise lower back support. Moreover, the lumbar support can be vertically adjusted by up to 5 cm, ensuring firm and precise support for the lower back region.

The chair features flip-up arms that allow extra elbow space when needed. It also has a rocking motion between 90° and 105°, which, when used appropriately, helps soothe your spine. You get a tension adjustment knob for the rocking motion and a locking mechanism to keep it stationary.

For build material and durability, the backrest of the HBADA Butterfly Office Chair is constructed from high-quality elastic mesh, and the seat is padded with soft sponge foam. The base is stable and fitted with smooth, silenced rolling wheels that support a load capacity of 113 kg. As an added perk, the chair comes with a one-year free parts replacement guarantee.

Pros

• Affordable ergonomic option
• Space-saving flip-up armrest
• Rocking motion with a lockable upright position
• One-year free parts replacement
• Breathable elastic mesh

Cons

• Seat cushioning can improve
• Not comfortable for shorter users

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6. SIDIZ T50 Ergonomic Home Office Chair

Best High-Back Option

The SIDIZ T50 is an excellent seating solution for individuals with lower back pain. Its ergonomically designed S-shaped backrest provides ample spinal support, promoting proper alignment of the spine's natural curve. The chair features a breathable mesh backrest and a cushioned fabric seat, offering enhanced comfort and support for prolonged sitting.

The high-back chair features an integral lumbar disk to support your lower back and alleviate discomfort. While the lumbar disk is fixed, its positioning is optimal for providing adequate lower back support. I also appreciate the chair's user-friendly adjustability. With levers conveniently located within arm's reach, you can swiftly adjust the seat's height, depth, and armrests.

SIDIZ's T50 has a swivel gas lift for easy seat height customisation and a synchronous tilt function with five distinct positions. It also has smooth-rolling casters to move and adjust your position easily. On purchase, SIDIZ offers a 3-year warranty and a 30-day trial period—if the chair doesn't meet your expectations within the first month, you're free to return it.

Pros

• Affordable option
• Adjustable seat depth
• Breathable mesh backrest with headrest
• 5-level synchro-tilt function
• 30-day free trial

Cons

• Not for smaller body frames
• Limitd armrest adjustability
• Fixed lumbar disk

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7. Serta Essential Mesh Chair

Best Task Chair for Lower Back Support

Serta's Essential Mesh Low-Back Chair keeps things simple yet effective, blending a breathable mesh backrest with a faux leather upholstered padded seat. It has no armrests and features a low profile design and a creamy colour palette that makes it a practical addition to any workspace.

For many, the mobility to slide out of a chair without the armrests getting in the way is beneficial. Serta's lack of armrests removes the temptation of leaning too much on the armrest, ensuring you keep the spine in a natural position to relieve your lower back of pain. Similarly, the lack of armrests subtly prompts more frequent breaks, encouraging body movement.

The seat cushion of the task chair is made of thick, non-recycled foam, although it could benefit from a bit more padding. It has a low-back design with a ridged backrest shape, providing extra support for the lower back. The build quality is decent, with a sturdy aluminium frame that supports up to 112 kg and an adjustable seat height of up to 9 cm.

Pros

• Ridged backrest
• Low-profile and lightweight
• Combines mesh and faux leather well
• Easy to assemble

Cons

• Not for larger users
• Basic ergonomic features
• Not very durable

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What Causes Lower Back Pain?

Lower back pain arises from many factors, including spinal stenosis, herniated discs, osteoarthritis, scoliosis, and sciatica.

However, the pain worsens due to bad posture while sitting in an unconducive chair or position. A poor support system or improper adjustment of an office chair often results in or aggravates lower back pain.

For instance,

• sitting on a chair that is too low or too high can strain the lower back muscles,
• slouching forward in a chair with insufficient support can also put additional strain on the lower back.

It's crucial to choose an ergonomic chair that supports the spine's natural curve and is adjustable to avoid or exacerbate lower back pain.

Staying in one position for an extended amount of time, especially while sitting or standing, can also cause lower back pain as too much pressure and strain is exerted on the spine and lower back nerves.

Similarly, carrying heavy objects, making abrupt movements, or exerting oneself can strain or sprain the lower back's muscles and ligaments, resulting in discomfort. If you intend to alternate between sitting and standing for the best results, consider standing desks.

How to Choose the Best Chair for Lower Back Pain?

There are several things to consider when choosing an office chair for lower back pain for the best fit. Here's what we advise:

#1. Lumbar support

An office chair with appropriate lumbar support mitigates lower back pain from extended sitting. Some chairs feature adjustable lumbar supports, allowing you to customise them to your comfort.

#2. Adjustability and support

Choose a chair with multiple adjustments for height, tilt, and armrests. This enables you to locate a supportive and comfortable posture for your body. Your chair's seat should be wide and deep enough to support your hips and thighs without straining your lower back.

Find a chair with sufficient padding to relieve pressure points and increase your comfort levels. My in-depth review of the best ergonomic chairs in Australia considers all ergonomic features to look out for in an office chair. You'll find some of the products on this list there too.

#3. Material

Go for a breathable chair, like one made of mesh or fabric net, to help you stay cool. While leather chairs might be cosy, warm weather can make them hot and sticky, causing discomfort and forcing you to take a poor sitting posture that can cause lower back pains.

#4. Mobility

If you frequently need to move around your desk, think about a chair with good mobility, preferably selecting one with wheels and the ability to swivel. These movements can help shift your weight and balance the strain on your body parts, ensuring comfort and preventing lower back pain.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Here are some frequently asked questions on the best ergonomic office chairs for lower back pain in Australia.

How to Sit With Lower Back Pain?

Learn the correct way to sit with lower back pain and find relief; proper posture, lumbar support, and ergonomic adjustments to alleviate discomfort.

ExpertEasyDarren Sherwood

Final Thoughts

An office chair with sufficient spine support is pivotal for combating and avoiding lower back pain. However, remember that the right chair alone may not completely resolve lower back issues.

Regardless of your chair choice, I advise contacting your physician to address the root cause of your lower back pain. Stay proactive in your approach to health— cheers to a pain-free workday.