We’ve all seen the $100 office chair online, so a price tag of $500+ on a chair can be a bit overwhelming. If working a typical work week, you spend over 2,000 hours at your desk every year, so you want something comfortable, stylish and functional. But is the high price tag worth it? Check out the factors below for why that shiny, new chair costs what it does.

Design

A lot goes into designing a quality office chair and researching how to make it work best for the user. Scientists, engineers, and doctors are brought in for consultation. Some chairs require years of research and testing to develop the desired high quality product.

Materials

The materials found in higher quality chairs will cost more to produce. Many less expensive chairs feature fiber and other cheap cloth, while more expensive chairs will feature highly durable fabrics, textiles that will stretch for comfort and support without losing resilience, leather, breathable eco-friendly faux leather, or polyurethane. More padding, sewing, and seat adjustments are also an additional cost for production.

Ergonomics

Ergonomic means “designed for efficiency and comfort in the workplace.” Simply put, an ergonomic chair will be more comfortable, adjustable and user-friendly. It is important to consider ergonomics, especially if you’re sitting at your desk 40 hours a week. Sitting for long periods of time can have negative effects on your health and can lead to organ damage, muscle degeneration, and leg disorders.

A high quality chair will provide features that allow you to be comfortable and adjust the chair to your perfect fit. This will give you better posture and help prevent the negative effects of sitting.

Customization

When you search for a chair online or at a big box, you will probably have limited options. There may be a few chairs to choose from and the color options will likely be limited. When you search for a chair from a furniture dealer, however, you will be opened to hundreds (if not, thousands) of options. This includes seat adjustments, arms/no arms, headrest/no headrest, fabric, color, upholstered or mesh, etc. You may want a smaller or larger seat so the chair fits you properly. You get the luxury of building a chair exactly how you want it, which is much more difficult to find in a store that mass produces their chairs at the lowest cost possible.

Warranty

While most of the inexpensive chairs only have a warranty of a few months, or no warranty at all, many of the designer chairs are protected against defects and function failures for the whole time you own the chair. If purchased from Keeney’s, our furniture technicians will even come to your office to honor the manufacturer warranty for your chair if something goes wrong.

Purchasing a new office chair is a big commitment. While the upfront price tag can be daunting, the durability, comfort and look effect your everyday life. If you’d like assistance picking out a chair that fits your body, your needs and style, contact our furniture team today!