If you’re looking for a 500 lb office chair, you’ll know how frustrating it can be to browse through big and tall chair lists with 350 and 400-pound weight capacities. You think you find the perfect big and tall office chair, only to discover it won’t actually support your weight.
That’s why the heavy-duty office chairs we’ll look at today all have a 500-pound weight capacity. So now that you know that, let’s look at what else these chairs have to offer.
Many of the big and tall chairs you can find are large executive-style office chairs, which is fine if that’s what you like. However, that doesn’t work for everyone, so we added in a variety of task chairs, as well. Not all big and tall office chairs need to take up all your space.
From mesh to leather to fabric, from arms to armless, we’ll look at some of the best office chairs for you. Read on or skip ahead using the table of contents below.
The Best Big and Tall Office Chairs for 500 Pounds
#1) BestOffice Big and Tall Chair (Best Budget)
What We Like About It
This big and tall office chair is very affordable. The price is below $200, and it’s the lowest of everything on the list, so you really won’t overspend. You can find other office chairs under $200 here.
The seat is 24 inches wide and over 21 inches deep and adjusts in height from 20 to 23 inches. You can tilt back in this chair up to 120 degrees, and you control how much force you need to tilt with the tilt tension knob below.
This tall executive chair is made of PU leather, so it’s more durable than some of the bonded leather office chairs. It’s easy to wipe clean in case you have any spills.
There is a built-in headrest and lumbar support, neither of which can be adjusted.
The curved padded armrests provide good cushioning for your arms, but they are fixed, so you can’t adjust the height.
Perhaps the best part about this chair is the USB-powered massager that is built into the lumbar area. Check out other great ones here.
There is a 90-day warranty on this chair, which is better than nothing, but it could definitely be better.
The Cons
The common complaint with this chair is that it doesn’t feel very sturdy, which is obviously something you want in a big and tall office chair.
The USB cable is not very long, so you either have to sit close to an outlet or get an extension cord while using the lumbar massage.
#2) BestMassage Mesh Task Chair (Biggest Seat)
What We Like About It
Like the BestOffice before it, this office chair also has a built-in USB-powered massage cushion in the lumbar support. Unlike the other chair, however, this one is mesh so you won’t overheat.
This also has a huge seat at 27.4 inches wide. It’s also over 24 inches deep, making it one of the biggest seats you can find. If you hate feeling cramped, you’ll love the space in this chair.
There is no headrest because it’s a task chair, and it does raise from 19 to 22 inches off the ground. It also features a tilt tension knob to control how easily you can tilt back (up to 40 degrees).
The adjustable lumbar support, in addition to including a massage, adjusts in height 1 inch. That’s not a lot, but it’s better than nothing and could mean the difference between having no support and having it hit you perfectly.
The arms are also height-adjustable, so you can rest your arms wherever it’s the most comfortable for you.
This also features a 90-day warranty, which we aren’t thrilled with.
The Cons
The armrests can collapse rather easily with a lot of pressure. Having them is nice, but if they don’t stay put where you want them, they might be useless if you need them at a higher setting.
#3) Vinsetto Linen Chair (Best Upholstered)
What We Like About It
This linen upholstered chair is somewhere between mesh and leather. It’s not as hot as leather, but it’s not as breathable as mesh. It is, however, quite comfortable for all-day sitting.
The 24.5-inch wide seat has just over 21 inches of depth, and it raises 3 inches to a maximum height of around 24 inches.
The built-in headrest is not adjustable, but it is well-padded and as wide as the seat. Like the others, you can control the tilt with a tilt tension knob.
There is lumbar support, but it’s not adjustable, so if you need more, you may need to add a pillow.
The curved armrests are well-padded with the same linen upholstery.
There is a 30-day return window if you don’t like the chair, and it also comes with a 1-year warranty, which is already better than the BestMassage and BestOffice chairs.
The Cons
It’s not the easiest to clean if you have a spill.
There is no adjustable lumbar support.
#4) Flash Furniture Hercules (Best Executive)
What We Like About It
The best executive office chair is the Flash Furniture Hercules. It features a Leathersoft material with mesh trim around the entire seat, and it looks great.
The seat isn’t as quite wide as the others at only 22 inches by 20.5 inches deep. It does adjust up to 24 inches in max height. The seat itself is 6 inches of thick, cushioned padding for the part that needs it most.
The built-in, padded headrest is height adjustable, which is a nice feature you don’t often see in these types of office chairs. If the headrest doesn’t hit you correctly, you can’t do much about it. But with this chair, you can.
There is built-in support for your lumbar, as well, but it’s not adjustable. You can tilt back if you like to rock.
The fixed armrests are covered in thick Leathersoft padding for ultimate comfort.
The Cons
Flash Furniture has a warranty that covers office chairs up to 250 pounds. This is essentially useless for big and tall office chairs, which is a major disappointment.
#5) BestOffice Mesh Chair with Headrest (Best Mesh)
What We Like About It
This BestOffice mesh chair comes with an adjustable headrest, a great feature if you like the mesh task chairs but hate the lack of headrests.
The entire seat raises 5.5 inches, which is the greatest range of all the office chairs, making it a great fit for all heights. This tall chair tilts back just like the rest of the chairs.
The seat isn’t quite as roomy as the BestMassage chair, but it’s still 23 inches wide by 22 inches deep.
This also has built-in lumbar that can be adjusted in height to fit the natural curve of your lower back.
The armrests are not only height-adjustable, but they also flip up out of the way completely. So if you just need a little more space for your hips or need to fit the chair under your desk, just push them out of the way.
This does come with the same 90-day warranty the other BestOffice chairs have, so better than Flash Furniture, but still not great.
The Cons
Although the headrest adjusts up and down, it can’t be adjusted in and out, so if you want to sit forward at all, it can’t support your head. You have to lean back a bit for it to hit you properly.
#6) BrylaneHome Oversized Chair (Best Style)
What We Like About It
If it’s the style you crave, the Brylane Home office chair has it. It comes in white, brown, or a rather eye-catching orange if you really want it to stand out.
The chair itself can raise just over 5 inches in height, rivaling the BestOffice chair’s 5.5 inches. The lowest setting is 18.5, and the highest is 23.75, so it can accommodate most people.
It does have a wide 24.5-inch seat, but it has less depth than the other office chairs here at only 19. This could be good if you’re wide and short as opposed to big and tall because you don’t want the back of your knees hitting the edge of the seat.
The chair is made with bonded leather, so it isn’t as durable as the PU leather on the other chairs, but it does look nice. It will scuff and peel over time, though.
There is a large, padded headrest, which is as wide as the chair but does not adjust.
The arms are curved and well padded, extending beyond the width of the seat to maximize your seat space.
The Cons
The warranty is only 60 days, and that includes the date it’s shipped to you, so it’s really less than 2 months.
There is no lumbar support with this chair, so you’ll need to add a pillow or rolled towel if you want extra support.
Don’t Like Armrests? Try These:
#1) Boliss Ergonomic Chair
What We Like About It
The Boliss task chair can also be found on our best office chairs under $300 list. It looks great and won’t take up much space in your home.
You can raise the seat from 18.5 to 23 inches, and it has a very roomy 24-inch seat width.
The mesh material is very breathable, and the lumbar is supportive but not adjustable.
However, the padded armrests can flip up out of the way so you can easily slide it under your desk when it’s not in use, gain more seat room without them, or sit with your feet up if you so choose.
It will tilt back with a tilt tension knob to control the resistance.
This also comes with a 3-year maintenance service, which is much more peace of mind than the office chairs above.
The Cons
The seat can be uncomfortable when sitting for long periods of time, especially since it curves upward.
#2) Safco Vue Armless Chair
What We Like About It
If you don’t like armrests at all, you will love this Safco office chair. Why bother with them at all if you know you’ll never use them?
This vinyl seat isn’t as wide as the other office chairs here. It’s 20.5 inches by 20 inches deep, but you do have the extra room without the armrests. This is a great chair if you prefer to sit cross-legged.
The mesh backing is cool and breathable, and the office chair itself is very minimal. If you don’t have a lot of space, this is a great option.
You can also tilt back, controlling how easily you do so with the tilt tension knob.
The Cons
The chair does curve to try to fit your spine, but there is no real lumbar support with this office chair. So if you want it, you have to add padding yourself.
There is a limited lifetime warranty, but you need to request it from the manufacturer. Problems must be documented within 30 days of when they happened.
#3) Colamy Big and Tall Office Chair
What We Like About It
Although not technically armless, this mesh task chair features 4D adjustable arms so you do get full control over their positioning.
It can raise in height over 4 inches, and it tilts back up to 135 degrees when you want to rock or lean back.
The high density thick foam cushioned seat is nearly 5 inches thick. It’s also very roomy at 24 inches wide by 20 inches deep.
The adjustable lumbar support can move up and down, so you can actually control where you want it to hit your back.
The Cons
The lumbar can’t adjust in and out, so you can’t control the firmness of the support.
The assembly can be difficult and may require two people to put it together.
Verdict
All of these heavy-duty office chairs will support a 500-pound weight capacity. But beyond that, here’s where they stack up.
Executive Office Chairs
Your best office chair if budget is a concern is the BestOffice tall executive chair. It will keep you under $200 and still looks great.
If you like the executive look and have a bit more to spend, the Flash Furniture Hercules is a great option. And if the leather isn’t for you, you may prefer the linen upholstery on the Vinsetto Chair.
BrylaneHome has style and sturdiness, but it doesn’t offer much else in the way of features.
Mesh Office Chairs
If you prefer mesh chairs, try the BestOffice Mesh Chair with Headrest or the BestMassage Task Chair if you want a really big seat.
Armless Office Chairs
Lastly, the Safco Vue Armless Chair is the only 500-pound chair here with no arms.
The Boliss Ergonomic Chair has arms when you want them, but they’ll move out of the way if you don’t want them. The Colamy Big and Tall Office Chair does have arms, but they can be adjusted in all directions for maximum comfort.
What to Look for in a 500 Lb Office Chair
Not all big and tall people are alike, and neither are all big and tall office chairs. So how do you know what to pay attention to, beyond just the weight capacity?
There are a few important things you should look for when shopping for a 500-pound heavy duty office chair. Here is what you should pay attention to when shopping for the best office chairs for heavy person.
Price
How much you’re willing to spend will determine how much you can get. An affordable office chair doesn’t mean you can’t get good features, though. You should know your budget, then work back from there.
Strong Base
If you need a weight capacity of 500 pounds, you’ll want your office chair to have a strong, sturdy base. It obviously needs to support your weight without feeling like it’ll fall apart at any moment. A standard office chair only has around a 250-pound capacity. The warranty is also important in case anything does break.
Wide Seat
How much seat width do you need to sit comfortably all day? A lot of big and tall chairs have wide seats, but the armrests may interfere with some of that. If the armrests don’t move out of the way, you may need more width than you think.
Deep Seat
The depth is also important, and that will depend on how long your legs are. You should have about 2 inches of clearance from the back of your knees to the edge of your seat. That might mean 19 inches, or it might mean 24 inches. If you can’t change the depth of the seat, you’ll want to measure your legs from your butt to the back of your knees so you know how much room you actually need.
Material
Although you can find a lot of faux leather heavy-duty office chairs, those aren’t your only options. There are also upholstered options and mesh office chairs. Mesh chairs are great if you want something that will allow air to flow through, keeping you cool while sitting all day long.
Lumbar
It’s important to support your lumbar region when you’re sitting all day. Not all chairs offer this, and if they do, they can’t all be adjusted to your needs.
You can always add in a lumbar pillow or even a rolled-up towel, and in some cases that might even be better because you can place the pillow wherever you need it most. For lumbar and massage in one, check out our review on the Zyllion Shiatsu Massage Pillow.
Final Words
Whatever your style, shape, or size, you can still find a good office chair for your money. A large weight capacity shouldn’t keep you from finding something great.
Finding the best office chairs for plus-size people shouldn’t have to be a challenge. We hope one of these options will work for you because we know how important comfort is.