What adjustments does the Steelcase Series 2 have?

Seat height, seat depth, lumbar height (on upholstered and 3D Microknit backs), and 4D arms that move in height, width, depth and pivot. The recline is weight-activated, with a boost setting for extra tension and an upright back lock.

How tall is the seat?

The standard seat height range is 16.5 to 21.5 inches. Steelcase also offers a short range (14.75 to 18 inches) and a tall range (17.25 to 22 inches).

How much weight does it support?

Steelcase says the Series 2 chair is tested for users up to 400 lbs.

Does it come with a headrest?

Not by default. A headrest is an optional add-on that adjusts 3.25 inches up and down.

Which back styles are there?

Steelcase offers an open plastic Air back, a 3D Microknit back, a fully upholstered back and a quilted upholstered back. A fabric back cover is also available on upholstered versions.

Steelcase backs the Series 2 with its Limited Lifetime warranty, which covers 12 years, multi-shift, 24/7 use for parts and labor.

Steelcase Series 2

An ergonomic office chair with a flexible back, adjustable lumbar and fully adjustable arms

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What is the Steelcase Series 2?

The Steelcase Series 2 is an ergonomic task chair for offices and home offices. Steelcase pitches it as an attainable high-performance chair. Its signature feature is the Air LiveBack, a plastic back with a geometric pattern that flexes as you move to support your spine.

What stands out

Back that moves with you. The Air LiveBack flexes in two dimensions to support posture changes through the day.
Weight-activated recline. The chair sets back tension based on your body weight. A boost setting adds extra tension, and you can lock the back upright.
4D arms. The arms adjust in height, width, depth and pivot, so they can sit close to your desk and support your shoulders.
Fit adjustments. Seat depth adjusts, and lumbar height adjusts by 3.75 inches on upholstered and 3D Microknit backs.
Built to last. It's rated for users up to 400 lbs and has a 12-year parts and labor warranty.

Who is it for?

The Series 2 is for people who sit at a desk for most of the day and want a proper ergonomic chair without paying for a flagship model. The weight-activated recline also suits shared desks, since each person gets the right tension without adjusting anything.

It's not the best fit if you want a headrest as standard, since that's an add-on. If you only sit for an hour or two a day, a cheaper chair may be enough.

Our take

On paper, the Series 2 has the adjustments that matter most for all-day sitting: seat depth, lumbar height, 4D arms and a recline that sets itself. The long warranty helps justify a price that's well above typical home office chairs. If you have hard floors, choose the soft roll-control casters, since the standard hard casters are made for carpet.

How we reviewed it: this review is based on Steelcase's published specifications and our own research. We haven't run long-term hands-on tests yet, and we'll update this page when we do. Specs checked on steelcase.com in October 2026.

Features

Air LiveBack back that flexes in two dimensions as you move
Weight-activated recline with a boost setting and an upright lock
Height-adjustable lumbar on upholstered and 3D Microknit backs
4D arms adjust in height, width, depth and pivot
Seat depth adjustment
Seat height from 16.5 to 21.5 inches, with short and tall cylinder options
Rated for users up to 400 lbs
Air, 3D Microknit, upholstered and quilted back styles; optional headrest
12-year, multi-shift, 24/7 parts and labor warranty

Pros & cons

Pros

Weight-activated recline means less fiddling with tension knobs
Arms adjust four ways to fit your desk and shoulders
Adjustable lumbar and seat depth for a better fit
Rated to 400 lbs
Long 12-year warranty on parts and labor

Cons

Premium-priced compared with typical home office chairs
Headrest is an optional extra
Lumbar height only adjusts by 3.75 inches
Standard hard casters are made for carpet; hard floors need the soft caster option
Lots of configurations can make buying the right one confusing

Frequently asked questions