Office Chairs With Headrest

Why buy an office chair with a headrest?

An adult head is heavy, and when you sit upright your neck muscles hold it up all day. That is fine while you are working forwards at the keyboard. The moment you lean back, though, a chair without head support leaves your neck doing the work, and you end up perching on the edge of the seat or tipping your chin down to your chest. An office chair with a headrest gives your head a resting point in that reclined position, so your shoulders and upper back can switch off for a while.

A high back office chair with head support earns its place if you:

• Recline often - for calls, video meetings, reading documents or thinking something through.
• Sit for long days - home workers, programmers, writers, call centre staff and students revising for hours.
• Are tall - a standard mid-back chair stops below the shoulder blades on many people over 185cm.
• Use the same chair to game or watch films - you will spend a lot more time leaning back.
• Get stiff shoulders and neck at the end of the day - resting your head now and then gives those muscles a break.

If you always sit bolt upright and never lean back, it does very little, and a good mid-back office chair with strong lumbar support may suit you better. Have a look at our affordable ergonomic office chairs for options either way.

Types of office chair headrest

Not all head support is the same. The chairs in our range use four kinds, and the type matters more than the brand.

Adjustable headrests (2D, 3D and 4D)

A separate pad on a stem that you can move. The "D" is the number of ways it adjusts:

• 2D - up and down, plus tilt. The Newtral NT002 office chair uses this, and for most people it is enough.
• 3D - adds forward and back (depth), so you can bring the pad to your head instead of tipping your head back to find it. The FLEXISPOT ErgoX office chair is 3D.
• 4D - adds a second pivot, so the pad can sit flat against your head whether you sit upright or recline. The Hbada E3 Ultra is 4D biaxial.

More adjustment is only useful if the pad holds its position. Cheap stems can slowly slide down or flop back when you lean on them, the most common complaint in reviews.

Built-in head cushions

Big executive office chairs, such as the Efomao 3008UK, Efomao 3084UK and EXCEBET 3043, have a tall back with a thick padded head section built in. There is nothing to adjust, so they are simple and they never wobble, but the cushion is in a fixed place. Sit in it first if you can, or check the back height against your own seated height.

Headrest pillows

Gaming-style chairs like the Anda Seat Novis Ultra, Flash Furniture X20 and the Costway massage chairs use a padded pillow strapped to the backrest. You can slide it up or down and take it off, and it is soft, but it can drift out of place and it pushes your head forward if it is too thick for you.

High back without a separate headrest

Racing-style chairs such as the Iconic Apollon have a tall 85cm back whose top section supports your head. It works as long as the back is tall enough for you. A "high back office chair" on its own is not a headrest, though: many high back chairs stop at shoulder height.

How to set up your headrest

Head support in the wrong place is worse than none, because it pushes your head forward. Set it up like this:

1. Set the rest of the chair first. Seat height, seat depth, lumbar support and armrests, then the head pad last. HSE's guide to good posture at a workstation covers the basics: a 2-3cm gap between the front of the seat and the back of your knee, relaxed shoulders, and the top of the screen level with your eyes.
2. Sit right back in the seat with your back against the backrest and your eyes looking straight ahead.
3. Raise or lower the pad so it meets the back of your head around the bony ridge at the base of your skull, or the curve of your upper neck. It should not sit in the middle of your neck or on top of your head.
4. Bring it forward (3D and 4D headrests) until it just touches when you lean back slightly. It should not push your chin down when you sit up.
5. Angle the pad so it sits flat against your head in your normal recline position.
6. Recline and check again. If the pad shoves your head forward when you lean back, move it back or lower it.

Your head does not need to touch the pad while you type. Moving often matters more than any office chair: the NHS advice on neck pain is not to keep your neck in the same position for a long time, and the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy says staying still for long periods seems to matter more than posture itself.

Office chairs with headrest compared

Real figures from the office chairs in our range. Recline is the maximum backrest angle the chair lists; weight is the maximum user weight.

Chair	Head support	Recline	Max weight	Upholstery	Extras
FLEXISPOT ErgoX	3D adjustable	135°	130kg	Mesh	5D lumbar, 6cm seat slide
Hbada E3 Ultra	4D adjustable	-	-	Mesh back	3-zone lumbar, 5-year frame warranty
Newtral NT002	2D adjustable	126°	136kg	Mesh back	Auto lumbar, footrest
Steelcase Please	Fitted, adjustable	4 positions	-	Wool fabric	Seat depth, 12-year warranty
YERAIRR YR-7032	Adjustable	120°	200kg	PU leather	Flip-up arms
Efomao 3008UK	Built-in cushion	135°	200kg	PU leather	Footrest
Efomao 3084UK	Built-in cushion	3 positions	200kg	Fabric	Footrest
EXCEBET 3043	Built-in cushion	135°	180kg	Mesh	57.5cm XXL seat, pocket springs
Anda Seat Novis Ultra	Pillow	155°	120kg	PVC leather	Fits users up to 210cm
Flash Furniture X20	Pillow	145°	136kg	Faux leather	81cm back
Costway massage chair	Removable pillow	130°	160kg	PU leather	Massage, footrest
mfavour MFV 38	Pillow	180°	136kg	Leather	Lumbar cushion
Iconic Apollon	High back	135°	150kg	PU leather	4D arms, 85cm back

A dash means the listing doesn't give that figure.

Our picks by what you need

Best adjustable headrest for desk work

For a full working day, a mesh ergonomic office chair with a movable head pad is the safest choice. The FLEXISPOT ErgoX pairs 3D head support with adaptive lumbar support and seat depth adjustment. That last one matters, because the pad only lines up with your head if you are sat right back in the seat.

Best for leaning back with your feet up

The Newtral NT002 office chair has 2D head support, three lockable recline angles and a footrest that folds away under the seat. It is a good fit if you like to recline on calls or after lunch and still want proper support when you sit up to type.

Best for big and tall users

The Efomao 3008UK and 3084UK are built like armchairs: a padded head cushion, a deep 60cm seat and a 200kg rating. They suit bigger users who want something soft rather than a fiddly adjustable pad. Our big and tall office chairs have more choice.

Best gaming-style chair with a headrest pillow

If you want a deep recline for gaming as well as work, the Flash Furniture X20 goes from 87 to 145 degrees and has both a head and a lumbar pillow. The Anda Seat Novis Ultra reclines even further, to 155 degrees, and is sized for users up to 210cm.

What else to check on a desk chair with headrest

The head pad is only one part of the chair. A good office chair with headrest also needs:

• A height adjustable seat - a Class 4 gas lift is the stronger grade. The Newtral NT002, Iconic Apollon, EXCEBET 3043 and Costway all list one.
• Adjustable armrests - 3D or 4D arms let your shoulders drop. Flip-up arms, like the YERAIRR YR-7032's, let you tuck the chair under the desk.
• Good seat foam - high-density or cold-cure foam keeps its shape. The Anda Seat uses cold-cure foam and the Newtral a 7cm high-density cushion.
• Smooth swivel and castors - a solid 5-star base and castors that suit your floor. The Anda Seat's 60mm castors are listed for all surfaces.
• Easy assembly - most arrive flat-packed. Efomao says 15-30 minutes, EXCEBET 20-30.
• A long warranty - Steelcase gives 12 years on the Please; Hbada 3 years plus 5 on the frame, gas lift and castors.

Mesh, leather or fabric?

• Mesh stays cool, which helps if you sit for long hours, and mesh office chairs usually have the most adjustable head pads. See our mesh office chairs.
• PU leather is easy to wipe clean and looks smart in a home office, but it gets warm. Most built-in head cushions are leather. Browse our leather office chairs.
• Fabric is soft and breathes better than leather. The Steelcase Please uses a hard-wearing wool blend rated to 120,000 Martindale rubs.

Headrest chairs for tall people

Height is where head support matters most. On a fixed high back, check the backrest height: the Iconic Apollon's is 85cm, the Flash X20's 81cm and the Efomao 80cm. On an adjustable one, check how far the stem travels upwards. If you are well over six foot, look for chairs that list a maximum user height. The Anda Seat Novis Ultra lists 210cm.

Can you add a headrest to an office chair?

Often, yes. Clip-on headrests are sold for many mesh office chairs, and popular models such as the Herman Miller Aeron have dedicated aftermarket ones. Universal kits clamp to the backrest frame, so check the backrest width and shape before you buy. A simple neck pillow is another cheap option. If your chair is worn out anyway, a new office chair with properly fitted head support is usually the better buy. Our computer chairs under £500 include several.

Office chairs with headrest FAQs

Are office chairs with a headrest better?

Better if you recline. It supports your head and neck when you lean back, which takes strain off your shoulders and adds comfort. If you always sit upright and never lean back, it adds little.

Should my head touch the headrest all the time?

No. While you type, your head should be balanced over your shoulders and the pad can sit just behind it. It is there to take the weight when you lean back.

How high should an office chair headrest be?

The pad should meet the base of your skull or the curve of your upper neck when you sit right back in the seat. Too low and it pushes your head forward; too high and it does nothing.

Does a headrest help with neck pain?

It can make reclining more comfortable, but no chair fixes neck pain on its own. The NHS advises keeping your neck moving and not holding it in one position for long, so take regular breaks. See a GP or physiotherapist if pain lasts.

Is a gaming chair with a headrest good for office work?

For a few hours a day, yes. For full working days, an ergonomic office chair with adjustable head support, seat depth and adjustable arms usually fits better. Our black office chairs include both types.

What is the difference between 3D and 4D headrests?

A 3D pad moves up and down, forward and back, and tilts. A 4D one adds a second pivot so the pad can stay flat against your head at different recline angles.