Your office chair is one of the most used pieces of furniture in your workspace. It needs to function perfectly and be comfortable in order for you to be as productive as possible. Unfortunately, they don’t last forever. There will come a time when you need to replace your trusty office chair. So, how often should office chairs be replaced? This can depend on many factors. On average, an office chair should be replaced every 7-8 years. But, every chair is different. 

Obvious wear and tear is a good reason to replace your chair, you don’t want your home office looking shabby! Wear and tear doesn’t just affect the look of the chair, it can impact things like your posture. When your office chair starts to negatively affect health and safety, it’s definitely time for a replacement.

As we mentioned earlier, there are many different signs that your office chair may need replacing. 

One of the easiest things to look out for is loose or broken wheels. These are a clear sign that it’s time to replace your office chair. Broken wheels can make the chair uneven and will affect your posture over time. Broken levers are also a reason to replace your office chair. When you can no longer adjust your chair to suit you, you may risk physical injury such as lower back pain. 

You may also find the padding in the chair isn’t as soft as it used to be. Comfort is key when it comes to office chairs. Working on an uncomfortable chair isn’t going to help your physical health, nor is it going to allow you to be productive. If your chair no longer feels right, replace it. Your comfort is the top priority.

Replacing your chair because you’ve redecorated your home office is perfectly valid too. There’s nothing worse than having a piece of furniture stand out like a sore thumb because it no longer suits the room.

Fabric office chairs, such as the Alberto Velvet Executive Chair (£149.99), are a stylish and comfortable choice for a home office. Like all furniture, fabric office chairs eventually wear down and are no longer fit for purpose. 

Fabric chairs can age quicker than other materials like leather, but this does depend on the quality of the fabric. Tearing, especially on the seat and backrest, is a common problem that occurs over time. This looks rather unsightly. Depending on the stuffing of the seat as well, inner padding may eventually start to fall out. 

The seat may also start to look sunken after long use. Flattened padding, not only looks unappealing, it can impact your posture too. Lower back pain is frequently complained about by office workers. This can be corrected by having sufficient support on your chair. If you find that you’re experiencing back pain more frequently then it may be time to replace your office chair. 

To help prolong the life of your chair, make sure you vacuum it frequently and wipe it down after using. Dust and hair often gets stuck in the wheels and casters. Make sure to check the wheels and clean them out using a vacuum or can of pressurised air. 

Keeping up with your office chair maintenance will prolong the life of it, and it’ll look like new for longer too!

Leather office chairs are the most durable, and easiest to extend the lifespan of. The Teknik Office Warwick Traditional Office Chair (£179.99) is a perfect example of a luxurious leather chair that lifts a home office. Leather office chairs are built to last years and we would recommend investing in a good quality one. They don’t last forever though, so make sure you look out for signs that it needs replacing.

Leather can become thin and crack overtime. This looks rather unsightly, and will become uncomfortable too. As we mentioned earlier, comfort is key. If you’re not comfortable when you’re working, you won’t be productive. It’s definitely time for a new chair when you find yourself getting less and less work done.

It’s fairly simple to extend the life of a leather office chair using oils or creams. These will keep the leather looking shiny and feeling strong. It’s also important to look out for loose screws and levers and repair these if you can. This will help your office chair last a lot longer.

It may surprise some of you to know that mesh office chairs are the least durable of the three materials, unless you go for a strong mesh chair like the Newton Mesh Back Manager Chair (£199.99). However, the stronger the mesh, the more uncomfortable the chair will become. That doesn’t mean a mesh office chair won’t last though, you will still get a good 5+ years from a quality one.

A standard mesh chair does sag quickly and tear easily. Many mesh office chairs have sponge padding, which falls out when the outer material is ripped. Sagged material and padding will impact comfort and posture, just as it would in a fabric or leather chair. When this happens, it’s time to start looking for a replacement.

You can prolong the life of a mesh office chair by cleaning it thoroughly using a vacuum and antibacterial wipes. Make sure to regularly check the wheels and levers to make sure they are working properly. If they’ve become stiff over time then use a good quality lubricant to keep them operating smoothly.

If you’re only replacing your office chair because you fancy a change or you’ve redecorated, reselling your chair is a great option. Someone else can get use out of your office chair if you’re no longer in love with it. You can put the money towards getting yourself a nice new one! 

Some used office chairs are a bit too well loved to be resold, so donating is a good alternative. Charity shops are happy to accept good quality furniture to sell to support their cause. Make sure that your office chair is in a condition that you would be happy to give to a friend before donating.

If your old office chair is broken beyond repair, then it’s time to take it to your local tip. Here it can be recycled or placed into landfill.

Make sure you invest in a good quality office chair that lasts, and take care of it so it can support you for years. Keep in mind the signs that it might be time to replace the one you already have, you don’t want to risk injury! 

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