Mid Back vs High Back Office Chairs: When to Get What?

If you’re shopping for an office chair, one of the questions you’ve probably asked yourself is, “Should I get a mid back or high back office chair?”

This is actually an important question, since the two chairs affect the way you sit and even your environment very differently.

Let’s look at the key differences between mid and high back office chairs, and when you should get what.

Mid Back Office Chair and its Benefits

First thing’s first- just what is the definition of a mid back office chair?

A mid back office chair is one where the backrest is around or slightly less than shoulder height.

The focus of a mid back office chair is to provide good lumbar and thoracic spinal support. The Herman Miller Aeron and Quantum 9000 are classic examples of good ergonomic mid back chairs.

Since this type of chair doesn’t come with a headrest, it’s up to the user to be conscious of and maintain good posture above the shoulders on his own. This means sitting with an upright neck with the ears aligned with the shoulders.

The main advantages of a mid back office chair are their lighter weight and less obtrusive footprint around the office. The reduction in perceived clutter is a huge plus compared to high back chairs. Mid back chairs are great for small offices and crowded workspaces such as conference rooms or the bedroom office.

When Should I Use a Mid Back Office Chair?

Given the characteristics that I’ve mentioned above, mid back office chairs are best for:

• Short to medium length sitting
• Spatially-challenged work areas and office cubicles
• As part of a minimalist room design
• Conference rooms
• When portability is important (moving chair from room to room)

How To Measure Ideal Backrest Height for a Mid Back Chair

According to Cornell University, a mid back office chair’s backrest should be about 26” to fit the 95th percentile man. If you’re exceedingly short or tall, you may want to manually measure your torso height up to your shoulders to ensure a mid back chair offers good coverage:

High Back Office Chair and its Benefits

A high back office chair is defined as chair where the backrest extends to support the head. This could be in the form of a tall piece backrest, or backrest plus a separate neck support attached to the top.

The focus of a high back office chair is to provide complete back and head support as you lean back. This means not just the thoracic and lumbar spine, but cervical spine and your head as well.

Executive chairs are usually high back chairs. This is since people in these positions usually occupy an office space large enough to accommodate these towering chairs. The intended psychological effect is to project power and leadership. If this is your intended goal, go with a high back executive office chair.

On the market you’ll generally find three types of high back office chairs:

• Executive Chairs: Often made of leather, the backrest consists of a single tall piece, sometimes with a protruding area at the top to act as a headrest. A good example is the Zuri Executive Chair.
• Ergonomic Chairs: Often made of mesh, the backrest consists of the backrest itself plus a separate neck piece that is adjustable. A good example is the Sidiz T80 Chair.
• Gaming Chairs: Often made of leather, the backrest consists of a large single piece with a height adjustable external neck pillow. A good example is the Secretlab Titan chair.

The main advantage of high back office chairs is its support for the cervical spine. Tremendous pressure is placed on the neck when it’s in the incorrect position, such as when it’s tilted forward. With a high back chair, as long as you lean back, it automatically guides and even supports your neck and head, allowing you to work for longer without neck pain.

When Should I Use a High Back Office Chair?

You should pick a high back office chair if you:

• Spend long periods of time sitting without taking breaks
• Often experience neck pain when seated
• Have a spacious office
• Like to lean back and recline from time to time
• Wish to project a sense of influence and power

How To Measure Ideal Backrest Height for a High Back Chair

The goal when trying to derive the ideal backrest height in a high back chair is to ensure that it properly supports either your cervical spine, or at a minimum, is tall enough to cushion the back of your head when you lean back.

According to Cornell University, a high back office chair’s backrest should be about 36” to fit the 95th percentile man.

This is simply a starting point, however. The ideal high backrest height for you will most likely be lower than 36″. The aim is to ensure that the height of the external neck pillow or support falls within a range that fits under your cervical spine, not above or below it. If the chair doesn’t come with either, that’s when you simply want to check that the backrest itself rises above the back of your skull.

In general, look for a high backrest of >33″ if you’re above 6’3″, or a backrest of <30″ if you’re shorter than 5’3″. The typical height of high backrest chairs’ backrests is around 33″, which is adequate for average sized people.

Here’s how to measure the ideal backrest height in a high back chair:

Differences Between a Mid Back and High Back Chair at a Glance

Here are the main differences between a mid and high back office chair:

• Support: Mid back office chairs only offer support from the shoulders down, hence requires the user to be aware of and maintain good neck posture on his own. High back chairs with their tall back rest or even dedicated neck rest provides built in neck guidance and support.
• Size: High back chairs are larger, heavier, and can obstruct view around the office. Mid back chairs are lighter and easier on the eyes in more cluttered space.
• Usage: Mid back chairs are suitable for tight spots, conference rooms, and sporadic sitting. High back chairs are best for spacious offices and long hours of sittings.

Final Words

When choosing between a mid and high back chair, the most important thing you need to determine is its purpose. Once you have this figured out, you can easily tell which one suits your needs best. Then, you just need to make sure that the chosen chair is suitable for your body size.