You have to pay attention to the weight capacity. Normally I do that anyway, before I plop myself into a chair. After a few times of hearing a chair shriek under my weight, I got to be hyper sensitive to any suspicious noises from the chair. Big and tall chairs are actually rated up 400 lbs., with some going up to 500 lbs. That fact alone, reassures my mind when sitting in the chair, when I’m titling back.

Seat sizes and dimensions are a lot better in Big/tall office chairs. They are wider and deeper than your run of the mill office chair. It is easy to compare this measurement, look at the specs., when purchasing. No sense jamming yourself into a smaller chair, when you can squirm comfortably in a larger one.

Probably the best tip for choosing a big and tall office chair, in fact any office chair, is it’s adjustability. You should be able to adjust all aspects of the chair. Armrests, seat back, tilt and height are all crucial points that must be adjusted for maximum comfort. MensHealth puts out a figure that the average worker spends 74% of their day sitting down! Chiropractors report that sitting actually compresses your spine more than standing or lying down. Without a chair that be adjusted, your odds of back pain are greatly increased.

Look for more padding than a regular chair. Big/tall chairs have thicker seat cushioning than other office chairs. As time goes by, ordinary office chairs wear out faster because their padding is less dense. Heavy duty chairs have at least 4 inches of heavy duty padding. Check out the specs. to compare

The seat material also is a factor in the comfort when buying a chair. Now a days, mesh materials are very popular. They allow airflow to the seat, reducing temperature and discomfort. ( Not to mention gas……) Some fabrics can reduce heat up to 66%. Mesh office chairs are now a popular choice.

Lumbar support is a must have in a chair. With a lumbar support your spine can be fully supported. This means sitting for long periods of time will no be unpleasant. Quality big/tall chairs will have this feature.

Quality casters are great feature to look for. Casters with a wider base enable the chair user to get rid of a carpet mat. Once again compare regular casters with those installed on a heavy duty chair. Stay out of the ruts!

Think recline. University researchers in Scotland say the optimal recline to prevent lower back pain is a 135-degree tilt. Make sure your heavy duty chair can be set at this angle. Many inexpensive office chairs are not this adjustable. Your eyes should be aligned with your hips.