Anyone who has spent any amount of time working at a desk will tell you how important a good chair is. You have to think about it this way - you're spending long hours of the day sitting in your desk chair, so you have to make sure that it's not only comfortable but healthy for your body as well.
Unfortunately, so many chairs that fulfill these needs are also unreasonably expensive - not everyone can afford chairs from the likes of Humanscale or Hermann Miller, alas. Thankfully there are plenty of options out there on chairs that are still very comfortable, good for your back, and come in at more modest price brackets. For all the chairs here we've stuck to a $150 price limit, and you'll find great options below for all budgets.
Are you a student looking for a new chair for your dorm? The you'll want to see these budget dorm desks - just like these chairs, they're at great prices so that you can be comfy while you work for less.
Cheap office chairs you can rely on
Why you can trust iMore Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing products and services so you can choose the best for you. Find out more about how we test.
The Hbada Task Chair looks phenomenal, particularly in its black and white color scheme. There are also some pretty great features built into its frame as well - the arms lift up and out of the way if you find them cumbersome, and the thick padding on the seat keeps you comfortable. The back of the chair also has a really nice 'S-curve' to it that supports your back over long sitting sessions.
Just because they're basic doesn't mean they're not good - and the Amazon Basics Task Chair proves this point beautifully. There's no armrests to get in your way, and the mesh back is comfortable and breathable, so you're kept that little bit cooler on hotter days. It's also available in a range of different colors to suit any home office decor.
Neo Chair's Swivel Office Chair has some great features for an impressive price - there are comfy armrests, a mesh back with lumbar support, and a firm, but comfy cushion for derriere support. It is a little narrower than some, so those with wider behinds may want to look elsewhere, but for under $100 it's an excellent choice.
Sometimes it's worth going slightly over budget - matters involving your back should well be one of those times. If you can stretch $20 over, you can grab the Erguosit Home Office Chair - and it's worth it. There's a mesh back with adjustable lumbar support, moveable padded armrests, and a bottom cushion big enough to suit even the heaviest set behind. It rocks back, it swivels - everything you'd want from an office chair.
Amazon is back with another comfy option to slip under your desk. It's padded on the armrests, back, and seat, and is finished a soft leather alike. It is very much 'just a desk chair' but it's got features from far more expensive options you'll find out there. There's even a really helpful build video on the product page to make putting it together a lot easier.
How about something more modern? The Belleze is a lovely piece of design that'll fit any modern office space. It lacks arms and back support, but if you only use your home office occasionally and it's a function room the rest of the time, this could well be the option for you. That, or it would make a good option for any villain's lair.
If you're a gamer, you're probably looking for one of those cool, racing-style seats. You're also probably looking at the prices of some of them and dropping your jaw to the ground. This budget oriented gaming chair is a great alternative, offering cushions for ergonomics at a much lower price.
This office chair offers everything you could want from an office chair, with a high back, adjustable armrests, and sturdy legs. It's also made of velvet of you're into that.
This leather number is a stylish chair option with fixed armrests. It's not going to be high backed like some, but it'll still keep you comfy throughout the day. It's available in a range of colors too, so there's a chair for every room.
This comfy desk chair features adjustable armrests that swing out of the way and comes in a range of colors. Its seat base is deep, so it should stay comfy for a long time too.
This slick option has built-in lumbar support and comes in a number of different colors. This one looks particularly cool from the back, with a Y shape and color accent to the backrest. It will also offer more support with its tall back. While the armrests aren't adjustable, they're at a level that will be comfortable to most.
This futuristic looking number should bring some cool looks to a home office. It is white though, so make sure you're keeping on top of cleaning lest it become mucky in three miliseconds. It is plush, and under $100 though, so its a great comfortable, budget-friendly option.
This classy little number comes in a range of colors, and features adjustable arms and a nice wide wheel base. We're particularly fond of the pink version, although the green looks equally tempting. It comes in well under $100 too, so you'll get a great chair for less.
Funny name aside, this office chair comes in a number of colors and features lumbar support built into the backrest. It's mid height so don't expect any neck support, but those folding armrest can get out of the way when you slide the chair under a desk.
Simple, black and comfortable. It comes in neatly under $80, and features a slightly taller back rest for more support. You can also opt to spend $10 more and get your self a headrest to go with it - but you have to do it on initial purchase, you can't add it later.
Which would we go for?
On its Amazon page, Hbada claims its Task Chair can 'Understand you better than your boss' and it's a 'cute little penguin'. While we can't really comment on either of these statements (although its color scheme is very fetching and penguin-like), we do know for sure that it's a comfy, reasonably priced desk chair - for something that sits nicely in the middle, we'd say it's the overall pick of the bunch.
Of course, if you're still waiting on payday but your desk chair stem has just perforated the cushion, leaving you chairless in the face of another week of home office work, you may think you're limited on options. Thankfully, the Amazon Basics Task Chair is lovely and cheap, yet still features a mesh back - so you'll be nice and comfy through the work day. And it's available in blue!
If you want all the bells and whistles, there's the Erguosit Home Office chair. It is the priciest of the bunch, but it features gizmos that even more expensive chairs don't have - padded armrests and adjustable lumbar support to name but a few. Yes, it is a little dearer than its peers - but it is worth it, if you want to stretch the budget a bit. Your back will thank you.
What should I look out for in a desk chair
Everyone has their own needs in an office chair, but there are some things that are a must when choosing a chair that won't do you any damage as you sit at your desk for the long workday.
- Back support - your back is important. Make sure that any desk chair you're choosing has some amount of support for your posture and back - that means keeping you upright throught the day, so that you don't end up slumping in front of your computer.
- Lumbar support - we'll say it again - your back is important. It's also not a straigt line from head to leg, it's a kind of subtle S shape. Lumbar support keeps your back in shape, making sure that your lower back is catered for. Ideally, a chair should have adjustable lumbar support to make sure the back rest is the perfect shape for your back.
- Height adjustment - you don't want to be sat on your chair on tip toes, and neither do you want to be sat at your desk, barely able to see over. It might sound obvious, but height adjustable desk chairs make working for long hours not only more comfortable, but also better for your legs and back health.
Where to buy desk chairs on a budget?
If none of the above are quite your style, then there are a great range of places to have a look at other cheap, comfy office chairs. Wayfair has some really stylish options at really great prices, and Home Depot has an entire office section where you can sort your options by price and go from there. There's always the ever-faithful Amazon, although searching through the enormous range on offer can be daunting at best. Make sure you're doubling checking reviews, and if in doubt, pop back here! The list will continue to evolve with time, and we'll keep making sure this list reflects how you can get a cheap office chair on a budget for a long time to come.
- Amazon (opens in new tab) - Good old faithful Amazon - they've got thousands of options.
- Home Depot (opens in new tab) - It's very easy to sort the options on their site, so you can really narrow down your search.
- Walmart (opens in new tab) - We've already put an Ascending price filter on here, so you'll see the cheapest options first.
- BestBuy - They've mixed in some accessories with the chairs here, so you'll have to scroll a bit to get to the chairs. They are there though, we promise!
- Wayfair (opens in new tab) - Wayfair may not be the cheapest, but they have some very stylish options for good prices.
Do I need lumbar support with my desk chair?
Given you'll be spending many hours sitting at your desk on your desk chair, lumbar support is very important. See, your back isn't dead straight - there's a subtle curve that needs to be looked after. Lumber support gives that carve some support, so you don't end up with a twisted, painful spine by the end of the day.
We have a few more buying guides you might be interested in too. If you can stretch that budget further, then the best ergonomic office chairs are well worth a look. Our roundup of the best desk chair for kids is great for the little workers at home.
Or maybe you quite like the chair you already have and just wish it was a bit more padded? If that's the case, then you might be able to skip buying a chair if one of these best seat cushions suits you.