An Ergonomic Office Chair with Headrest: Where and Why? 

Looking for an ergonomic chair with a headrest, but don’t know which one to get?

Or are you thinking of getting an ergonomic chair with a headrest, but just need that little push to validate your purchase?

Whether you're simply looking for a chair or just looking for a justified reason to purchase an ergonomic chair with a headrest, we got you covered! 

Things you probably haven’t been warned about 

1. Having a headrest is not always better

There’s often a misconception that you must get a chair with a headrest, but it’s actually not always a good option! 

If the fit of the headrest isn’t suitable for you, it basically defeats the purpose of having one in the first place.  

2. What to look out for when choosing a headrest 

How do you choose a good headrest? More importantly, what is even considered a good headrest?

It all depends on you.

A good headrest for Tom may not be a good headrest for Harry or Dick – if Tom, Dick, and Harry are of different heights.

So in order to have a good headrest for you, the first step is to find a chair that suits your body build. Ideally, it should be a chair that comes with adjustable parts.

This way, its headrest should be able to be adjusted to a comfortable height, depth, and angle, so that your head and neck are properly supported in good posture and not forced into an awkward position. 

2. You may have to make a trip to the showroom  

Since we’ve established that a good headrest is one that can be customised to fit you, it’s no surprise that you may have to make a trip down to a showroom to physically test out the chair and its headrest before you make your purchase.

We’ve previously written an article about the importance of visiting showrooms, and why you should be practicing that in the first place. Read it if you’re not sure if that trip down is worth it or not! 

Benefits of a headrest  

So, how exactly does a headrest benefit you besides keeping you more comfortable in your chair? 

For starters, having a headrest will help your posture overtime.

We all tend to slouch while we’re working – and there’s no shame in that! However, slouching or pretty much any form of poor posture in your chair for prolonged hours a day can eventually lead to back pains and illnesses. 

With a headrest, your shoulders and neck will be protected. The headrest acts as a support whenever you lean back on it, and it keeps your head and neck properly aligned in a good posture regardless if you’re upright or reclined in your seat.

It also lessens the risk of getting neck or back pains, which makes it extremely uncomfortable to work!

The ideal headrest should also add more support to an ergonomic chair, which is designed to promote good posture and stop you from hunching or slouching while seated.

However, if an ergonomic chair lacks a headrest, it doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t buy it! At the end of the day, it all boils down to your preference but they definitely do provide extra support for your body.

And with a good posture, you'll see improvements in your health and productivity! Read here to find out more about the importance of a good posture and how you can attain it.

Now, the question is: Which ergonomic chair with a headrest should you buy? 

The best office chairs with headrests 

To save you some time, we’ve compiled five different chairs with headrests from different price points for your choosing!

Rest assured that each of these chairs come with adjustable features, so you won’t have to worry about purchasing a chair that isn’t comfortable. 

ErgoTune Supreme

The ErgoTune Supreme boasts 11 points of adjustability, but its notable features include its headrest and adjustable lumbar support!

The TriTune 3D Support headrest keeps your head and upper spinal columns supported throughout the day. It can also be freely adjusted in terms of height and depth. As for the angle, it can be adjusted up to 60 degrees.

With these adjustments in a headrest, you can easily prop your head up at a comfortable angle without putting too much pressure on your shoulders even while you're in recline.

As for the rest of the chair, the ATLAS Auto Tuning Lumbar Support shifts automatically with you whenever you move in the chair, making sure to provide sufficient support for your back throughout the day. 

The ErgoTune Supreme is also made with Duraweave Mesh, so you'll always feel cool while you're in your seat! This comes in especially handy in Singapore’s hot and humid weather – it certainly is an unpleasant feeling to leave your seat feeling sweaty and sticky.

Best of all, the ErgoTune Supreme comes with a whopping 12-year warranty and free delivery in Singapore.

Getting all those adjustable features, a long warranty, and free delivery for just $599? It's definitely a steal. 

Steelcase Gesture

Source: Steelcase

On its own, the Steelcase Gesture is an ergonomic office chair loved by many office workers!

The backrest of the chair has a core equaliser which connects the back of the chair with the seat. This eliminates any possible gaps in your lumbar, which is essential for maintaining a good posture while you recline.

Unfortunately, the headrest must be added on at an additional cost. However, it still does work well as it protects your head and your neck while you work. It is height adjustable and can be raised up to 12cm vertically! It measures 20 by 26cm.

The headrest can also be tilted up to 10cm, and the cushion can be rotated 90 degrees.

Some users of average height have reported that the headrest was a little too high for them. Though with that being said, majority of the users still enjoy the gesture and strongly recommend new buyers to get it with a headrest. 

It's a promising ergonomic chair with lots of happy customers, but it's also pretty pricey at $1,972 with the headrest. This price doesn't include shipping yet either! 

Nightingale CXO

Source: Nightingale

The Nightingale CXO is labelled as one of the best ergonomic chairs with headrests as it is extremely comfortable and it's also of good quality.

The chair and headrest are padded with their house brand ENSORB memory foam, which makes it soft and comfy to sink in while you type away at your desk. The headrest is also adjustable in height and tilt angle as well!

With these adjustments, you can keep your head supported and comfortable throughout the day. With the headrest, the height of the chair ranges from 120cm to 139cm.

Unfortunately, this makes the chair more suitable for petite users as it accommodates their height better.

Unlike many other headrests, the headrest has a built-in coat hanger at the back as well!

Do note, however, that this chair is only available in the US.  

Humanscale Freedom Headrest

Source: Take A Seat

Rated highly by the New York Times for its high standard of sitting, the headrest is one of the unique selling points for the chair.

The adjustable headrest can be extended to a height of 12cm vertically. It can also cradle your head and neck while you recline so you can relieve the stress on your shoulders and remains in a neutral position while you’re seated upright.

What’s interesting about this headrest is that it’s actually moves with you as you’re seated. The articulating headrest moves with the user, allowing you to move as you please without the hassle of constantly having to adjust your headrest position!

To add on to the unique headrest, the chair’s recline mechanism is also special. It’s different from traditional mechanisms as it automatically adjusts the recline for the user by combining the user’s body weight and the law of physics.

This chair is available in Singapore, but carries a hefty price tag at $1,300! 

Ergomeister FAEZERG 

Source: Ergomeister

To put it simply, the Ergomeister FAEZERG is an affordable ergonomic chair that comes with an adjustable headrest.

The headrest measures 27cm by 15cm, and the height can be raised to 10cm. It can also be tilt adjusted up to 45 degrees upwards and 20 degrees downwards! This means that you can freely tilt the headrest until your neck and back of your head are comfortable.

In addition to the adjustable headrest, the Ergomeister FAEZERG also comes with an adjustable lumbar support. Adjustable lumbar supports are crucial in this day and age, especially when you’re sitting at your desk for prolonged periods of time due to working from home.

The chair is also made with Air-Scape mesh, which offers round the clock ventilation while you’re seated.

The chair comes with a 60 day trial and a 15-year warranty at $899 as well – though if you’re looking to save some money, the ErgoTune Supreme is $300 cheaper. 

A chair without a headrest

To emphasise again, getting a chair with a headrest is only helpful if it is positioned correctly!

If you can’t seem to find one that fits you just right, or if you’ve realised that you don’t want a chair with a headrest any more, we got you covered too, with the ErgoTune Classic.

Made from the same Duraweave Mesh and equipped with the ATLAS Auto Tuning lumbar support as well, the ErgoTune Classic is a very affordable ergonomic office chair at just $399.