Branch Ergonomic Chair vs Steelcase Series 2: Which Should You Buy?

The Branch Costs a Little Over Half as Much

The Branch Ergonomic Chair costs a little over half the Series 2’s Amazon price, and Branch sells it direct for less than its own Amazon listing. The Amazon listing is the second buying option. Steelcase also sells the Series 2 on its own store, and the Series 2 button on this page goes to its Amazon listing.

At the lower price the Branch still carries 8 adjustment points by Branch’s count, seat depth and tilt tension among them. The Series 2 also has a slightly wider seat height range and weighs less, which matters mainly to a sitter at the edge of the Branch’s range or one who moves the chair often.

275 lbs vs 400 lbs

The Branch Ergonomic Chair is rated for 275 lbs. The Steelcase Series 2 is rated for 400 lbs, the same capacity listed for the Steelcase Leap V2 and Gesture. A buyer who weighs more than 275 lbs is outside the Branch’s rating and inside the Series 2’s.

Below 275 lbs, both chairs are inside their ratings. Branch lists BIFMA compliance and Greenguard Gold certification for the Ergonomic Chair and a five-star anodized aluminum base.

3D Arms vs 4D Arms, and Two Recline Mechanisms

The Branch’s arms move on three axes: height, width, and pivot. The Series 2’s arms add depth, so the pads slide forward or back to meet the forearms at the desk edge. Lumbar adjusts for height on both chairs. Branch’s lumbar rest is removable and has a fixed firmness, and the Series 2’s lumbar is built into the flex pattern of the Air LiveBack panel.

Both chairs adjust seat depth. Branch lists seat depth among the standard chair’s 8 adjustment points but does not publish the amount of travel. The Series 2 uses a handle-released slider with 2.75 inches of travel. Steelcase does not publish an absolute seat-pan depth for the Series 2, so the two seat pans cannot be compared inch for inch.

The Branch reclines on a synchronous tilt with a manual tension control across a 20-degree range, and Branch does not list a tilt lock. The Series 2 reclines on a weight-activated synchro-tilt with an upright back lock. Steelcase does not offer a headrest for the Series 2.

A Narrower Chair vs a Lighter One

The Branch measures 25 inches wide and 24 inches deep. The Series 2 measures 27 inches wide and 19.25 to 22 inches deep overall, so the Branch is 2 inches narrower and the Series 2 is at least 2 inches shallower. The Series 2 also weighs less, at 37.4 lbs against the Branch’s 42 lbs. Steelcase does not publish a seat-pan depth for the Series 2 separate from that overall depth.

Seat height runs from 17 to 21 inches on the Branch and from 16.5 to 21.5 inches on the Series 2, so the Series 2 reaches half an inch lower and half an inch higher. Branch states the Ergonomic Chair is best for users from 5’2″ to 6’2″. Sitters near either end of that range should compare both seat height ranges against their desk height before buying.

7 Years vs a Lifetime Structure

Branch backs the Ergonomic Chair with a 7-year warranty. Steelcase backs the Series 2 with its Limited Lifetime warranty, which includes 12 years of parts and labor. The Series 2’s 12-year parts and labor term runs five years past Branch’s 7-year warranty, and it is the same Limited Lifetime structure that covers the Steelcase Leap V2 and Gesture.

Branch sells the Ergonomic Chair direct and on Amazon, and the primary button below goes to Branch direct, which is priced below the Amazon listing. A chair bought direct from Branch can be returned within 30 days of delivery, and Branch deducts a flat $40 return shipping fee per chair from the refund. The Series 2 button goes to Amazon.