High Back vs. Mid Back Office Chair: Which One is Better?

It can be difficult to know which chair is best when you’re shopping in a sea of options, but one particular feature might be worth investigating if you’re trying to fight back pain: high back vs. mid back chairs. You might not even know the difference between them, but there are some key features to both that are worth considering before you buy.

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You probably know about the different office chairs in the market, each one suited for different people depending on their needs. Several factors differentiate office chairs, including design, ergonomics, feel, durability, and budget.

However, there’s another factor that differentiates office chairs, and it’s the type of the back (low back, mid-back, and high-back). Having the right ergonomic chair for back pain in your office can affect your comfort and productivity. Let’s now dive into the differences between high back and mid back chairs and see which one suits your needs best.

1. What Is a Mid-Back Office Chair?

A mid-back office chair doesn’t have a headrest to support your head. Its height is slightly lower than your shoulders, however, these chairs offer proper lower and mid-back support.

Essentially, a mid-back office chair offers reasonable support to the mid and lower back. Although many office workers prefer an office chair with a high backrest, it’s not a superb choice, especially if you have limited workspace. If you need to perform many tasks and move back and forth, a mid-back office chair is your best bet.

2. What Should You Choose?

2.1. Why Choose a Mid-Back Office Chair?

A mid-back office chair features a reasonable backrest that is slightly lower than your shoulders. This design offers the needed support to your back and spine. Also, it protects your shoulder blades while enhancing the overall level of comfort.

This office chair is a fantastic choice, especially if you use your chair for short periods. Primarily, it offers maximum support and comfort for less than five hours of continuous use. Thus, it’s best suited for a conference or meeting room.

Here are some benefits of mid-back office chairs:

• It’s a good fit for small workplaces, allowing you to move around freely from one desk to another.
• Perfect for flexible workstations.
• Available in different designs, including ergonomic, modern, and ribbed.
• Available in both mesh and leather finish.

2.2. Why Choose a High-Back Chair?

Typically, the primary difference between the high back and mid back chairs is appearance. A high back office chair is more noticeable because it has an additional part—the headrest, which makes it slightly taller.

It offers more support to your neck, lower and upper back, and shoulders. When compared to other options, these chairs offer more adjustment options. This type is best suited for people who sit for extended periods. The high back office chair with lumbar support is an excellent choice for those who suffer from back pain.

Here are some benefits:

• The availability of a headrest allows you to sit comfortably for long hours.
• Reduces chances of suffering from slouching.
• Offers reasonable upper and lower back support.

>>Read more: Fabric High Back Office Chairs to Remove Your Pain

2.3. Why is it Essential to Know the Difference?

Cornell University highlights the benefits of ergonomically designed chairs that provide you maximum support. They thus support your upper torso in the best possible way. This position greatly impacts lowering the pressure on your spinal discs. Your spinal discs are stretched and strained as you bend forward to work. Getting the right high back ergonomic office chair will support your good health apart from various exercise routines that you keep up with. No more pain, no more health issues.

Hence, depending upon the work you do, the number of hours you spend at your desk, it is critical for you to choose between a high back and a mid-back chair.

Here’s a comparison table outlining the key differences between high back vs. mid back chairs:

FeatureMid Back Office ChairHigh Back Office ChairBackrest HeightLower back support, typically reaching the mid-back area.Higher backrest, providing support up to the neck and head.SupportOffers lumbar support but may lack full upper back support.Provides comprehensive support for the entire back, including the neck.ErgonomicsGenerally less ergonomic; may require additional lumbar support for some users.More ergonomic design, often featuring adjustable lumbar support and headrests.ComfortSuitable for short to moderate use; may not be ideal for long hours.Designed for extended use, offering better comfort for long hours of sitting.Ideal UseBest for tasks that require less back support, such as quick meetings or light office work.Ideal for long hours of work, executive offices, and tasks that require prolonged sitting.AestheticsOften more compact and may have a modern, minimalist look.Typically has a more formal appearance, suitable for executive or traditional office settings.MobilityGenerally lighter and easier to move.Usually heavier due to the larger backrest and additional features.Price RangeTypically more affordable, making it a budget-friendly option.Often more expensive due to added features and materials.Weight CapacityUsually supports lower weight limits; varies by model.Typically designed to support higher weight capacities, depending on construction.Adjustment FeaturesMay have limited adjustment features (height, tilt).Often includes a wider range of adjustments (height, tilt, lumbar support, and headrest).

Let us explore some more below and you can choose the ideal chair for yourself.

3. High Back vs. Mid Back Chair: Which is More Ergonomic?

You cannot answer this question without keeping your own height in the picture.  Additionally, you must consider the nature of your work, how many hours you tend to sit in your chair and more.  While most chairs are ergonomically designed, it is important for you to adapt to the OSHA recommended sitting postures too. Getting yourself the right chair is the first step. Adapting the right sitting postures is the second step you need to adapt to every day.

Upper back chairs are preferred by tall people and those who work long hours. Mid-back chairs are fine for a floating population in an office when hot desking. Take your pick.

4. The Final Verdict

When choosing between the two options, it all boils down to your needs. For example, if you’re a tall person who sits for extended periods, then getting a tall back office chair would be an excellent choice for you. Since you’re tall and you’re sitting in office chair for long hours, your head, neck, and shoulders need support from time to time, and the headrest will do a perfect job. Even though you’re a person with an average height, it will still be a superb choice. Because without proper head support, you’re likely to slump or slouch over your desk, and this can cause bad posture, and ultimately you may suffer from neck and back pain.

The only disadvantage of high-back office chairs is that they’re more expensive than mid-back office chairs because of the extra material, features, and components that go into the manufacturing process.

If you’re constantly suffering from back pain, your office chair might be to blame. You may not realize it, but if you aren’t using the right office chair, you’re in for not only back pain but worse health issues.

An office chair is one of the most important pieces of office furniture. An office chair is where you’ll be sitting most of the day and if it’s not comfortable, imagine the amount of stress you’re putting on your body.

When you set out on the journey to find the best office chair for your workplace or home office, you might feel overwhelmed with the number of options. From a sea of options, two types of office chairs that people are most confused between are mid-back office chairs and high-back office chairs. Both these office chairs provide support to your back (so much you can tell by the name), but you may wonder how are the two different and which of the two will be a better option for you. If you aren’t sure which of these two types of office chairs is the most suitable for you, you’ve come to the right place.

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We’ve compared mid-back and high-back office chairs to help you choose an office chair that best meets your requirements.

How to Choose the Best Office Chair?

Before we move on to discuss the difference between mid-back and high-back office chairs, let’s first have a look at the various factors that you must consider when choosing a chair for your office.

Duration of Usage

The first and most important that you must take into consideration when choosing an office chair is for how long you will be using it. If you’re buying it for your home office and will only be using it occasionally, or with a Comhar All-in-One Standing Desk Gl, you can settle for a less durable office chair. That's because you won't need the chair every day, and plan to work while standing most of the time anyways.

However, if you’re buying it for regular office use, you’ll have to choose an ergonomic chair that’s suitable for 6 to 8 hours of usage every day!

Adjustability

Adjustability is a crucial factor that you mustn’t overlook at any cost, especially if you’re working long hours every day. You should look for an office chair that offers adjustability features like adjustable height, adjustable seat depth, adjustable backrest, adjustable armrests, and recline-ability. If your office chair can’t be adjusted according to your body and comfort needs, the chances of you suffering from health problems, in the long run, are quite high.

Material

The material of the office chair determines how durable, comfortable, and aesthetically appealing the chair looks. Always choose an office chair that’s not only durable but is also comfortable and blends well with the interior of your office space well. No matter how good-looking and comfortable your office chair is, it’ll be an eyesore if it’s a mismatch with the rest of your office furniture.

Mobility

You should consider choosing an office chair with wheels if you’ve got to move around your cubicle a lot. For example, if you’ve got to turn around from your table to reach the Chester of drawers to retrieve files or stationary several times a day or move to the printer located a bit farther away from your desk, a mobile office chair might be the right choice. However, if your office is carpeted, a mobile office chair may not move too easily.

Mid-Back vs. High-Back Office Chairs

Coming to the part of the discussion you’ve been looking forward to, let’s see how these two types of office chairs are different and which one is the best option for you.

Mid-Back Office Chairs

A mid-back office chair is a chair with medium-sized back support and no headrest. The height of the backrest is lower than the shoulders. Mid-back office chairs provide excellent support for the mid-back and lower back. This type of office chair is the best choice if you’ve got limited workspace and you move around quite often.

Mid-back chairs are also referred to as task chairs. Although they aren’t as ergonomic as high-back office chairs, they can fulfill your back support requirements quite well. If your job is sporadic and doesn’t require you to sit in the same place for long hours, a mid-back chair might be the most suitable option for you.

Why Choose a Mid-Back Office Chair?

There are numerous reasons why a mid-back office chair might be the right choice for you. Some of the most prominent reasons for choosing this type of office chair are:

Considerable support to the back and spine
Supports the shoulder blades
Enhances overall comfort
Ideal for smaller workplaces
Perfect for flexible workstations
Available in a good range of designs, including ribbed, ergonomic, and modern, each offering a varying level of comfort
Comes in leather and mesh finish

High-Back Office Chairs

As you can tell by the name, high-back office chairs have a longer backrest than mid-back office chairs, which means they provide superior back support. Not only do they offer support for the back also the neck and head with its headrest. These are more ergonomic in nature and are equipped with more adjustable features that allow people of all sizes and physiques to adjust the chair to suit their comfort levels. High-back chairs are larger and bulkier, which means they won’t fit in a small office space. This type of office chair is ideal for tall-heightened individuals who can’t seem to find ample support with a mid-back office chair.

The taller backrest and headrest encourage the user to sit upright and straight (which is the correct posture, by the way). This makes these chairs perfect for workers who’ve got to sit for long hours. As if all of these benefits weren’t enough, high-back office chairs are also quite affordable.

If you’ve got sufficient space in your office and you’re looking for excellent body support during your long shifts at work, a high-back chair might just be what you need.

Why Choose High-Back Office Chair?

You may want to know why you should choose a high-back office chair over a mid-back one. Below are some of the reasons:

Excellent support for the back, shoulders, neck, and head
Greater adjustability features
More ergonomic
Encourages the user to sit upright and straight
Ideal for sitting for long hours
Higher comfort level

Which One is Better?

Now that you know how these two chairs are different, you may want to know which one of the two is better for you. There are some other areas that we have discussed below to help you make the right choice.

Price

Mid-back office chairs are cheaper than high-back office chairs. If you’re tight on a budget are looking for an affordable office chair, let’s say between $100 and $200, a mid-back office chair is what you should get. If you can afford to spend more money on an office chair, a high-back office chair is the best option.

Desk Space

The desk space will play a significant role in helping you decide which chair is the best option for you. If you’ve got a limited office and small desk space, you should opt for a mid-back office chair. However, if your office is spacious and open and you can afford to add a bulky chair to the interior, a high-back office chair is the way to go!

Nature of Job

If your job requires you to sit in front of your computer for several hours every day, you should choose an ergonomic chair, even if it costs more. The best type of office chair in your case will be a high-quality, high-back office chair. However, if you spend most of your time at work on foot and only have to sit on the chair for some time, you can make it do with a mid-back chair.

Ergonomics

As we said above, high-back chairs are more ergonomic as they provide excellent support to the entire back, neck, shoulders, and head. Since they feature a tall backrest, the user naturally sits in a more upright posture which protects them from all the risks of sitting in the wrong posture. If you already complain about back pain and there’s not much that you can do to reduce the time you’ve got to spend sitting at work, you shouldn’t settle for anything less than a high-back office chair. A mid-back chair, as we’ve already said, is suitable for people who don’t have to spend long hours sitting at work.

Your choice of an office chair depends entirely on the nature of your job and the space you’ve got available in your office. What’s the best office chair for someone else may not be the best for you because obviously, your job and comfort needs are both different and you should only choose a chair that you think is right for you!

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