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Who said you can’t sit while using your standing desk? But there’s a problem, your standard office chair won’t save you when using a standing desk, and you need to sit.
Enter the draft chair. This style of chair stands way taller than your typical office chair. And this makes it the perfect companion for your standing desk, drafting table, and other elevated worktops.
However, just like the typical office chairs, these drafting chairs come in all sizes, shapes, and styles. And finding the best drafting chair that fits your comfort needs can be time-consuming and confusing.
But we’re here to save you time and help you quickly pick the perfect drafting chair to pair with your standing desk.
Below, we take you straight to the top 10 best ergonomic drafting chairs available today to help you narrow down your options.
IMAGE | PRODUCT | Dimensions | |
---|---|---|---|
Hylone Store | 20.8″D x 19.7″W x 22.4″H | ||
Flash Furniture | 23″D x 25″W x 42.5″H | ||
Modway Veer | 25.98″D x 25.98″W x 49.6″H | ||
Boss Office Products | 25″D x 25″W x 47″H | ||
Eurotech Seating Apollo | 24″D x 25″W x 56″H | ||
Bieffe | 24 x 23.8 x 8.6 inches | ||
NOUHAUS ErgoTASK | 25.98″D x 25.39″W x 44.88″H | ||
Harwick Evolve All Mesh Heavy Duty | 26″D x 26″W x 48.5″H | ||
Boss Office Products Ergonomic Works | 25″D x 17.5″W x 49.5″H | ||
Office Star Backless Office Stool with Saddle Seat | 25.5″D x 22.5″W x 35.25″H |
Table of Contents
10 Most Comfortable Drafting Chairs Reviews:
Discover our ultimate list of the top 10 best drafting chairs that are highly rated for the ultimate comfort and ergonomic design.
1. Best overall: HYLONE High-Back Mesh Ergonomic Drafting Chair
The Hylone high-back mesh drafting chair makes our top pick for a drafting chair with a high comfort score.
This reasonably priced chair boasts an ergonomic backrest engineered with curved contours to help support your back and properly align your body.
This allows for long sitting hours without back problems.
You’ll also get a deep, thickly padded seat cushion to offer you hours of comfortable sitting experience. The seat even has a waterfall edge design to help relieve pressure and promote optimal blood flow through your legs.
The seat and backrest are made of breathable mesh to allow air to circulate freely and give you all-day comfort.
You can smoothly raise or lower the seat from 22.4 to 30.3 inches for a customized sitting position. What’s more, this chair has a height-adjustable foot ring to help you move your feet more, thus minimizing pressure on the back of your legs.
The armrests boast contour padding to increase your coziness when using this chair. Since the arms on this chair are flip-up, you can easily get them out of the way when you don’t need them. You can also flip them up to easily tuck your chair under the standing desk and help save space.
Overall, the chair is well-made and feels quite solid and durable. Its heavy-duty nylon base is tested to 2504lbs gravity test. It is equipped with equally durable casters for enhanced mobility across carpet and wood floors. The chair supports users as heavy as 285lbs, making it ideal for a wide range of users.
Pros
- flip-up armrests
- adjustable foot ring
- breathable mesh backrest
- super-comfy seat cushion
- adjustable height seat
- waterfall edged seat
Cons
- lacks lumbar support
- the footrest may slide when you put weight on it
HYLON
2. Value for money: Flash Furniture Drafting Chair
If you’re looking for a comfy drafting chair that gives you the best bang for your buck, you’ll love this Flash Furniture model. The high-quality drafting chair is designed to be taller than the standard office chair. And this makes it for you to reach higher work surfaces like bars, counters, and standing desks.
The mid-back chair has built-in lumbar support that helps with good posture and long working hours without experiencing backaches. The backrest is also contoured to increase the comfort level when sitting in this chair.
It features breathable mesh, instead of faux leather, and uniform padding that helps keep you cool and comfortable throughout extended working hours. The seat waterfall edge relieves pressure on your legs and increases circulation, further ensuring hours of comfort.
The reasonably priced chair can run from 24 to 32 inches, so you can easily raise or lower it across various height settings to your desired seat position. You’ll also like that this chair comes with a chrome foot ring where you can comfortably rest your feet.
What’s more, the drafting chair features a synchro-tilt control that lets the back and seat recline at different angles. This increases the angle between your torso and thighs for a more comfortable seat position.
We also like that the Flash chair comes with padded armrests that easily flip up and out of your way as necessary to help you quickly switch between tasks with greater flexibility.
Don’t forget that this drafting chair has a 360-degrees swivel function and comes with easy-rolling casters for unlimited mobility across your office space. Spills on this chair clean up easily with a solvent-based cleaner.
Pros
- flip-up, well-padded arms
- waterfall seat design
- built-in lumbar support
- pneumatic seat height adjustment
- breathable mesh back
- adjustable chrome-plated foot rest
Cons
- seat edges lack cushioning
Flash Furniture
3. Budget drafting chair: Modway Veer Drafting Stool-Chair
The Modway Veer drafting chair is ideal for folks on a tight budget. This chair competes with the high-end models at higher price points by offering you great features for enhanced comfort. It also comes in several color options for you to choose from.
One of the things we love about this chair is that it comes with a form-fitted mesh back. This offers you decent back support and a comfortable sitting experience. The backrest is also fully breathable and allows for free airflow, keeping you cool and comfy when working for long hours.
The backrest teams up with the padded waterfall mesh seat to keep your back and thighs in the perfect posture and ensure long-lasting comfort. The arms feature thick padded cushions for extra comfort. They easily flip up so you can get them out of the way when not needed.
You can easily adjust the chair height from 21.5 to 29.5 inches to match your standing desk height. The chair also comes with an adjustable foot ring that you can bring up or down to a level that’s comfortable for resting your feet.
As if that’s not enough, this chair also features an adjustable seat tilt and tension control knob that helps you customize the chair for the most comfortable fit.
This sleek-looking chair’s sturdy construction is sure to serve you for many years. It’s also quite strong and supports heavier users up to 331lbs. With up to 5 dual-wheel casters, the chair grants you high mobility in all directions in your office space.
Pros
- breathable mesh back
- flip-up and padded armrests
- adjustable height and foot ring
- adjustable tilt and tension lock
- waterfall padded mesh seat
- higher (331lbs) maximum weight limit
Cons
- the backrest doesn’t recline
- foot ring may not lock in place
Modway Vee
4. best drafting stool: Boss Office Products B16245-BK Drafting Stool
For those who prefer a drafting stool over an office-style drafting chair, you’ll find this affordable drafting stool from Boss Office Products a cool choice.
Not only is it wallet-friendly priced, but it is also designed to boost your comfort and maximize your productivity.
This seat features 3-inch well-cushioned seat to deliver long-lasting comfort. Plus, it comes with an equally well-padded backrest that gives you excellent back support and comfort.
For extra comfort, the stool comes with a chrome foot ring that you can remove and get out of the way when you don’t need it.
Seat height adjustment range for this drafting stool runs from 28 to 34 inches. This makes it easy for you to customize your chair to a comfortable height for a more ergonomic fit.
We liked that this stool comes with a 5-star 25-inch heavy-duty chrome base that takes its sturdiness and stability to the stars. It is also strong enough to support up to 275lbs heavy.
The 5 durable dual-wheel casters attached to this chair promote smooth and quite full swivel when you’re assisting your patients, clients, or want to reach for something across your workspace.
Above all, this stool has a slim design that facilitates easy maneuverability and storage in different settings. This chair works well for your standing desk and any other higher workstations like busy medical office, spa, dorm room, to name but a few.
Pros
- 3-inch plush seat cushion
- removable footrest
- supportive backrest
- easy to clean/maintain upholstery
- adjustable height seat
Cons
- non-adjustable footrest
- the back doesn’t recline
Boss Office Products
5. Most ergonomic: Eurotech Seating Apollo Drafting Stool
What’s better than a drafting chair that gives you the freedom to customize all its aspects to ensure you get the most comfortable fit? Well, this Eurotech Seating Apollo drafting chair is a perfect case! It offers you multiple adjustment options so you can FULLY customize it for the most ergonomic fit that lasts for hours and hours
You can easily take the seat height from 43 1/2″ to a maximum height of 56 inches and the extra tall gas cylinder makes this possible! This makes it super-tall and will take you as high as you wish.
The back and arms of this seat are also adjustable to meet varying users’ needs. The back height is adjustable to enable you to customize it for superior lumbar support. And the arms hassle-freely slide up and down to help you set them to the perfect ergonomic support.
Designed with long-lasting comfort in mind, this chair has a waterfall seat design to help reduce pressure on the back of your knees and promote unrestricted blood flow.
It also presents you with a foot ring to place your feet and legs for added comfort. Note that you can take this footrest up or down for a more customized fit.
Unlike most of the competing drafting stools, this Eurotech Apollo drafting stool is armed with durable casters and glides for enhanced mobility across your workspace.
The upholstery used for this seat fall in the same category as vinyl upholstery in that it is easy to clean and maintain. The backrest mesh material is breathable to keep you cool throughout the day. This seat comfortably accommodates users as heavy as 250lbs. And it is ideal for both personal and commercial settings.
Pros
- includes both glides and casters
- width and height-adjustable arms
- comfortably padded waterfall seat
- breathable mesh backrest
- height-adjustable seat
- adjustable back height
Cons
- foot ring diameter could be improved
- no back tilt feature
Eurotech Seating Apollo
6. Best for artists: Bieffe Drafting Chair
For the artists in the house, this Bieffe Drafting Chair is sure to inspire creativity in your workspace. 100% made in Italy, this drafting chair scores a stylish blend of design and craftsmanship.
It is made with a sturdy Birchwood seat and an adjustable steel footrest that keeps you comfortable at your easel or drawing table for hours.
The beautiful drafting chair height is adjustable from 21 to 31 inches, making the chair comfortable for your high worktop.
You’ll quickly notice that this chair lacks armrests. This makes it a good choice for artists and architects who work on wide desktops and don’t want anything getting in the way of their arms.
With a 5-legged steel pedestal base, this chair is also sure to provide you with superb stability, even at the highest height setting.
Since there’s no upholstery in this chair, you don’t have to worry about the cleaning and maintenance part. You don’t have to worry about stains, food spills, ink colorings, or paintings getting you on your chair and giving you a hard time removing them.
The chair base is chrome-plated and offers excellent stain resistance, making this drafting chair a breeze to clean and maintain.
Birch and chrome give this particular chair overall good looks. It will doubtlessly become the center of attraction in your workroom. It’s super-easy to put together, and its durable feel is enough assurance that it will serve you for years to come.
Pros
- competitive price tag
- stylish looks
- adjustable height seat
- adjustable foot ring
- extremely durable wood construction
Cons
- non-adjustable backrest
- no cushion on the seat and back
Bieffe
7. Drafting chair with headrest: NOUHAUS Ergonomic Task/Draft Chair
So a headrest is everything to you when it comes to an office chair? If yes, this Nouhaus ergonomic drafting chair comes with one where you can rest your head. And you can easily angle it up or down to support your neck regardless of what position you’re sitting in.
Designed to serve as both task and draft chair, this model is incredibly easy for you to assemble. All the tools and instructions you need to put it together are included in the box.
It features a breathable mesh backrest that facilitates maximum airflow to keep you from sweating and sticking. This feature is especially when spending long hours in the chair or working in hot weather.
The chair is designed to smoothly take you from as low as 23.4 inches to as high as 30.9 inches (from seat to floor). Moreover, it features an adjustable foot ring that moves up and down to offer you a customized fit. Whether you’re short or tall, you’ll find this chair quite accommodating for you.
Don’t forget that this chair has height-adjustable armrests to further enhance your overall ergonomic comfort experience in this chair.
Unlike most chairs with a nylon base, this Nouhaus is made with a heavy-duty aluminum base for increased strength and stability. It withstands to users with varying body weights up to 275lbs.
Additional features you’ll like in this task/draft chair include an integrated coat hanger for holding your bag or coat and lockable dual-wheel casters that keep you safe from moving unintentionally.
Pros
- adjustable headrest
- breathable mesh back
- adjustable footrest
- lockable caster wheels
- integrated coat hanger
- heavy-duty chair wheelbase
- adjustable arms
Cons
- lacks lumbar support
- back is not adjustable
NOUHAUS Ergonomic
8. Premium drafting chair: Harwick Evolve All Mesh Heavy Duty Drafting Chair
If you’re made of money, get this Harwick Evolve drafting chair. This model features a premium price tag and offers you a list of premium features.
These include a high-quality construction, a wide range of adjustment options, excellent ergonomics, and higher weight capacity than most of the drafting chairs on this list.
The chair provides you with built-in lumbar support.
This helps your spine retain its natural s-curve and eliminate back pains.
If you’re made of money, get this Harwick Evolve drafting chair. This model features a premium price tag and offers you a list of Most users also like the waterfall edge seat, which helps alleviate pressure on the back of your legs and comfortable long sitting hours.
premium features. These include a high-quality construction, a wide range of adjustment options, excellent ergonomics, and higher weight capacity than most of the drafting chairs on this list.
The chair provides you with built-in lumbar support. This helps your spine retain its natural s-curve and eliminate back pains. Most users also like the waterfall edge seat, which helps alleviate pressure on the back of your legs and comfortable long sitting hours.
The chair has plenty of adjustable features to help you customize it for a more comfortable fit. The seat height range runs from 24 to 31 inches, so you can lift/lower it to match your desk height. The footrest is also height adjustable for added comfort.
With the 2-To-1 synchro-tilt (with tilt tension adjustment), you can easily lock this chair in any tilted position. This is a feature you’ll not get in many drafting chairs.
You’ll appreciate that the seat has flip-up arms that you can easily get out of the way to enable your hands to move freely. This usually appeals to artists who don’t want their hands restricted.
Keep in mind that the chair upholstery is all-mesh, which goes a long way in allowing unrestricted airflow and preventing heat buildup. This further qualifies it as the perfect chair for long sitting hours.
The heavy-duty drafting chair safely supports weight up to 325 pounds, making it a suitable choice for big and tall users. It shouldn’t come as a surprise that this chair has a higher weight limit than other models as it features high-quality construction.
Pros
- waterfall-edged seat
- built-in lumbar support
- breathable mesh back and seat
- high weight capacity
- adjustable seat height, back, and foot ring
- tilt lock included
- flip-up armrests
Cons
- arms height is non-adjustable
- the footrest doesn’t lock in place
Harwick Evolve
9. Armless drafting chair: Boss Office Products Ergonomic Drafting Chair
The Boss Office ergonomic drafting chair is suitable for artists, architects, quilters, and anyone else who wants the freedom of an armless chair. The fairly priced chair is also built for ultimate comfort and utility.
One of the things that won this chair a spot on our list is the built-in lumbar support.
This goes a long in supporting your back and offering you long-lasting comfort. It also helps significantly minimize the possibility of backaches.
The seat has a waterfall edge design to help reduce stress on your legs and increase circulation. Plus, this seat is also ergonomically contoured to increase your comfort levels and enable you to sit for long hours without hurting your butt.
You’ll also be able to adjust the seat height of this Boss Office chair from 26.5 to 31.5 inches. This makes it quite tall and easy to bring to a height that matches your desktop height. Not to forget, this chair also has an adjustable metal foot ring for excellent foot and leg support that increases user comfort.
This chair’s stability is great thanks to its durable 5-star nylon base with an extended diameter of 27 inches. It can withstand users up to 275lbs heavy. What’s more, this base has dual-wheel hooded casters to ensure smooth movement around your workspace.
Overall, this chair has quality construction, and easy-care fabric guarantees years of service. Its tweeted fabric seat can withstand daily use and offer you years of comfort. The fabric is available in a variety of colors to choose from.
Pros
- built-in lumbar support
- hooded dual-wheel casters
- ergonomically contoured seat
- height-adjustable seat
- multiple color options
- budget price point
Cons
- the seat depth and back are non-adjustable
Boss Office Products
10. Saddle-style seat: Office Star Office Stool with Saddle Seat
The last model on our list is a drafting stool with a saddle seat instead of the round seat in typical drafting stools.
This type of chair is beneficial because it helps your spine rest in its natural curve. Thus, your weight gets evenly distributed to the lower half of your body—translating to maximum support and minimized strain on your lower back.
We feature this stool with a saddle seat on our list because it’s rated as one of the most comfortable drafting chairs on the market today.
It boasts good padding that will let you comfortably sit on the seat without getting your butt hurt.
In terms of adjustments, this seat lets you play with the seat angle to help you tilt the saddle seat to an angle you’re comfortable with. It also features an adjustable foot ring to a level for a customized comfort feel.
Like the other drafting stools we featured in this guide, this model also comes with an extensive height range of 22 to 35 inches, this chair will comfortably accommodate a wide range of users who want to sit while using a standing desk or drafting table. Pneumatic height adjustment makes the chair easy to raise or lower to your desired height.
Building this chair is pretty easy, and the included instructions will guide you through the steps. It features an overall decent build quality, has a solid feel to it, and will no doubt serve you for years to come.
Pros
- extensive height range
- ergonomic drafting saddle style chair
- promotes better posture
- seat tilt is adjustable
- super-easy to put together
Cons
- foot ring may slide due to extra weight
- not suitable for long sitting hours
Office Star Saddle Seat
Drafting chair buying guide
The market has hundreds of drafting chairs, and finding the best drafting chairs can be a daunting task. To easily find the comfiest drafting chair that offers you value for money and meets your comfort needs, the following factors must come into play.
Adjustability
One of the top things to consider when shopping for a highly comfortable drafting chair is the adjustability options it offers you.
Go for a model that lets you customize its seat, the backrest, armrests, and even the footrest height. This is the surest way to get the most ergonomic feel out of your chair. Some chairs even come with adjustable lumbar support, allowing further customization for a fully ergonomic experience.
Ideally, more adjustment options translate into a more ergonomic fit. Avoid chairs that offer little to no adjustment options.
Comfort
Besides adjustability, there are additional features to look for to ensure you get the best drafting chairs for your comfort needs.
The best drafting chair should feature lumbar support that perfectly contours your natural spine shape to allow long sitting hours without getting backaches.
You should also ensure the chair you pick features adequate padding for the arms, back, and seat areas. This is to help relieve pressure on these parts of your body and make the chair more comfortable.
Waterfall-edged seats are also a great option since they alleviate pressure at the back of your legs and facilitate hours of comfort.
We also advise you to look for a chair with a breathable back to ensure optional airflow and keep your back from sweating when sitting in your chair for long hours.
Weight capacity
Like standard office chairs, the drafting chairs also come with weight limits. It’s, therefore, important that you pick a chair that can comfortably support your specific body weight.
Most of the top drafting chairs on our list above have a weight limit of around 250lbs and will safely support most users with average body size.
However, some models can go as high as 300lbs or more and are the perfect choice for plus-size users.
Durability
You should also ensure you pick a chair that’s well made and built to last. Take your time to inspect the seat cushion padding, armrests, gas cylinder, caster wheels, and upholstery.
Make sure the chair comes with a sturdy base for durability and stability. Look for a chair with an aluminum or steel base instead of plastic ones. You should also ensure the chair features a sturdy metal cylinder for added durability.
High-density seat and back padding are also a plus for the chair’s longevity. The upholstery should be high-quality and easy to maintain so it can stand the test of time. Models that come with double-wheel casters are more solid.
Overall, the best drafting chairs should feature a build quality that matches their pricetags. This is the surest way to ensure you get value for your money.
Budget
Drafting chairs usually cost less than standard office chairs. Nevertheless, they vary in pricing depending on their build quality, features, and even the manufacturer.
You should consider how much you’re willing to spend on a drafting chair. This helps you narrow down your list of options and makes selection even easier.
Instead of blindly investing your chair, inspect it alongside the factors we’ve just mentioned above and see if it’s worth the price tag it displays.
Frequently Asked Questions:
What is the point of a drafting chair?
The point of a drafting chair is to make it comfortable for you to work at standing desks, drafting tables, counters, or any other elevated workspace. These chairs are suitable for office workers, artists, engineers, architects, draftsmen, and even laboratory workers who usually work at a drafting table or high worktop.
Are drafting chairs comfortable?
Drafting chairs are incredibly comfortable. However, these chairs are built differently and have varying comfort scores. So, make sure you check the ergonomic features like lumbar support, padded seat and back, mesh back, etc., to ensure it offers you excellent comfort. All the top chairs featured in our list above are made for ultimate comfort.
Can I use a drafting chair at a normal desk?
You can use a drafting chair at a normal desk as it has an extensive height adjustment range that allows for use in both normal and standing desks. However, some drafting chairs remain quite tall in their lowest setting and aren’t suitable for regular desks.
Is a drafting chair good for your back?
A drafting chair is good for your back if it has ergonomic features like built-in lumbar support and a backrest. These are some of the crucial aspects of a chair that support your back and enable you to maintain the natural spine curve to eliminate back problems.
Our verdict
That’s it for our list of the best drafting chairs to use with your standing desk setup. Drafting chairs are usually taller than traditional office chairs. They will elevate you to the perfect height to comfortably work on the standings desk.
The top chairs featured in this guide offer you great ergonomics, a wide range of adjustments, long-lasting build quality, and come at competitive prices. Whether you’re an office worker, artist, or architect and want a drafting chair that offers you long hours of comfort, you’ll find the perfect fit from our top options above.
Make sure you do your research well before you spend on any drafting. This is important to ensure you get a chair that meets your unique needs and preferences. Follow our buying advice to help you easily select a drafting chair that gives value for money.