{"id":92537,"date":"2018-08-21T00:28:00","date_gmt":"2018-08-21T00:28:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/arielle.com.au\/?p=92537"},"modified":"2026-01-22T05:57:04","modified_gmt":"2026-01-22T05:57:04","slug":"ikea-markus-office-chair-review","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/arielle.com.au\/ikea-markus-office-chair-review\/","title":{"rendered":"Ikea Markus Office Chair Review: Pros, Cons & Verdict."},"content":{"rendered":"Reading Time: <\/span> 6<\/span> minutes<\/span><\/span>\n

Let’s face it. Most Ikea office chairs are horrendous. They’re cheap, flimsy and not at all comfortable. However, the Ikea Markus office chair, priced at about $250, seems like an outlier.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It’s attractive, for sure. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It also ranked reasonably well in our ultimate office chair review<\/a>. But is it a diamond in the rough some reviewers claim it to be, or a gimmick that pales in comparison with premium office chairs,like the $1,500 Haworth Fern<\/a>? Let’s take a closer look.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n\n
Pros<\/th>Cons<\/th><\/tr><\/thead>
Modern Design.<\/strong> Much better-looking than its $250 price tag would suggest.<\/td>Cheap build.<\/strong> Definitely on the flimsy side. Better than most Ikea chairs but far from ideal.<\/td><\/tr>
Great Recline.<\/strong> Ideal for people who like to rock back during their workday.<\/td>Terrible Armrests.<\/strong> Not adjustable, too narrow and too hard. <\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Reasons To Buy The Ikea Markus Office Chair.<\/strong><\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Above: the Ikea Markus office chair looks better than most chairs in the $250 price segment.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Right off the bat, the Ikea Markus office chair reassures with a 10-year warranty. This is very long compared with other office chairs in this price range.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Most chairs at the $200-$300 price point offer between 1 and 3 years of warranty.<\/span><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

While it’s an impressive warranty period, I wonder how many people would bother driving back to Ikea to make a warranty claim if something went wrong. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Expert Tip.<\/h3><\/div>

I bet a big proportion of customers would throw it out. Ikea knows this and factors it in its calculations.<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Design-wise, the Markus chair is a visual treat. Whether you opt for the classic black or the pristine white colour, its design is sleek and modern. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

(Related: <\/strong>ErgoTune Supreme: The Best Mid-Range WFH Chair?<\/strong><\/a>)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The tall sculpted backrest exudes an air of sophistication and does a fantastic job of masking the chair’s budget-friendly nature.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Self-locking castors are an interesting (and rare) feature. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Expert Tip.<\/h3><\/div>

TheMarkus’ armpads will get easily scratched by a cheap standing desk without an anti-collision system. If buying a standing desk, check that it has this feature<\/a>.<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Above: the lockable castors are smooth. They’ll work on hard floors as well as carpet.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

They ensure the Markus chair stays put when not in use, eliminating any concerns about unintended chair wanderings or wall collisions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, this does make manoeuvring the Ikea Markus chair more tricky, as it won’t move unless you sit in it first. A manual override would have been excellent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The recline is excellent. <\/span><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Imitating the rocking motion of higher-end chairs like the Herman Miller Aeron<\/a>, the Markus recline is both smooth and comfortable (unlike the awkward hip-thrust motion of cheaper Steelcase chairs<\/a>, for example).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

(Related: Best Ergonomic Office Chairs In Australia<\/a>).<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

You can lock it in one of 5 different positions or leave it unlocked in a free rocking mode.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It’s ideal for people who spend less time tasking and more time watching videos.<\/span><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

The only hiccup? <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The tension adjustment knob is located beneath the seat pan. While common on budget chairs<\/a> because of its simplicity, it’s not as intuitive as a side-mounted lever.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Above: location of the recline tension adjustment knob is not ideal, and the armrests don’t adjust for height, reach or width.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Ikea Markus office chair does a great job of catering to unusually tall or short people because its seat height adjustment range is also unusually wide. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Important!<\/h3><\/div>

The lowest setting is 46 cm, while the highest is 57 cm.<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

For those on the fence, Ikea allows you to “try before you buy” by dropping into the physical store and planting yourself into the chair.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

(Related: Task Chairs vs Ergonomic Chairs: What’s The Difference?<\/a>)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Even if you buy the Markus chair and don’t like it, you’re covered by Ikea’s generous 365-day return period. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The catch is that the chair must be in an “unused and resalable condition”.<\/span><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
\"ikea<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Above: hybrid design means the Markus’ semi-translucent backrest is made from mesh while the waterfall-shaped seat base is covered in fabric.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

How do you test the chair without using it?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I don’t know, but I suspect Ikea left this definition intentionally vague to guard themselves against potential abuse of this policy. I bet they’ll be lenient and accommodating – if you don’t overstep the line.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Expert Tip.<\/h3><\/div>

I recommend you visit an Ikea shop and try the Markus chair before you buy, as its lumbar support doesn’t adjust. It’s an entry-level fixed design that may not fit the natural curve of your spine.<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n