How to add a headrest to an office chair

Whether you’re setting up a home office or adjusting your current workplace setup, making it more ergonomic is a key consideration for your overall health and productivity. A key part of that is your office chair. Not only should your chair be comfortable, but it should also allow you to work for extended periods of time. An office chair headrest attachment can do just that.

A headrest is an essential feature for comfort. If you’re sitting in the same position for lengthy periods, you’ll need to support and protect your neck. If you’re here, you may have bought an office chair without a headrest and now want to add one. If so, you are in the right place. Read below to find out how to easily add a headrest to an office chair.

There are a few ways to add a headrest to an office chair. The first is by using a universal headrest.

Universal Headrests

It’s always worth considering if your current chair has a genuine headrest attachment to purchase from the manufacturer. This is the easiest option and will be straightforward to install. That said, it’s very unlikely that there is one as not many do (one that does is Herman Miller).

If you can’t find a genuine attachment, there are plenty of “universal” attachments available online. With these, you must be warned that not every headrest attachment will work with your chair. Because office chairs are all designed differently, with varied backrest designs, finding a decent attachment that works for every type of chair is impossible.

Once purchased, you either install using clamps or secure it directly onto the backrest.

Using Clamps

Place the two clamps on top of the chair first. Check that they are correctly spaced for the headrest. Your model may come with a fiber sleeve to cover the clamps. Once that’s in place, screw the headrest into the clamps. The screws will be inserted into the clamps near the side, securely keeping the headrest in place. To avoid accidents, they need to be securely fastened.

Once in position, check to see if it needs to be adjusted. Sit in the chair and evaluate the comfort of your back and lower back to avoid causing more harm than good.

Mounting Directly onto the Backrest

If your backrest is made of a hard plastic back shell, you can drill two 14″ holes through it and attach the headrest more fluidly that way. This may be your only option with some designs of office chairs. In this instance, the longer screw may be required to give extra stability. A pair of 30mm socket cap screws would suffice. That’s it.

Headrest Pillow

In some instances, a headrest pillow may be your only option, especially when your backrest is made of foam. There may be ways to go about it, like removing the foam to install a supportive item like a piece of plank. Then, you can use the methods above. However, this can be a little messy task.

There are many headrest pillows to choose from, and most are compatible with a variety of office chairs. While they may not have the same aesthetic appeal as an attached headrest, they accomplish the function of giving support during long work hours. That being said, headrest pillows have little to no adjustability. They work great with foam seat cushions too.

Why is a Headrest so Important?

Before we explain how to add headrests to an office chair, it’s essential to know why they’re so important. What advantages does a chair with a headrest provide that no other chair does?

Posture

Poor posture can lead to many types of joint pain. In this case, the lack of an office chair headrest attachment can cause discomfort in the neck and shoulder area.

A headrest ensures proper posture by curving with your spine and neck, providing the necessary support. If you want to skip the hard work, we’ve got a great selection of office chairs that specifically combat neck pain.

Pain Relief

A study by Cornell University discovered that chair headrests significantly decreased neck and back discomfort. Furthermore, the study discovered no significant influence on type accuracy while using headrests if that’s something you wanted to know. A headrest will also help you avoid discomfort and pain if you work for long periods. They can also help with existing lower back, upper back, and neck discomfort.

A good headrest will also allow for a lot more adjustability than your traditional ones. Everyone is unique. As a result, a headrest needs to be adjustable enough to support you. There are many types of adjustable headrests: some are merely adjustable in terms of height.

Fully adjustable headrests are height and angle adjustable, allowing you to ensure that the curve fits your head properly. This will give the most support and comfort while minimizing discomfort.

This is important as improperly adjusted headrests can do more harm than good.

Relaxation

Even when working, you cannot stay in the same position for long periods of time. In fact, holding any position for an hour is challenging! Headrests, as the name implies, give rest to your head, but they have more benefits than you may think.

You will get tired a lot quicker without a headrest. Tilting your head back and resting it on the headrest will help relieve neck strain. These little intervals allow you to restore your body and refill your energy, allowing you to withstand long work hours. With an excellent recline office chair, you can also use an office chair to take naps!

Final Thoughts

There you have it, how to add a headrest to an office chair. You don’t have to suffer the consequences of not having a headrest. Although a headrest is not required, it can be an excellent addition to any office chair.

We hope this guide has helped you install a headrest for an office chair. If you need any further help or simply have any questions, don’t hesitate to get in touch with us. We’re always happy to help.

FAQs

Can you attach a headrest to an office chair?

Although it’s always best to buy an office chair with a headrest installed to avoid the messy installation process, you can indeed attach a headrest to most office chairs.

Can I add neck support to my office chair?

The neck support is often an optional feature for office chairs, and its support performance depends on its adjustability. You’ll need neck support when you want to take a break by leaning back. The best option is to use some pillows of your own.

Is a headrest on an office chair worth it?

Headrests provide several advantages, whether purchased as part of an ergonomic chair or separately. So yes, they’re definitely worth it.

Where should a headrest be placed in an office chair?

The headrest should be placed towards the top of the backrest. It should sit slightly forward of the chair’s back.