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The Steelcase Karman is a high-end office chair with impressive adjustability and ergonomics. There is a variant with back support adjustments, but it doesn’t ship with a headrest.
The Steelcase Karman is a premium office chair that was launched in 2023. Weighing only 28 pounds, the Karman is lighter than many highly-rated office chairs and is available in variants that offer both adjustable and non-adjustable lumbar support.
The lumbar support variant is height adjustable by about 3.5” Its armrests can also be moved up or down, sideways, front or back, or in and out, and it also offers four recline positions, each with different levels of tension. Its seat height can be adjusted in a 5” range, and ships fully assembled for added convenience. The chair has a 350 lbs weight capacity and can automatically adjust to body movements and posture changes to offer the best flexibility.
Consensus
our Verdict
The Steelcase Karman is a well-built fabric mesh office chair that stands out with its unique ability to adapt to an individual’s body movements and posture thanks to its flexible seat and backrest frame. The chair is also highly adjustable, as owners can quickly configure its seat height (by 5”), recline angle (reclines back up to 135°), and adjust the armrests up, down, inwards, or outward. However, there’s no setting for making seat depth adjustments and no option to include a headrest.
Nonetheless, the chair is easy to maneuver around at only 28 pounds, and it works for users that weigh up to 350 pounds. Regarding back support, most should be satisfied with the built-in curve in its backrest that adjusts according to posture, but there is a variant with height & depth adjustable lumbar support, which is height adjustable by about 3.5”.
ReasonS to Buy
Decent range of adjustability options
The Karman is ideal for office use, as it allows for height, armrest, and recline adjustability, but owners won’t be able to configure its seat depth.
The seat height is adjustable by 5”, and the backrest reclines up to 135°. Additionally, its lumbar support variant is height adjustable by 3.5”, and the chair can tilt back by up to 16°.
Variable options for lumbar support
Buyers can opt for the Karman variant that offers height-adjustable lumbar support (which is height adjustable by about 3.5”) or stick with the default variant, which has what Steelcase calls LiveBack Technology for dynamic support.
Exceptional build quality
The Steelcase Karman is made of premium-feeling materials (high-quality plastic on an aluminum frame) and has a 350-pound weight capacity.
Reason to Avoid
No headrest included
The Steelcase Karman is not sold with a headrest, nor is it offered as an option.
Steelcase Karman Specs
Adjustable Armrests
4-Dimensional
Armrest Height Max
11.25
Armrest Height Min
7.25"
Backrest Height
25"
Backrest Width
18"
Frame Construction
Steel
Has Footrest
No
Head Pillow
No
Head Rest
Adjustable Head Support
Lumbar Support
Adjustable
Piston Type
Pneumatic Cylinder
Recline
Yes
Seat Depth
17.32"
Seat Height Adjustment
16.5 – 20.5"
Seat Padding Material
Foam
Seat Width
19.5"
Upholstery
Intermix Mesh
Weight Limit
400 lbs
Wheel Type
Casters
All Specs
Test Results
These are the most important criteria to test for Office Chairs based on our comprehensive Testing Methodology.
Max Recline (Degrees)
0
Min Seat Height (Inches)
0
Max Seat Height (Inches)
0
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The Steelcase Karman is a premium office chair that was launched in 2023. Weighing only 28 pounds, the Karman is lighter than many highly-rated office…
The Steelcase Karman is a premium office chair that was launched in 2023. Weighing only 28 pounds, the Karman is lighter than many highly-rated office chairs and is available in variants that offer both adjustable and non-adjustable lumbar support.
The lumbar support variant is height adjustable by about 3.5” Its armrests can also be moved up or down, sideways, front or back, or in and out, and it also offers four recline positions, each with different levels of tension. Its seat height can be adjusted in a 5” range, and ships fully assembled for added convenience. The chair has a 350 lbs weight capacity and can automatically adjust to body movements and posture changes to offer the best flexibility.
The Steelcase Karman’s seat height can be adjusted by about 4.5”, which is slightly lower than the 10” range of seat height adjustment offered by…
The Steelcase Karman’s seat height can be adjusted by about 4.5”, which is slightly lower than the 10” range of seat height adjustment offered by the Steelcase Gesture. Weighing only 28 pounds, the Steelcase Karman is light and much easier to move around than the Steelcase Gesture, which weighs 58 pounds. The Karman also has a lower 350-pound weight limit compared to the Gesture, which is rated at 400 lbs. However, while the Steelcase Gesture can be ordered with a headrest, the Karman cannot.
The Steelcase Karman has a slightly higher 350 lbs weight limit than the Flexispot C7, which has a 300 lbs limit. Also, regarding lumbar support,…
The Steelcase Karman has a slightly higher 350 lbs weight limit than the Flexispot C7, which has a 300 lbs limit. Also, regarding lumbar support, the Karman is sold in options where lumbar support is adjustable or offered as a curve on its backrest. In contrast, the C7 offers dynamic lumbar support, where the lower back section of its backrest self-adjusts in response to body movements and posture. We’ve also covered the C7 in our Flexispot C7 review if you’re interested. However, if you’d prefer an alternative with more padding than these two, check out our EasySMX Big and Tall review.
The Steelcase Karman has a typical mid-back backrest, which is quite different from the Herman Miller Mirra 2 chair, which has a “Butterfly” back. The…
The Steelcase Karman has a typical mid-back backrest, which is quite different from the Herman Miller Mirra 2 chair, which has a “Butterfly” back. The Mirra 2 chair is available in variants with a plastic or mesh backrest, while the Karman only sells with a mesh backrest. On the other hand, the Karman is sold in variants that either have or lack adjustable lumbar support, while the Mirra 2 offers adjustable lumbar support by default. If that sounds interesting, we’ve delved deeper into what it offers in our Herman Miller Mirra 2 review.
