{"id":18379,"date":"2026-09-28T11:34:19","date_gmt":"2026-09-28T10:34:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/slouchonline.com\/us\/?p=18379"},"modified":"2026-09-28T11:34:20","modified_gmt":"2026-09-28T10:34:20","slug":"how-to-properly-adjust-your-office-chair","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/slouchonline.com\/us\/how-to-properly-adjust-your-office-chair\/","title":{"rendered":"How to properly adjust your office chair\u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

If you\u2019re working from home or stuck in the office for long stretches of time, you know that your chair can be your best friend or your worst enemy. When it\u2019s good, you\u2019ll feel supported and comfortable all day long. But when it\u2019s bad, enter back pain, a stiff neck and poor posture. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Whether you\u2019ve just received a brand-new office chair or you\u2019re making do with a second hand one, there are some adjustments you\u2019ll need to make to ensure it supports your back and neck. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

At Slouch, we believe in fully adjustable office chairs that can be specifically adapted to your body shape. That\u2019s why we only use molded foam for the seat, and why each of our chairs is tested for long-term support. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Many people don\u2019t understand what each of their chair levers does or why they\u2019re important, but we\u2019re going to change that. Here\u2019s how you can properly adjust your office chair for maximum comfort. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

What do we mean by posture & why does it matter?\u00a0<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Posture means the position you sit or stand in. Good posture is when your entire body is properly aligned. This is when your head is positioned properly over your shoulders, your spine follows its natural curve, and your weight is evenly distributed across both feet. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, when your body is misaligned, you get bad posture. This doesn\u2019t just mean you look hunched over or less professional \u2014 it causes strain and pain and can even lead to long-term musculoskeletal conditions. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Offices are a breeding ground for bad posture because we spend so long working at office furniture that doesn\u2019t necessarily fit our bodies well. That forces us to adapt using bad posture. That\u2019s why it\u2019s important to ensure that you\u2019re actively working to improve your posture and the environment that either helps or hinders it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. Adjust your seat height\u00a0<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The first adjustment to make is the height of your office chair. Your feet should rest flat on the floor, with your knees bent at a 90-degree angle. Your thighs should be roughly parallel to the ground, with your hips slightly above your knees.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is the optimal position for even weight distribution and will help prevent strain on your thighs or your lower back. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you can\u2019t seem to get this position right, then you might need a footrest. These are usually needed when your desk is on the higher side. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

2. Choose your seat depth\u00a0<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Not all office chairs come with a seat depth adjustment, but at Slouch, we think it\u2019s necessary for the ultimate back support, which is why all our home office chairs<\/a> come with adjustable seats.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

To choose the right depth, slide right to the back of the seat so you\u2019re supported by the backrest, then check the space behind your knees. Ideally, you want a small gap of around two to three fingers\u2019 width between the front of the chair and the back of your knee. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If the gap is too large, then bring the seat forward slightly and recheck the width to ensure it\u2019s comfortable. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

3. Correct your lumbar support\u00a0<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The natural curve in your lower back is known as your lumbar spine, and it supports the weight of your upper body. Without proper support, you may find that you slouch too much while working, which will only result in back and\/or neck pain. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Most ergonomic chairs come with an adjustable lumbar support that should line up with the curve of your lower back. Raise it or lower it until it sits right in that \u2018S\u2019 curve (usually around navel height). <\/p>\n\n\n\n

4. Get the armrests right\u00a0<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Another overlooked aspect of the office chair, but an important one. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The armrests should be set so that your elbows sit at a 90 to 100-degree angle when they\u2019re resting on the arms of your chair. Your shoulders should feel loose rather than hunched, and your wrists should stay straight when you\u2019re using the keyboard or mouse. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

You\u2019ll know if your armrests are too high because your shoulders will feel tense. Too low, and you might find that you lean or slump in your chair. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

5. Adjust your recline\u00a0<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The auto-adjusting recline on an office chair helps to balance your weight so the chair moves with you. You can lock this into place (Slouch office chairs have four locking positions to choose from), but actually, it\u2019s better for your spine to leave it in the unlocked position, allowing freer movement. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you do want to lock your auto recline into place, adjust it so you\u2019re leaning back a little (around 100 to 110 degrees). This will take the pressure off your lower back. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

6. Other considerations\u00a0<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

There\u2019s a lot to think about when adjusting your office chair to the right settings for you. Once you feel you\u2019re happy with the chair\u2019s adjustments, it\u2019s time to think about the rest of your desk. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Your monitor or screen should be about an arm\u2019s length away, and the top of the screen should sit about level with your eyes. This means you\u2019re not looking down or up at your monitor, which could cause pain in your neck. If your monitor is too low, then a monitor riser (or a sturdy pile of books) can really help. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Your keyboard and mouse should sit at the same height as your elbows so your forearms are parallel to the floor. They should be close enough so you\u2019re not having to stretch or reach awkwardly. We\u2019d even suggest that you keep pens and notebooks within arm\u2019s reach so you\u2019re not twisting for those either. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Adjusting your office chair isn\u2019t rocket science, but it can take a little bit of tweaking to find the right position for you. If you think you\u2019ve cracked it, use the chair for a day or two and adjust as necessary. Once you\u2019ve got the sweet spot, you\u2019ll never want to switch chairs again! <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Want to set up your new Slouch chair in your home office? See here for full installation instructions and useful setup videos<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

If you\u2019re working from home or stuck in the office for long stretches of time, you know that your chair can be your best friend or your worst enemy. When it\u2019s good, you\u2019ll feel supported and comfortable all day long. But when it\u2019s bad, enter back pain, a stiff neck and poor posture.  Whether you\u2019ve […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":491,"featured_media":18380,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-18379","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorised"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/slouchonline.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/18379","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/slouchonline.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/slouchonline.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/slouchonline.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/491"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/slouchonline.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=18379"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/slouchonline.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/18379\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":18381,"href":"https:\/\/slouchonline.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/18379\/revisions\/18381"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/slouchonline.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/18380"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/slouchonline.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=18379"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/slouchonline.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=18379"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/slouchonline.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=18379"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}