Mesh Office Chairs: Pros, Cons and How to Choose the Right One

Mesh vs leather office chair? Which is better and should you buy one with a mesh back and upholstered seat, or full mesh?

About the author:

Picture of George Mashinini

George Mashinini

Office Ergonomics Risk Facilitator. Areas of specialisation: Sales, Specifying & Ergonomics
mesh seat office chair

“Create Healthy Workspaces”

If you are buying a new chair for your office or desk at home, the options include chairs with a mesh backrest and upholstered seat, full mesh, and of course fully upholstered chairs. Upholstery options include fabric, vinyl or leather, which then begs the question as to which is better. Mesh vs leather vs vinyl vs fabric office chairs. 

For most people, a chair with a mesh backrest and upholstered seat provides the best balance of comfort, support and ventilation. While full-mesh chairs offer excellent airflow, many users find an upholstered seat more comfortable during extended periods of sitting.

Choosing Between Mesh and Upholstered Seat Office Chairs

If you're buying a new office chair, you'll likely encounter three common options:

  • Full mesh chairs (mesh seat and backrest)
  • Mesh-back chairs with an upholstered seat
  • Fully upholstered chairs in fabric, vinyl or leather

The right choice depends on how long you sit each day, your working environment, your comfort preferences, and your budget.

axis ergonomic office desk chair with headrest
The Axis is a full-mesh chair

Understanding Full Mesh and Mesh Back Office Chairs

A mesh office chair uses a breathable membrane stretched across a frame to support the body. The mesh conforms to your shape while allowing air to circulate freely. There are two main types:

Full Mesh Chairs

These feature both a mesh seat and mesh backrest.

Benefits:

  • Excellent airflow
  • Lightweight design
  • Modern hi-tech appearance.

Potential drawbacks:

  • Lower-quality mesh seats can stretch and sag over time resulting in users 'feeling' the seat frame 
  • Some users feel they are sitting "on" rather than "in" the chair

Mesh Back Chairs with Upholstered Seats

This is the most common configuration in executive and general office chairs.

Benefits:

  • Breathable back support
  • Better pressure distribution across the seat
  • Greater comfort during extended sitting
  • Available in a wider range of styles and finishes

For many office workers, this combination delivers the advantages of both mesh and upholstered seating.

Most people buy office chairs based on the price and how they look, only to end up with a sore back a few weeks later. Over the past 40 years, we've helped thousands of professionals bypass the marketing hype and choose seating designed for genuine, long-term physical comfort.

Advantages of Mesh Office Chairs

The enormous popularity of membrane chairs has resulted in huge improvements to their aesthetic design and comfort. Latest Trends in Selecting a Comfortable Office Chair. In general, these chairs have the following advantages:

a. Ventilation

Unlike leather and fabric chairs, the open structure of the membrane allows air to circulate naturally between your body and the chair. This ensures a cooler sitting experience by reducing heat buildup and the creation of ‘sweaty hot points’. The free flow of air through the membrane also helps your skin to breathe.

b. Lightweight

Mesh desk chairs have an minimalistic design and are constructed from lightweight materials, usually aluminum and/or plastic.

c. Easy to clean

Membrane chairs, and in particular the full mesh variety, are easy to clean. Stains and spills can quickly be removed using a damp cloth and a vacuum cleaner to get rid of any loose debris, hair, etc. In contrast, spills on fabric upholstery are often more difficult to clean.

d. Price

Membrane chairs are generally cheaper than upholstered chairs, especially those upholstered in real leather. The appealing aesthetic design of a membrane chair combined with an affordable price, makes them an attractive financial proposition. What influences the price of an office chair?

Disadvantages of Full Mesh Office Chairs

Mesh is both flexible and supportive. By conforming to the contours of your body, it is great for the backrest of an office chair, but it is not always that comfortable when used for the seat. The reasons are:

a. Durability varies significantly

The quality of the mesh is critical. Premium membranes can maintain their tension for many years, while lower-quality mesh may sag prematurely.

b. Reduced cushioning and a "hard" sitting experience

As there is no foam cushion, sitting on a mesh seat often results in your body coming into contact with the supporting chair frame, thereby creating discomfort. This becomes more acute when the mesh is of poorer quality and stretches over time. By it’s very nature, the taut seat membrane has little ‘give’ which makes for a ‘hard’ sitting experience. The absence of a foam cushion can make you feel like you are “sitting on a bench”. Unlike an upholstered foam seat, many users complain that they are “not sitting "in" the chair, but rather floating on top” of the mesh seat.

Combination Mesh Office Chairs for the ultimate seat

Mesh vs leather vs fabric office chair? At first glance, a fully upholstered chair in leather or fabric may seem like the most comfortable option. The additional padding provided by an upholstered seat and backrest allows you to ‘sink comfortably’ into the chair. To get the best of both worlds, the most common option is a combination chair that has a membrane backrest and an upholstered foam seat. There is a practical reason for this.

The backrest benefits from ventilation and flexibility, while the seat benefits from pressure distribution and cushioning. For users spending eight or more hours or more at their desk each day, this combination often provides the best balance of support, comfort and temperature control.

ergonomic office chairs at the Karo showroom
Yen Ergonomic Chair

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ's)

  • Are mesh office chairs good for back pain?
    A mesh backrest can provide excellent support when combined with proper ergonomic adjustments. However, the chair's overall design, lumbar support and adjustability are more important than the material itself.
  • Do mesh office chairs sag over time?
    High-quality mesh can maintain its tension for many years. Lower-quality mesh is more likely to stretch and lose support.
  • Are full mesh chairs comfortable for all-day use?
    Some users find them comfortable, while others prefer the additional cushioning of an upholstered seat. Comfort is highly individual.
  • Is mesh better than leather?
    Neither is universally better. Mesh offers superior ventilation, while leather provides a more premium appearance and softer feel when properly padded.
  • What is the best office chair material?
    For most office workers, a mesh backrest combined with a high-quality upholstered seat provides the best overall balance of comfort, support and breathability.

Final Recommendation

If you're unsure which chair to choose, start by considering how many hours you spend sitting each day. For most people working at a desk for extended periods, a chair with a mesh backrest and upholstered seat delivers the best combination of ergonomic support, comfort and ventilation.

The most important factor is not whether a chair is mesh or upholstered, but whether it provides the adjustability, support and pressure distribution required for healthy, comfortable sitting throughout the working day.

If you are unsure, contact one of our Office Ergonomics Risk Facilitators for expert help and advice.

Explore Ergonomic Mesh Office Chairs

If you've decided that a mesh chair is right for your workspace, browse our range of ergonomic office chairs or speak with one of our Office Ergonomics Risk Facilitators for personalised advice.
Browse our collection

By the same author: