Mesh Vs. Leather Office Chair: The Pros And Cons Of Each Explained
Whether considering getting a new chair for your home or office, you may face this dilemma between a mesh chair and a leather chair. Essentially, they are very different from each other. While leather chairs look more luxurious, mesh chairs look sleek.
There’s more to their difference than that. In this article, we’ll go through the differences between the two, so you can choose whatever suits you.
Factors to Consider When Choosing between Mesh vs. Leather Office Chair
In this section, we’ll look at each aspect that makes mesh and leather chairs different. So, let’s get right into it.
Breathability
Breathability wasn’t something that people cared about until mesh chairs came into being. It is because only mesh chairs are designed to offer this. Until mesh chairs came to be, most people considered leather chairs to be the staple of any office. However, this one aspect has changed everything.
So, why is this important? The main reason is comfort. On summer days, you’re very likely to sweat. Even if you have an air-conditioned room, you’ll still be going outdoors at least once or twice. When you come back and sit on a leather chair, the chair will trap your sweat, making things very uncomfortable for you.
On the other hand, mesh chairs are designed to offer ventilation. Also, leather gets hotter over time, even if you have air conditioning. The same doesn’t happen with mesh chairs because of the extra ventilation.
Ergonomics And Comfort
Mesh and leather chairs vary significantly in their ergonomics and comfort. Let’s go through how mesh chairs can help you first.
The mesh chairs aren’t as padded as leather chairs. They look very skeletal compared to leather chairs because all they come with other than the steel or plastic skeleton is a fine layer of mesh. While they may not feel plush, they offer superb comfort, especially for those working long hours.
We’ve already discussed one of the reasons behind that, which is breathability. Apart from that, they also come with a curved back. If it’s a quality mesh chair, then you’ll also be able to adjust the side handles, backrest, and even headrest as per your necessity, and this will help you stay in an optimum posture when working long hours.
It will help you prevent any back, neck, or shoulder pain. So, in terms of ergonomics, the mesh chairs are great.
When it comes to comfort, the crown goes to the leather chairs. While these aren’t as ergonomic as mesh chairs, they are very comfortable. It is due to their thick padding, which feels soft and plush. When you sit against these, you’ll feel like you’re sinking in.
However, for an office environment, ergonomics gets priority over comfort. It is because employees with desk jobs have to sit in front of their desks throughout the day. So, an ergonomic chair helps them much better than a comfortable chair.
Design And Style
Then there’s the design and the style of the chairs. It’s a fascinating aspect because, although mesh and leather chairs follow almost the same build, they are very different due to their appearance. Let’s get over the common features first.
Both mesh and leather chairs come with legs with wheels attached to them. It helps to move them quickly. However, mesh chairs are lighter because they don’t have thick padding. So they are a bit easier to move around with.
In terms of style, mesh chairs have an airier vibe to them. They offer excellent ventilation, are lighter, and are semi-transparent. They don’t look luxurious, but they have a very sleek look to them.
On the other hand, leather chairs scream luxury. These are heavily padded for excellent comfort and are heavier. Although they look much more expensive and luxurious, mesh chairs are more compatible with office spaces.
Also, both mesh and leather chairs are easy to clean. You can wipe them to clean them. In the case of mesh chairs, you can use brushes to clean them properly. However, mesh tends to last longer than leather, as leather usually gets wrinkled or chipped off over time.
So, mesh chairs are preferred in this aspect as well.
Price
Both mesh and leather chairs come in different price ranges. You can get both for around 70 to 80 USD if you want the cheapest options. You’ll get non-branded mesh chairs and faux leather chairs in this range.
We certainly don’t recommend faux leather chairs as they’re very brittle and get damaged very easily. On the other hand, while non-branded mesh chairs aren’t great, they can be used for three to four years without any issues.
In the upper range, you can get them for 250 or 300 USD. However, there are also options from both mesh and leather chairs that cost over a thousand dollars. You don’t have to pay that much if you have budget constraints. Usually, chairs around 250 to 300 dollars will be more than sufficient.
The Verdict
Both mesh and leather office chairs are great, but mesh chairs are much better for an office space. These offer superb ergonomics, look sleek, and blend into any office environment; they will prevent fatigue or body pain and can be adjusted as necessary.
One of the best features of mesh chairs is their breathability, and this alone is enough for making the purchase decision.
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Conclusion
When buying an office chair, it’s essential to consider all the aspects we’ve discussed in this article. As you can see, the mesh chair has the upper hand as it fits into the office space between a leather chair.
That being said, leather chairs also have their unique offerings. So, it would be best if you got them based on whether you prefer ergonomics or comfort.
