How Long Should An Office Chair Last?

Office chairs are one of the essential office equipment on which you spend hours and years of your life. A good quality chair ensures your comfortable sitting and increases productivity.

On the other hand, a poor-quality chair may lead to some accidents, discomfort, and severe health concerns in the long run. So, you want to ensure you’re getting the best chair while choosing one.

However, everything breaks down sooner or later. An office chair is no different and cannot last for a lifetime. But if you know the material, quality, and lifespan of office chairs, you can plan well and make sure your investment does not go in vain.

So, many of you might be wondering how long should an office chair last. We’re here to answer that. Plus, we will provide tips on choosing a good quality chair and maintaining it properly so you can save yourself plenty of hassle and money in the long run.

Key Takeaways

• An average office chair can last between seven to ten years, depending on the material, build quality, and usage. However, chairs from reputed manufacturers may even last 12 to 15 years.
• If your office chair is not correctly maintained, repaired, or used with poor habits, it can drastically affect its lifespan.
• When you find a visible crack or faulty seat height or feel discomfort and repairing is not a good choice, you can buy a new office chair.

How long does an office chair last?

An office chair should last between 5 to 10 years before you need to buy a new one. But the number varies on different factors, such as the chair’s brand, material, design, build quality, weather, usage, and maintenance.

A poor-quality chair may break down within a year, while a top-class chair from a reputed company like Herman Miller or Steelcase will last more than 10-12 years. In addition, if you use a chair for 5 hours per day rather than intending to use it for 8+ hours, it will last longer.

So, the simple answer varies on multiple considerations, and it’s worth considering everything when you’re purchasing and using an office chair. Below we discuss the lifespan of different types of office chairs:

Office chair fabric

Fabric office chairs deal well with daily usage and wear but may age quicker than other materials. They can get torn, or the fabric seating and look sunken in areas. More or less, a typical fabric office chair lasts around seven-eight years. We recommend you research whether the fabric chair you’re buying meets your requirement and office setting.

Leather office chair

Proper maintenance ensures a good leather office chair can last more than ten years. They should therefore be at the top of your selection of comfortable seats that are more durable. Additionally, if you routinely treat the leather with suitable oils, it will stay flexible and soft.

Mesh office chair

Mesh office chairs are expected to last only around five years because of their lightweight construction and stylish ventilation-focused design. Although more comfortable than other materials, mesh begins to sag more quickly. You might have to give up comfort if you want a mesh office chair to be more durable.

The lifetime of gaming office chairs

A gaming chair can last at least two years, although most owners keep theirs for three to five. If a gaming chair is meant for workplace use, usage and upkeep may increase or decrease its lifespan.

What Affects The Lifespan Of An Office Chair?

Although office chairs come with a warranty and expected lifetime, you cannot always say if they will only complete the lifespan and you are done with them. A bunch of factors may help the chairs last shorter or longer. Let’s see what those are.

Materials

Unlike everything else, the materials of a chair come first when we are talking about lifespan. Cheap plastic-made chairs tend to break down sooner than aluminum-made ones. In addition, chairs made of metal or wood will last longer.

Build quality

If a chair is manufactured with high-quality control, it will last longer than one with no oversight. Minor defects in the manufacturing process can affect drastically in the long run. It might cause your chair’s casters, levers, handles, and knobs to break, making it impossible for you to modify it.

Usage duration

Chairs used four hours a day outlast those used eight hours a day. Additionally, if a chair is not utilized for several shifts by multiple persons, it is less likely to last longer. More usage results in more accumulated damage and deterioration.

Usage intention

Meeting room chairs, which are occasionally used, should not be placed in an executive office. As they are not designed to be used all day, they will break sooner.

Environmental impact

A clean and tidy place is mandatory for a chair to last longer. Dirt and grime can get into chair fabrics and cushions if the chairs are used in a warehouse or factory. In addition, workers or construction supervisors wearing dirty, rough jeans and belts with sharp objects can damage a chair sooner than expected. Did you also know that exposing your chair to intense heat and sunlight all the time will hasten its damage?

Fabric quality

Leather chairs may last many years with proper maintenance. However, depending on the fabric’s quality, fabric chairs may not last as long.

Fabric quality

Regular maintenance helps a chair last long. If you regularly repair and replace tools and parts when they are slightly damaged, lubricate mechanisms, and keep the fabric clean, the chair will surely outlast the warranty.

Poor habits

Swinging the chair around constantly, altering the height, and rushing it up and down rooms will cause it to break sooner.

Risks of using old office chairs

You cannot replace your chair frequently, but you can maintain them well. However, old office chairs may lead to some problems if ignored or not regularly maintained, such as:

1. Sitting on old chairs keeps your back in an uncomfortable position for extended periods. It can be an ache in the back and lead to severe back problems in the long term.
2. If a chair malfunctions and becomes unmovable, it will affect the circulation in your legs and shoulders. Overall, it may affect the blood circulation of your body.
3. If the gas cylinder of an old office chair becomes ineffective due to excessive weight, it will then lead to malfunction. However, it’s not hard to repair the cylinder.

When do you need to replace your office chair?

You could consider throwing away your office chair if it appears broken or is close to its warranty period. On the other hand, you can get the chair fixed by contacting the manufacturer if it is not the end of the guarantee period.

However, if a leg breaks off, the back mechanism malfunctions, or there is some significant mechanical problem with the chair, you may need to replace it. Here are several scenarios in which you might want to get a new office chair:

Warranty is almost over

You might wish to replace the chair if it has torn and worn from use and the warranty is about to expire so you can use it. Naturally, whether you can replace the chair under warranty will determine this.

Visible cracks

A leather chair’s fabric can frequently be repaired if there are rips and splits. Repairing leather chairs, however, seems complicated and often costs as much as purchasing a new chair.

Damaged parts

It may be time to replace the chair if the pneumatic levels can no longer raise and lower it, if the armrests are damaged, or if the wheels are faulty. An ergonomic chair must be adjusted to function correctly.

Faulty seat height

Your neck muscles will be strained, and you won’t be able to view a computer screen at the correct angle if the seat height of an office chair is not appropriately adjusted. If you’re looking for an ergonomic chair, you should avoid those with this major flaw.

Discomfort

If a chair doesn’t feel comfortable, it needs to be adjusted. Try adjusting your office chair’s armrests and backrests. It could be time for a new chair if you are having trouble relaxing in your existing one.

Movement not smooth

Another sign of a low-quality office chair is unbalanced caster wheel movement, which means you should fix it or get a new one.

Flattened Cushion

A soft foam layer should be used to cushion the seat of an office chair. To prevent back pain, cushioning is crucial. The cushioning’s excessive compression could result in lower back pain, which would decrease productivity and possibly even force workers to take time off.

Loose parts

Nothing you can do to fix worn-out chair parts that accumulate over time. It might only require a few bolts to be tightened or a chair’s spring tension to be changed. Or perhaps the plastic of the frame itself is deteriorating. The parts only need to be changed.

How To Buy A Good Office Chair?

The selection of the ideal office chair on a tight budget might be confusing because office chairs come in a variety of sizes and styles. You can tell whether a chair will last long by looking at the price, warranty, and brand. We have outlined some criteria for you to consider while buying an office chair.

Features

Numerous mid-range office chairs come with excellent ergonomic features that are alluring. Still, after using the chairs for a year or two, you can notice that some of these functions aren’t functioning effectively. So, when selecting a chair, always look for ergonomic qualities.

Material

People commonly discover that cheap office chairs come with low-quality materials. If you apply pressure to the chair, this shoddy material begins to break or sway. Both mesh and cloth office chairs are durable. Reputable office chair manufacturers use both materials.

Build Quality

The build quality of an office chair significantly impacts how long it will last. If the chair you have were not built well, it wouldn’t last for very long after that.

Brand

There are many different chair brands you can choose from, but Herman Miller, Steelcase, Haworth, Hon, and Neuhaus are often the most durable.

Price

Frequently, office chairs cost less than $50, while more expensive chairs cost up to $2000. Spending money on a reputed brand is required if you want a chair that will endure longer than five years.

Warranty

A chair’s warranty is an excellent indicator of its life expectancy. Most office chairs with a warranty of one year or less cannot be utilized for longer than two years. The ideal chair is a Herman Miller Aeron or any Steelcase chair with a 10-year or more extended warranty.

Tips for making your office chair last longer

• Vacuum the chair regularly

Regular vacuuming can prolong life and maintain the cleanliness of your office chair. Office chairs accumulate a lot of filth and dust, which can eat away your chair’s fabric and cause it to lose cushion and comfort.

• Using oils and creams

One of the most lasting materials for office chairs is leather; when combined with routine maintenance, you have a chair that will last a lifetime. Leather chairs can be cleaned with a conventional vacuum, but they will last longer if you follow up with a wipe-down and saddle soap or leather cream.

• Never neglect the wheels and caster

Your chair’s wheels bear the most weight and are prone to accumulating hair or dust. The wheels can break or become loose if they aren’t kept clean with a vacuum or a can of compressed air. Lubrication has a significant role in extending the life of your office chair. Spray on them about every six months to keep them functioning correctly.

• Fix loose parts

Office chairs in the lower price category may eventually break or lose pieces like screws or levers. This won’t be a big deal if you spend more on a better chair. Your office chair will last longer if you keep an eye on these, make sure no pieces are misplaced, and have any damages repaired.

See Also: Are Office Chair Wheels Universal?

FAQs

Final Thoughts

An office chair’s longevity is determined by various variables, including the materials used in its construction, the environment in which it is used, and the frequency of use. You can extend the life of your office chair and postpone the need to replace it immediately by doing appropriate chair maintenance.

It’s trickier than you might think to decide when to change an office chair. There are many things to look at, including whether its components are still functional if it looks worn and whether it still provides the same level of comfort as when it was brand-new. Consider replacing your chair with a new one if the facts apply to your chair.