Recording and editing a podcast is no quick hobby. It takes hours to do your research, create a script, stick to a schedule, find special guests, and to perfect your recording voice – and that’s even before you actually get to recording.
What listeners don’t understand is that podcasters spend a lot of time sitting, which can be uncomfortable.
Finding the right chair for podcasting is as important as finding the right recording equipment, like a laptop and microphone.
The majority of podcasters prefer to sit when working, which can result in hours of back pain, neck pain, and bad posture. Sitting in the wrong chair can be detrimental to your health, and thus your productivity.
So, you need to find a chair suitable enough for maintaining your posture and preventing aches and pains while podcasting. Here is our guide to the best podcast chairs!
#1 Herman Miller Aeron
The Aeron office chair by Herman Miller redefines ergonomic seating with its cutting-edge design and technology. Crafted to ensure optimal posture and comfort, this chair boasts adjustability in all dimensions, breathable fabric, and eco-friendly materials. Available in three sizes, it’s a combination of luxury and sustainability, perfect for those long hours in front of the microphone.
Pros:
- Human-Centered Design: Engineered with the user’s comfort in mind, it promotes an open chest, relaxed shoulders, and aligned spine posture.
- Adjustability: From arm height, seat depth, to recline, it caters to individual preferences.
- Breathable Fabric: Ensures cool and comfortable seating even during prolonged use.
- Eco-Friendly: Up to 91% recyclable, with the Onyx variant made from ocean-bound plastic.
- Size Variability: Three available sizes cater to a broad range of users.
- Health and Environment Conscious: Awarded the Indoor Advantage Gold certification, guaranteeing a reduction in indoor air pollutants.
- Comprehensive Warranty: A 12-year warranty from Herman Miller assures long-term quality and durability.
Cons:
- Price Point: As a premium product, it might be on the pricier side for some consumers.
- Weight: At 40 lbs, it’s relatively heavy, making it less portable.
- Design Specificity: Its unique design might not align with all office aesthetics or personal preferences.
- Fully Assembled: While it comes fully assembled, which can be a pro for some, others might find it difficult to transport or fit through narrow doorways initially.
#2 Sihoo Ergonomic Office Chair
The key to finding a good podcast chair is to find a chair that would be used in a home office.
Office chairs are ergonomically designed to support the spine, ensuring your back is supported, straight, and aligned while working. As it’s so common to hunch over the microphone or laptop while podcasting, this is essential.
If you don’t want to be sat completely upright, this chair comes with 5 adjustabilities (including seat height and tilt adjustment) to keep you comfortable in any position.
The added headrest is a nice bonus for preventing neck pain, which is especially handy when editing and researching.
Not only is this chair designed to prevent aches and pains, but it’s also comfortable to sit on. The padded seat encourages the user to sit centrally, and the mesh back provides a nice breathability – which is ideal in stuffy podcast setups.
When testing this product, we highly appreciated the adjustable lumbar support, which is designed to support and align the lower spine. This is especially useful for those experiencing back pain.
Pros:
- Ergonomic – Designed to keep the spine and neck aligned to prevent pain
- Adjustable – Can be heightened, lowered, tilted, and adjusted accordingly
- Headrest included – Bonus headrest keeps neck straight when editing
Cons:
- Appearance – Not the most attractive chair, if your podcast is filmed for aesthetics
#3 Kerdom Ergonomic Office Chair
The key areas of support in a chair for podcasting are the back, head, buttocks, and arms. This chair helps to support such areas, thanks to the ergonomic lumbar support, head support, adjustable back rest, and armrests.
Everything can be adjusted to height and comfort, making this chair suitable for people of all heights.
The best thing about this product is its tilting abilities. While most office chairs can tilt a slight amount, this chair can remain at a 90-degree angle for comfortable working, a 120-degree angle for resting, and a 135-degree angle for a quick power nap.
So, when you’re working long hours to edit or script a podcast, you don’t have to be sitting completely upright the whole time.
When testing this product, we really liked the comfort of the padded cushion, designed to prevent fatigue and aches. The back of the chair is also made of a breathable mesh to prevent overheating.
This chair comes with or without professional assembly, and is available in three colors – white, black, and gray – depending on your preference.
Pros:
- Ergonomic – Supports the head, shoulders, back, buttocks, and arms
- Tilting abilities – Can tilt up to a 135-degree angle for resting between edits
- Comfortable – Padded and breathable materials ensure maximum comfort
Cons:
- Lubricant needed – Tilting abilities result in creaking noises, so regular lubricating is needed
#4 Amazon Basics Mesh Office Chair
If you’ve just started a podcast, odds are you’re on a tight budget. Podcast setups are expensive, and you might not want to prioritize spending hundreds of dollars on a chair.
So, if cost is your main concern, you’ll be happy to know that you don’t have to miss out on comfort for a cheaper product.
This Amazon Basics chair is ideal for new podcasters on a budget. It gets the job done with its ergonomic design, including contoured arm rests, tilt adjustability, height adjustability, and its curved, upright back.
It might not be the fanciest of office chairs, but it’s a great option for those just starting out in the world of podcasting.
Sure, this office chair doesn’t come with added features like a head rest or targeted lumbar support, but it certainly gets the job done.
Users can comfortably sit in this chair for several hours without discomfort, thanks to the cushioned seat and breathable mesh back.
When testing this product, we were pleasantly surprised by how it still helped to improve productivity, even at a lower price compared to other products. It does the job for sure, but this chair probably isn’t suitable for long-term podcasters.
Pros:
- Affordable – Most budget-friendly podcast chair on our list
- Comfortable – Maintains a padded seat and breathable mesh back
- Reduces back pain – Ergonomically designed to keep the spine aligned
Cons:
- Not for professionals – While ideal for beginner podcasters, this won’t last for long-term podcasters
#5 Gtracing Gaming Chair
If you’re a pro-podcaster who spends most of your life in your podcast setup, then it might be worth investing in a gaming chair.
Gaming chairs are designed with ultimate comfort in mind – from the padded cushioned seat and back to the ergonomic design to keep you pain-free during even the longest podcast sessions.
The Gtracing Gaming Chair is ideal for experienced podcasters, especially those who also like to play video games.
Not only is this chair equipped with a strong metal frame to keep your back aligned, but it also comes with a comfortable headrest, footrest, armrests, and additional head and lumbar pillows.
This chair is all about convenience. It’s a strong chair that can hold up to 300 pounds of weight, and is adjustable with its reclining and height features.
Plus, as an added bonus, this chair is equipped with Bluetooth speakers located either side of the head that can be connected to music, a movie, games, or even your microphone (if you don’t have headphones).
When testing this product, we were mostly impressed by the low price. Despite its endless features, this chair remains one of the most budget-friendly.
Pros:
- Highly comfortable – Padded everywhere for maximum comfort
- Supportive – Comes with footrest, headrest, and pillows for added support
- Additional features – Equipped with Bluetooth speakers for immersive gameplay
Cons:
- Breathable – Faux leather material means this chair is not well-ventilated
#6 Belleze Modern Accent Armchair
Not everyone films their podcasts, but for those who do, you might be conscious about finding a chair that suits the aesthetics of your podcast recording setup.
These chairs don’t have to be used for editing and scripting – instead, they provide a nice ambience for yourself and your host.
The Belleze Modern Accent Armchair is ideal for podcasters who film their podcasts in an aesthetically pleasing setup.
Available in a range of colors, from bright citrine yellow to a muted avocado, this chair is certain to become a staple in your recording studio. The armchair has a modern and retro design with plush upholstery.
For long-term podcasters, such furniture can become iconography synonymous with the podcast, so this is a great option for those with a loyal fanbase.
This armchair is designed for ultimate comfort. Sure, it’s not as ergonomic as an office chair, but the padded cushioned seat and armrests help to keep the users sat comfortably for hours of recording.
Plus, the wooden legs and sturdy base help to keep this chair stable for years of use.
While we appreciated the aesthetic and appearance of this product, it’s worth noting that this won’t be suitable for long-term use when editing and scripting a podcast, as it doesn’t offer the ergonomic support of an office or gaming chair.
Pros:
- Filmed podcasts – Ideal for filmed podcasts with a relaxed vibe
- Aesthetically pleasing – A lovely feature armchair in any room
- Comfortable – Padded seat, backrest, and armrest makes for a highly comfortable chair
Cons:
- Not for long-term use – While beautiful, this isn’t ideal for long-term use as it’s not ergonomically designed
Buyer’s Guide
Buying a chair for podcasting isn’t as easy as you might think. Here are the key factors to consider when finding the best podcast chairs.
Ergonomic Support
Chairs that are ergonomically designed mean that they are designed for the comfort of a work environment that involves sitting down for long periods of time.
As podcasting requires a lot of sitting – from scripting and researching to recording and editing – it is essential that you find a chair that is ergonomic.
However, if you’re just looking for a chair to film your podcasts in, then you won’t need to worry about ergonomics. Recording an hour-long podcast in a non-ergonomic armchair won’t be detrimental to your physical health.
Adjustability
If you plan to use the chair for hours on end, look for one with good adjustable features. This should include adjustability of height, tilting, swivel, and recline.
Back Support
Your back will be the first thing to hurt in an uncomfortable chair. So, make sure to find a chair with adequate lumbar support and a curved backrest to ensure your spine is aligned at all times.
An S-shaped back is most ideal, as this fits the natural curvature of the spine.
Material
While this mostly comes down to personal preference, it’s worth considering the material of a podcast chair. If you’re going to spend hours in a podcast setup, you should probably find a chair with a breathable back made of mesh.
This will help to keep you cool and prevent overheating.
Of course, this shouldn’t be an issue if you have proper AC in your recording studio, in which case faux leather is a comfortable material.
Additional Features
It’s always nice to have additional features in a podcasting chair, including:
- Headrest
- Adjustable armrests
- Footrest
- Lumbar and neck pillows
Location Of Recording
It’s worth looking at your podcast setup to consider what type of chair is best suited for your needs.
For example, if you are filming your podcast and uploading it to YouTube, you might be conscious about the aesthetics of the podcast studio, in which case you need to focus on the appearance of the chair.
However, if you intend to record your podcast in the same chair as editing, scripting, researching, and uploading, then you’ll benefit most from an office or gaming chair.
Sure, these chairs aren’t as attractive as armchairs, but they’re certainly the most comfortable and beneficial for long-term use.
Plus, you need to consider if you have enough space for a potentially large chair. Office and gaming chairs are bulky, so if you’re recording your podcast in a tiny home office, then you might want to reconsider moving your setup to a larger area.
Also, if you intend on having a host or special guests, you’ll need to think about what chairs they will sit in!
