Office Chair Buying Guide

The office chair is perhaps the most important piece of office furniture for maintaining good occupational health among workers and promoting productivity. A good office chair will keep your workers comfortable but productive, as well as prevent occupational health problems in the future. Office chairs are also subject to the most wear and tear – the average office chair travels seven miles each working year – making quality and endurance an important factor when choosing an office chair.

At Paperstone we have a vast range of chairs for the office – good for choice but perhaps a bit bewildering if you’re not sure which office chair to buy. Which is why we are committed to providing you with as much information about different types of chair as we can. And because office chairs represent a significant cost to your business, we also aim to be available on the phone to help you choose the right chair for you. In fact we recommend that you give us a call if you are at all uncertain about which office chair to get. Our number is 020 7462 7800.

All of our chairs are covered with fire-retardant fabric and foams tested to British Standard BS7176. This means they are suitable for schools, hospitals and homes as well as for the office. There is a two-year guarantee on most chairs and we offer hassle-free returns on all our products.

Buying an office chair – considerations

There are A LOT of office chairs to choose from here and it can be a bit overwhelming. However, bear in mind the following:

What is the nature of the work you do?

• If there is a lot of movement at the desk – phoning, then typing, then reaching for files, then phoning again – consider an office chair that moves with the user. Look for swivel, tilt and perhaps permanent back contact where the back angle can be adjusted to suit the user or left free-floating, allowing it to stay in contact with the user.
• If there is a lot of movement between desks, printers and so on, the same applies. Also, consider a light, wieldy desk chair on wheels, not one which is relatively fixed.
• If the work requires you to sit still in the same position for long periods of time, then comfort is of the utmost importance.
• For sitting for very long periods you may want to look at heavy duty chairs
   

How many people use the same chair?

• If chairs are swapped around – if you hot desk, say – consider office chairs that have adaptable heights, tilts, and so on.

How much do you want to spend?

• We realise that budget is always a primary concern. Within any category of office chairs, there is a range of prices. In general, the lower down the product page you go, the higher the price. A higher price usually suggests extra features or more expensive materials. No matter what the price is, all our chairs are made by top recognised brands and meet health and safety standards.

Office chair types

• Operator chairs are standard swivel office chairs suitable for sitting at desks and workstations. We have organised these chairs according to price: economy (up to £90), standard (£90 < £120), premium (£120 < £180) and luxury (over £180).
• Executive and managers chairs tend to be posher and larger, with tilt action movement.
• Ergonomic office chairs and heavy duty chairs are as operator chairs with additional lumbar support and/or heavy-duty mechanisms to allow use for over 24 hours.
• Reception chairs are designed for reception areas.
• High-rise chairs and stools

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You may also be looking for:

Footrests
Chairmats
Ladders and stools
Computer workstations
Office desks
Leisure chairs and tables, including cafe chairs and bar stools