The Steelcase Series 2 is a premium office chair with impressive adjustability, but some might not appreciate the lack of a tilt limiter or tension knob.
The Steelcase Series 2 is a premium office chair first announced in 2020. The chair ships in a variant that offers height-adjustable lumbar support – a feature that is common among most highly-rated office chairs. The full spec variant of the chair ships with a 4-way adjustable armrest, but this comes at a significant additional cost.
The Series 2 has an automatic back tension adjustment system that depends on the weight of the seated individual, and it also can support individuals who weigh up to 400 lbs. Owners can also adjust the chair’s seat height, depth, and armrests and choose whether to ship a variant with a mesh or a cushioned backrest.
The Steelcase Series 2 offers all-around adjustability and good comfort at a premium price. Owners can pick between options where the chair ships with a headrest, armrests, or a mesh or fabric-cushioned backrest. Regarding ergonomics, owners can easily adjust the 4-directional armrests (height adjustable by 4.75” and depth adjustable by 3”), seat height (adjustable by 5”), and seat depth (adjustable by 2.75”), but its tilt tension will adjust automatically when leaning back. This might be cumbersome for some users because the chair doesn’t come with a tilt limiter or tension knob, and the automatic adjustment may take some time to get used to. Its lumbar support may also be hard to adjust when seated.
Nonetheless, its seat is comfortable courtesy of foam padding that is neither hard nor too soft, and overall, the chair is easy to assemble and comes with high-quality materials.
Reason to Buy
Ergonomic design with mid-tier adjustability
The Series 2 has good adjustability, but owners won’t be able to adjust its tilt tension or limit its reclining angle. Other aspects, such as seat height, seat depth, and armrests are easy to configure.
Its seat height is adjustable by 5”, its seat depth by 2.75”, and its 4-way armrests are height adjustable by 4.75” and pivot 30° both inwards and outwards.
Height-adjustable lumbar support
A variant ships with height-adjustable lumbar support, which is ideal for users with back issues.
High build quality
The chair is made of premium materials and can be used by individuals weighing up to 400 lbs. Its base is made out of polished aluminum, and its upholstery options include fabric and 3D microknit (back and headrest).
Reason to Avoid
No tilt limiter or tension knob
The lack of a tilt limiter or tension knob may be inconvenient for some.
Steelcase Series 2 Specs
Adjustable Armrests
4-Dimensional
Armrest Height Max
32"
Armrest Height Min
23.62"
Backrest Height
22.4"
Backrest Width
19"
Frame Construction
Metal and Plastic
Has Footrest
No
Head Pillow
No
Head Rest
Adjustable Head Support
Lumbar Support
Adjustable
Piston Type
Pneumatic Cylinder
Recline
Yes
Seat Depth
14 – 17.75"
Seat Height Adjustment
16.75 – 20.75"
Seat Padding Material
Foam
Seat Width
19"
Upholstery
Mesh
Weight Limit
400 lbs
Wheel Type
Casters
All Specs
Test Results
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The Steelcase Series 2 is a premium office chair first announced in 2020. The chair ships in a variant that offers height-adjustable lumbar support –…
The Steelcase Series 2 is a premium office chair first announced in 2020. The chair ships in a variant that offers height-adjustable lumbar support – a feature that is common among most highly-rated office chairs. The full spec variant of the chair ships with a 4-way adjustable armrest, but this comes at a significant additional cost.
The Series 2 has an automatic back tension adjustment system that depends on the weight of the seated individual, and it also can support individuals who weigh up to 400 lbs. Owners can also adjust the chair’s seat height, depth, and armrests and choose whether to ship a variant with a mesh or a cushioned backrest.
The Steelcase Series 2 has options where it ships either with a mesh or cushioned backrest, making it more versatile than the Steelcase Gesture, which…
The Steelcase Series 2 has options where it ships either with a mesh or cushioned backrest, making it more versatile than the Steelcase Gesture, which has a fully cushioned backrest and seat. Also significant is that the Series 2 is available with height-adjustable lumbar support, while the Steelcase Gesture only has a contoured backrest. If you’re interested in the Gesture, we’ve covered it in our Steelcase Gesture review.
The Steelcase Series 2 is designed such that its back tension is automatically adjusted depending on weight, making it more adaptable than the Steelcase Amia,…
The Steelcase Series 2 is designed such that its back tension is automatically adjusted depending on weight, making it more adaptable than the Steelcase Amia, as it will need its back tension adjusted manually. The Steelcase Series 2 also has a mesh backrest, giving it better breathability than the Steelcase Amia, which has a padded fabric. Check out our Steelcase Amia review for more insight into what else it has to offer.
The Steelcase Series 2 doesn’t have a segmented part of its backrest designed to offer lumbar support, while the X-Chair X2 K-Sport does. The X2…
The Steelcase Series 2 doesn’t have a segmented part of its backrest designed to offer lumbar support, while the X-Chair X2 K-Sport does. The X2 can also be upgraded with options such as a massager and heating pad – upgrades you won’t quite get with the Series 2. Here’s our X-Chair X2 K-Sport review in case you’d like to learn more about it, but if you’d prefer a basic chair that doesn’t have as many bells and whistles, then our AmazonBasics Low Back Chair review might be worth a look.
