$200 for an office chair is a fair price to pay. You will find too many options to choose from. But when it comes to office chairs you cannot just pick a ‘chair’.
It should have basic features like height adjustments, tilt control, and adequate back support. But that might not be enough. If you work for 8 hours a day or more you will need an ergonomically designed office chair to improve your posture and provide lumbar support. You might also want a chair with a headrest, padded armrests, and tilt function.
Here’s what to look for in an office chair under $200.
Basic features: The chair must have an adjustable height so that you don’t have to sit too high or too low. Tilt control is important because sitting straight up on a chair all day without being able to move your back becomes very uncomfortable. Also, the chair might not suit your body shape. The tilt option will let you adjust your seat to a more comfortable position.
Lumbar support: The back seat should be slightly curved to support natural spine alignment and improve your posture.
Upholstery material: The most common material for office chairs is mesh, it’s breathable, comfortable and affordable but hard to clean. Pu leather and bonded leather looks rich and luxurious but they can be a bit more expensive.
We have enlisted the best Best office chairs under $200 that are popular in the market. The selection is based on the best selling office chairs, customer feedback and extensive research on the products by our team.
Best Office Chairs Under $200 in 2024
| Office Chairs Under $200 | Adjustable seat height | Maximum weight capacity | Upholstery Material | Tilt control | Buy Now |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Homall Office Chair | Yes | 300 lbs | Pu leather | Yes | Check On Amazon |
| Amazon Basics Office Desk Chair | Yes | 275 lbs | Bonded leather | Yes | Check On Amazon |
| Hbada Office Chair | Yes | 250 lbs | Mesh | Yes | Check On Amazon |
| Flash Furniture Office Chair | Yes | 250 lbs | Mesh | Yes | Check On Amazon |
| Neo Office Chair | Yes | 300 lbs | Mesh | Yes | Check On Amazon |
| KOLLIEE Office Chair | Yes | 250 lbs | Mesh | Yes | Check On Amazon |
| Modway Office Chair | Yes | 331 lbs | Mesh | Yes | Check On Amazon |
| Sihoo Ergonomic Office Chair | Yes | 330 lbs | Mesh | Yes | Check On Amazon |
| FlexisoftOffice Chair | Yes | 220 lbs | Mesh | Yes | Check On Amazon |
| AmazonBasics Office Chair | Yes | 250 lbs | Bonded leather | No | Check On Amazon |
| OFIKA Office Chair | Yes | 400 lbs | Soft leather | Yes | Check On Amazon |
| NOBLEWELL Office Chair | Yes | 300 lbs | Mesh | Check On Amazon |
Best Office Chairs Under $200 Reviews
1. Homall Office Chair
This chair from the brand Homall is one of the best selling office chairs. It’s a new brand but the quality and the comfort that it offers as an office chair under 200$ is unbeatable. We love everything about it and so it comes on the top of our list.
It’s ergonomically designed keeping user comfort in mind. You get a lumbar pillow as well as a headrest. These are detachable. Both of these will help you maintain your posture for long hours reducing strain and discomfort. The chair can recline back at an angle of 180 degrees which is excellent for short naps in between tight work schedules. It comes with a comfortable armrest, tilt lock mechanism and rocking function.
Coming to its build quality, it is built on a solid steel frame and the upholstery material is Pu leather. It’s durable, easy to maintain and will probably last you a couple of good years without any issues. Furthermore, you can adjust the seat height from 17.3 inches to 21.5 inches. The chair boasts a great design and will also look amazing as a gaming chair or a computer chair. You can choose from 8 different colors.
Best Features:
- Adjustable height
- Comes with lumbar pillow and neck support
- 180-degree recline function
- Made of Pu leather
- tilt-lock function
- Comfortable armrest
- Solid steel frame
- 360-degree swivel caster wheels
- Maximum weight capacity: 300 lbs
- Available in 8 exciting colors
Pros:
- Ergonomically designed for long hours of works
- Super comfortable
- Excellent build quality
- Lumbar pillow and headrest pillow
Cons:
- The top is heavy as compared to the base.
2. Amazon Basics Office Desk Chair
What looks better than a brown leather office chair? If you are looking for a comfortable, reliable office chair that looks great and feels good, this chair from AmazonBasics is a superb deal.
It’s a very standard office chair, with comfortable padding, adjustable seat and padded armrest. It looks very professional and would look great in an office or a conference room. It has a firm yet comfortable padding, a wide butterfly seat plate and a curved backrest that keeps your posture comfortably aligned in place.
The chair can adjust its height and seating angle. There’s even a tilt-tension knob for adjusting rocking motions. However, it cannot recline back. It comes in a fixed position. And, so it might not be very comfortable for working on a keyboard like gaming and typing.
The seat and backrest are covered with bonded leather. And as one can see, it has the looks and feel of a premium office chair. There are also 360-degree swivel caster wheels. You have three color options to choose from: classic brown, black and white. The maximum weight it can handle is up to 275 lbs.
Best Features:
- Adjustable height
- Wide seat and backrest
- Padded armrest
- Tilt control
- 360-degree swivel caster wheels
- Upholstery: Bonded leather
- Maximum weight capacity: 275 lbs
- Available in brown, black and white
Pros:
- Looks very classy
- Very easy to assemble
- Value for money
Cons:
- It lacks padding
- Might not be great for working on a keyboard.
3. Hbada Office Chair
This office chair from Hbada is the most affordable office chair on our list. It’s a perfect solution for people who are looking for a simple and modern looking desk chair within a small budget.
This office chair looks like regular office chairs and has very basic features, yet, it is more comfortable than any other chair that falls in its price range. It’s because of its ergonomic design. The chair boasts a simple and sleek body with a mid-raised curved backrest. It has a 90 to 120-degree rocking function which is a great feature to have in any office chair or desk chair.
You can adjust the chair height and also flip the armrests to store it under the table when not needed. Unlike a fixed armrest it won’t come your way as you work on the keyboard which is another advantage. The backrest is slightly curved to support your spine alignment. It has a mesh back which is flexible and breathable. A great option for people who sweat a lot.
Best Features:
- Adjustable height from 17 to 21 inches.
- Maximum weight capacity of 250 lbs.
- Rocking function: 90 to 120 degrees
- Tilt control
- Mesh backrest
- Flip-open armrest
- 360-degree swivel caster wheels
- Sturdy and broad nylon base
Pros:
- Ergonomic compact design
- Easy to assemble
- Lightweight and easy to move
- Easy to store
- Affordable
Cons:
- The seat lacks padding.
- If you’re tall and big, it’s not for you.
4. Flash Furniture Office Chair
Here’s another great budget pick from the brand Flash Furniture. Despite being a small-scale brand it has received a lot of great reviews. It’s because of its functionality, ease of use and a much lower price tag.
The chair has a curved mesh backrest and a detachable headrest. Even though it’s not padded, the ergonomic design of the backrest along with the head support makes it pretty comfortable. The armrest is padded for better comfort. It can flip out so it can go under the table when there’s a space crunch.
There’s even a chrome footrest. You can adjust the height of the chair with a simple pneumatic adjustment knob. Unlike many, this chair has 360-degree dual-caster wheels which increase its stability and mobility. The maximum weight limit of this chair is 250 lbs. The upholstery material is mesh, so it will keep you cool.
The seat is lightly padded. But it’s comfortable unless you’re sitting on it all day and all night. To conclude, it’s a very functional chair which provides decent support at a very decent price. But, if you’re expecting a heavily padded seat and supreme back support, you might get disappointed.
Best Features:
- Adjustable seat height
- Curved backrest with detachable headrest
- Chrome footrest
- Padded flip-out armrest
- Tilt-lock mechanism
- Rocking function
- Tilt-tension adjustment
- Maximum weight capacity: 250 lbs
- Base material: nylon
Pros:
- Very functional
- Affordable
- Decent comfort
- Takes only 15 minutes to put it together.
Cons:
- The seat lacks padding.
- Not made for heavy-weight people.
5. Neo Office Chair
Those looking for an office chair with a big, comfy seat with lots of padding, here’s the best deal for you. This chair from the Brand Neo chair comes with double layered cushions, a roomy spacious seat and a thick high-raised backrest.
The S-shaped backrest is ergonomically designed to improve posture and reduce any back discomfort. It has used Pu foam, a layer of pocket springs followed by thick padded foam. The seat feels very comfortable because of the double-layer foams making it ideal for long hours of office work. The seat is wide and the backrest is long enough to fit someone who is 6 ft or above.
Now coming to the build quality, the chair stands on a chrome base. The faux leather covering on the outside also looks very suave and sophisticated. The armrests are padded for better comfort. You can adjust the seat height. The upgraded version of the char now comes with A-graded Pu caster wheels. The maximum weight it can withstand is 300 lbs.
It has some issues with the caster wheels. It doesn’t glide smoothly on carpets. Also, it might take more time to put the pieces together. Overall, it’s a good value for money if you’re looking for a comfortable roomy office chair within your budget.
Best Features:
- Adjustable seat height
- Double-layered plush padding
- Upholstery material: Faux leather
- Padded armrests
- Tilt-lock mechanism
- Rocking function
- Solid chrome base
- Maximum weight capacity: 300 lbs
- 360-degree swivel caster wheels
Pros:
- Have a rich and luxurious feel
- Makes a great executive office chair
- Wider seat and backrest
- Easy to assemble
Cons:
- It’s not premium faux leather.
- The padding may feel too soft to some people.
6. KOLLIEE Office Chair
The KOLLIE is a mid-raised black mesh chair. It’s a very standard quality office chair, also one of the most budget-friendly office chairs on our list which means you can expect decent comfort and durability within a small budget.
It’s made with a high-resilience foam cushion which is soft but not too soft to make your back ache. The backrest feels pretty comfortable with the ergonomic S-shape design. It’s definitely not as comfortable as a fully-padded backrest but it’s able to provide the much needed back support during office work. The ‘X’ on the backrest provides better stability and looks very professional at the same time.
The mesh is of premium quality, it’s American made. It covers both the seat as well as the backrest. It’s an ideal office chair if you don’t like Pu leather covering. You can adjust the height up to 4 inches. The best thing about this chair is that it’s lightweight and super easy to move around with it. If you’re tight on budget, this is a good deal for the price you pay.
Best Features:
- Adjustable height from 16.5 to 20.5 inches.
- Seat size: 18.5 W and 19.7 D
- Maximum weight capacity: 250 lbs.
- Upholstery material: Mesh
- Seat thickness: 2.8 inches
- 30-degree tilt-rocking function
- Flip-open armrest
- 360-degree swivel caster wheels
Pros:
- Great value for money
- Comfortable mesh chair
- Lightweight and easy to manoeuvre
Cons:
- Installation is cumbersome
- No tilt-lock function
7. Modway Office Chair
Next up on the list we have another mesh office chair. This chair from Modway is a bit more expensive than the last one we reviewed. It is because Modway has better ergonomics and more adjustments options.
To begin with, the chair comes with a contoured cosy seat with 6 inches thick padding that won’t hurt your back, padded armrests that are far more comfortable and an ergonomic backrest with adequate lumbar support. You can adjust or tilt the seat as well as the backrest.
You can also adjust the armrest height which is absolutely worthwhile. The maximum weight capacity for this chair is 331 lbs which is also higher than most mesh chairs under this budget. Moreover, there’s a one-touch adjustment knob for setting the chair height.
It glides smoothly even on carpets ( low pile) due to the dual caster wheels, so it’s really easy to move along with it. It makes a great computer chair because of its compact yet ergonomic design. This might not provide the comfort of a 1000$ chair, and one shouldn’t be expecting that. It provides ample support, comfort and offers pretty good value for the money you pay.
Best Features:
- Adjustable seat
- Padded adjustable armrest
- Backrest height: 22 inches
- Tilt-lock mechanism
- Seat-lit and backrest tilt functions
- Maximum weight capacity: 331 lbs.
- Upholstery material: Mesh
- Seat thickness: 6 inches
- Dual caster wheels
- 1-year manufacturer warranty on parts
Pros:
- Great comfort
- Ample back support
- Adjustable armrest
- Very functional
Cons:
- The instructions are hard to follow. Might take more time than usual.
- Lacks neck support
8. Sihoo M18 Ergonomic Office Chair
SIHOO M18 Ergonomic Office Chair, designed for big and tall individuals seeking comfort and support during long hours of work. This chair prioritizes ergonomics with 4 key support points—head, back, hip, and hands—along with adjustable lumbar support, headrest, and seat height, catering to individuals between 5’6″ to 6’2″ tall. The versatile design makes it suitable for various settings, serving as a student office chair, computer chair, ergonomic chair, desk chair, or gaming chair.
The breathable mesh backrest ensures comfort and focus, keeping you cool during extended periods of use. Built with high-quality materials, this chair has passed rigorous tests, supporting up to 330 lbs. Easy assembly, backed by a lifetime warranty, and responsive customer support make the SIHOO M18 an excellent choice for those prioritizing comfort and durability in their office chair.
Best Features:
- Ergonomic design with 4 support points (head, back, hip, hands)
- Adjustable headrest, lumbar support, and seat height
- Suitable for individuals 5’6″ to 6’2″ tall
- Versatile use for home, office, or gaming
- Breathable mesh backrest for comfort and focus
- Premium non-pattern mesh fabric
- High-quality construction, passing BIFMA and static pressure tests
- Supports up to 330 lbs
- Easy assembly with simple instructions
Pros:
- High-Quality
- Customizable Back & Neck Support
- Ergonomic, comfortable, easy to set up!
- Great for posture!
Cons:
- Not designed with lower back in mind.
- Hard seat
9. Flexisoft Office Chair
Flexsoft Ergonomic Executive Mesh Office Task Chair, a reliable companion for enhanced comfort and productivity in your work environment. With its breathable mesh back and passive lumbar support, this chair ensures pressure relief during extended periods of use. The high-density mesh cushion offers day-long comfort and durability, promoting optimal airflow for added coziness.
Easily customize your seating experience by adjusting the seat height, headrest, backrest, and arms to suit your preferences. Enjoy smooth mobility on any surface with dual-wheel casters and a chrome base. The chair’s four-level tilt tension lockable line control mechanism allows you to find the perfect recline position, ranging from 90 to 120 degrees.
Best Features:
- Adjustable seat height, headrest, backrest, and arms
- High-density mesh cushion for all-day comfort
- Quality mesh resists abrasion and maintains airflow
- Movable with dual-wheel casters and chrome base
- Four-level tilt tension lockable line control mechanism
- Recline function with a range of 90 to 120 degrees
- Larger dimensions for accommodating different body builds (25.2″W x 21.3″D x 45.3″-52″H)
- Weight capacity of 220 lbs
Pros:
- Easy to assemble (with caveats below)
- Comfortable and ergonomic
- Great value
- Can lock at various inclined positions
Cons:
- Armrests are so slick
10. Amazon Basics Office Chair
Another inclusion from the Amazon Basics. This would make a great guest chair. It’s sturdy, durable, affordable and pretty comfortable as a desk chair. It also looks very elegant with black faux leather covering. However, we don’t recommend this for long hours of work. It’s a great deal if you are looking for a good quality chair for the visitors.
The chair, both of its backrest and the seat is covered with bonded leather which looks exactly like genuine leather. The design is very professional. This is something you would like to keep in the conference room, reception area or the lobby.
It’s built on an entire metal frame and the chair is quite heavy for its size which imparts a solid build quality. The armrests are also heavily padded. The maximum weight limit for this chair is 250 pounds. Assembling the chair is a piece of cake, it only takes a few minutes to put the parts together.
Best Features:
- Bonded leather seat covering looks very sophisticated
- Solid padding
- Padded armrests
- Built on metal frame
- Maximum weight limit: 250 pounds
Pros:
- Comfortable as a guest chair
- Great built quality
- Premium feel
Cons:
- Long ideal for long hours of work
- Not much functional
11. OFIKA Office Chair
If you’re tall and big and are looking for a leather-covered office chair you might like this one. The OFIKA tall and big office chair has a maximum weight capacity of 400 pounds. It has enough space to accommodate people who are 6 ft and above.
The chair boasts a highly-padded seat and a backrest with segmented padding for providing better support to the lower back and shoulders. The seat feels plush, soft and very comfortable. It can tilt back to a maximum of 100 degrees and has a tilt lock function. If you suffer from backaches due to prolonged hours of work, you may want to shift to a softer, highly padded chair like this one.
It’s wider than most out there. And due to the leather covering it looks very sophisticated and professional. The brand has recently made an upgrade on this chair. Now comes with softer and thicker armrests. Besides, it has 4 height adjustments and 110 degrees recline function.
Best Features:
- Dimensions: 1 x 25.4 x 46.4 inches
- Double foam padding
- Highly padded armrest
- Tilt lock, 100 degrees back adjustment
- Upholstery material: soft leather
- Broad base
- Mute nylon wheels
- Maximum weight capacity: 400 lbs
- 360-degree smooth rotation
Pros:
- Very comfortable on the back
- Easy to assemble
- Affordable
Cons:
- Poor customer service
12. NOBLEWELL Office Chair
Lastly, we have another ergonomic mesh office chair from the brand NOBELEWELL. It’s also one of the most affordable chairs that you can buy for performing daily tasks.
It comes with an ergonomic S-shaped backrest which offers good support to the back and neck. There’s an adjustable headrest and armrest. It has multi-level height adjustments making it a great fit for people with different heights. We love the fact that it can tilt from 90 to 135 degrees.
The padding also feels great, neither too soft nor too stiff. Just the right amount of padding. The mesh covering will keep you nicely ventilated. The maximum weight capacity for this chair is 300 lbs. Assembling the chair is also pretty easy. Overall, the chair is able to provide decent comfort at a very reasonable price.
Best Features:
- Multi-level height adjustments
- Dimensions: 21.2 D x 18.8 W x 43.5 H inches
- Tilt function: 90 to 135 degrees
- Comes with a headrest
- Breathable mesh covering
- SGS and BIFMA certified caster wheels
- Maximum weight capacity 300 lbs
Pros:
- Very reasonable
- Decent comfort
- Good after-sale service
Cons:
- The headrest is far away from the seat. Might not fit shorter persons.
Office Chair Buying Guide
When you’re buying an office chair ask yourself these questions.
Is it a task chair? Or is it an executive chair? Do you type a lot? Or, are you mostly busy with meetings? There are different chairs for handling different works. You might not even need an ergonomic chair if it’s for the reception or the conference room or for the guests.
No matter what type of c
hair you buy, here are all the things that you might need to consider when buying an office chair.
1. Types of Office Chairs
a. Ergonomic office chairs: Ergonomic office chairs offer superior support. They have advanced design and features to support your lower back and reduce any discomfort. Some ergonomic chairs include headrest, S-shaped backrest, lumbar cushions, recline function, rocking function, to name a few.
b. Executive chairs: Executive chairs have a plush padding and a luxurious covering. They have a high-raised back, padded armrest and a premium feel to them. They are more expensive than others.
c. Reception chairs: Reception chairs are for the visitors and the guests. They are not ergonomically designed for long hours of work. They look simple and are usually smaller than desk chairs or executive chairs. They don’t have ergonomic features like lumbar support, headrest, tilt, rock etc.
d. Big and tall chairs: There are chairs that sell as ‘big and tall chairs’. They are designed for big and tall people. They have a wider and heavily-padded filling to support the weight and a taller backrest.
2. Adjustable Height
An adjustable seat height is a must for an office chair or a desk chair for keeping you comfortable during long hours of work. To reduce the risk of back pain you should sit in a position where your thighs are placed at the same level as your hips.
When the chair is too high and you have to lean forward to keep your feet on the ground, you put pressure on your shoulders which results in poor posture. If the chair is too low and your knees are placed higher than your hips, it may cause stress to the lower back and increase the risk of back pains. An adjustable seat height allows you to find a more comfortable position for seating.
3. Tilt Control
The ability to adjust the angle of the back seat or tilt it to a more comfortable position is very crucial for an office chair made for long hours of work. As the experts say, sitting on a chair that is slightly reclined back to 100/110 degrees may help in aligning your spine. Also, make sure the chair has a tilt-lock mechanism so you can change your positions during work to avoid stressing your lower back.
4. Lumbar Support
Look for an office chair that has a slightly arched back or a ‘S-shaped back. This is done to contour to your natural spine alignment. The S shape of the backrest supports the lumbar area, relieves pressure for the back and improves posture. If you have a problematic back you may want to have an additional lumbar support pillow. There are also chairs that come with lumbar pillows, but you can also buy them separately.
5. Material and Padding
There are mainly two types of upholstery materials used for making affordable office chairs- mesh and Pu leather/faux leather or bonded leather. Mesh office chairs offer great breathability. It will keep you cool and nicely ventilated. Pu/faux leather or bonded leather on the other hand have a rich and luxurious feel that will impress clients and colleagues.
As for the padding, some chairs feel firm while some have plush padding. What you will feel comfortable sitting on depends on your preferences. But, to be on the safe side, choose something that’s not too soft to make you sink in nor too hard to cause back pain. Whatever you choose, for an office chair it’s always better to prioritize comfort over looks.
6. Armrest
The armrest on an office chair can really be helpful in providing support to your forearms. Not only that, the armrest plays a major role in relieving tension from your neck and shoulders. Ideally, your arms should be positioned parallel to the keyboard. It may lead to discomfort if you have to flex your arms up and down. You will experience stress in your shoulder muscles if there’s no armrest at all.
Adjustable armrests would be great, but they can be expensive investments. So, you can look for a padded armrest if your work involves using the keyboard for the most part. They will be a lot more comfortable than plastic ones.
7. Seat Dimensions
Your chair should comfortably accommodate your body. If you pick something that’s narrow and short, you will feel constrained in your seat. On the contrary, too big a chair will cause you to bend forward increasing tension on your lower back. Also, if the seat is too wide, it will be difficult to place your arms on the armrest or use the keyboard. So, when you’re buying a chair make sure you double-check the seat size.
8. Manoeuvrability
If you want to move along with your chair make sure they have sturdy wheels. As broken wheels can be really frustrating. Most of the office chairs that we reviewed have caster wheels. It’s best if your chair comes with 360-degree swivel nylon caster wheels. Dual caster wheels are a better option as compared to single cater wheels. They roll a lot smoother on tiles, and hard floors and minimize scratches.
Frequently Asked Questions:
1. Do office chairs make any difference?
The right answer to this is yes, office chairs make a difference when you sit on them for long hours. These chairs are designed for increased comfort and performance. It includes multiple ergonomic features like height adjustment, tilt angle adjustment, lumbar support, head support to name a few. It keeps you comfortable by supporting your lower back and improving your posture.
2. Are office chairs good for postures?
Office chairs are ergonomically designed for improving your posture. They have high levels of lumbar support, armrest and an S-shaped backrest that contours to your natural spine alignment. It greatly reduces muscle tension from the lower back and shoulder and minimizes the risks of back pains that happen during long hours of work.
3. How are office chairs different from other chairs?
Ordinary chairs that you notice around you are not designed for long hours of work. They lack back support, comfortable padding, armrest, tilt function and all the other features which are required to improve one’s posture. You can comfortably work for hours sitting on an office chair without developing any discomfort and back pain.
Conclusion:
Whether it’s a 200 dollar chair or a 500 dollar chair it should be worth the money you pay. Don’t expect a 200 dollar chair to provide the comfort and feel of a 1000 dollar chair. These are affordable but still good enough to provide adequate support required during long hours of work.
If you’re still confused with your purchase, here are our top three recommendations.
- The Homall Office Chair will be our first choice on the list. There’s nothing to dislike about this chair. It provides great support. It boasts an ergonomic design, also comes with an additional lumbar pillow and headrest pillow. It has just the right amount of padding. And it can lay back to 180 degrees which is great for an office chair.
- If you want a leather office chair within your budget the AmazonBasics Office Chair is a great deal for the price. It looks luxurious, has a very comfortable seat, adjustable height, tilt-control and also a padded armrest. It’s heavy-duty, strong and durable. What else do you need!
- If you’re tight on the budget, The Hbada Office Chair is perhaps the best option to go for. It’s ergonomic, offers good back support, and has a comfortable padded seat. It has all the most useful features like adjustable height, tilt and rock function, flip-out armrest and a mesh backrest which will keep you cool and comfortable.
