The Best Office Chair under 100 Bucks: Comfort Meets Savings

So you need an office chair, but you don’t want to drop hundreds of dollars just to get one that doesn’t break your back or your bank. (Trust me, I’ve felt the strains on both my wallet and my lower back.) Chair hunting can be a daunting task, which is why we’ve assembled this list so you can find the best office chair under 100 bucks.

Because ergonomics shouldn’t be sacrificed just to save a few bucks, the list will include some of the best ergonomic office chairs under $100. You shouldn’t have to spend a fortune just to get an ergonomic chair.

We’ll take a look at a few different styles, including executive office chairs, armless office chairs, gaming chairs, and task chairs. Whether you want mesh or leather, a big chair, or a small chair, we’ll look at plenty of options.

If you already have a style or feature in mind, feel free to jump ahead using the table of contents below. If you aren’t sure and want to read more, great! Let’s roll right in. (Get it? Roll. Like office chair wheels… Apologies. Let’s do this.)

What Is the Best Office Chair Under 100 Dollars?

#1.) Smug Ergonomic Mesh Office Chair (Best Overall)

With its curved back design, adjustable headrest, breathable mesh, and lumbar support padding, this is our pick for the best ergonomic office chair.

Top Features

Breathable Ergonomic Chair

The padded lumbar pillow is designed to fit your body curve and help align your spine. So whether you have to sit all day long or only for a few hours, you can know your body will be supported, relieving the pain that comes from sitting in a stiff chair all day.

The chair is made of breathable mesh, which keeps air flowing and keeps you cool even when you’re sitting for hours at a time. The mesh uses high-density shaping foam to not only keep you comfortable but also withstand heavy use. It won’t break down so easily, so you don’t have to worry about saggy back padding.

Adjustable Headrest and Height

What makes this chair stand out from the rest is the curved, padded headrest that you can slide up or down to fit the shape of your neck. This is great for taking a quick relaxing break or just supporting your head while you work. It also makes this a great office chair for neck pain.

You can raise or lower the seat height from just over 17 inches to just over 21 inches. The seat itself is a little more than 16 inches deep by over 19 inches wide. This is fine for the average user, but someone with longer legs may find the seat depth a little short. The seat also reclines 120 degrees, so you can rock back and forth.

Weight Capacity

This chair holds up to 300 pounds, making it better than your average chair. This sturdy chair swivels 360 degrees, but the wheels aren’t the most durable.

Warranty and Assembly

Smug offers a one-year warranty. That’s pretty good for an office chair less than $100. Overall, many people find this chair very easy to assemble. So you can build it and test it out quickly, without the frustration that comes with impossible instructions.

Areas for Improvement

Although the arms are padded, they sit a little low for most people. They don’t adjust and can’t really be removed, since they help support the rest of the chair. This is something to consider if you don’t want an armless office chair, which could be for many if the arms sit too low to use.

The wheels do allow for a swivel, but they’re not the highest quality and sometimes get stuck when rolling. You could spend a little more and replace the wheels with some rollerblade-style wheels that will last, but they would take you over the $100 price range. It’s something to consider if mobility is the most important thing for you.

This 300-pound weight capacity is great, but the drawback is the narrow seat. Since the armrests can’t be removed, you don’t get the extra room if you need more than twenty inches. This won’t be a problem for everyone, but it’s something to note if you do require a wide seat.

Overall

We think there are enough features here to make this the best overall office chair for under $100. The ergonomic lumbar support, adjustable headrest, and breathable materials make this an excellent choice for anyone who wants a good chair on a tight budget. It should fit most desks and offices and looks good in the all-black or gray and white design.

#2.) Furmax High Back Executive Office Chair (Best Big and Tall)

This Furmax ergonomic office chair holds up to 300 pounds, has a roomy seat, and has good height adjustment, making it the best big and tall office chair under $100.

Top Features

Ergonomic Design

This bonded leather seat back has segmented sections for your upper back, lower back, and shoulder areas. There is a good amount of padded lumbar support, ensuring your lower back is properly supported.

The seat adjusts up from just over 17 inches off the ground to 20.5 inches off the ground, so you can find the most comfortable position for your height. There are curved padded armrests off the seat, but they do sit a little far back and can’t be adjusted. The chair also tilts back up to 120 degrees.

Wide Seat

The soft padded cushioning extends to the seat, which measures a spacious nearly 21 inches wide by just over 20 inches deep. The seat also features a waterfall edge, designed to support your legs and reduce the strain sometimes felt where your legs bend.

Good for Big and Tall

This ergonomic office chair holds up to 300 pounds, making it a good choice for those who need a bit more support than your average office chair. The backrest is almost 21 inches wide and nearly 28 inches high, so it should support taller people rather comfortably.

Assembly

There are mixed opinions on the assembly of this chair. If you’re relatively handy and have put furniture together before, you may not have a problem. If you need step-by-step guides, though, the instructions can be confusing, and there are no instructions on the wheel assembly. Just be sure to use enough force to lock the wheels fully into place.

Areas for Improvement

Because this chair is made of bonded leather, it doesn’t offer much breathability. If you run hot or have to sit for long periods of time in a warm space, you may start to get uncomfortable. The bonded leather can also peel over time.

The arms don’t adjust, so if they don’t sit at the right height or angle, you can’t do much about it. They do offer soft padding, but some users complain the padding “deflates” over time. The arms are also not removable, since they help support the backrest.

The wheels also aren’t the most durable or sturdy. They can break over time and don’t offer a scratch-proof, easy roll. Again, investing in a nicer set of wheels might be the solution here, but it will set you back an extra few bucks and put you over that $100 threshold.

Overall

The padded lumbar support, adjustable seat, and above-average backrest and weight capacity make this Furmax office chair a great ergonomic office chair under $100. Although the bonded leather can run hot, that is pretty common for executive office chairs. There are better options for the big and tall (see our list here), but if budget is the concern, this is a good big and tall ergonomic chair.

#3.) Boss Office Perfect Posture Office Chair (Best Value)

This Boss office chair has an adjustable seat height, back depth, and arm height, making it a great ergonomic office chair under $100. With a good warranty, quick assembly, and a modern design, this chair is a great value and would look nice in any office.

Top Features

Adjustable Features

The seat height adjusts from 18.5 inches all the way to 23.5 inches high, making it a great chair for people of all heights. The seat is about 18 inches wide and deep, however, which may be too narrow for some. It can also support up to 275 pounds.

The arms adjust up and down to find the right fit for your body. If you prefer an armless office chair, there is also the option to buy this chair without arms, which would make it even more affordable.

Lastly, the back of the ergonomic chair can be adjusted forward or backward, so you have more options to find a good fit for your body. It also comes in dark blue, burgundy, gray, or camo, in addition to the standard black.

Warranty and Assembly

Boss Office features a 2-year warranty on unusual wear of upholstery, padding, or breakdown of control mechanisms. Because it’s a smaller task chair, it’s also very easy to assemble.

Areas for Improvement

The seat may be too narrow for some, even though it can adjust very high and supports a good amount of weight. It might be a better fit for thinner people who don’t need as much room in the seat.

Because of the fabric, it can be harder to keep this chair clean. It tends to be a lint collector, so you may need to keep a lint roller handy if you buy this chair. The material is comfortable but can be itchy to bare skin.

The seat cushion is firm but provides good support. This won’t be a problem if you want to maintain good posture or like a firmer seat, but for anyone who likes extra padding here, this will fall a little short. It doesn’t recline, so you can only sit in the upright position.

Overall

If you have a more narrow frame and love adjustable features, this is a great option for a task chair that would fit in any office. The height adjustment raises higher than most chairs of this price, so it really can accommodate all heights and workspaces. It doesn’t recline, but it is designed with your posture in mind.

#4.) BestOffice Ergonomic Office Chair (Best Flip-Up Arms)

This task chair comes with a built-in massage, adjustable lumbar support, adjustable height, and flip-up arms, making it one of the best ergonomic office chairs under $100.

Top Features

Adjustable Lumbar Support

Although it seems like a small task chair, this ergonomic chair comes with adjustable lumbar support. The ability to adjust the lumbar support means you can find the right fit to keep your spine aligned and ease the strain placed on your body.

The height is adjustable up to 3 inches, from 17 to 20 inches off the ground. For a budget chair, it actually boasts a wide seat at over 20 inches wide and deep. Although the seat is wide, it does only support up to 250 pounds.

Flip-Up Arms

The arms flip up 180 degrees, so you can get them out of the way when they’re not in use. This gives you more freedom to move around in the seat. The wheels allow for a 360-degree swivel, so turning to grab things becomes even easier.

Breathable Mesh

The seatback is made of a breathable mesh backing to keep you cool all day. The chair does rock back and forth if you don’t want to be limited to sitting upright.

Areas for Improvement

There’s not very much padding on the seat, so it can be uncomfortable if you like a thick cushioned seat. You may need a separate seat cushion if this isn’t enough for you. If you prefer a firmer seat, this won’t be an issue for you.

This chair isn’t really designed for bigger, taller people. It only supports 250 pounds, so it can feel a bit flimsy if you’re pushing that limit, even though it does have a roomy seat. The massager doesn’t have a lot of additional padding, so that could be a problem when it’s not in use.

Overall

With a price tag well below $100 and built-in lumbar support, this is a great option for an ergonomic office chair under $100. In addition to the adjustable lumbar support, you also get flip-up arms and adjustable height so you can customize this to fit your body.

#5.) Furmax Mid Back Armless Office Chair (Best Style)

The slick faux leather material and seamless back and seat transition make this minimalist office chair the most stylish office chair under $100. It comes in brown or gray, but the most stunning is the simple white. It’s not a feature monster, but it does have an adjustable seat height and looks great in any space.

Top Features

Adjustable Height

This chair does adjust in height up to 6 inches, so it can accommodate various heights. It sits from 16 inches to 22 inches off the ground. It does hold up to 250 pounds, but it’s not ideal for larger people, since the seat is only 17.5 inches wide (smaller than the others) by 16 inches deep. The backrest is 17.5 inches wide and sits 13.5 inches high.

Stylish

This elegant, stylish chair is made of durable ribbed PU leather, so it will maintain its look over time. This is an armless office chair, which is what keeps it looking modern and minimalist. The white looks very sharp, but it also comes in brown or gray if white isn’t quite your style.

Assembly and Warranty

This Furmax office chair comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee if you’re unhappy with your purchase. They also offer a six-month replacement for damaged parts and are pretty quick to respond to complaints or concerns.

Areas for Improvement

The seat isn’t quite as well padded as other chairs. It’s going to be firm to sit in and not ideal for long periods of time. Design is the name of the game here, so if you need an office chair to accommodate a full day’s work, this isn’t the one for you.

The simple design also means a narrow seat, making it a bad option for the big and tall. It will hold up to 250 pounds, but it’s more ideal for less than 200 pounds because of the size of the seat. The wheels do allow a 360-degree swivel, but the base isn’t as wide, making it feel a little less secure when you roll.

Overall

If you want a great-looking office chair on a budget, this really does look sharp. It’s not meant to be an everyday, all-day kind of chair, so if that’s what you need, you’ll want to skip this one over. But if you like a modern look, only need to use the chair for shorter periods of time, and are of average height and weight, then this Furmax office chair might be the one for you.

#6.) Furmax Gaming Office Chair (Best Gaming Chair)

This gaming chair has a nice design that makes it feel more like an executive style, so it would fit nicely in any office space. It’s comfortable, holds a good amount of weight, and adjusts in height, but it’s not the ideal fit for a taller person.

Top Features

Adjustable Seat Height

This Furmax gaming chair adjusts in height from 15 inches to 18 inches off the ground, making it a better chair for shorter people. The 3-inch thick spacious seat measures almost 20 inches by 20 inches, and it holds up to 280 pounds.

Breathable Design

The seat is made of PU leather, but it features two holes at the top of the backrest to allow for some airflow. It also has a partly mesh back so you won’t run as hot sitting in this chair all day.

Lumbar Support

The inwardly curved backrest provides pretty good lumbar support, although it’s not adjustable. The seatback is only 26.5 inches high and measures almost 20 inches wide. It’s comfortable for a day’s work with 2-inch thick padding in the backrest, and it tilts back slightly for a little rock, but it only locks into place in an upright position.

Assembly

The assembly is pretty straightforward and quick, so you won’t waste your time struggling to put it together. The warranty options aren’t great, but the price is great.

Areas for Improvement

The arms are not adjustable, which is something that really helps make an ergonomic chair. They are curved and padded, but if they don’t work, you can’t remove them, so they just get in the way.

The wheels tend to fall off on this chair, and they don’t roll as well on carpet, either. It’s frustrating to see an otherwise good chair fall short in this area. Replacement wheels may be in order, especially considering there’s not a good warranty policy on this chair.

With the seat sitting at only 18 inches off the ground at its highest point, this chair is not ideal for taller people. It does hold a lot of weight, though, and it’s got a roomy seat, so it’s a pretty good office chair for a short person.

Overall

The design of this gaming chair looks great, and the breathable backing is a nice touch on what is usually a material that runs hot. If you like gaming chairs with good lumbar support but like your seat to sit a little lower, you may want to consider this. Just beware of the wheels.

#7.) HON ValuTask Low Back Office Chair (Best Armless Office Chair)

If you’re looking for an armless office chair, this HON office chair looks great and fits just about anywhere.

Top Features

Adjustable Seat Height

The wide seat is a comfortable 20 inches by 18 inches deep and feels roomier without armrests getting in the way. The pneumatic lift can raise the seat from 17 inches to 20.5 inches off the floor. The chair can also slightly recline, but it can only lock in an upright position.

Durable Material

The material holds up well over time, although it can be difficult to keep clean because it will attract lint and crumbs. It can be a rough feel on bare skin, but it’s otherwise well-constructed and built to last a while. The sturdy wheels roll easily across the floor, allowing you to swivel 360 degrees and reach anything with ease. The chair will support up to 250 pounds.

Warranty and Assembly

This HON office chair is backed by a very impressive 5-year limited warranty. HON will repair or replace any defective component within five years of the date of purchase. This is an amazing peace of mind. The chair is also pretty easy to assemble.

Areas for Improvement

Some people don’t like the rough feeling of the fabric chair, but it’s durable and shouldn’t be a problem if your bare skin isn’t directly touching it. It’s also a magnet for lint and crumbs, so you’ll have to put in a little effort to keep it clean.

The seat cushion can wear down a bit over time and has a firmer feel to it. This isn’t a problem if you like a firm seat, but if you like something cushioned, an extra pillow might be necessary.

Overall

With its roomy seat, modern and simple look, and adjustable height, this is one of the best office chairs under $100 without arms. If you’re worried about durability, the material is made to last, and HON’s 5-year warranty gives you the extra assurance you’re buying a great product. If you like armless office chairs, and you don’t want to pay a fortune, this is a great option.

Other Budget Options: Under $50

If you want something even cheaper than $100, here are some good budget office chairs for around $50.

Budget #1) BestOffice Armless Mid Back Office Chair

This mid-back office chair comes in a variety of colors. The lack of armrests adds to the minimal look.

If you need a chair that will work all day, every day, this isn’t the one. But if you just work for short periods of time and don’t require a large seat, then this is a great little chair for the money.

Budget #2) Furmax Mid Back Mesh Office Chair

This budget office chair can hold 265 pounds, which is more than the average. The breathable mesh backing keeps you cool while the backrest provides extra lumbar support.

This mid-back office chair comes in a variety of colors. Since the seat is smaller and it sits lower, it’s an ideal office chair for shorter people.

How to Sit in an Office Chair

Not all office chairs are created equally, with some more designed with comfort in mind. However, even the best office chairs won’t help if you don’t use proper posture while sitting in your chair.

• Adjust the height of your chair so your feet are flat on the floor.
• Make sure your knees are in line with your hips.
• Sit up straight with your shoulders back.
• Keep your hips back in your seat.
• Keep your monitor at eye level to avoid neck strain.
• Make sure your arms are able to comfortable reach the keyboard.
• Add a pillow to your lower back if the chair doesn’t have built-in lumbar support.

Final Results: So What Are the Best Office Chairs under 100 Dollars?

Overall

If you’re looking for an ergonomic office chair under $100, look no further than the Smug Ergonomic Office Chair. With an adjustable headrest, breathable mesh design, 300-pound weight capacity, and a good warranty, this is overall the best office chair for under $100.

Executive Office Chairs

If you want the best big and tall executive office chair for under $100, the Furmax High Back Executive Office Chair is it. For another great Furmax executive chair, try the Furmax High Back Gaming Chair.

Armless Office Chairs

For some armless office chair options on a budget, try the BestOffice Ergonomic Armless Office Chair, the stylish Furmax Mid Back Armless Office Chair, or the HON ValuTask Low Back Office Chair.

Task Chairs

If you want a good task chair, you’ll like the Boss Office Perfect Posture Fabric Office Chair or the BestOffice Ergonomic Mid Back Office Chair.

Whatever style you want, there is an option for you that won’t cost you more than $100.