7 Best Chairs For Music Producers In Their Home & Studio Engineers In Professional Recording Studios – 2024

The importance of comfort should never be overlooked – especially while you’re working in the studio.

It’s not unusual for producers or studio engineers to spend long hours at work, editing, mixing and mastering.

The more uncomfortable you are, the less you’ll be able to focus over the long haul. That can impact the projects you’re working on and the progress you make.

So, don’t be afraid to spend a bit of money on a quality chair. You won’t regret it.

Here are the best chairs for music producers in their home or professional recording studio.

Best Chair For Music Producers: Herman Miller Executive Size B Lumbar Support Aeron

Update: The Aeron chair is notoriously hard to find and always out of stock, but good news; the highly rated Herman Miller Mirra 2 chair is now also available! Check it out as a worthy alternative from the same brand.

Editor's (Shaun Letang) Note: As someone who works in the music industry and sits in my chair for many hours every day, I personally own and highly recommend the Aeron chair by Hermin Miller. I was recommended it from someone I trust who like me suffered from back problems from sitting in non suitable chairs for long periods. Since I've got this chair however (I've had it a few months now) my back pain has greatly reduced. Of course, I can't say that it'll help with any back issues you have if any, but I can say it's been a really good purchase for myself. 🙂

Herman Miller is a known brand in the desk chair space. And, generally, they make good quality products.

The famous Aeron chair is made in the USA, comes with tension control, rear tilt lock, forward tilt and is synthetic. So, it’s highly adjustable, which is good to know.

It also comes in Carbon Classic Pellicle or True Black Pellicle, giving you a couple of styles to choose from.

The reviews for this chair are generally good. In fact, many famous music producers and musicians use this chair.

That said, it's recommended you purchase a new one and not a used one. Additionally, you should order it from a reliable seller who will pack it properly. Otherwise, something could get broken while in transit.

There are good precautions to take regardless, especially if you’re going to be spending good money for a chair like this. Other Herman Miller products may also be worth a look.

Duramont Ergonomic Adjustable Office Chair

The Duramont Ergonomic Adjustable Office Chair boasts comfort with its many adjustable components – headrest height and angle, lumbar support height and depth, armrest height and distance from seat, seat height, backrest tilt and tilt tension.

It’s built of breathable mesh, is easy to install and is durable to boot.

Its price is moderate to reasonable, and best of all, the reviews are good. The Duramont is definitely a worth a look if you want long-term comfort, but without breaking the bank.

Amazon Basics High-Back Executive Chair – Black Or Brown

Whether it’s bedding or kitchenware, AmazonBasics offers all the essentials. Plus, they are known to offer quality products at a nominal fee.

As you might expect, the High-Back Executive Chair is both affordable and reliable. It’s been upholstered in bonded black leather and PVC, includes pneumatic seat-height adjustment, 360-degree swivel, smooth-rolling casters, and a one-year limited warranty.

Now, an important thing to keep in mind is that what might be perfect for someone else might not be perfect for you. Your like/dislike of a chair will vary considerably depending on your preferences, your height and weight, how you’ll be using it, and so on.

So, the reviews are a little mixed on the AmazonBasics chair, as with just about any other chair. But in general, customer sentiment is good. Bear in mind though, you may not be able to sit in this chair for as many hours as the alternatives without taking stretching breaks.

BestOffice Ergonomic PU Leather High Back Executive Office Chair

This High Back Executive Office Chair comes with a padded backrest and seat cushion, is made with soft PU leather upholstery, is height adjustable, comes with 360 swivel position, is reliable and sturdy, and it comes in a few different sizes.

This BestOffice product is available in black, brown or white depending on your preferences and needs. It’s also oil and water resistant, which should help maintain its appearance.

Again, reviews are a bit mixed on this one, though average to good seems to be the consensus. In general, you get what you pay for, and this chair certainly isn’t on the expensive end of things.

For some, this chair will probably be the perfect balance between comfort and affordability. Others might find it doesn’t last them very long, however.

OFFICE FACTOR Executive Ergonomic Office Chair

There’s a lot to like about the OFFICE FACTOR Executive Ergonomic Office Chair.

First, it has a bigger base for better stability. It has double casters and an upgraded gas lift. It also has back angle adjustment.

The chair also comes in several different styles and colors – Black Guest Chair, Black Leather Seat, Black Mesh Fabric Seat, Black and Blue, Burgundy, Gray Guest Chair, Gray Leather Seat, Gray Mesh Seat and Back Rest and Stool Black Mesh Fabric. So, there are plenty of styles to choose from.

Best of all, this is a moderately priced chair with great reviews. Sure, there are a few negative reviews, but they mostly seem to be missing the mark. The OFFICE FACTOR is a solid option.

Modway Lattice Modern Faux Leather Mid Back Executive Office Chair In White

If you’re looking to save some money on your chair, then this is probably the right choice for you.

The Modway Lattice comes with padded armrests, lumbar support, height adjustment, tilt control, 360-degree swivel, is built on a chrome frame, and is stylish to boot.

It’s not a high back chair, though personally I find I never use the “higher” portion on those, because I’m not sitting back while I’m working. And, if I do sit back, it’s six of one half dozen of the other whether the chair will properly support me.

Again, reviews are a little all over the map. So, it might be worth looking for other options if you aren’t trying to save money. Otherwise, the Modway can be a good budget option.

Hbada Ergonomic Office Chair – Modern High-Back Desk Chair

This chair kind of looks like it belongs on the Death Star. But rest assured it’s a quality chair worth considering.

The Hbada Ergonomic Office Chair features an Ergonomic-Human-Curve designed backseat and headrest, an adjustable seat with foam padding, a heavy-duty steel base, SGS certified gas lift cylinder and tilt mechanism, and a synchronized tilt mechanism for reclining.

The chair comes in white or black and is also available with an optional footrest for both colors.

The price for this chair is more than reasonable, though customer sentiment seems to indicate the Hbada is basically an average to good chair. This will depend at least somewhat on your preferences.

What Should I Look For In A Music Producer Chair?

With the sheer number of brands and models available, picking a chair can sometimes be a challenge. You could spend untold hours looking around online and doing your research.

This isn’t to suggest you should immediately pick a chair mentioned in this guide. But you also shouldn’t get stuck in analysis paralysis.

So, here are a few important criteria to consider when you’re looking at buying a chair.

Comfort & Support

The most important criteria for consideration are always comfort and support. If you don’t feel good in your chair, you’re not going to last long.

After all, it’s not unusual for music producers to spend long hours at the studio. You may even be there all day at times.

If the chair supports you and carries your weight, you’ll be able to go longer without feeling fatigued. That’s a big deal when your work involves sitting at a mixing console for all hours.

So, look for the right fit. What works for others may not always work for you, but it can’t hurt to ask around either.

Adjustability

This often goes hand in hand with comfort and support.

Now, you might stumble upon a chair that’s perfect the moment you sit in it. This is rare, but it can happen.

But often, you’ll need to keep tweaking and adjusting until a chair feels right. Unfortunately, some chairs don’t offer much by way of control.

This isn’t to suggest that chairs that are more adjustable are always better, but it’s nice to have some control. So, consider what would prove most helpful to you, whether it’s an adjustable headrest or armrests.

Durability

Look – there’s no two ways about it – chairs do break down over time. But there is a significant difference between a chair that breaks down in six months versus six years.

And, the more use a chair gets, the more wear and tear it’s going to have in a shorter timeframe.

So, don’t look for a “perfect” chair – as far as durability is concerned – as it simply does not exist. Look for one that’s not known to have any major issues. Check the reviews and look for warning signs.

Minimal Noise

It’s one thing if your control room and performance room are in separate locations. If you have a home studio, however, this may not be the case. So, noise ends up being a bit of concern.

I’ve recorded in home studios enough to know that everything from clocks and fridges to furnaces and even road noise from outside can be a challenge.

So, if you’re recording at home, you probably don’t need your chair squeaking and squawking while you’re recording vocals for your latest project.

It can be hard to find desk chairs that don’t creak a little. So, you’re either going to have to hold still (while recording) or look for other options. Fortunately, chairs come in a variety of types, sizes and shapes.

A Price You Agree With

Entry-level products start in the $80 to $100 range. But you can spend upwards of $1,000 on a chair, if not more. Yes, there are some fancy chairs out there like from Herman Miller, but they are worth it if you're spending your whole working day sitting down.

So, it’s always best to find a chair that’s within your price range. There’s no sense in going overbudget on a chair, because there are so many other things that could impact your production and the quality of clients you attract – compressors, reverb units, preamps, branding and marketing, and the like.

Now, you still want to ensure that you’re comfortable working in your studio, especially if you’re going to be spending a lot of time there. But you don’t need to go into debt for your chair, so keep that in mind.

What About Stools, Beanbags & Other Chairs? Are They Comfortable Chairs For Studio Engineers?

It’s not a bad thing to think outside the box.

It could be that you haven’t had a great experience with office chairs. Or, maybe you’re just looking for something a little different.

Well, you’ll be glad to know there are other options available.

Now, there are some great stools out there. But you don’t want to cheap out on a stool if that’s what you’re planning to use in your studio. Generally, I don’t find that stools are comfortable for a longer duration. So, you should be looking at performance or DJ stools if this is what you decide to go with.

Now, if you’re feeling particularly adventurous, you could also try out things lie beanbag chairs, recliners, saucer chairs, La-Z-Boys, rocking chairs, kitchen chairs, camping chairs, and more.

Look, I’m not going to stop you from trying different chairs. You never know when something might end up working. So, if you want to experiment, go right ahead. You might end up finding a better solution than a conventional desk chair.

Of course, it’s not a bad idea to have stools or other seating for your clients and guests. Just ensure that whatever you end up sitting on is comfortable and usable.

Are There Any Chairs Made Specifically For Studios?

I would love to say there are, but to this day I haven’t found any.

Desk chairs tend to be a good solution in most cases – it’s just a matter of finding the right fit.

But as a business idea, there might be something here. Maybe you could start your own brand of chairs made specifically for home studios. Maybe a headphone control panel and talkback mic could be embedded into it. Maybe it could offer remote control for mixers. The only limit is your imagination.

Anyway, you should be able to find an option that works for you, even if it’s not a conventional desk chair.

Top Chairs For Home And Pro Music Producers, Conclusion

Again, picking a chair can be a bit of challenge because of the sheer number of options available.

But ultimately, the only way you can go wrong is to spend far too much money on a chair that doesn’t serve its purpose. If you spend $80 on a chair that breaks down a year down the line, no big deal. You can easily replace it.

So, don’t worry about trying to be perfect. Just be willing to experiment until you find the right fit.