Stressless as an office chair: work comfortably without compromising on design

Every Stressless chair can be mounted on an office base: a star-shaped base with five wheels made of steel and aluminum, that swivels 360° without restriction and is height-adjustable by 10 cm via a gas spring. This raises the seat by up to 20 cm compared to a standard base, making it the perfect height for a desk that is 74 to 75 cm high. Prices start at around 638 euros.

A Stressless is not a traditional office chair. That’s not an admission—that’s the whole point. Anyone who spends eight hours a day typing intensively at a high desk is better off in a chair with adjustable armrests, seat-depth adjustment, and a synchronous mechanism. But anyone who has their workspace in the living room, who holds meetings, makes calls, and thinks things through, or who receives clients in a practice or an executive office—they’ll be more comfortable in a Stressless than in any other piece of office furniture. In this article, you’ll learn exactly where the line is drawn.

What exactly is a Stressless office chair?

A Stressless office chair isn’t a separate product line, but rather a base option within the existing lineup. You choose the model you like and find comfortable, and the office base takes care of the rest. It works just like a regular Stressless—same seat, same backrest, same Plus™ system—only the chair sits on a casters-equipped star base and is slightly higher off the ground, so you can use it at a desk.

There is one office base, with five wheels, made of steel and aluminum. It is available in polished chrome or matte black. The base is about 10 cm higher than the standard base, and on top of that, you can raise the chair another 10 cm using the gas lift. This means your seating height is up to 20 cm higher than it would be with the same chair on a standard base.

Does it rotate 360°? Yes, without limitation, in both directions. Does it have wheels? Yes, five, suitable for both hard floors like tiles and natural stone and softer floors like hardwood. Those are the two questions we get asked most often in the store, and the answer to both is yes.

As far as the desk is concerned, it’s just right: most work surfaces are 74 to 75 cm high, and the gas spring’s adjustment range is more than sufficient for that. You adjust the height just like with a traditional office chair, and the model’s armrests also determine how close you can move in to the desktop.

Stressless also features a range of Home Office models, such as Mint, Laurel, Bay, and Vanilla, available in both high- and low-back versions. These are the smaller models, based on the dining chairs. They are ideal as conference chairs or for seating your clients. The full-fledged office chairs—the recliner models on office bases—are designed for individuals seeking style, comfort, and ergonomics all in one chair.

Which Stressless models can be used as office chairs?

Roughly three families, each with a different usage profile. Below is a list of which one is suitable for when.

High back or low back?

Do you often lean back, tend to sit passively, or just prefer sitting that way? If so, we always recommend a chair with a higher back, possibly with extra head support. In practice, these models are more comfortable than their low-back counterparts.

If you spend most of your time working with what’s on your desk—monitor, keyboard, papers—then a low backrest is a good choice for you. One caveat: if you regularly lean back, make a lot of phone calls, or prefer to sit in that passive position, you’re always better off with a higher backrest. We consistently give that advice, even if the low backrest is cheaper.

Dimensions and Maximum User Weight

The Home Office models come in size M as standard—one size fits all. The recliners, however, are available in several sizes. We can give you an estimate based on your height, but to really choose the right chair, you’ll need to come in and try a few out—that’s not a sales pitch; it’s the only way it works. The maximum user weight for a Stressless is 130 kg.

How Does Seating Comfort Work? Plus™, BalanceAdapt™, and Glide™

In short: the chair moves with you instead of locking you into a fixed position. Three systems make this happen, and all three are mechanical—no electronics, no battery, no levers to figure out.

The Plus™ System

When you lean back, the seat positions your body in a contoured, ergonomic sitting posture. The seat and backrest move in proportion to each other, preventing a pronounced hollow in your lower back and ensuring the seat depth doesn’t suddenly become too deep—so you don’t have to slump down to keep your back against the backrest. The headrest always moves with you, so your neck remains supported rather than becoming strained. From sitting bolt upright to leaning back completely, you’re supported at all times while on the go.

Why Sitting Still Is the Real Problem

Humans are made to walk. If you look at how we naturally move, walking is our most natural form of exercise. Our small movements lubricate our intervertebral discs—the spongy cushions between the vertebrae. If you put too much static strain on them or keep them in one position for too long, you’ll get back pain. So the unhealthiest aspect of desk work isn’t your chair, but sitting still itself.

A traditional office chair that doesn’t encourage movement increases the pressure on those intervertebral discs. A Stressless, on the other hand, does encourage movement, and every movement—no matter how small—reduces the wear and tear caused by sitting still. Please note: this does not replace standing up regularly. That remains recommended, no matter what chair you’re sitting in. We’re deliberately focusing here on what the chair does, not what it cures. You can read more about this in our article on the ergonomic recliner and your health.

BalanceAdapt™ and Glide™

Thanks to BalanceAdapt™, the chair gently moves with you. If you shift your weight backward, to the left, or to the right, the chair subtly tilts in that same direction. This system replicates the exact micro-movements we experience when walking: just enough to keep your spine and intervertebral discs moving. On top of that, the Glide™ system adjusts how far the chair tilts, based on your body weight. You set this up once using two knobs under the seat—and never have to adjust it again.

Compared to the synchronous mechanism of a traditional office chair: it has more adjustment options, but doesn’t offer the comfort of the Plus™ system. On the other hand, a Stressless chair has a much sleeker and more attractive design—which really matters once the chair is in your living room.

A Stressless or a classic ergonomic office chair?

When it comes to adjustability, the classic ergonomic office chair comes out on top. When it comes to comfort, materials, and appearance, the Stressless wins. Here’s the honest take, including the areas where we fall short.

For whom is a Stressless not a good choice as an office chair?

For anyone who works at a desk for eight hours or more a day. And for anyone with serious medical conditions: you’re better off in a fully adjustable office chair. In both cases, we’d rather refer you elsewhere than sell you something that doesn’t fit—check out the ergonomic office chairs from Sit & Sleep. This is also the right place if you’re setting up a shared workspace where everyone needs their own settings, or if you need to comply with labor laws regarding computer work in a professional setting. Always check with your occupational health and safety advisor regarding the latter.

For whom is it actually the better choice?

For visible workspaces in the living room, for brainstorming and meetings, for executive offices, practice rooms, and reception areas. In short: anywhere where the chair is seen just as much as it’s used, and where your workday involves more than just nonstop typing.

An office chair that looks right at home in your living room

The classic problem with working from home is that an office chair looks out of place in a living room or open space. A Stressless solves this with its sleek design and the option to choose the same fabric or leather as your sofa. The workspace blends seamlessly into the interior rather than standing out.

Can a single chair serve two purposes—working during the day and reading in the evening? That’s certainly true of reclining desk chairs: they’re essentially a recliner mounted on a desk chair base. This is less the case with the compact Home Office models; they’re more like dining room chairs than reading chairs.

Need space? The same amount of space as with any chair, even in the back when you lean back. As for color: if you’re going for a Scandinavian look with a wooden or oak-colored desk, a shade of green or beige works best. But you have more than a hundred options to choose from in fabric or leather, so we’d rather work with you to decide on that combination than lay it all out in an article.

If you work at a kitchen table or a side table, we recommend dining chairs with office-style bases. If you want a fully equipped office chair that doesn’t compromise on comfort or style, we always recommend a higher back, with or without a headrest. All models and configurations are listed on our Stressless office chairs page.

For offices, practices, and interior designers

Yes, we work with project pricing and quotes, and we handle everything directly with the factory in Norway. Send us an email with your quantities and timeline, and we’ll find out the best terms. That’s the fastest way—an online quote can’t replace that.

We design all kinds of spaces: executive offices, conference rooms, waiting areas, hotel lobbies, and medical offices. Thanks to the variety of base options, the same model fits into any of these spaces. Here’s what else you can expect:

• Delivery time: always 8 to 10 weeks, whether it's a single chair or an entire project.
• Delivery and installation: We handle everything ourselves, from start to finish, including hauling away your old chairs.
• Samples: Leather and fabric samples are always available for loan.
• 3D files: Most of our products are available as 3D files, including in pCon, so you can add them to your plan right away.
• Warranty and Service: The warranty terms remain the same for professional use, and we handle all after-sales service entirely on our own.

You can read more about our approach for businesses on the " Offices " and " Interior Architects" pages, which feature examples of completed projects.

How to Choose the Right Chair in Five Steps

1. Keep track of your hours and describe your work. How many hours a day do you spend working, and what exactly do you do—typing, making calls, reading, attending meetings? If you spend eight or more hours typing intensively, we recommend switching to a traditional ergonomic office chair.
2. Measure your desk. The standard height of 74 to 75 cm is a good fit for the office base. If you have a different height or a sit-stand desk, please let us know in advance.
3. Choose your size. The Home Office models come in size M; the recliners are available in several sizes. You should make that choice while sitting in the chair, not on paper.
4. Leather or fabric. Fabric is warmer and less expensive to buy; leather is more expensive and requires maintenance, but ages more beautifully. Both are durable— you can read exactly how long they last here.
5. High back or low back. Do you lean back, make a lot of phone calls, or prefer to sit passively? Choose a high back. Do you work hunched over your screen? A low back is an option.

Why trying a chair out is irreplaceable: on paper, two models may seem equally suitable—until you sit in them. In the store, we’ll take your measurements together, let you try the same chair with both high and low backs, and place the models side by side so you can feel the difference instead of just reading about it. You can’t do that online—and that’s exactly why we give you the time you need.

Prices, Delivery Time, and Warranty

A Stressless chair on an office base starts at around 638 euros and goes up to over 3,000 euros for the large recliner models. The starting prices listed below are from our own online store and apply to fabric group 1.

The additional cost of the office base compared to a standard Classic base is approximately 130 euros for the Mayfair. That difference is similar for most recliner models. Leather, a higher fabric grade, or a footrest then determine the rest of the price.

The delivery time is 8 to 10 weeks, even for custom orders in terms of color or leather. The standard Stressless warranty policy applies: a 2-year statutory warranty of conformity, a 10-year warranty on the internal mechanism (Plus™, BalanceAdapt™, Balance&Glide™, the metal frame, and the springs), a 5-year warranty on Power™ electrical components, and a 2-year warranty on the Power™ battery. You can register your product using your receipt. And yes, our price guarantee applies here as well: if you find the same model cheaper elsewhere, we’ll match the price.

Frequently Asked Questions About the Stressless Office Chair

Come try it out for yourself in Leuven or Antwerp

You can only truly experience comfort when you sit down. In Leuven and Antwerp—Belgium’s only two official Stressless brand stores—the full product line is available, and advisors with paramedical training will work with you to determine the right size.