Mid-Back vs. High-Back Chair: A mid-back chair focuses on supporting your lower back. Often, a mid-back chair doesn’t have a headrest or neck support. A high-back chair, however, has a taller backrest and usually comes with a neck pad or head support. This doesn’t mean that a mid-back chair is worse than a high-back chair. Both chairs have their pros and cons.
If you are a desk worker, this is the article for you. Here we will try to explain the significant differences between the popular mid-back and high-back office chairs.
You might have heard about the advantages of ergonomic office chairs and if you want to buy one, just read our comparison regarding these two options. Both come with different characteristics and fit different needs.
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So without further ado, let’s look at mid-back vs. high-back chair differences and similarities and which would be best for your needs.
Why is it Essential to Know the Difference?
Knowing the difference between a mid-back and high-back office chair is vital, as it directly relates to your health. Generally, all ergonomic office chairs appear similar, yet certain aspects make a big difference in comfort and health.
For some, it may be challenging to choose between the two. If you don’t know what these chairs offer, you may buy the wrong type of chair; therefore, knowing the features of both these office chairs is more than essential.
Mid Back Chairs
What is a mid-back chair? A conventional mid-back chair is a chair that doesn’t come with an additional part that supports your head. The height of the seat is slightly lower than your shoulders. However, it offers a proper backrest feature.
The primary purpose of this type of chair is to ensure a reasonable amount of support to your mid and lower back. Although a variety of desk workers prefer a high-back office chair, it doesn’t serve as a good choice if you have a limited workspace.
If you need to perform many different tasks and move back and forth to more than one workstation, it would be appropriate to use a mid-back chair.
Why Opt for Mid Back Chair?
The mid-back office chair has a reasonable backrest, which is slightly lower than your shoulders. The main aim of this style is to offer the necessary support to the back and spine. It also protects the shoulder blade, therefore enhancing the overall level of comfort.
This is a good option when you usually use your chair for a short spell. Typically, it offers maximum support and comfort for less than 5 hours continuously. Therefore, it serves the purpose well for a conference or meeting room.
Advantages of Mid-Back Chairs
The following are some of the benefits of using a mid-back office chair.
- This type of chair ensures a better fit in most of the tighter workplaces, allowing you to move freely from one desk to another.
- Suitable for flexible workstations
- You have a lot of options when it comes to colors.
- Available in different designs such as ergonomic, ribbed, and modern
- Comes in both mesh and leather finish
High Back Chairs
What is a high-back chair? A high back chair is a chair that has a taller backrest that supports your neck. When it comes to appearance, the high-back chairs are bigger and higher than the mid-back chairs. The provision of the backrest ensures more support for your neck, shoulders, and back. These chairs are comfortable and practical in many ways.
Furthermore, these chairs come with a lot of adjustment options that you don’t get with the mid-back office chairs. If you are a tall person, it would be more appropriate for you to use a high-back chair.
Why opt for a High Back Chair?
Usually, the significant difference between the high-back and low-back chairs is the appearance. In fact, a high-back chair is more noticeable. There is an additional part known as a headrest, which makes it slightly bigger.
The chair offers additional support to the neck, lower/upper back, and shoulders. Compared to any other options, the high-back chairs offer a variety of adjustments. Besides, you must consider this type of chair if you continuously work long hours.
Also, high-back chairs offer sufficient support, even if you are slightly taller and don’t feel comfortable when sitting on a mid-back chair. Moreover, it is an excellent choice for those who suffer from backaches.
Advantages of High Back Chairs
The commonly experienced benefits of high-back chairs are as follows.
- The availability of a headrest helps to sit straight for long hours
- Lowers the chances of suffering from the issue of slouching
- Offers an appropriate upper and lower back support
- Ensures extended comfort, especially while working for more than 5 hours
Taking everything into consideration, mid-back and high-back chairs are just the tip of the iceberg in the vast world of office chairs. In fact, there are no less than ten. We gathered the complete list of the different types of office chairs in an article, so be sure to read it if you want to find better comfort at the office.
You may also want to read:
- Best Office Chair For Neck and Shoulder Pain
- Best Office Chair For Small Spaces
- Best Executive Leather Office Chairs
Final Words
Both the high-back and mid-back office chairs can be expensive. Although the mid-back chairs are relatively cheaper than the high-back chairs, it doesn’t suggest that you should buy them due to the price difference.
Therefore, when making such a purchase, it is essential to keep in mind the purpose for which you are buying such a chair. In the end, what matters are your needs and the available space to use an office chair.
It’s also important to note that your height is an important factor when deciding to buy a chair, especially if you are shorter than average. Getting the right office chair designed for short people would be your best bet.
If a chair meets your preferences, go for it irrespective of its price tag — your back will thank you for it.
