31 Best Chairs For College So You Won’t Hate Studying

Discover the 31 best study chairs for college students, from ergonomic designs for comfort during marathon study sessions to stylish options perfect for small spaces. Explore these top picks that strike a balance between style and function so you can stay comfortable and productive in your study space.ductivity and achievement.

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I often tell my students that college life involves a lot of listening and studying. 

And sitting. 

Between classes, online lectures, assignments and exams, I know they feel like they’re sitting their lives away.

They’ll obviously want to make sure they’re intentional about exercise, physical activity or simply moving a little. (I regularly remind them about the importance of self-care here.)

But when there’s no other option except to sit, they need a really comfortable study chair.

Seriously.

This gets overlooked, but those marathon study sessions will be a lot more manageable if they’re sitting in the perfect chair. 

Finding a balance between style, comfort, functionality, and affordability isn’t easy. And what works for you may not be what works for someone else. The key is to figure out what’s most important to you as you study after a long day of classes.

Let’s take a look at some of our favorite study chairs for college students. It’s time to level up that study routine with a chair that will help you feel comfortable and productive.

What to Consider in a Study Chair

Shopping for the right chair can be overwhelming. We suggest focusing on these things: fabric, headrest, recline vs. rock, armrests and your height and weight.

After a while, the chairs all start to look the same and it’s hard to keep track of what differentiates them. But when you’re spending so much time in the chair, you do need one that will help you get through those marathon study sessions. 

We did the research so you don’t have to! Scrolling through our list of top picks will help you quickly find the right kind of chair for you.

Fabric

Breathable mesh is the best choice for constant air flow. It will help keep moisture and heat away from your body. But it may not be as comfortable for you as a fabric cushion on the seat or headrest. Some students don’t like the look of mesh, so leather or synthetic leather is a better choice.

Headrest

Do you want a high back chair with a headrest? Do you want to be able to adjust the headrest? These are personal preferences that should be considered along with the height of the seat back.

Recline vs. Rock

Most ergonomic chairs have a rocking feature and tilt adjustment. Beyond that, how far do you want to recline? A few chairs recline to 160 degrees so you can study and nap if you want.

Armrests

When your study room is small, every inch matters. If you need to save space by pushing your chair completely under a desk, look for armrests that adjust up and down or that flip up.

Your Height and Weight

If you’re shorter than 5’5” or taller than 5’11” you should read the dimensions more carefully. If you need a chair that holds over 250 pounds, be sure to note that as well. We included this information in our pros and cons with each chair to make it easier for you.

How You Study Best

You need to make the right decision for YOU. Ask yourself some of these questions before you make a purchase. Do you do your best work sitting in a chair at a desk? Would you prefer to study on your bed or on the floor? Do you need a chair that’s not too comfortable because otherwise you’ll fall asleep?

High Back Ergonomic Chairs

They might not be the most style-friendly option, but ergonomic chairs can make or break your demanding study routine. It’s worth investing in high back chairs to support your physical well-being.

The benefits of ergonomic design are numerous:

• Promote correct posture and good back support by aligning the spine and encouraging a proper sitting posture
• Reduce discomfort with adjustable settings for seat height, armrests and lumbar support 
• Enhance blood circulation by preventing pressure points to reduce numbness
• Prevent lower back pain with strong lumbar support and cushioning

We’re sharing the high back chairs with headrests in this first section because they’re ultimately the best chairs for maintaining proper posture. This type of chair supports your body at multiple points so you stay comfortable over long periods of time.

GABRYLLY Ergonomic Mesh Office Chair

We highly recommend the GABRYLLY Ergonomic Mesh Office Chair for the college student who needs a comfortable and adjustable chair for long study sessions. It’s a worthwhile investment that comes with a 5-year warranty.

The headrest on the GABRYLLY Ergonomic Mesh Office Chair sets it apart from the other chairs on our list. You’ll get complete and adjustable support for your head, back and hips along with ergonomic lumbar support. 

The breathable mesh on the back and seat is a game changer if your dorm or apartment runs hot or stuffy. You need the constant air circulation to stay comfortable when you’re studying for long stretches of time during finals week. Plus, the high-quality mesh material isn’t abrasive to your skin or clothes.

Other benefits of a mesh chair? It’s easy to clean and won’t trap dirt or odors like other fabrics. During a time in your life when you’re constantly moving rooms or apartments, you definitely want a durable chair like this one.

Like any chair, the GABRYLLY chair has a few limitations you need to know about. It’s ideal for people between 5’5” and 6’2” in height, so it might not be a great fit if you’re outside that range. You should also note that the weight capacity is 280 pounds.

GTRACING Gaming Chair 

The GTRACING Gaming Chair is our top pick for college students who want the look and feel of leather without the expense and upkeep. It can also double as an extra spot to sleep.

Gamers spend long hours in chairs, so gaming chairs are a great option for college students to use for studying. Unlike other chairs on our list, this one has a footrest and Bluetooth speakers.

Just about everything is adjustable, including the seat height, armrests and footrest. You can easily customize it for your own comfort and enjoy the well-padded seat. This swivel chair reclines to 160 degrees and comes with a removable headrest and lumbar pillow.

My teenager has had this chair for a few years and it’s still in great shape. It’s probably the most comfortable chair in our house. But be warned. His friends have fallen asleep for hours in the chair, so use the reclining option with caution when you’re studying!

This chair is made of PU leather which is more durable and easier to clean than real leather. It’s a little heavier than other student chairs and can be bulky. It also takes a little longer to assemble, but can be done if you follow the directions. You can find a lot of step-by-step YouTube videos to help you put it together.

Overall, this gaming chair is well-constructed and is a great choice for college students.

Mimoglad High Back Ergonomic Chair

This Mimoglad Ergonomic Desk Chair is our top pick for students who want a lot of adjustable features with a mix of fabric and mesh. It’s also a brighter option because of the white frame.

With adjustable height, lumbar support, headrest and flip-up armrests, you can maintain good posture while customizing the comfort just for you. You’ll be able to push it completely under your desk. It also tilts back to 135 degrees. 

Breathable mesh on the back allows constant air flow while the foam cushion eases the pressure on your hips and tailbone.

Although the chair is much lighter than others with high backs, it can hold up to 300 pounds.

We don’t have many concerns about this chair, except for the fact that it may not keep you as cool as a fully mesh design. It’s also not a comfortable choice for students who are taller than about 5’11”.

ovios Ergonomic High Back Chair

If you like the taller chairs but not the style or fabrics, you’ll love the modern design of the ovios Ergonomic High Back Chair.

You can adjust the seat height and the title angle up to 150 degrees. The headrest and armrests are padded for comfort and the backrest has lumbar support.

A wider padded seat cushion has cradled sides that will help you maintain better posture. The maximum weight capacity is 250 pounds.

The bonded suede fabric resembles the look of broken-in leather and will hold up well with daily wear. It’s soft, comfortable and doesn’t get cold like leather can. It’s a great chair for taller students

This particular chair has a few drawbacks compared to the other ergonomic chairs with headrests. The lumbar support, headrest and armrests aren’t adjustable so it may not easily fit under a desk.

If you’re prone to spills when you study, keep in mind that the fabric is harder to clean than mesh. It’s also not as comfortable for people under 5’5” because of where the headrest sits.

Ergonomic Chairs Without a Headrest

We believe the best study chairs have an ergonomic design, but they may or may not have a headrest. You may not want a headrest because of your height or because less bulky chairs fit better in small spaces.

Like the ergonomic options in the previous section, these are all swivel chairs with wheels. You can quickly and easily turn toward different different people or spots in your room, and the wheels make it easy to move.

ELABEST Ergonomic Mesh Chair

We highly recommend the ELABEST Ergonomic Mesh Chair if you want a fully breathable mesh chair without a headrest. This chair is a lightweight, portable option that’s easy to put together.

With mesh on the back and seat of the chair, you’ll be able to stay cool and comfortable for longer periods of time. The design of the backrest gives you additional support for your back and shoulders. The waterfall design of the seat promotes blood flow to your legs.

The lumbar support and seat height are adjustable, and you can tilt back in three lockable positions. The chair can hold up to 280 pounds.

The best part about this chair is the adjustable armrests. Not only do they raise up and down, but they can also pivot and move forward and backward. My own office chairs have this capability. It’s a surprisingly nice feature when you spend a lot of time in the same chair.

If you’re taller and want something to lean your head on, this chair isn’t the one for you. Some students may not be crazy about the waterfall seat because the position can feel a bit like tilting forward.

Laura Davidson SOHO Ergonomic Chair

Our top pick for students who want the combination of mid-modern design and ergonomic comfort is the Laura Davidson SOHO Ergonomic Chair. It comes in 19 different colors and is a great fit for everyone, regardless of height or weight.

You can adjust the seat height, tilt angle and even the swivel. If you can’t get the chair under a desk with the arms, you can completely remove them.

The aluminum base can support up to 400 pounds, so this is definitely the best chair for heavier students. The cushioned seat and waterfall design help promote circulation in your legs.

Another bonus for this chair is the wider selection of colors and fabrics. Vegan leather upholstery is available and easier to clean, but we’d recommend the poly-cotton fabric because you’ll be using it for long stretches of time. Poly-cotton is softer, more breathable and more durable.

As with any chair, there are a few things to note. This study chair has a higher price point than other options on our list. It also has fixed lumbar support, so you’re not able to make adjustments.

Sweetcrispy Ergonomic Desk Chair

A high-density sponge cushion seat and flip-up arms separate the Sweetcrispy Ergonomic Desk Chair from the competition. It also has a rocking mode and a storage basket on the back of the chair.

When you’re living in college dorm rooms and small apartments, a space-saving chair is an important consideration. The armrests can flip up so they’re out of the way, making this one of the best desk chairs on our list.

The rocking mode is a great feature if you need to keep moving when you study. You can also adjust the seat height and assemble the whole chair pretty quickly.

If you’re not crazy about a mesh seat, you’ll love the cloth cushion on this one. The ergonomic mesh back allows air to circulate and help you maintain proper posture.

This chair does have a few drawbacks. The cushioned seat can get warm if you sit for a long time and the back support isn’t adjustable. It’s not a great fit for people close to 6’ tall or taller and the weight capacity is 250 pounds.

Okeysen Ergonomic Leather Chair

For students who want an ergonomic chair with a clean and modern look, the Okeysen Ergonomic Leather Chair is our pick.

The combination of synthetic leather and polished chrome give this ergonomic chair a clean, modern feel. The material will wear better than real leather, but the look is basically the same.

The height is adjustable and the chair has a rocking mode so you can relax a bit if you’ve been sitting still for too long. The ergonomic design with built-in lumbar support helps you maintain proper posture.

This is a good chair for students who want a wider seat cushion. It also has a 3-inch high-density cushion and it can hold up to 330 pounds.

You can return the chair with no questions asked within 30 days and it comes with a 1-year warranty.

We do have a few words of caution about the Okeysen chair. First, keep in mind that the leather looks really sleek, but it doesn’t allow air to circulate like mesh does. The faux leather may also crease over time. You’re only able to adjust the height and although it does tilt, it’s limited to 105 degrees. 

Yaheetech Office Chair

We highly recommend the Yaheetech Office Chair for college students looking for a comfortable and affordable chair.

These are some of the best dorm chairs because they’re a great value for the price. The breathable mesh allows air, body heat and moisture to pass through. The cushioned seat gives you more padding to sit on.

You can adjust the seat height and tilt tension to allow a slight recline.

It rolls easily which is a bonus if you have an area rug in your room. It’s also pretty easy to put together. Because it weighs about half as much as other school chairs on our list, it’s definitely more portable.

This chair has a number of drawbacks, but keep the low price in mind compared to other chairs with an ergonomic design.

You’re not able to adjust a headrest or lumbar support, although the chair does have fixed lumbar support and a curved back. The armrests aren’t adjustable and don’t flip up, so it may not fit under some desks. The weight capacity is 200 pounds.

Acrylic Study Chairs

As professors and parents, we’ll always recommend ergonomic chairs for all the hours you’ll spend in them. But we’ve talked to plenty of students who are definitely more concerned about fashion over function.

Acrylic chairs are all over the place on social media. It’s a very popular choice for college students and it’s actually an excellent option when you don’t have too much space. Light easily passes through acrylic chairs, making the room seem brighter and more open.

Here are a few other benefits of acrylic chairs: they’re minimalist, durable, shatterproof, waterproof and easy to clean.

Some things to be cautious about when it comes to acrylic desk chairs: they’re prone to scratches (especially on frosted or tinted designs) and fingerprints and smudges show up easily so you’ll need to clean the chairs more often.

If you decide acrylic is the way to go, these are our favorite options.

Accent Desk Chairs on Wheels

If you’d love to have an accent chair and a desk chair in a small apartment or college dorm room, you should consider a chair that can be the best of both worlds. These study chairs for college students are stylish and functional – and the perfect addition for small spaces.

Casual & Comfy Chairs for Studying

For many college students, it’s easier and more comfortable to study anywhere except a desk chair. These casual picks are more versatile than typical ergonomic chairs. You’ll get a spot to study in a style you like, along with extra seating options.

A saucer chair is always popular and it folds up for easy storage. Students say the puffy lounge chair is the ultimate comfort. The other chairs are great way to reflect your personal style and bring a touch of sophistication to your room.

Super Cute Dorm Decor Ideas for Girls (Tips From a Recent Grad)

Bean Bags, Floor Chairs and Active Seating

These bean bags, floor chairs and active seating options are our go-to recommendation if you do your best studying on your bed, the floor or when you move around. Not everyone is cut out to sit in a desk chair! These options give you some variety and a great place for old and new friends to sit.

If you’re considering beanbag chairs, decide whether you want memory foam or traditional bean filler. The Big Joe Bean Bag Chair is a more lightweight design, but daily use means you’ll need to refill it at some point. The Big Joe Foam Filled Bean Bag Chair is heavy, but the memory foam won’t flatten. It also has a built-in handle to help you move it around.

Active seating options are important for students who have ADHD or need to fidget to stay focused. My son has ADHD and is much more productive when he has freedom to move around while he studies. A wobble stool or yoga ball chair may not be a typical study chair, but it’s important to choose what works best for you.