How Often Should Office Chairs be Replaced? - Ryman

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.

How to Tell if Your Office Chair Needs Replacing

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.

Replacing Fabric Office Chairs

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!

How Often to Replace Leather Office Chairs

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.

How Long Do Mesh Office Chairs Last?

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.

How to Get Rid of Old Office Chairs

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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When you look around your office and think about the items that need to be replaced, you may notice some things that stand out. The old coffee machine might end up near the top of your list. Getting new technology like a fast new computer or a printer that doesn’t jam is always nice.

Yes, there are probably a few things on your office replacement wish list. One thing that may go overlooked is your task chair. After all, a chair is a chair, right? If only things were that simple.

The chair you sit in is one of the most important components of office ergonomics and having the wrong chair for your needs can cause many problems and reduce your ability to work effectively and efficiently. However, how can you tell when you should replace a task chair? Here are some things to look for.

1. Damage to the Chair or Parts

This is probably the most obvious reason you should replace your desk chair. When something breaks, most people don’t need to ask, “Do I need a new chair?”

Of course, a chair that has fallen apart into several pieces will be more noticeable than a chair with minor damage. There are some early signs of damage that you can look for.

Loose or stuck wheels are a good sign that your task chair may need to be replaced. If you find you have to push harder to roll across the floor and the wheels will not respond to our motions then it may be time to look at replacing your chair.

Loose or non-working components that often go overlooked include armrests, knobs or levers such as those controlling seat height and the backrest. If any of these parts no longer let you adjust the chair to support your posture or are frequently requiring readjustment, then you need to consider looking at a new task chair.

2. Flattened Seat Cushion

Over time, the foam in your seat cushion will begin to compress and flatten. Your seat cushion is one of the most important parts of your chair as it plays a vital role in preventing back and body pain.

When your seat cushion compresses, there is less support for your body weight. This puts the stress on your lower back. Anyone who has suffered lower back pain knows that it can have far-reaching effects in many areas of your life beyond just the work you do in your chair.

Show your backside and back muscles some love – replace your chair once your seat cushion loses the ability to do its job.

3. Improperly Fitted Task Chair

There is the possibility that your chair was never right for you. This is especially true for people who have taken over an existing office space that was already furnished.

Some chairs may have armrests too far apart that can’t be adjusted inward far enough to suit your body. Other chairs may have backrests designed for people who are taller or shorter than you.

If you are going to be spending a lot of time working in your task chair, then it may be worth it to replace a task chair that is not suited to your individual needs. Your body will thank you for this.

4. The Chair No Longer Feels Right

Sometimes there isn’t any scientific reason to replace a task chair. It could boil down to something as simple as the chair just not feeling very comfortable.

That is just as good of a reason to replace your task chair as any of the other reasons above. Think about how many hours per day you will spend sitting in this chair. People spend a lot of money on beds because they spend so much time sleeping in them; choosing the right chair is just as important because you could spend almost as much time sitting in your chair.

A chair that is perfectly ergonomic for one person may not be right for another person. You may not love your current chair and, at the same time, you may not have an apparent reason to replace it. Listen to your body; it knows best whether or not your chair is right for you.

Do I Need a New Chair?

Are you still wondering if you need a new task chair? If you have additional questions, we are here to help. We have helped countless people find the task chair that best meets their needs.

Not ready to talk to our team but still want to learn more about finding the right chair for you?  Check out our post on the Top Five Things to Look When Buying an Office Chair.

New to buying office furniture but realize that your outdated chair needs an upgrade?  Our short Guide to Purchasing Office Furniture will teach you what to keep in mind while in the market.

Cory Porteous
Marketing Manager
Office Interiors