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If you work in an office and you spend most of your day sitting down and typing away on your computer, then having the right office chair is of crucial importance for your comfort and your health. But, if you don’t have a big budget to spend on an expensive chair, you could spend hours searching for one that will fit all your needs while not breaking the bank.
Because of this, I’ve created a list of the 8 best office chairs under $100. I based my choices on factors such as brand trust, price for value, main features and characteristics of each product and I hope this will be a useful guideline for those of you who are looking for the perfect and affordable office chair under $100.
What makes them good options? Well, we’ve inspected them, tested them, and made sure they’re quality chairs. Additionally, people who have spent time sitting in them have good things to say. Let’s take a closer look at each of these office chairs to see why they’re the best office desk chairs under $100.
Best Office Chairs Under $100
- VECELO Premium Mesh Chair: Top Pick
- QOROOS Mid Back Mesh Office Chair: Best Ergonomic Design
- KOLLIEE Office Chair: Easiest to Assemble
- ELECWISH Office Chair: Premium Pick
- Amazon Basics Leather Mid-Back Desk Office Chair: Best Leather Option
- Amazon Basics Office Desk Chair: Best Value
- OFIKA Office Chair: Cheapest Option
This Vecelo desk chair is our top choice for the best office chair under $100. It features a mesh back that is going to let your skin breathe, as well as support your upper body. The back also sports a recline function which allows you to adjust the tilt of the chair in order to find your favorite position.
The cushion is padded for extra long-lasting comfort and it’s made to fit your body and let you sit for a long time without feeling any discomfort.
The height of the seat can be adjusted from 17.5 inches to 19.2 inches, therefore you can fit this chair under most desks. The chair’s casters are sturdy and nylon-encased so that you can safely spin and move your chair around without fear of breaking it or scratching your floor.
It can support up to 285 lbs, however, the fact that the arms rest a little low can be uncomfortable for some people.
Read more: Best Standing Desk Converter
KEY FEATURES:
- Mesh back and cushion
- Adjustable height
- Recline feature
SPECIFICATIONS:
- Weight: 2 lbs
- Dimensions: 7 x 18 x 38.3 inches
PROS:
- Comfortable
- Sturdy casters
- Supports up to 285 lbs
CONS:
- Arm rests lower than some find comfortable
The second item on our list is a multifunctional office chair by QOROOS. Its human-oriented ergonomic construction is designed to support a person’s back, the mesh is breathable and durable, and the foam cushion helps reduce pressure and offers additional comfort, effectively reducing pain and discomfort when sitting for multiple hours a day.
The chair comes with a convenient 360-degree swivel and by lifting a lever connected to a gas cylinder, the user will be able to adjust the height within a range of 4 inches.
A rocking mechanism also allows the chair’s back to tilt about 30 degrees when sitting back, however, there’s no locking mechanism to lock the angle, meaning the back will spring to its original position as soon as you sit up. This rocking mechanism can be activated by tilting a tension knob found underneath the cushion.
Last but not least, you can fold up the armrests to easily slide the chair underneath the desk whenever you’re not using it.
KEY FEATURES:
- Adjustable Height
- Flip-up armrests
- Rocking mechanism
- Ergonomic design
SPECIFICATIONS:
- Overall height: 34.6 inch- 38.6 inch
- Seat size: 18.5 x 19.7 x 2.8 inches
PROS:
- Breathable mesh
- 360-degree swivel
- Comes for less than $75
- Easy to assemble
- Supports up to 250lbs
CONS:
- The rocking mechanism can’t be locked in place
This office chair by KOLLIEE offers a 360-degree rotation, as well as hooded caster wheels that allow the user to roll and pivot without difficulty. The foam cushion installed on the seat shows high resilience, offering comfort during work hours and maintaining its original shape for a long time. Same goes for the back of the chair, made of breathable mesh, were resistant and hard to deform. Also, the black mesh covers both the back of the product and the padded seat.
As for customizing your position, this chair allows you to adjust its height of about 4 inches by using the lever located to the right of the cushion. Here, we can once again find the same rocking mechanism we’ve previously described, making it possible to tilt back about 30 degrees even if the angle can’t be locked.
Overall, the chair is built to be long-lasting, and it can support up to 250lbs. Finally, when you want to slide it under the desk, you can simply flip up the armrests.
KEY FEATURES:
- Rocking mechanism
- Adjustable height
- Foam cushion
- Ergonomic design
SPECIFICATIONS:
- Dimensions: 18 x 40 x 50 inches
- Overall weight: 23.6 lbs
PROS:
- Can support up to 250lbs
- Long-lasting product
- 360-degree swivel
- Foldable armrests
CONS:
- The chair might not be suited for tall people
The office chair ELECWISH offers is one of the most expensive options on our list, however, it can still be bought for under $100. Its price is justified by a series of good features, such as a 5-shape backrest curve to provide constant comfort, and the linen fabric breathable material that makes up the back and seat of the chair.
Through an SG3 air rod you can adjust the height, and the back can be tilted back by 30 degrees whenever you need to relax.
Again, the armrests can be flipped up to easily store the chair and the maximum weight it can support is 300 lbs.
Overall, even if the price might be a tad too expensive, this chair is made of high-quality materials that will last for a long time. Finally, the chair comes in 7 colors.
KEY FEATURES:
- Adjustable height
- Rocking mechanism
- 5-shape backrest curve
- Foldable armrests
SPECIFICATIONS:
- Dimensions: 23.23 x 21.65 x 36.6 inches
- Overall weight: 23.3 lbs
PROS:
- High-quality materials
- 360-degree swivel
- Supports up to 300 lbs
- Durable
- Different colors available
CONS:
- Priciest pick on our list
This is one of the other chairs at the top of the price point on this list, however it has great characteristics. This Amazon Basics chair is made of leather and the padding, both on the cushion and on the back, allows you to be comfortable over longer periods of time.
The downside is that your skin won’t breathe as well as with mesh. The 5 dual wheel casters make it easy to move the chair around, and the height is easily adjustable. You can also rock back in order to find the best position for you.
The chair is easy to assemble however, you need to be careful with the armrests because they tend to be brittle and break easily.
KEY FEATURES:
- Leather material
- Adjustable height
- Recline feature
SPECIFICATIONS:
- Weight: 23.1 lbs
- Dimensions: 2 x 24 x 40.4 inches
PROS:
- Easy assembly
- Removable armrests
- Good price
CONS:
- Armrests are a little low
This Amazon Basics mesh chair is the most affordable one on this list. It has a padded cushion for extra comfort and the mesh material of the back lets the air flow and your body breathe.
The height can be adjusted through a simple mechanism from 35.6 to 40.3 inches and the recline features allows you to find your favorite position and relax. The chair comes with armrests that can be removed if you wish, however they sit at a low height that can be uncomfortable for a tall person. The maximum weight capacity is 225 lbs and the assembly process is easy.
For its price, this chair is good and deserves its spot on our list of best desk chairs under $100.
KEY FEATURES:
- Adjustable height
- Back and cushion padding
- Recline feature
SPECIFICATIONS:
- Weight: 6 lbs
- Dimensions: 27 x 25.8 x 39.2 inches
PROS:
- Comfortable
- Good price
- Easy to adjust
CONS:
- Armrests aren’t the most durable
The OFIKA office chair is one of the cheapest items on our list. Here we’re talking about an ergonomic chair that provides lumbar back support by fitting comfortably to your back.
The mesh material allows for a good level of breathability throughout the day, and the soft fabric seat proves comfortable enough even if it’s not as thick as other cushions we’ve seen on this list. The height can be adjusted by almost 4 inches and the lock release positioned under the seat will allow the back of the chair to recline.
For a price of less than $60, this is a good option if you’re looking for a chair that’s ergonomic and comfortable, however, assembling the armrests might take some time.
KEY FEATURES:
- Adjustable height
- Reclining mechanism
- Breathable mesh
SPECIFICATIONS:
- Dimensions: 20 x 20 x 39 inches
- Overall weight: 22.6 lbs
PROS:
- Great price
- Comfortable
- Long-lasting
- 360-degree swivel
CONS:
- Armrests may be hard to install
Things to Consider Before Buying an Office Chair
With the wide range of options available on the market, knowing what to look for in an office chair becomes essential if you want to make a good choice. Here is what you should consider before buying an office chair:
How much weight can it hold?
Most chairs on our list support up to 250lbs. This means the chair won’t break easily even if you don’t need it to support a lot of weight.
Is it easy to assemble?
If the chair is easy to assemble and if the manufacturer includes all the tools you’ll need in the package, then you won’t have to struggle to get the chair ready.
What materials is the back of the chair made of?
When you need to sit down for long periods of time, having a chair that lets your skin breathe is a key feature to consider. Most of the chairs we’ve described have a back made of mesh, a breathable material that is also easy to clean.
Is the chair ergonomic?
You’re probably going to spend many hours sitting down on an office chair, therefore, making sure it has an ergonomic design becomes essential to make a good choice. With an ergonomic chair your chances of avoiding neck, back and leg pain is greatly increased.
Is there a rocking mechanism?
When you want to lean back for a moment, the rocking mechanism of an office chair allows you to tilt back and relax. Many of the products we’ve described on the list include this feature, however, for the price they come for, they don’t allow the user to lock the angle of this mechanism.
Can you adjust the height?
One of the most important features to consider is whether the chair’s height can be adjusted to fit your needs. If the answer is affirmative, then that chair might be the one you’re looking for.
What is the chair’s cushion made of?
The cushion of the chair is another crucial factor to consider since you’ll be spending quite some time sitting on it. Before settling on a chair, make sure to check if the cushion is made of a resistant material that won’t lose its original shape with time. For example, a good option could be cushions made of foam.
Can the armrests be flipped up?
Having flip-up armrests isn’t the most important feature an office chair should have, but we can’t deny it might come in handy if the space you’re working in is limited and you want to slide the chair under the desk.
The Benefits of a Chair Under $100
Although the range of available choices for an office chair is quite extensive, varying from cheap options to more expensive solutions, here are the benefits of buying a chair for less than $100:
- The price for value of these chairs is good
- There are hundreds of models to choose from
- Most chairs are sturdy and durable
- There are chairs under $100 that can support up to 300lbs
- You’ll be able to adjust the height even if the chairs aren’t expensive
- Most chairs include a mesh back that will let your skin breathe during work hours
- The ergonomic design and lumbar support will help you avoid back pain
- The cushions aren’t likely to lose their shape
- A rocking mechanism is available on most models for when you want to relax
- The products require very little time to assembly
- In most cases, the producers provide the tools needed to assemble the chairs
Should I Buy an Office Chair Under $100?
Finding a comfortable position while you work and maintaining it throughout your shift is crucial if you wish to avoid back, neck, and lumbar pain. One of the many ways to do that is to purchase an ergonomic office chair that’ll help you keep a correct posture. However, whereas some chair models are quite expensive and require you to spend over $200, there are also other good-quality chairs that are not as expensive.
Most of the chairs we’ve described come for under $100 but still allow the user to adjust their height, tilt back to relax, flip up the armrests, and they also feature a mesh back and an ergonomic design. Remember that some of the most important things to consider before buying an office chair include the materials, the adjustable features and its functions.
Therefore, if you wish to buy a good office chair for a cheap price, these kinds of chair are what you should be looking at.
However, you should also be aware that, as sturdy as they can be, these products won’t probably last a decade and the cushions will eventually lose their original shape.
Still, all things considered, office chairs under $100 offer a great price for value ratio and we hope our guide will help you find the perfect office chair for you.
How We Review: Our Office Chair Ratings Methodology
At Overheard on Conference Calls, we take pride in how we review office chairs. Our team of office chair experts spend hours researching and reviewing dozens of products before they even start writing their review or article. Our goal is to bring you honest and unbiased information to help you make an informed choice that will be the best for you. Our recommendations are not for sale and they are not influenced by any of the manufacturers we review.
When reviewing an office chair, there are numerous factors we analyze to determine our recommendations. Here are our four most important:
- Comfort: Comfort is key to a good office chair. It’s likely you’ll be sitting in it for hours so you’ll want something that won’t cause you aches and pains after hours of use. We gauge comfort by testing for 4+ hours as well as looking at the thickness of the seat cushion and its material.
- Durability: Not all office chairs are built the same. Our durability factor looks at the quality of the materials and how sturdy the chair is after assembly. Because we have a limited tested period, we also conduct customer research of longtime users.
- Lumbar Support: While this is an ergonomic feature, we made this its own separate rating factor because of how important it is to your overall posture, health, and comfort. We analyze each chair for its lumbar support or lack thereof.
- Ergonomic Features: In addition to lumbar support, we also look at other ergonomic features such as the armrests, height adjustment, reclining, seat ergonomics, and more. The better it is for your ergonomics and the more features/adjustability, the better.
Why isn’t price included on that list? Fair question! We do consider price in the order of our recommendations but because everyone has their own budget in mind, we won’t rule a chair in or out just because it has premium or budget price.
Our team has researched and reviewed hundreds of chairs and we’re confident in our recommendations. We strive to only recommend the best products and we periodically refresh our reviews and rankings.