Mesh, fabric or leather: choosing a chair for long days

Most people choose an office chair by its shape and its price. The cover deserves as much thought. It decides how the chair feels late in the afternoon, how it copes with spilt coffee and daily wear, and how it looks in the room. Here is how the main materials compare, and when a heavy duty chair is the better buy.

Mesh

A mesh back is stretched across a frame, so air passes through it instead of building up behind you. That makes mesh a sensible pick for warm offices, for people who tend to run hot, and for anyone who sits for long spells. The mesh gives a little as you move while the frame keeps its shape.

Look at the seat as well as the back. Many chairs pair a mesh back with a padded fabric seat, which gives you a cushioned seat and a ventilated back. Others use mesh for both. Neither suits everyone, so think about who will sit in the chair and for how long.

Mesh turns up on task chairs, executive chairs and meeting room chairs alike. Browse the mesh office chairs.

Fabric

Fabric is the traditional cover for an office chair, and still the most flexible one. It is soft and warm to sit on, and it offers the widest choice of colours. On many chairs you can choose a fabric to suit your brand or your other furniture. A chair upholstered to order takes longer to arrive, so allow for the lead time shown at checkout.

The trade-off is upkeep. Fabric shows marks more readily than other covers and needs the occasional vacuum and spot clean. Where people eat at their desks, a darker shade hides more. See the fabric office chairs.

Leather, PU and vinyl

Leather gives an executive chair or a boardroom set a formal look, and it wipes clean. The range also includes chairs covered in PU (polyurethane) and vinyl. These are man-made materials with a similar look, easy to wipe down and usually lower in price.

All three breathe less than mesh or fabric, so in a well heated office they can feel warm over a long day. They are a good match for managers' offices, meeting rooms and receptions, where people sit for shorter spells, and for anywhere chairs need wiping down often.

The product name tells you which material a chair uses, so check it before you order. Browse the leather office chairs.

Quick comparison

• Mesh: lets air through, suits long days and warm rooms, the back has some give.
• Fabric: soft and warm, the most colour choice, needs more cleaning.
• Leather: formal look, wipes clean, warmer to sit on.
• PU and vinyl: a leather look at a lower price, wipes clean, warmer to sit on.

When to choose a heavy duty chair

A standard office chair is designed around a typical range of users. A heavy duty chair is built for heavier use, often by larger users, and many have a wider seat. It is worth considering for bigger or taller people, and for a chair that works harder than most, such as one shared across shifts.

The heavy duty range includes mesh, fabric, leather and PU covers, from task chairs to a high back executive chair. When you compare them, check:

• the maximum user weight given on the product page, against the person who will use the chair
• seat width and depth, so the user can sit right back with support behind them
• whether the arms adjust, so they do not press against the hips or stop the chair reaching the desk
• how many hours a day the chair will be used, and by how many people

Unsure? Tell us who the chair is for and how it will be used, and we will point you to the right one. See all heavy duty chairs.

The cover is only half of it

Whatever the material, the chair still has to fit the person sitting in it. For anyone who sits all day, look for seat height and back adjustment as a minimum, then arms, seat depth and tilt.

If someone needs more support, look at the ergonomic and posture chairs, many with headrests and height adjustable arms. The size guide lists typical seat heights, depths and widths to compare against.

Built and ready on arrival

Lots of chairs can come pre-built, ready to sit on, instead of arriving in a box for you to put together. It is priced per chair at checkout, and the delivery page explains how long it takes.