The Best Swivel Chairs We’ve Found Online for You

How We Picked

We chose the best swivel chairs using our expertise about our favorite retailers, and considered a range of materials, budgets, lifestyles, and more. We started with retailers we know and personally love, focusing on those that we've seen deliver durable, beautifully designed furniture pieces that wowed us as we tested other categories.

What to Look for in a Swivel Chair

Comfort and Ergonomic Support

The best swivel chairs are deep seated, cozy, and supportive. Some even have feather-filled cushions or a supportive curved back.

Determining which swivels chairs are the best when it comes to comfort and ergonomic support is something of a personal preference. While some may prefer firm seat and back cushions, others may want sink-in softness. To determine how supportive your swivel chair will be, we recommend looking at the fill material; while feather and down fill tend to be the softest, foam will offer more firmness and long-term support.

When it comes to ergonomics, the shape of the swivel chair matters. While many have straight backs, other options do recline at various angles. A reclined swivel chair may not be as ergonomically sound as those with straight, upright backs (but, like cushion feel, it's a person to person preference.)

Swivel Mechanism Quality

No one wants a swivel chair that lacks quality and doesn’t rotate smoothly. And of course, the best swivel chairs rotate a full 360 degrees.

Some swivel chairs even have a return mechanism. “We prefer swivels with a memory mechanism so the chair will return to its normal position rather than having swivels facing various directions which makes a room look messy,” says Pamela O’Brien, Principal and lead designer of Pamela Hope Designs.

Material Durability and Ease of Cleaning

The best swivel chairs are made with durable materials and well-designed frames. As far as cleaning, a lot of our picks consisted of high-performance fabrics which according to O’Brien are great for heavy duty families and cleaning up accidental spills. 

“Family-friendly fabrics are available in performance grade, which do well to repel stains and not show wear. These are ideal for heavy use, kids and pets,” O’Brien says

Style and Design Compatibility With Existing Decor

When shopping for the best swivel chair for your space, O’Brien recommends choosing a design style that complements your furniture.

“Swivel chairs can be traditional, modern, or Mid-Century Modern, so think about your existing sofas and chairs,” O’Brien says. ”If you are not sure which style swivel would be best, take good photos of your room and other seating and ask for an experienced salesperson at the furniture store or showroom so they can help guide you.”

Why Trust The Spruce?

This article was written by Kate McKenna, a senior editor for The Spruce who has written about furniture and other home decor products for the website for over five years. Kate just bought her first home, and as such, is constantly on the lookout for new, smart furniture that has lasting style.

Our Experts:

• Pamela O’Brien, Principal and lead designer of Pamela Hope Designs