If you’re like most Americans, you probably spend a good amount of your time working at a desk. One of the best ways to save money is by investing in the things that you use the most — like your mattress or your best business blazer.
Choosing the right office chair is as important as picking a comfortable mattress. But investing in a great chair doesn’t have to mean putting a major dent in your savings. We’ve rounded up 10 of the best cheap office chairs available online that you can add to your home or office for less than $200.
Quick Look: The Best Cheap Office Chairs
- Best Overall: VANBOW High Back Leather Office Chair - View on Amazon
- Best Overall:
Hbada Ergonomic Office Chair - View on Amazon - Best Overall: AmazonBasics Classic Mid-Back Mesh Swivel Chair with Armrest - View on Amazon
- Best Leather Chair: Smugdesk Executive Office Heavy Duty Bonded Leather Chair - View on Amazon
- Best for Big and Tall People:
KILLABEE Big and Tall Gaming Chair with Metal Base - View on Amazon - Best for Gaming: Homall Gaming Chair Racing Office Chair - View on Amazon
- Best for Waiting Rooms: Flash Furniture Comfort Reception Chair - View on Amazon
- Best Ergonomic: Modway Articulate Ergonomic Mesh Office Chair - View on Amazon
- Best with a High Back: BestOffice Home Office Chair - View on Amazon
- Best Executive Chair: AmazonBasics Big & Tall Executive Chair - View on Amazon
What to Look for in an Office Chair
It’s never been easier to find a great office chair at an affordable price. Unfortunately, not all low-price chairs are of equal quality. Look for these key features when you shop.
Adjustability. It’s unusual to find a chair that fits you and your desk perfectly right out of the box. Look for a chair with a back and height that’s adjustable. Sit down in the chair and recline to make sure that the back can move without cracking or hurting your spine.
Use the adjustment tool to make the chair higher up and lower to the ground. The chair should adjust easily, without the need to push and pull on the lever multiple times.
Lower back support. Spending too much time sitting down in a chair with no lower back support can increase back strain, eventually leading to sciatica. Look for a chair that provides plenty of support for your lower back. The best office chairs also include adjustable pads that allow you to move the panel to support your lower back.
Choosing a chair with superior lower back support is especially important if you have a history of arthritis or lower back pain. It can be hard to tell immediately if a chair is good for your lower back, so don’t be afraid to send it back after a week if you find that its lumbar support is weaker than you first thought.
Sturdy wheels. The wheels are one of the most important parts of your chair. If a single wheel breaks, you can be seriously injured. Take a look at the wheels and make sure they can move fluidly and don’t stick. If you want to use your office chair in a carpeted area, make sure you choose a chair with special wheels that won’t get caught in your carpet.
A wide movement range. Your office chair should have a smooth swivel base that easily allows you to reach every corner of your desk. Put the chair at your desk and test out its movements to see if you can easily reach every area you need to. Avoid chairs without swivel bases or that limit your range of motion — these chairs can increase arm fatigue by forcing you to overexert yourself.
Breathable fabric. Look for a chair with lightweight, breathable fabric — this will be an asset on warmer days, especially if you live in an area with lots of humidity. You should also look for an office chair that offers plenty of padding both in the back of the chair and on your armrests.
The Top Affordable Office Chairs
Start your search for your new office chair with our favorite affordable selections. Each chair is available online and retails for less than $200.
Best Overall: VANBOW High Back Leather Office Chair
- Who's it for? Desk dwellers
- Price: On sale
The VANBOW High Back Leather Chair is made from a classic black leather body but
The chair features a sturdy and easily adjustable S-shaped back that keeps your spine in alignment and improves your posture over time.
It also includes plenty of padding along both the neck and lower back area, which is especially good for men and women who suffer from chronic pain.
With an easy swivel and adjustment, a classic design, and durable wheels and armrests, VANBOW offers everyone a high-end choice at an affordable price.
Best Overall: Hbada Ergonomic Office Chair
- Who's it for? Extra lumbar and neck support
- Price: On sale
The
The chair reclines to nearly a 180-degree angle, making it just as useful for taking a quick siesta after a long, work-filled day.
The waterfall seat features great lumbar and neck support and a rotatable neck that can be customized to fit your body. The chair’s frame is durable and sturdy and is rated to support up to 300 pounds.
With a high reputation and a unique modern design, this offering from
Best Overall: AmazonBasics Classic Mid-Back Mesh Swivel Chair with Armrest
- Who's it for? Durable but cheap
- Price: On sale
The chairs on our list are all under $200 — but for some buyers, even $100 might be way out of your price range for a chair.
This model from Amazon is comfortable and flexible — its simple controls make reclining the chair and adjusting the height simple.
The chair’s mesh-covered back makes it breathable and open for summer, which can be an asset for hotter climates. Comfortable, basic and affordable, the AmazonBasics Classic model is a great choice if you want to upgrade your comfort without overspending.
Best Leather Chair: Smugdesk Executive Office Heavy Duty Bonded Leather Chair
- Who's it for? Executives
- Price: On sale
This model from Smugdesk is made with durable bonded leather, designed to provide 24-hour comfort and support.
The ergonomic design offers lumbar and neck relief and high-density leather cushions also reduce pressure on the legs.
The design of the chair isn’t the only superior feature — it also offers a 5-claw swivel design that’s durable and flexible.
With high-quality material and easy adjustments, the Smugdesk Heavy Duty Executive Chair is a dynamic and gorgeous choice.
Best for Big and Tall People: KILLABEE Big and Tall Gaming Chair with Metal Base
- Who's it for? Bigger and tall
- Price: On sale
For larger men and women, finding a comfortable and affordable office chair can feel like an impossible task.
This model from
The chair is designed for larger frames with a seating area dimension that’s larger than most other chairs on the market.
Featuring plush memory foam, a sturdy base
Best for Gaming: Homall Gaming Chair Racing Office Chair
- Who's it for? Gamers
- Price: On sale
The
The
The chair also features a durable rolling 5-claw base with sturdy wheels. Flexible, comfortable and aesthetically pleasing, the
Best for Waiting Rooms: Flash Furniture Comfort Reception Chair
- Who's it for? Client and patience of office managers
- Price: On sale
You might not be able to give your guests executive reclining chairs in your waiting room — but that doesn’t mean you have to settle for flimsy plastic models. The Flash Furniture Comfort Reception Chair is affordable and features plush, comfortable fabric.
The chairs come with armrests attached and contoured seats that are great for guests with lower back pain.
We recommend picking up a few armless models as well as a few models with armrests to accommodate guests of all sizes.
Best Ergonomic: Modway Articulate Ergonomic Mesh Office Chair
- Who's it for? Comfort and support
- Price: On sale
The Modway Articulate Ergonomic Mesh Office Chair offers everything that you could want in an affordable ergonomic office chair.
The Articulate is rated for up to 331 pounds and features a uniquely flexible design. From the armrests to the height of the chair to its 360-degree swivel, almost every part of the chair can be customized to fit your body.
And with a number of unique color choices, the Articulate fits as well in a modern open-plan office space as it does in an executive board room.
Best with a High Back: BestOffice Home Office Chair
- Who's it for? Superior back support
- Price: On sale
The BestOffice Home Office Chair is exceptionally affordable for a high back model — under $100 with free shipping, it’s hard to beat.
Designed with comfort in mind, the chair features a well-padded back that’s designed to eliminate back and leg pain as well as improve posture.
Comfortable and high-quality, this simple model from BestOffice combines affordability and strength.
Best Executive Chair: AmazonBasics Big & Tall Executive Chair
- Who's it for? Executives
- Price: On sale
This high-back executive chair from AmazonBasics looks hundreds of dollars more expensive than it actually is.
Featuring an adjustable back that’s designed to curve with the shape of your back for comfort and support, the chair feels as great as it looks.
It’s also easy to raise and lower and is composed
An affordable luxury, the AmazonBasics executive chair is anything but basic.
Choosing the Right Chair For You
There are plenty of ways to save money without sacrificing your quality of life. Don’t be afraid to shop around for the right office chair before you decide on a model. Consider your needs and don’t be afraid to send a chair back if it doesn’t click with your lifestyle.
Want to learn more? Check out Benzinga's guides to the best cheap laptops, best cheap tablets, best cheap televisions and the best cheap luggage.