The best budget office chairs that don't skimp on style

I've been reviewing the best budget office chairs out there for several years now, and have put together this list of quality chairs that come without the premium price tag. These include the best affordable office chairs under $500 and even under $300.

If your budget can stretch a bit further, my list of the best office chairs for back pain focuses on ergonomic features for improved comfort. However, the top pick of our best budget office chairs – the Sihoo M90C – combines both a budget price tag and ergonomic features. I wholeheartedly recommend this model as the best cheap office chair, as I've personally used it for several months, putting it through its paces. 

It's not all about price. I've focussed on affordability and dependability, build quality and comfort. Want more home office ideas? Check out our guide to the best standing desks, to create a really ergonomic home office. 

Best under $200

If you want the best quality budget office chair, Sihoo has a pretty sizeable range of options for you. And this one – the M90C – also adds solid ergonomics to the mix. And all for around $200!

Actually, the M90C chair is the more mid-range in Sihoo's chairs, but it hits that sweet spot of good price and ergonomic features, that makes it one of the best of the lot. When I tested it, I loved the adjustable lumbar support and overall comfort, though as with all Sihoo chairs, it took a while to put it together. 

The mesh back is breathable and I was comfortable sitting in it through hot summer days and colder temps too. It’s also adjustable: you can tweak the back support, headrest, armrests, height and tilt of the chair.

The level of finish is quite evidently not up to the standard of more expensive designer chairs, which is unavoidable at the price. But in general, it not only looks the part but provides an excellent level of comfort and protection given the reasonable price.

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Best under $400

I should start by saying that although the SIHOO Doro C300 is labelled as the best budget chair under $400, you can actually get it for under $300, as Sihoo often has sales that take around $100 off the asking price. Not a bad start! But what about the chair?

This is an office chair that punches above its weight, with a nice minimal design, decent lumbar support for your lower back, and a good range of adjustable features. As with all Sihoo chairs, there will be a lot of assembly involved, but once it's put together you'll have a quality build that should last a long time. 

Although the materials aren't all premium, this chair is very comfortable and feels great to sit on, thanks to the clever webbing design. It's also easily adjustable, in a wealth of ways, with a pull and release function and moveable armrests. 

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Best under $500

The ErgoChair Plus is a great choice for those who appreciate a fun design and sturdy support. It might not be the cheapest office chair you can get, priced at $449 for the blue and white design which we reviewed back in April. But if you like it without the fabric, you can get it for $399 – which is about right for a quality office chair. If you buy directly from Autonomous, you can also get a five-year guarantee. 

According to the company's website, this chai has been owned by 300+ Apple employees, who highly recommend it. And we can see why. It's both good-looking and fun, with decent skeletal plastic mesh-designed back support. There are cheaper budget office chairs, like the others in this guide, but then there are also chairs that aren't as agile, comfortable or easy to put together as the ErgoChair Plus. 

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Best budget gaming chair

If you want the gaming aesthetic, but still want a comfortable seat, the Vertagear SL5800 is one of the most comfortable chairs I've sat in thanks to its plush memory foam. Its pillow headrest is detachable, and you'll get the added air ways in the neck of the back with the Vertagear. You'll also have the option of buying LED lights (for $299!!), if that's your thing. If you like a more stylish, subdued aesthetic, this is on the lesser garish side of gaming chairs, especially the carbon black option. 

The SL5800 does not have adjustable lumbar support. Don't get me wrong, there is still quality lumbar support here, and after around a month of using this chair, I was happy with the support I got from it. But if you wish to be able to move the position of the lumbar support in your chair, I'd look elsewhere. In either case, for $400, this is the best budget-to-mid-range gaming chair out there.  

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Classic design

While slightly more expensive than some of the other budget office chairs in this list, the Vari Task Chair is our pick as the best office chair for under $500. For many people, this is still an affordable price (especially when compared to premium brands such as Herman Miller.

What sets this budget office chair apart from many others is its focus on ergonomics. Its back rest is made of a mesh, which allows for breathability to stop you getting hot and sweaty, whilst also providing excellent support. You can adjust this chair to suit your personal preferences, and with a concaved cushion, it's one of the most comfortable office chairs you're going to get for under $500.

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Best wide back

The Union & Scale FlexFit Dexley is our pick as the best overall budget office chair you can buy in 2023. It's comfortable and well built, and offers an adjustable lumbar support that you can slide up and down, tilt tension and tilt lock options, and even an angle-adjustable headrest. 

The breathable mesh material will stop you getting too sweaty on hot days (plus can be cleaned easily). The Union & Scale FlexFit Dexley feels solidly built, proving that cheap office chairs don't need to feel cheap, and there's a seven-year limited manufacturer's guarantee to give you further peace of mind. The only downside is that it's not the most attractive of office chairs, and only comes in two colors - black and blue.

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Best tall back chair

IKEA's iconic Markus swivel chair might not be the most thrilling chair design-wise, but it's a solid if utilitarian office chair that does its job well, and for a low price. It's got some decent ergonomic features to make it comfortable and reduce the risk of RSI, including casters and swivel to help you avoid straining to reach things, in-built lumbar support for your back and adjustable height and back tilt. The breathable mesh back keeps you cool and is easy to clean. 

Unfortunately, the armrests aren't adjustable, although they can be removed completely. The automatic brakes on the wheels are a neat addition and like all IKEA products, it's been tested for durability.

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How we test

Many of the budget office chairs in this guide have been personally tested by our writers here at CreativeBloq. When testing office chairs, we look not just at the price, but how easy it is to assemble - as office chairs often come disassembled.

We then use the chairs during our day-to-day work and make note of how comfortable they are, as well as how adjustable each part of the chair is - an important consideration when it comes comfort and safety.

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FAQs

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