5 Common Office Chair Features - Explained

Most of the office chairs available today include multiple ergonomic and support features or functional improvements as compared to office chairs of the past. The top of the line ergonomic computer or task chairs built today, may seem to have more levers or adjustments than a small plane. If you happen to own the Piper 4000 office task chair this article is not for you, you may want to locate your manual for additional help locking the tray table in the upright position.

For those who own or are looking to purchase a base to mid range office chair in the future, I hope this list assists you in your selection and/or operation of your office chair.

#1 Pneumatic Seat Height Adjustment:

Most office, computer, task, ergonomic and even executive chairs offer this function. Quite simply this describes how the seat height is raised or lowered. A pneumatic cylinder is attached to the chairs mechanism located under the seat cushion. This cylinder allows for quick and easy adjustment throughout a specified height range. This adjustment is often accomplished through the use of a paddle or lever located underneath the seat cushion on either the right or left side of the chair.

#2 Tilt with Adjustable Tilt Tension:

Manufacturers may sometimes list tilt and tilt tension adjustment as two separate functions. I feel that they are closely related and the fact that you almost can't have one without the other, to be reason to treat them as one feature. Most types of task, computer and executive chairs feature tilt with adjustable tilt tension. Tilt is what enables the user to rock or recline backwards to a set limit defined by the chairs mechanism or control plate. The tilt tension adjustment is modified by turning a usually large round knob found underneath the seat toward the front of the chair. (Some chair manufacturers are moving the tilt tension control to a lever or dial elsewhere on the chair, but most are still located in the front.) The tilt tension knob will increase or decrease the amount of force needed to make the chair rock or recline backward. Usually, several turns of the tilt tension knob are required to loosen or tighten the tension to a noticeable level.

#3 Tilt Lock:

This function sounds easy but you would be surprised at how many people have difficulty with this, and it's not always their fault. One of the problems with tilt lock is that not all manufacturers use the same lever or put the lever in the same area to control this function leading to various ways a chairs tilt lock adjustment could be modified. Consulting your chairs owners manual is always the best practice to help familiarize your self with your chairs specific controls. In general some manufactures may use levers or paddles like the ones used for seat height adjustment to control tilt lock, or many use a single lever or rod that needs pushed in or pulled out to lock or unlock the chairs tilt. Usually, once a chair is locked in a tilt position it cannot be unlocked until the user reclines or tilts back a few degrees further relieving pressure from the lock bar or pin so that the chair may be reset back to the original position. Tilt lock is also used to lock out tilt completely when the chair is in the upright position.

#4 (2-to-1) Synchro Tilt:

A lot of computer and task chairs offer this feature. Basically, this function allows the backrest to recline twice as fast as the seat cushion or at a 2-to-1 ratio, this allows the user to recline while keeping their seat relatively level to the floor instead of the traditional "rocking chair" type recline.

#5 Back Height Adjustment:

Many computer, task, ergonomic and drafting chairs now offer this feature. Back height adjustment allows the user to position the backrest's lumbar support area within a fixed range for customized support. Back height adjustment is often modified by turning a know located on the backrest stem or frame. Once this knob is loosened the backrest can be raised or lowered to the desired position, then the knob is tightened to hold position. Ratchet back height adjustment is also becoming more popular with some newer models of office chairs, this eliminates the use of a knob and is set or controlled by simply raising or lowering the backrest to the desired level and then locked into position by use of the ratchet style frame stem.


Of course there are many other chair functions available on the market and depending on your personal preference, daily amount of time spent in a chair and your intended use you may need or want an office chair with more ergonomic controls or features. If so, please follow the link at the bottom of the page for more information and a large selection of available ergonomic office chairs. Your office chair is your home away from home, so proper support and comfort are a must.



Searching for a new computer chair or an ergonomic task chair? Shop Office Chairs Unlimited for all of your office seating needs, plus get free shipping on every chair we sell.

ERA Announces Quick Ship on Galaxy and Chairman

ERA Products, Inc. is a custom hand crafted manufacture of premium executive and heavy duty office chairs that feature a lifetime warranted all-steel frame and a GSA intensive use rating. Now ERA is offering two of their best selling models the Chairman and the Galaxy as part of their quick ship program and are able to be shipped out in 72 business hours as opposed to the normal (20) business days. Please visit www.OfficeChairsUnlimited.com to order your next big and tall chair today and save with guaranteed low prices and free shipping.

Buying A Used Office Chair May Cost You

I recently read that more and more people are purchasing used office chairs to save money. Being in the office furniture business myself, I was intrigued by this and with a little research found that in fact a lot of individuals and businesses were shopping at second-hand stores or using mediums such as Craigslist or local classifieds ads to furnish their offices.

It makes sense in a down economy to tighten our spending habits in every area possible, yet when shopping for office furniture, you need to be aware that one of the key components of most manufacture warranties is that they're usually non-transferable. If you can't prove that you're the original owner, the warranty may not apply to you.

Now depending on your situation this may not be that big of a deal. If you just need a task chair for your child's bedroom or a workbench area you may have in the basement or garage go ahead, save some money! But if you're actually going to use that bargain beauty for work, and plan on sitting in it for eight or more hours a day, you really need to think about your decision.

Today's office chairs are constantly evolving in design, fit-ment, ergonomic controls and customizable options, plus studies show that many office workers spend more time in their chair than they do in their own bed! Again, I realize we all need to pinch pennies and watch our spending but at what cost? A worn out office chair can be dangerous at worst and uncomfortable at best. A used chair can aggravate existing back problems, cause premature fatigue or simply break and cause one to fall over or out of their chair.

I'm not saying that all used office furniture is of poor quality, there are several reputable companies in the market that clean or re-condition lightly used office furniture and resell at a much lower than new price. I'm certainly not trying to bash Craigslist or the classified ads, I use them both regularly--what I'm saying is this, when it comes to selecting an office chair that you will be using on a routine basis for work or research, your health and comfort should be your main considerations. Even If you have to pay a little extra.

A quick internet search for an office task chairs or mesh back chairs will give you hundreds of results. There are also many online retailers competing for your business, so prices are lower now than they have been in years and many retailers even offer free shipping. So with a little research you may find a new and supportive office chair for a great price and in a lot less time than you may have spent searching the want ads.

Office Chairs Unlimited Announces Site Redesign

After 10+ years of building strong relationships with individuals and businesses across the U.S. Office Chairs Unlimited has recently undergone a complete site redesign.

Some of the main goals that were set and achieved by the redesign include improved web-page loading times, easier access to specific category pages, improved search and sort features and additional images that show multiple angles for each chair being offered.

Best sellers and Hot Sale Items categories were also improved upon to help customers quickly identify some of the most sought after products on our site. If you're in the market for a new office chair or just want to take a peek at the new site for yourself, check us out at Office Chairs Unlimited.com.