4.8★
from 139 reviews
The Recess Ergo Pro 2.0 · 7 reasons
7 reasons a nearly $2,000 chair hunt ended at our $545 one
One of our buyers spent nearly $2,000 over twelve months trying chairs, then bought ours at $545. Below are seven reasons he stopped there, with the receipts under each one: the real specs, verbatim reviews, and the fine print.
4.8 from 139 reviews
96% would recommend
Australian designed
96%
would recommend it
119
of 139 gave five stars
From $545AUD · 30-day returns
Shop the Ergo Pro 2.0 · From $545 →
Or read the seven reasons first. Terms in reason 7.
8 points of adjustment
Supports up to 130kg
Limited lifetime structural warranty
Tested for 8+ hour days
4.8 stars, 139 reviews
30-day returns
Limited lifetime structural warranty
GREENGUARD compliant foam
Australian owned
1REASON
He tried nearly $2,000 of chairs before this one
He is not unusual. The longest reviews we get are almost always from people who bought two or three chairs first, tried to live with each one, and worked out that the seat you spend forty hours a week in is not where you save two hundred dollars.
"Ive spent nearly $2000 over the last 12 months trying to find the perfect chair … problem solved!!!"
peter b. · Full Moon, no headrest · ✓ Verified buyer, recess.com.au
"I've been looking around for years for a great chair. Just couldn't find one that I liked. Some seemed so plastic and fake. This Ergo chair is so well made and I've been using it now for 2 month. No more pain and it's a pleasure to sit in. Don't hesitate to buy this chair."
Thomas M. · Night, no headrest · ✓ Verified buyer, recess.com.au
Stop at the one that works
$545 without the headrest, $595 with it
Shop the Ergo Pro 2.0 · From $545 → 30-day returns · terms in reason 72REASON
$545 buys the chair, not the showroom floor
We design in Australia, build with Italian craftsmanship and sell direct from our own store. There is no retail chain in the middle and no distributor margin stacked on top, so the money goes into the parts you actually sit on.
Here is what that buys, laid against the two things people weigh us against.
| Ergo Pro 2.0 | A budget desk chair | A premium imported chair | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Typical price | $545 | Around $200 | $1,500 and up |
| Points of adjustment | 8 | Usually 1 to 2 | 8 to 12 |
| Adjustable lumbar support | Yes | Rarely | Usually |
| Rated for 8+ hour days (BIFMA) | Yes | Rarely | Usually |
| Structural warranty | Limited lifetime | Around 1 year | 10 to 12 years |
| Designed and supported in Australia | Yes | Rarely | Rarely |
Only the Ergo Pro 2.0 column is our own verified specification. The other two are our general description of those price bands, not measurements of any particular product, and individual models vary a lot. Check the exact chair you are weighing us against.
The chair, without the retail markup
8 adjustments · 130kg capacity · designed in Australia
Shop the Ergo Pro 2.0 · From $545 → ★ 4.8 from 139 reviews · 96% would recommend3REASON
The two-way lumbar lands in the arch of your back
It adjusts for height and for depth, so it sits in the arch of your back rather than somewhere near it. Set the height first, then the depth, until it is contact you can feel instead of pressure you are fighting. The seat pad slides through 45 to 51cm too, so the front edge stops pressing behind your knees.
"The lower lumbar support is where the chair is really singing for me. I'm currently managing some sport-induced lower back pain (the biggest motivator to get a new office chair) and the lumbar support is sitting beautifully in the arch of my back. I'm no longer in pain sitting at my office chair. It's such a relief."
Marita · Storm Cloud, no headrest · ✓ Verified buyer, recess.com.au
Honest caveat, 1 of 3: for some people it is too firm
The lumbar support adjusts for height and depth, but it does not come out. Most people find that is exactly the point. Two of our reviewers found it too firm and said so plainly, and gave us two stars for it. We would rather you read that now than after it arrives.
"Happy with the chair overall, aside from the lumbar support. I tested it for a few weeks, but found the lumbar support to be too firm and uncomfortable, it was causing pain from the get-go. Unfortunately, the support is not removable which is a pity as everything else can be personalised!"
Kit P. · 2 stars · Night, no headrest · ✓ Verified buyer, recess.com.au
If it is not your back's chair, send it back
30 days from delivery to decide
Shop the Ergo Pro 2.0 · From $545 → Full returns terms in reason 74REASON
Whatever your chair gets wrong, one of these three is it
Three complaints cover nearly everyone who ends up on this page. It is the same $545 chair whichever you pick. What changes is the part doing the work, how you set it up, and whose review you should read first.
Sandstone
The reason most people switch
Ergo Pro 2.0, no headrest
$545The part doing the work is the two-way lumbar support: it adjusts for height and for depth, so it sits in the arch of your back instead of somewhere near it. The seat pad slides too, so the front edge stops pressing behind your knees by 3pm.
Set it up for your back
"I'm very happy with my chair. It's comfortable and has really help with my lower back pain. Thank you!" Amanda C. · Storm Cloud, no headrest · ✓ Verified buyer, recess.com.au
Honest note: the lumbar support does not come out, and two reviewers found it too firm for their backs. If that turns out to be you, the 30-day returns exist for exactly this.
Shop the Ergo Pro 2.0 · $545 →
30-day returns. Delivered Australia wide.
Rest your head back while you work? Same chair with the headrest · $595 →
Then pick your colour
Five colourways, all $545 without the headrest. Each one takes you straight to that exact chair on our store.
Whichever one you picked, it is the same $545 chair
Five colourways · 8 points of adjustment · 130kg capacity
Shop the Ergo Pro 2.0 · $545 → 30-day returns · terms in reason 75REASON
Eight points of adjustment, so it fits your body
Seat height, seat depth, independent backrest tilt with a lock, tilt tension, two-way lumbar support and 4D armrests that move up, down, along and forward. That is the range that lets very different bodies share the same chair.
Underneath it: a steel chrome five-star base, silent PU castors that will not mark a floorboard, GREENGUARD compliant foam and a vegan leather armrest pad. It goes together in about 15 to 20 minutes across five steps, in one 20kg carton.
Seat height44 to 56 cm
Seat depth45 to 51 cm
Overall height97 to 107 cm
With headrest114 to 124 cm
Width63 to 72 cm
Weight capacityUp to 130 kg
"I am 188cm tall and I have found that the adjustments work well on the chair to accommodate my height. … Other then that I love the chair and is very comfortable for being in it 8+hrs a day as I work from home."
Jack M. · Storm Cloud, with headrest · ✓ Verified buyer, recess.com.au
Set to your body, not the factory's average
Assembles in about 15 to 20 minutes, instructions online
Shop the Ergo Pro 2.0 · From $545 → Limited lifetime structural warranty · 30-day returns6REASON
BIFMA tested for eight hour days, and up to 130kg
Most chairs are rated for a meeting, not a shift. This one is tested to BIFMA standards for sitting eight or more hours a day. The mesh back keeps air moving through the afternoon, the tilt tension sets how hard the backrest pushes back when you lean, and the 4D armrests come down to where your shoulders relax instead of where a factory left them.
"… It took a little while for me to get the settings just right and to adjust my posture to it, but now that I have, I am coming home from work pain free for the first time in a long time! … I deducted 1 star for the fact the lumbar support doesn't quite go high enough for my perfect comfort, and that the arm rests could be improved if they had rotation as an option."
Kathryn M. · 4 stars · Sandstone, with headrest · ✓ Verified buyer, recess.com.au
"I researched the market to find what I needed in a new office chair, it had to have adjustments both with height, seat, arms as well as back alignment. The Ergo Pro 2.0 delivers it all whilst giving you the selection of colours to choose from. I would highly recommend this chair to anyone who needs comfort throughout a full working day plus extra hours, you'll not be disappointed."
Paula H. · Sandstone, no headrest · ✓ Verified buyer, recess.com.au
"I love my new red Ergo Pro 2.0. I have spinal issues and it allows me to sit in a comfortable and ergonomically correct position. The only upgrade I would like is better castors."
Kate S. · Red Earth, no headrest · ✓ Verified buyer, recess.com.au
"We ordered two standing desks and two Ergo Pro 2.0 chairs as I was suffering with intense lower back pain (after using sub-standard chairs for years). These chairs look fantastic and are incredibly supportive. Very happy with our purchase and highly recommended. …"
Frank T. · Sandstone, with headrest · ✓ Verified buyer, recess.com.au
Honest caveat, 2 of 3: the seat pad splits opinion
Most people never raise it, but some owners want more padding under them for a long day, and the seat angle itself does not adjust. If you are on the shorter side a footrest helps, which is true of almost any office chair at a fixed-height desk.
"Overall, I'm very happy with this chair. Delivery was quick and seamless and it was easy to assemble. The quality of the frame is very good and the wheels move smoothly. It also looks very classy. The only niggle is the cushioned seat. It could really do with more padding and the ability to adjust the angle - especially if you're short and need a footrest."
Susan S. · 4 stars · Sandstone, with headrest · ✓ Verified buyer, recess.com.au
Built for the hours you actually work
Tested for 8+ hour days · supports up to 130kg
Shop the Ergo Pro 2.0 · From $545 → ★ 4.8 from 139 reviews · 119 of 139 gave five stars7REASON
Thirty days, and exactly what changing your mind costs
Most pages stop at "30-day returns" and let you assume it is free. Ours is not, so here are the actual terms before you order rather than after.
Change of mind30-day returns
Frame, base, armrests, castorsLimited lifetime
Gas lift and adjustment mechanisms2 years
Fabric, mesh and foam2 years
Honest caveat, 3 of 3: the terms, in plain English
Our limited lifetime warranty covers physical damage from poor workmanship affecting the structure of the chair: the back frame, armrests, base and castors. The gas lift and the ergonomic adjustment mechanisms are covered for two years, as are the fabric, mesh and foam. We provide and install the replacement parts.
On returns: you have 30 days from delivery. If you ask for a refund, it excludes the shipping you paid and a 10% restocking fee. If you take store credit instead, you get the full amount back including shipping. The 30-day policy covers your first purchase of a product and does not apply to clearance stock. None of it limits your rights under Australian Consumer Law.
"I tried a lot of different chairs for my home office and settled on the Ergo Pro 2.0. I couldn't be happier. Excellent quality build, comfortable and great price. I appreciated the personal contact from Recess as well along the way. Would highly recommend!"
Dean S. · Night, with headrest · ✓ Verified buyer, recess.com.au
Thirty days in your own room
Delivered Australia wide by Allied Express
Shop the Ergo Pro 2.0 · From $545 → Limited lifetime structural warranty · 2 years on mechanismsOrder your Ergo Pro 2.0
The short version
$545, set to your body, thirty days to check
Seven reasons, three of them caveats we could have left out. If the lumbar suits your back and the seat suits your legs, this is a chair people stop hunting after. If it does not, you have thirty days to tell us.
From $545AUD · 30-day returns
Shop the Ergo Pro 2.0 · From $545 →
★ 4.8 from 139 reviews · 96% would recommend · Afterpay and Zip available
Quick questions, answered
Do I actually need the headrest?
Only if you lean back and rest your head while you work. It adds $50 and 17cm of height. Our headrest reviews are the most mixed on the chair: the tilt is not adjustable, and one reviewer stopped using the chair altogether because the headrest sat too far forward and caused neck pain. Another found it slid down and would not lock at the height he wanted. If you sit upright at a desk, the no-headrest build at $545 is the one we would point you to.
How tall or short can I be?
The seat height moves between 44 and 56cm and the seat pad slides through a 45 to 51cm depth, which covers most adults. One reviewer at 188cm told us the adjustments accommodated his height well. If you are shorter, the seat pad slides back to shorten the seat under your thighs, and you may still want a footrest so your feet sit flat, which is true of almost any office chair.
When will it arrive?
Once your chair ships: 2 to 3 business days to metro Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane, 3 to 5 to Adelaide, 5 to 7 to regional areas and 7 to 10 to other states and territories. Dispatch time depends on the colour and build you pick, so the current date is shown on the product page before you order. Whichever it is, we keep you posted the whole way.
Is it hard to put together?
Five steps, about 15 to 20 minutes, with instructions online. It arrives in one 20kg carton. Reviewers consistently call the assembly straightforward.
What does the warranty cover?
It is a limited lifetime warranty on the structure: the back frame, armrests, base and castors, against physical damage from poor workmanship. The gas lift and the ergonomic adjustment mechanisms are covered for two years, as are the fabric, mesh and foam. Separately, you have 30 days from delivery to change your mind; a refund excludes the shipping you paid and a 10% restocking fee, while store credit returns the full amount including shipping.
Can I pay in instalments?
Yes. Afterpay and Zip are both available at checkout on our store.