The One Chair Selection Hack Every Ergonomics Consultant Should Know (and Teach Clients)

Let’s be honest:

Chairs are one of the trickiest pieces of ergonomic equipment to recommend.

We’ve all had clients who knew instantly when a chair felt “just right.” And others who thought a chair felt great at first... only to find themselves in discomfort weeks later, questioning their investment and wondering if their body is just “broken.”

This blog post is for you, the ergonomics consultant. Because chairs are probably the number one thing clients ask us about—and when it comes to selecting the right one, our advice can save them hundreds (if not thousands) of dollars and a ton of frustration.

First, a Quick Reminder: Not All Ergonomic Chairs Are Created Equal

Even among chairs labeled “ergonomic,” there’s a wide spectrum of comfort, fit, and adjustability. And in today’s market, many high-end chairs have similar materials (memory foam, mesh), similar features, and very similar price tags—making it hard for our clients to tell them apart.

That’s where our role becomes critical.

The Common Pitfall: Not Enough Time Spent Sitting Before Deciding

Whether a client is purchasing from a catalog, a showroom, or choosing from a pool of available chairs in the office, the most common mistake they make is rushing the decision.

As consultants, we need to remind clients: You can’t evaluate a chair based on a quick 2-minute test sit.

Here's the Chair Selection Hack You Can Recommend

💡 Have your client sit in each chair for at least 18 minutes.

Why 18 minutes? A study by Cascioli et al. (2016) found that this is the minimum time needed to distinguish meaningful comfort differences between similar seat surfaces based on in-chair movement (aka fidgeting). If someone is fidgeting or constantly shifting, that’s a red flag.

Encourage your clients to:

• Schedule dedicated time to sit in each chair they’re considering
• Take notes on any discomfort, pressure points, or subtle shifts they notice
• Pay attention to how much they move (or need to move) in the chair

Bonus points if they can trial a chair in their actual workstation. Some vendors will loan chairs, and if you have relationships with suppliers, you may be able to facilitate this.

Pro Tip: Set Up a Mini Chair Trial Program

If you're consulting within a larger organization, consider setting up an ergonomic showroom or chair loaning system.

In my previous corporate ergonomics role, I coordinated with local vendors to keep demo chairs on site. Staff signed out chairs for two-week trials. It eliminated buyer’s remorse and boosted confidence in ergonomic upgrades. Win-win.

If a formal showroom isn’t possible, you can still adapt this strategy by working with a vendor who delivers demo chairs directly to the office or home.

Bottom Line for Consultants

Comfort is personal—and often subtle. The best chair might not reveal itself instantly. Help your clients slow down the decision and pay attention to their body's cues, especially fidgeting and discomfort.

This simple time-based strategy adds objectivity to what often feels like a subjective (and overwhelming) process.

Reference:
Cascioli, V., Liu, Z., Heusch, A., & McCarthy, P. (2016). A methodology using in-chair movements as an objective measure of discomfort for the purpose of statistically distinguishing between similar seat surfaces. Applied Ergonomics, 54, 100–109.

If you found this useful, feel free to share it with other consultants or on LinkedIn. It’s a small shift in process that can make a big impact for your clients.