Best Office Chairs for Tall People: A Buying Guide

OSHA's chair guidance says seat height is right when the whole sole of the foot rests on the floor and the back of the knee sits slightly higher than the seat. For a tall person, that requires a seat that rises high enough, so the maximum seat height on the listing is the number to check first.

Seat depth is the second problem. OSHA says the seat pan should adjust in depth so tall users get thigh support, with the front edge kept off the back of the knee.

A raised chair needs room beneath the desk. OSHA's desk page gives leg clearance as generally between 20 and 28 inches, and it adds that surfaces should be raised or lowered as needed or replaced with a height adjustable desk. Its keyboard page says a work surface should generally be no more than 2 inches thick so a chair can be raised high enough.

If your knees hit the underside of the desk, a higher seat will not fix it.

Sitting higher raises your eyes, so OSHA's monitor advice becomes relevant: the top of the screen at or slightly below eye level, directly in front of you. OSHA says a monitor set too high leads to tilting the head back, which fatigues the neck and shoulder muscles.

A monitor arm or riser is a common fix for tall users.

The tall users list includes chairs whose listings state a seat height maximum of at least 21 inches or a backrest height of at least 25 inches, ranked by Ergo Score. The table shows seat height range, backrest height and weight capacity. Read the listing for any dimension the table does not show.

• Seat height range: the score gives 4 points for a stated adjustable height and 2 more for a range of 4 inches or more, and the tall list includes chairs whose stated maximum seat height is at least 21 inches.
• Seat depth adjustment: scored because OSHA ties it to thigh support for tall users.
• Backrest height: the support score gives 4 points for a backrest of at least 25 inches or a headrest, and the tall list also admits chairs with a stated backrest height of at least 25 inches.
• Headrest adjustment: 2 points for height or angle adjustment, relevant if the backrest ends below your shoulders.
• Weight capacity: a build score line, so compare the stated rating with your own needs.

1. Raise the seat until your feet are flat and the backs of your knees sit slightly above the seat, as OSHA describes.
2. Slide the seat pan or backrest so your thighs are supported without the edge touching the back of your knees.
3. Check that your knees clear the underside of the desk, using OSHA's 20 to 28 inch leg clearance range as a guide.
4. Raise the monitor so its top edge is at or slightly below your eye level.
5. Set the lumbar support at the curve of your lower back, which may sit higher than the chair's default.
6. Set the armrests so your elbows are close to your body and your shoulders are relaxed.