Have you ever questioned why certain office chairs cost more than others? The cost of an office work chair is affected by a variety of elements, from durability to ergonomic features.
If you’re shopping for office chairs, you might be tempted to select the least expensive one. It’s important to note, too, that more expensive office chairs may offer more ergonomic features and personalization possibilities.
Some pricey task chairs, in our opinion at Egyptian Workspace Partners, are worthwhile investments. Even so, we recognize that what’s correct for one person might not be the ideal choice for another.
We’ll discuss the benefits of more expensive work chairs in this article and even provide you examples of some of our favorite models.
Why Are Office Desk Chairs So Expensive?
Research and Development
The best ergonomic task chairs are backed by years of research and development. These chairs are usually more expensive because the cost of research and development is built into the final product.
Plus, you’re paying for a chair that’s designed to save your body from pain and stress. For example, the Steelcase Gesture was inspired by a global study that focused on the postures of over 2,000 people in six continents. In this study, Steelcase discovered there were nine new postures that were not being properly addressed by other office chairs on the market. In response, they spent years developing the Gesture, which was specifically designed to support the modern workplace’s interactions with technology, as well as a greater range of postures and users.
Comfort of Seat
You should prioritize comfort for your workplace in the same way that you do for your sleep, especially if you spend a lot of time in an office chair.
Commercial-grade foam typically makes up the seat cushion of high-end office chairs. This foam conforms to your natural form for a fully unique seating experience and is akin to memory foam.
For instance, the dynamic seat cushion of the Steelcase Series 2 uses adaptive seat bolstering to provide immediate comfort and adjust to each user’s particular shape.
Even if these chairs are more expensive, they will keep you comfortable all day while you perform required duties. The seat cushions won’t degrade or compress over time, either.
Warranty
Always think about the warranty, what it covers, and most crucially, what it excludes when purchasing an office chair.
The warranty gets better the more expensive the chair is. Expensive office chairs have extended warranties that practically cover everything because they are composed of high-quality materials and are built to last.
Higher-end office chairs typically include 10-year, 12-year, or lifetime warranties that cover repairs and replacements for mechanics, cylinders, textiles, and other items.
For instance, Steelcase’s limited global warranty applies to the Think. While textiles are protected for somewhere between five and twelve years, structural components are covered for the lifetime of the owner.
Low-budget office chairs either come with a limited warranty or no warranty at all. If these chairs are warrantied, it’s only for a few years, and not all parts are covered.
Build Quality
No one wants an office chair that’s wobbly or breaks easily. Regardless of what your budget is, you want a chair that’s made with quality materials and stands the test of time. Some office chairs cost more because they’re made of materials such as wood, aluminum, or high-end plastic. They have more fabric and finish options, as well as flexible mesh backs for better airflow.
These ergonomic chairs are specifically designed to last anywhere from 10 to 15 years, which is why they’re so much more expensive than other task chairs on the market. As a Steelcase product, the Series 1 is made out of quality materials and can even support users weighing up to 400 pounds. It’s also tested more than 80 times at higher weight capacities to exceed BIFMA testing standards. To cut down on costs, low-budget office chairs are made of cheap plastic. They have flimsy mechanisms, almost no padding, and very few adjustments.
Choices for Customization
Everybody deserves a task chair for the office that is specially made for them. Fortunately, some office chairs offer countless customizing choices.
More pricey office chairs offer a lot of customization options. These chairs are more expensive since they come in so many different colors, bases, frame finishes, and back options.
They also have literally thousands of options for fabric, vinyl, leather, and mesh upholstery.
For instance, the Steelcase Amia offers three frame finishes, two exterior back options, and five upholstery options, including fabric, fabric treated to repel soil, 3D knit material, leather, and vinyl.
Cheaper office chairs typically only have one or two fabric options at most because they are straight out of a catalog.
Inflation
Of course, we shouldn’t ignore inflation. You can’t really expect office chairs to cost the same as they did in the past because everything is now more expensive.
“But inflation shouldn’t result in a price increase this large!”
Take into account that the dollar has increased in price by around 50%. In other words, prices in 2022 will be 1.5 times more than they were in 2000.
This, along with the reasons mentioned above, make it evident why ergonomic seats cost more than you might anticipate.
Takeaway
As you can see, there are numerous factors that contribute to the higher cost of modern desk chairs. It shouldn’t be surprising that they cost more because they have better ergonomics, are made of high-quality materials, and have longer warranties. Simply simply, by spending money on a good ergonomic office chair, you are getting your money’s worth.
Having said that, don’t choose a less expensive chair at the expense of your physical and mental health. Invest in a fantastic ergonomic chair from ErgoTune right away if you want to make your workdays significantly more comfortable and productive. You won’t want to sit in any other chair ever again after using one of our high-quality chairs. Even better, you may benefit from a massive 12-year warranty, which shows how sturdy these chairs are.
