When choosing an office chair, much attention goes to ergonomic features—lumbar support, armrest adjustability, and tilt mechanisms. But the material covering your chair affects daily comfort just as significantly. The upholstery determines breathability, durability, maintenance requirements, and aesthetic appeal. This guide explores the three main material categories to help you choose wisely.
Mesh: The Breathability Champion
Mesh has become the dominant material in modern ergonomic office chairs, popularised by iconic designs like the Herman Miller Aeron. Its rise reflects a genuine performance advantage for many users.
How Mesh Works
Mesh consists of woven synthetic fibres (typically polyester or elastomeric polymer) stretched across a frame. The gaps between fibres allow air to circulate while the mesh itself conforms to your body shape. Higher-quality meshes use multiple layers or zones with varying tension to provide both support and comfort.
Advantages of Mesh
- Excellent breathability: Air flows freely through the material, preventing heat buildup. This is invaluable in warm climates or non-airconditioned spaces.
- Conforms to body shape: Quality mesh flexes to support your contours without the pressure points that can develop with foam.
- Low maintenance: Mesh doesn't absorb spills deeply, dust vacuums off easily, and it doesn't trap odours like foam can.
- Durability: Premium mesh (like Herman Miller's Pellicle) maintains its tension and appearance for decades with minimal degradation.
- Hygienic: Less prone to harbouring dust mites and allergens than upholstered alternatives.
Disadvantages of Mesh
- Less cushioning feel: Some users prefer the plush, enveloping sensation of foam over the suspended feeling of mesh.
- Quality varies dramatically: Cheap mesh stretches out, sags, or develops permanent indentations. Quality mesh is expensive.
- Can feel cold: The same breathability that keeps you cool in summer can feel chilly in winter, especially with air conditioning.
- Potential pressure points: If the frame edges aren't well-designed, you may feel them through the mesh.
When evaluating mesh chairs, press firmly on the mesh to feel for the frame beneath. Quality designs keep frame edges away from contact points. If you feel hard edges through the mesh, look elsewhere.
Leather and Faux Leather: The Executive Choice
Leather chairs convey prestige and traditionalism—they're the classic choice for executive offices and boardrooms. But the term "leather" encompasses several very different materials.
Types of Leather
Full-grain leather: The highest quality, using the complete outer layer of the hide with its natural texture intact. It develops a patina over time and can last decades with proper care. This is rare in office chairs due to cost.
Top-grain leather: The outer layer is sanded and treated to remove imperfections, then coated for uniform appearance. Most quality "leather" office chairs use top-grain leather. It's durable and easier to maintain than full-grain.
Bonded leather: Made from leather scraps bonded with adhesive and attached to a fabric backing. Significantly cheaper but degrades faster—it often peels or cracks within a few years. Avoid if possible.
PU leather (faux leather): A synthetic material designed to mimic leather's appearance. Quality varies enormously. High-quality PU can be durable and attractive; cheap PU peels and cracks quickly. Many gaming chairs use PU leather.
The difference between genuine leather and quality faux leather has narrowed significantly. Don't dismiss PU leather outright—premium PU often outperforms cheap genuine leather in durability and appearance retention.
Advantages of Leather
- Professional aesthetic: Leather communicates status and sophistication, appropriate for client-facing spaces.
- Easy to clean: Spills wipe off surfaces before absorption (with genuine leather, anyway).
- Develops character: Genuine leather ages gracefully, developing a unique patina that many find appealing.
- Durable: Quality leather with proper care can outlast fabric and most mesh.
Disadvantages of Leather
- Poor breathability: Leather doesn't allow air circulation, leading to heat buildup and sweating. This is the primary complaint from leather chair users.
- Temperature sensitivity: Leather feels cold in winter and can become uncomfortably hot in summer.
- Maintenance requirements: Genuine leather requires conditioning to prevent drying and cracking. Neglected leather deteriorates rapidly.
- Cost: Quality leather chairs are expensive. Cheap alternatives degrade quickly, negating any savings.
- Ethical considerations: Some users prefer to avoid animal products.
Despite the name, bonded leather contains minimal actual leather and performs poorly over time. If a chair is described as "bonded leather," expect peeling and deterioration within 2-3 years. It's generally better to choose honest fabric or quality PU over bonded leather.
Fabric: The Versatile Middle Ground
Fabric upholstery offers a middle path—better breathability than leather with a cushioned feel mesh can't match. It's the most varied category, encompassing everything from cheap polyester to high-performance technical fabrics.
Common Fabric Types
Polyester blends: The most common option, offering reasonable durability at affordable prices. Quality varies with fabric weight and construction. Better polyester fabrics resist pilling and staining.
Nylon fabrics: Stronger than polyester with better abrasion resistance. Often used in commercial-grade chairs designed for heavy use.
Wool blends: Found in premium executive chairs, wool offers natural temperature regulation, durability, and a luxurious feel. It's expensive but ages beautifully.
Technical fabrics: Proprietary materials engineered for specific properties—moisture-wicking, antimicrobial, or enhanced durability. Often found in premium ergonomic chairs.
Advantages of Fabric
- Comfort: Fabric over foam provides a cushioned, comfortable feel that many users prefer to mesh.
- Better breathability than leather: While not matching mesh, quality fabric allows more air circulation than leather.
- Variety: Fabric offers the widest range of colours, patterns, and textures for matching office decor.
- Temperature neutral: Fabric doesn't feel dramatically cold or hot to the touch, unlike leather.
- Price range: Available across all budgets, from budget office chairs to premium executive seating.
Disadvantages of Fabric
- Stain vulnerability: Fabric absorbs spills, and some stains are difficult or impossible to remove completely.
- Wear patterns: Over years of use, fabric can show wear, pilling, or colour fading—especially in cheaper materials.
- Odour retention: Fabric can absorb and hold odours over time, requiring periodic cleaning.
- Allergen accumulation: Fabric harbours dust mites and allergens more than mesh or leather.
- Harder to clean: Spills require prompt attention and proper cleaning products; deep cleaning may require professional services.
Choosing Based on Your Situation
Choose Mesh If:
- You work in a warm environment or tend to get hot while sitting
- You prioritise modern aesthetics and ergonomic performance
- Low maintenance is important to you
- You're willing to invest in quality (cheap mesh disappoints)
- You prefer a "suspended" sitting feel over cushioned support
Choose Leather If:
- Professional appearance matters for your workspace
- You work in a climate-controlled environment
- You're investing in genuine leather (not bonded) and will maintain it
- You appreciate classic styling over modern design
- Easy surface cleaning is a priority
Choose Fabric If:
- You want cushioned comfort without leather's heat issues
- You're matching specific colour schemes or decor
- Budget is a primary consideration (fabric offers the widest price range)
- Temperature regulation matters but mesh feels too austere
- You can commit to reasonable cleaning and maintenance
Many chairs combine materials—mesh backs for breathability with fabric or leather seats for comfort. This hybrid approach captures benefits of both materials. Consider whether the seat, back, or both matter most for your comfort.
Material Longevity and Maintenance
With proper care, any quality material can last a decade or more. Here's what to expect:
- Premium mesh: 15-20+ years with minimal maintenance. Just vacuum occasionally.
- Quality leather: 15-20+ years with regular conditioning (2-4 times annually).
- Quality fabric: 10-15 years with periodic vacuuming and prompt stain treatment.
- Budget mesh/fabric: 3-5 years before noticeable degradation.
- Bonded leather/cheap PU: 2-4 years before peeling or cracking.
Investing in quality materials at the outset usually proves more economical than replacing cheap chairs repeatedly. The material you touch every day for 1,700+ hours annually deserves consideration equal to ergonomic features.