Should You Choose a High Back or Mid Back Office Chair?

Having the right office chair can make all the difference in promoting comfort and productivity in the office. It helps to know what options are available so you can make the best choice to positively impact the wellbeing of you and your staff.

Two seating options that you might come across frequently when picking from a selection of office furniture are high back and mid back office chairs. But what are they, and how can you choose between them?

Mid back chairs

These are designed to support the middle and lower regions of the spinal column, also known as the lumbar and mid-back parts of your upper body. Benefits include:

• Posture: These chairs promote good posture with a backrest that goes up to the mid or upper back. They can help alleviate or prevent backaches and pains. They achieve this with an adjustable backrest, seating, and reclining mechanisms so that the user can customize their seat depending on their preferences and comfort needs.

• Space saving: Mid back chairs are usually easier to accommodate in tighter spaces and smaller offices because they are compact and lightweight.

• Versatile: They can be personalized to go with existing office furniture and décor.

• Enhanced freedom of movement: The lower backrest makes it easier for the user to move around more easily without restrictions.

• Cost-effective: There are very affordable ergonomic chair options on the market.

High back chairs

These chairs provide support for the entire back and spinal column. They can also reach as high as the head and benefit workers who spend a lot of time sitting down at work. Advantages include:

• Full back, shoulders, head, and neck support: They are great for long sessions of being seated when less movement is required.

• More comfort: The user will be able to concentrate better because they will have full-body support for longer due to the layers of padding that typically feature in high-back seating.

• Reduction in stress: When a person is less susceptible to strains and stress that can keep them awake at night, they will be more productive at work.

What Are Some of the Best High or Mid Back Chairs Available?

At SmartOffice NZ, we have a variety of office chairs suitable for different needs and budgets. Here are some of our top picks for mid back chairs:

1. Konfurb Orbit Mid Back Wooden Base

   This chair will fit in seamlessly into relaxation or break room spaces, reception areas, and informal meeting spaces in the workplace. It is lightweight, durable, and made with sustainable materials.
   
   
   

2. Evo 2 Mid-Back Office Chair
   

   The density of the seat is high to ensure that there is an even distribution of seating pressure on the buttocks, feet, and through the back. The height of the backrest is adjustable for enhanced lumbar support.
   
   
   

3. Eden Eames Replica Soft Pad Midback Leather Chair
   

   This chair allows the user to see how easily the chair can tilt or recline when they move while they’re sitting on it. This helps them to determine how much comfort, and lumbar support they need.
   

4. Giro Mid Back Chair
   

   A robust chair that’s able to hold up to 120 kg of weight while offering additional lumbar support. It has a gas lift to adjust it to the user’s height, and the backrest can be tilted to ensure complete comfort. What’s more, it has been fitted with antimicrobial fabric, which can stop harmful germs and bacteria from spreading and developing into diseases.
   

5. Image Architectural with Architectural Kit
   

   This chair features a foot ring designed to give people who sit at high desks or use sit-stand desks extra height for their feet to rest on. The backrest and seat depth are adjustable for lumbar support too.
   

Our top choices of high back chairs include:

1. Konfurb Orbit High Back Sled Base
   

   This is one of those few lighter-weight high back chairs available on the market, as most tend to be a bit bulky and hard to pick up and move around the office. It has a static base without wheels and can add a sleek and minimalist style to relaxation spaces and reception areas.
   
   
   

2. McKinley Highback Chair

   This fully adjustable high back chair features an anti-shock mechanism that reduces the risk of shocks to the back and spine when the user adjusts the angle of the backrest. The PU leather upholstery ensures that the seating area can mould to the shape of the buttocks region to ensure it’s comfortable and has an even distribution of pressure.
   

3. Wau Highback All Leather with Arms Executive Chair

   A chair best suited to the boardroom or top-line executives, it has dynamic seating that responds to the level of force applied by the user. It also comes with a headrest and arm pads, as well as many extensive adjustable mechanisms for lumbar support and comfort during intensive tasks.
   
   
   

4. Lean Highback Chair

   A modern chair that can add style to any room with its metal polished armrests and synthetic leather upholstery. It has tension adjustment that allows the user to control the level of force they want in order to recline the chair, and it locks in 5 different positions from upright to tilted.
   
   
   

5. Blade Mesh Chair

   Ideal for the office, meeting rooms, or the boardroom, this chair comes with simple controls that make adjusting it to the right recline easy. The lumbar support can be removed and placed for increased comfort if necessary.
   
   
   

I’m Still Unsure Whether to Choose a Mid Back or High Back Chair

Ultimately, your choice will depend on preferences as well as long-term comfort, durability, and productivity requirements. If you or your staff sit for long periods or are prone to back discomfort, a high-back chair might be the best choice due to its full-body support features. If flexibility and movement are needed, a mid back chair will be able to offer this better than a high back chair because it doesn’t restrict movement as much. Speak to our dedicated office furniture specialists for more advice or recommendations.