If you are pregnant and spending your working day at a desk, the chair problem is not the one most chair guides are written for. Those guides assume your measurements are a fixed fact — measure once, buy the chair that matches, done. The situation here is different: the dimensions you need from a chair in month eight are not the dimensions you needed in month two.
So the question is not "which chair fits me". It is which chair has enough adjustment range that it will still fit me in a few months' time — and, if you already own a chair, which of its levers are worth pulling before you spend anything at all.
Before going further, the necessary sentence. This page is about how office chairs adjust. It is not medical advice, none of these chairs is a medical device, and nothing here is intended to diagnose, treat, prevent or manage pregnancy or anything associated with it. What follows is measurements, prices and what each chair physically does. For anything about your own health or what is right for you at work, your midwife or doctor is the person to ask.
The three measurements that stop fitting first
Manufacturers publish dozens of figures. For this particular problem, three of them carry almost all the weight, and they are the three that adjust rather than the ones that are fixed.
- Seat depth adjustment — how far the seat itself slides forward and back. Not the seat pad's overall depth, which is a fixed number, but the range the usable depth moves through.
- The gap between the armrests — how far apart they set, and how high. This is the measurement that decides whether you can get the chair under the desk.
- Seat angle and seat height — how far the front edge of the seat tips down, and how high the whole seat goes.
Everything else on a spec sheet matters less here, because it does not move.
Measurement one: how far the seat slides
This is the figure to check first, and it is the one where our range separates most clearly. All of these are the manufacturers' own published figures.
| Chair | Published seat depth adjustment | Travel |
|---|---|---|
| HÅG Capisco 8106 | 370–470 mm | 100 mm |
| HÅG SoFi Mesh | 380–460 mm | 80 mm |
| RH Mereo 300 | 403–483 mm | 80 mm |
| Herman Miller Mirra 2 (FlexFront) | 413–457 mm | 44 mm |
| Herman Miller Aeron | None — fixed by size at 406 / 432 / 470 mm | — |
Seat heights and seat depths on the Flokk chairs are measured under a 64 kg load, so an unloaded chair measures slightly higher. The Capisco's 100 mm of travel is the widest we sell, and the Aeron's absence of any is the reason it is not the chair we would put a first-time buyer in for this particular requirement — it is sized, not slid, and a size is a decision you make once.
Measurement two: the gap between the armrests
Armrests are what people actually ring us about, because they are what stops a chair going under a desk. There are two good answers in our range and they solve it differently.
The RH Mereo publishes the numbers. Flokk's RH Mereo factsheet gives the optional 8T armrests as 355 to 510 mm apart and 195 to 310 mm above the seat, on the Mereo 200, 220 and 300 alike. That 155 mm of width adjustment is the only published between-the-armrests figure for any chair we stock, which makes the Mereo the chair to specify when the armrest gap is the constraint you are solving. The Mereo 300 is the square-back model: a 630 mm high, 400 mm wide backrest that adjusts 564 to 642 mm above the seat, with the lumbar support setting anywhere from 132 to 210 mm above the seat.
The HÅG SoFi Mesh moves them out of the way instead. Its optional armrests are the SlideBack type, and Flokk's own description of them is that they let you "easily adjust height, width or slide the armrests backwards", which "makes it possible to move closer to your desk, invites you to sit sideways or to use the armrests as elbow support". The SoFi is also sold with no armrests at all, at $750 instead of $950 — and for a lot of people working at a desk with a keyboard tray, that is the better answer than any amount of armrest adjustment.
Measurement three: seat angle and seat height
Tipping the front edge of the seat down and raising the whole seat changes the geometry you sit in without replacing anything, which is why it is worth checking what your current chair already does before buying.
| Chair | Published seat or tilt movement | Seat height |
|---|---|---|
| HÅG SoFi Mesh | Tilt range 20° forwards and 14° backwards from a neutral position 4° to the rear | 390–540 mm on the 165 mm lift; 450–640 mm on the 200 mm lift |
| RH Mereo 300 | Seat angle adjustment +7.7° to 16°; back angle adjustment 23.7° | Flokk publishes more than one range for this gas stem, so we will not quote one — ring us and we will measure the chair and confirm it in writing |
| HÅG Capisco 8106 | Tilt range (3)–(−17)° from a neutral position of −2°, with adjustable and lockable resistance | 400–540 mm on the 150 mm lift; 460–640 mm on the 200 mm; 550–810 mm on the 265 mm |
At 390 mm, the SoFi Mesh on the 165 mm gas lift has the lowest minimum seat height of any conventional task chair we stock — and it slides its seat depth as well, which is the combination that decides whether a chair fits at all.
The chair that sits in more than one way: the HÅG Capisco
The Capisco is the outlier in this comparison and it belongs in it, because the thing it does is the thing this problem asks for: it does not have one correct way to sit in it.
Designed by Peter Opsvik in 1984 and built at Flokk's factory in Røros, it has a saddle-shaped seat and an open, winged backrest. You can sit astride it with your legs either side of the front section, sit sideways, turn around and rest your arms over the backrest, or raise it and perch. You change between those by moving, not by adjusting anything.
On published figures it gives 370 to 470 mm of seat depth adjustment, a backrest that sets from 440 to 500 mm, a 500 mm wide seat pad, and three gas lifts that are three separate cylinders rather than three settings — so the lift is a decision to get right at the order rather than later. The full set of figures for every Capisco model is on our HÅG Capisco models and measurements page, and our saddle chairs page covers what saddle seating is and who tends to get on with it.
Who it does not suit. If you would rather feel settled, supported and relatively still than free to move, the Capisco will feel like work — it takes most people about a fortnight to feel normal on one. The SoFi Mesh is the chair we would put you in instead, and it is a third of the price. Come and sit on both before deciding; that is what the showroom is for.
Where your feet go once the seat is higher
Raise a seat and your feet leave the floor. That is not a small detail — it undoes most of what raising the seat was for. Two products solve it and they are not interchangeable.
| HÅG StepUp | HÅG Capisco FootRing | |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | Chair-mounted footrest with two foot levels | One 450 mm ring that clips to the gas lift column |
| Fits | 150, 200 and 265 mm lifts | 200 mm and 265 mm lifts only — no adapter |
| Desk heights | Roughly 800–950 mm | Not published by Flokk |
| From | $297.90 | $210.60 |
| Availability | Limited — ring first | In stock |
The StepUp is the only chair-mounted foot support that fits a 150 mm gas lift. If you are on the shortest cylinder — which is the usual choice at a standard fixed-height desk — it is the one that will actually bolt on. The FootRing is colour-matched to the lift, so if you are ordering both, specify them together.
What these cost in Australia
Prices checked live on 24 September 2026, in Australian dollars including GST.
| Chair | From | Availability | Why it is on this list |
|---|---|---|---|
| HÅG SoFi Mesh | $750 without armrests, $950 with SlideBack armrests | In stock | 80 mm of seat depth adjustment, the lowest seat we stock at 390 mm, 20° of forward tilt, and armrests that slide out of the way |
| RH Mereo 300 | $1,976 | Limited — ring first | Armrests 355–510 mm apart and 195–310 mm high, an 80 mm seat slide and a seat angle from +7.7° to 16° |
| HÅG Capisco 8106 | $2,013.30 | In stock | 100 mm of seat depth adjustment, more than one way to sit, and three gas lifts reaching 810 mm |
| Herman Miller Aeron | $2,150 | In stock, though Size A is the size we hold in the smallest numbers at any given moment — ring us rather than assuming there is one on the shelf | Sized rather than slid. Listed here for completeness, because its seat depth does not adjust |
Our Herman Miller stock is genuine product brought in as a parallel import, and the twelve-year cover on it is Chair Dinkum's own warranty, handled in Sydney — not Herman Miller's. The Flokk chairs carry Flokk's ten-year guarantee against production defects in normal use for up to nine hours a day, with fabrics and leather covered for five years, and Chair Dinkum is the exclusive Australian distributor for the Flokk group, so claims are assessed here. Full terms for every brand are on our warranty page. All of this is in addition to your rights under the Australian Consumer Law: our goods come with guarantees that cannot be excluded under the Australian Consumer Law, and you are entitled to a replacement or refund for a major failure and compensation for any other reasonably foreseeable loss or damage.
Flokk publishes no maximum user weight for the HÅG Capisco or the SoFi. The 110 kg figure that circulates for HÅG chairs is a condition of the ten-year guarantee rather than a tested load rating, and the two are different measurements. If you need a certified figure in writing, ask us and we will request the documentation.
How it fits the rest of the desk
Two things are worth doing at the same time as the chair, because they cost less than a chair and change more than people expect.
The desk height. If the desk is fixed at a standard height, the chair has to do all the work. If it adjusts, you have a second lever: lower the desk and the chair can come down with it, raise both and you get a more open position without losing your forearms. Our guide to choosing a sit-stand desk in Australia covers the sizing.
The monitor. Once you change the seat height, the screen is in the wrong place. A monitor arm is the cheap fix, and our guide to premium monitor arms compared sets out what reach and travel each one publishes.
Our recommendation
For most people, the HÅG SoFi Mesh at $750. It has 80 mm of seat depth adjustment, the lowest minimum seat height in our range at 390 mm on the 165 mm lift, 20° of published forward tilt, and the option of SlideBack armrests that pull back out of the way — or no armrests at all for $200 less. It is also the one chair here we hold in real numbers, in black and in light grey.
If the armrests are the problem, the RH Mereo 300 from $1,976. A 355 to 510 mm spread between the armrests and 195 to 310 mm of armrest height is the most adjustable armrest specification Flokk publishes for anything we stock, and it comes with an 80 mm seat slide and a seat angle range of +7.7° to 16°.
If you already know you like to move, the HÅG Capisco 8106 from $2,013.30. The widest seat depth adjustment we sell at 100 mm, and more than one way to sit in it.
And if you already own a decent chair, the honest first step is to ring us with the make and model before you buy anything. A lot of chairs adjust further than their owners realise, and half the calls we take on this end with a five-minute adjustment rather than an order. 02 9640 0642, or get in touch.
Come and sit on them if you can — the SoFi, the Mereo and all three Capisco models are on the floor at our Pyrmont showroom, and our 30 day returns policy covers you if a chair turns out not to suit once it is in your own workspace. You can also browse the full ergonomic task chair range and the HÅG range.
If seat depth is the measurement you keep coming back to, our guide to office chairs for short people in Australia works the same figures through for a different reason, and best office chairs for people who cannot sit still covers the chairs that tolerate constant position changes. The HÅG SoFi Mesh review has every published figure for our main recommendation here.
This article is general information about office chairs and how they adjust. It does not constitute medical advice. None of the chairs described is a medical device and none is intended to diagnose, treat, prevent or manage pregnancy or any condition associated with it. For advice about your own circumstances, speak with your midwife, doctor or another appropriately qualified health professional.
Frequently asked questions
What should I look for in an office chair during pregnancy?
Adjustment range, in three specific places: how far the seat depth slides, how far apart the armrests go, and how far the seat angle and seat height move. Those are the three measurements that stop fitting first as your body changes shape, and they are the three that manufacturers publish, so you can compare chairs on figures rather than on marketing. The HÅG SoFi Mesh slides its seat depth 380 to 460 mm, the RH Mereo slides 403 to 483 mm and sets its armrests 355 to 510 mm apart, and the HÅG Capisco 8106 slides 370 to 470 mm. This is fit information, not health advice.
Which chair in your range has the most seat depth adjustment?
The HÅG Capisco 8106, at 370 to 470 mm, which is 100 mm of travel. The HÅG SoFi Mesh gives 80 mm, from 380 to 460 mm, and the RH Mereo gives 80 mm, from 403 to 483 mm. The Herman Miller Aeron has no seat depth adjustment at all — its seat depth is fixed by size, at 406 mm for a Size A, 432 mm for a Size B and 470 mm for a Size C.
Do the armrests really matter that much?
They are the thing people ring us about, because armrests are what stops you getting close to the desk. Two published figures are worth knowing. The RH Mereo sets its armrests 355 to 510 mm apart and 195 to 310 mm above the seat, which is the only between-the-armrests figure Flokk publishes for any chair we stock. The HÅG SoFi Mesh takes a different approach with its SlideBack armrests, which Flokk describes as making it possible to move closer to your desk, to sit sideways, or to use the armrests as elbow support. The SoFi is also sold without armrests at all, for $750 rather than $950.
Can I just raise the seat instead of buying a new chair?
Often yes, and it costs nothing to try. Raising the seat and tipping the front edge down changes the geometry you sit in without replacing anything. Whether your chair can do it depends on what it has: the RH Mereo adjusts its seat angle from +7.7° to 16°, and Flokk publishes a tilt range for the HÅG SoFi Mesh of 20° forwards and 14° backwards from a neutral position 4° to the rear. Ring us with the make and model you already own on 02 9640 0642 and we will tell you what it adjusts before you spend anything.
Is a saddle chair like the HÅG Capisco a good idea during pregnancy?
It suits some people and not others, and the honest answer is that it depends on how you like to sit rather than on anything we could promise. What the Capisco does is let you sit astride the saddle, sideways, facing the backrest, or perched high, and change between those without adjusting anything. It also has the widest seat depth adjustment in our range at 370 to 470 mm and a backrest that sets anywhere from 440 to 500 mm. If you like to feel settled and firmly held rather than free to move, the SoFi Mesh is the chair we would put you in instead. Saddle seating takes most people about a fortnight to feel normal, so it is worth trying one before you commit.
What about the Herman Miller Aeron?
The Aeron is sized rather than slid. Its seat depth is fixed — 406 mm, 432 mm or 470 mm depending on whether you have a Size A, B or C — so it is not the chair to choose if what you want is a seat that changes over the next few months. If you already own one, the adjustments that still help are the arms, which move 190 to 292 mm in height on all three sizes, and the tilt limiter. Bring us your chair's size and we will talk you through it on the phone.
What if my feet no longer reach the floor once I raise the seat?
That is the usual consequence of raising a seat, and there are two answers. The HÅG StepUp is a chair-mounted footrest with two foot levels, from $297.90, and it is the only chair-mounted foot support that fits a 150 mm gas lift as well as the 200 and 265 mm ones. The HÅG Capisco FootRing is a 450 mm ring that clips to the gas lift column, from $210.60, and it fits the 200 mm and 265 mm lifts only — there is no adapter for a 150 mm lift. Specify the ring and the lift together, because the ring is colour-matched to the lift.
Can I try a chair before I buy it?
Yes. The SoFi Mesh, the RH Mereo and all three Capisco models are on the floor at our Pyrmont showroom at 1/209 Harris Street, Monday to Friday by appointment. Call 02 9640 0642 and tell us your desk height when you book, and we will have the chairs set up on the right gas lift before you arrive. Our 30 day returns policy covers you if a chair turns out not to suit once it is in your own workspace.
Is any of this medical advice?
No. This article is general information about how office chairs adjust. It is not medical advice, none of the chairs described here is a medical device, and nothing on this page is intended to diagnose, treat, prevent or manage pregnancy or any condition associated with it. If you have questions about your own health, or about what is appropriate for you at work, speak with your midwife, doctor or another appropriately qualified health professional.
References
- Flokk, FS_ENG_HÅG_SoFi_Collection_2025.pdf — HÅG SoFi 7500 seat heights, adjustable seat depth, tilt range, backrest and SlideBack armrest description
- Flokk, RH_Mereo_Factsheet_ENG.pdf — RH Mereo 200 / 220 / 300 seat slide, seat angle, lumbar and backrest heights, armrest height and spacing, base diameter and guarantee
- Flokk, 2025 HÅG Capisco factsheet — Capisco 8106 seat heights on all three gas lifts, seat depth adjustment, backrest and tilt range
- Flokk, HÅG Capisco FootRing and HÅG StepUp product information — gas lift compatibility and desk heights
- Flokk, warranties and product quality — the ten-year guarantee and its conditions
- Herman Miller, Aeron dimension drawings (fully adjustable arms) — seat depths and arm heights by size
- Herman Miller, Mirra 2 product sheet — FlexFront adjustable seat depth
- Chair Dinkum live product data — prices, variants and availability checked 24 September 2026
