Branch Ergonomic Chair Pro vs Steelcase Series 2
The Series 2 costs more than the Branch Pro. The Branch Pro adds a two-way lumbar and forward seat tilt. The Series 2 is rated to 400 lb and carries the Steelcase Limited Lifetime warranty.
Buy the Branch Pro for fit. Branch lists 14 adjustment points, and the lumbar moves in height and depth. The Series 2 has no headrest option and no forward tilt. The Branch Pro also costs less and is bought direct from Branch.
Buy the Series 2 for load rating and long-term backing. It is rated to 400 lb against the Branch Pro’s 275 lb, and Steelcase covers parts and labor for 12 years against Branch’s 7. Its seat has adaptive bolstering and flexible edges, and it assembles in under two minutes with no tools.
Choose the Branch Pro if you…
- Want to set the arm pads, lumbar depth and seat tilt separately
- Want a headrest option, which the Series 2 does not offer
- Want boucle or vegan leather upholstery
- Weigh under 275 lb and want the lower price
Choose the Series 2 if you…
- Need a rating above 275 lb, up to 400 lb
- Want the 12-year Steelcase warranty
- Want a foam seat with adaptive bolstering
- Want tool-free assembly in under two minutes
Branch Pro vs Series 2 at a Glance
| Spec | Branch Ergonomic Chair Pro | Steelcase Series 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Price | ~$499 (Branch) | ~$665 (Amazon) |
| Arms | 5D (height, width, depth, pad width, pivot) | 4D (height, width, depth, pivot) |
| Adjustment points | 14 | 4D arms, seat depth, lumbar height, recline |
| Lumbar | Two-way adjustable (height and depth), fully removable | Height-adjustable, built into the Air LiveBack pattern |
| Seat | Cushioned seat with forward tilt | High-density foam with adaptive bolstering and flexible edges |
| Seat height | Standard cylinder; tall cylinder option for users over 5’11” | 16.5″ to 21.5″ |
| Forward tilt | Yes | No |
| Recline | Reclining backrest with forward-tilt seat | Weight-activated synchro-tilt, upright back lock |
| Weight capacity | 275 lbs | 400 lbs |
| Warranty | 7 years | Steelcase Limited Lifetime (12-year parts and labor) |
| Headrest | Optional add-on | Not available |
| Materials | Performance mesh, vegan leather, boucle, leather | Intermix mesh, SoftNext recycled, Cafe Leather, Dovetail, and more |
Design and Materials
The Branch Pro is available in boucle, which gives it a softer look than a standard task chair. The table lists the other materials.
The Series 2 uses Steelcase’s Air LiveBack, a geometric flexor pattern ordered as an open mesh panel or an upholstered quilted back. One fabric family, SoftNext, is 100% post-consumer recycled polyester. Intermix and Dovetail are also offered, and the Series 2 has the longer fabric list.
Adjustability
The Branch Pro has 5D arms, and the table above shows each axis. Branch counts 14 adjustment points across the chair, and both seat height and seat depth adjust. Branch does not print ranges for either on the Pro.
The Series 2 has 4D arms and a seat depth slider with 2.75 inches of travel. Its recline is weight-activated, so tension sets itself to the sitter. Steelcase does not publish an adjustment-point count for it. The Branch Pro has the extra pad-width axis on its arms.
Lumbar and Back Support
The Branch Pro lumbar moves in height and in depth, and it lifts out of the chair if you prefer no lumbar pad.
The Series 2 lumbar is height-adjustable and built into the Air LiveBack pattern. For a lumbar with a separate firmness dial, the remanufactured Steelcase Leap V2 has one, and neither of these chairs does.
Seat Comfort and Fit
The Series 2 seat is high-density foam with flexible edges and adaptive bolstering. Seat height runs from 16.5 to 21.5 inches. The seat depth slider adjusts the gap behind the knees by 2.75 inches.
The Branch Pro adds forward seat tilt, which the Series 2 lacks. Branch also sells a tall cylinder for users over 5 feet 11 inches. Branch recommends the standard chair for 5’2″ to 6’2″, and it does not print a fit range for the Pro, so measure your seat height before ordering.
Weight rating splits the two. The Series 2 is rated to 400 lb and the Branch Pro to 275 lb, so heavier sitters should start with the Series 2.
Recline and Tilt
The Series 2 uses a weight-activated synchro-tilt with an upright back lock for sitting fully forward. The Branch Pro has adjustable tilt tension and forward seat tilt, with no degree range published. Branch lists no tilt lock for the Pro.
Build Quality and Warranty
Steelcase covers the Series 2 with its Limited Lifetime warranty, which includes 12 years of parts and labor. The chair weighs 37.4 lb and assembles in under two minutes with no tools.
Branch covers the Pro for 7 years. The chair weighs 42 lb. Its 275 lb rating is the BIFMA figure Branch publishes.
Value and Price
The Branch Pro costs less and is bought direct from Branch, which lets you order the configuration you want. The lower price still includes the two-way lumbar and forward tilt.
The Series 2 costs more. The extra spend buys the 400 lb rating, the longer warranty, and the bolstered seat. It does not buy more adjustment points, since Branch lists 14 for the Pro.
Who Should Buy Which
The Branch Pro fits sitters under 275 lb who want to position arms and lumbar closely, want a headrest, or want forward tilt.
The Series 2 fits sitters above 275 lb, anyone who wants the 12-year warranty, and sitters who want a bolstered foam seat.
Alternatives Worth Considering
If you want Branch design for less: Branch Ergonomic Chair
The standard Branch Ergonomic Chair costs less than the Pro. It has 3D arms and a height-adjustable removable lumbar with fixed firmness, so it gives up the Pro’s depth-adjustable lumbar and fifth arm axis.
If you want Steelcase for less: Steelcase Series 1
The Series 1 costs less than the Series 2 and keeps the 12-year warranty, 400 lb rating, and weight-activated recline. It has a mesh back, a 15.5 inch minimum seat height against the Series 2’s 16.5, and an optional headrest.
If back support is your priority: Steelcase Leap V2 (remanufactured)
The Leap V2 has a height-adjustable lumbar plus a separate firmness dial. A remanufactured Leap V2 from Crandall Office costs more than a new Series 2 and carries a 12-year Crandall warranty.
Frequently Asked Questions
Final Verdict
The Branch Pro costs less and offers more adjustment. The Series 2 offers a 400 lb rating and a 12-year Steelcase warranty.
Choose the Branch Pro
More adjustment and a headrest option, for sitters within 275 lb.
Choose the Steelcase Series 2
A 400 lb rating and a 12-year warranty.
For more detail on each chair: Branch Ergonomic Chair Pro full review · Branch Pro vs Branch Verve · Branch Ergonomic Chair vs Pro · Secretlab Titan Evo vs Branch Pro · Steelcase Series 2 full review · Best office chairs under $500 · Best office chairs under $1,000 · Black Friday office chair deals