Why a good office chair still matters when you have a standing desk

A height adjustable desk gives you the choice to stand. A properly fitted office chair makes the hours you spend sitting more comfortable. You need both parts of the workstation to work together.

Standing desks have changed the way many of us work, but let’s be realistic: most people do not stand through every meeting, email and focused task. Nor should they feel they have to. The point of an electric desk is tomake it easy to change position during the day. When you sit down again, the chair matters just as much.

The UK Health and Safety Executive (HSE) says that sitting or standing for long periods can cause discomfort and recommends opportunities to change position and move around. A height adjustable desk gives youthat flexibility at the workstation. It does not replace walking, taking breaks or choosing a chair that fits you.

There is good evidence that sit stand desks reduce time spent sitting at work. The evidence that they prevent or treat back pain is less certain. That is a good reason to avoid the sweeping claims sometimes made about standing desks,and focus instead on building a comfortable working routine you can actually keep.

A good office chair should fit the person and the work. Start with seat height: can you sit with your feet supported and your shoulders relaxed at the keyboard? Does the backrest support your lower back? Is there a little clearancebehind your knees? Can you adjust the armrests or move close enough to the desk without them getting in the way? These are more useful questions than how many adjustment levers a chair has.HSE guidance covers these fundamentals in its workstation setup advice.

If you share a desk, chair adjustment matters even more. The next person will have different proportions and a different comfortable seated height. A fixed desk and a chair with little adjustment can leave one of them compromising. An electric height adjustable desk lets each person set the work surface to suit their seated position as well as their standing position.

We sell a wide range of office chairs, because the right fit depends on the person, the task and the budget. Here are three places to start.

ErgoFlow Ergonomic Task Chair is a practical everyday office chair for a home workspace or a larger office fitout. It has a breathable mesh back, adjustable seat height and depth, 3D armrests and a synchronisedreclining mechanism. Those adjustments let you set the chair to your body before setting your desk height. Its product page lists EN1335 and TÜV certification.

Airflow Ergonomic Task Chair offers more adjustment for someone who wants a more tailored fit or shares a workstation. It has a seat slide, 4D armrests, a breathable mesh back and a Donati synchronous mechanism.A headrest is optional. These features give you more ways to dial in the seated position, but they still need to be adjusted properly.

Kickster Task Chair is another option if you want a mesh backed chair with adjustable lumbar support and synchronous recline. Its seat depth can be adjusted too. Compare how each chair feels to sit in and how far it lets you move towards your keyboard; a list of features alone cannot tell you which one fits best.

Sit back in the chair and adjust it so your thighs are supported and your feet rest comfortably on the floor or a footrest. Bring the desk down until the keyboard sits just below elbow height,with shoulders relaxed. Put the screen in front of you, around an arm’s length away, with its top near eye level. If you work on a laptop for extended periods, use a separate keyboardand mouse so the screen can be raised. Then save a second desk height for standing.

There is no magic number of minutes to sit or stand. Change position when you need to, and leave the desk altogether for short movement breaks. If your chair or desk makes that feel awkward, revisit the setup.

Pair your chosen chair with an electric desk that can reach a comfortable height in both positions. Our MOVE 2 offers dual motor adjustment and four memory settings,so switching between your seated and standing heights is straightforward. The broader height adjustable desk range offers options for different spaces and requirements.

The best setup is the one you will use. Choose a chair that supports you when sitting, set the desk to the right height for both positions and make movement a normal part of the day. Your office chair still has an important job, even when your desk can stand up.

Do I need an office chair with a standing desk? Yes. If you plan to sit at your desk, you need suitable seating. A standing desk gives you another position; it does not make sitting disappear.

Is an electric desk better than standing all day? It lets you alternate between sitting and standing more easily. HSE guidance recommends changing position and moving around rather than remaining in either position for long periods.

What matters most when choosing an office chair? Fit, useful adjustment and support for the work you do. Check seat height, back support, seat depth and whether armrests let you get close to the desk.