The Takeaway:
Best Ergonomic Office Chair Under $150
1. Our Pick: AmazonBasics High-Back Executive Chair
2. Runner-Up: Topsky Modern Executive Office Chair
3. Third Pick: Merax Ergonomic Adjustable Office Chair
Best Ergonomic Office Chair Under $100
1. Our Pick: Modern Luxe by Merax High Back Executive Office Chair
2. Runner-Up: BestOffice High Back Executive Office Chair
3. Third Pick: Merax High Backed (Updated) Executive Office Chair
Are you on a tight budget? Have you been frustrated by your search for a decent quality, low-cost ergonomic office chair?
We totally understand, and if you answered yes to either of those questions, you will love this roundup review. The simple truth is that the value segment of the market is crowded with dozens of companies offering scores of options.
There are so many to choose from that it can lead to severe analysis paralysis. That’s why we’ve scoured the internet for the best low-cost ergonomic office chairs. We aim to simplify your search and help you zero in on the perfect chair for you, offered at a price you can afford.
In the sections below, we’ll provide complete details on the best options in both price brackets. But before we do that, let’s start with a quick discussion of our selection criteria.
Selection Criteria
Basic functionality rules the day in this market segment, so we set the bar relatively low. Obviously, given this roundup’s title, basic ergonomic functions are front and center, but a great ergonomic chair has to do more than that. It must also be decent-looking, reasonably comfortable, and not prone to falling apart after a few months of sitting in it. Anything else is a bonus.
To that end, we kept our selection criterion pretty simple. We looked for home office chairs that tend to blend in well with most décor schemes, offered a reasonable level of comfort (or better!), and had the basics of ergonomic design covered.
Chairs that exceeded this bar by offering warranties that ran longer than the usual 30, 60, or 90 days or incorporated more advanced features such as generous tilt/recline ranges, adjustable ergonomic features, and better materials or production quality than the norm quickly rose to the top of our rankings.
Assembly Required
Rather than mentioning this each time we talk about the chairs in this review, we’ll say up front that all of the chairs in this review will arrive at your doorstep in a big box, unassembled.
Although the time to build each chair will vary slightly if you do it solo, expect to take thirty to forty minutes to assemble it.
If you have an assistant helping you, you can shave ten to fifteen minutes off the build time, and the process will be significantly less frustrating because some pieces are ungainly and difficult to wrestle into position with just two hands.
About Brand Reliability
At the low end of the price spectrum, it’s often the case that the companies selling their furniture are here today and gone tomorrow, so even if you have a phone number for support, there’s no guarantee anyone will be there to pick up the phone when you call. Young brands with no proven track record rank low, while brands with a national or global footprint that have been around for a while tend to rank more highly.
Best Ergonomic Office Chair Under 150 Dollars 2024
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Our Pick
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Primary Rating:
4.5
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Primary Rating:
3.9
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Primary Rating:
3.8
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$124.99
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N/A
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N/A
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Overall Dimensions:
23.13” x 25.59” x 41.34” to 45.08”
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Overall Dimensions:
26.4” x 26” x 47.7” to 54.7”
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Overall Dimensions:
25.2” x 22” x 48.4” to 44.9”
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Chair Weight:
35.7 pounds
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Chair Weight:
44 pounds
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Chair Weight:
27.5 pounds
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Max. Supported Weight:
250 pounds
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Max. Supported Weight:
330 pounds
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Max. Supported Weight:
330 pounds
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Recline Range:
NA, but it does rock back and forth slightly
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Recline Range:
90 to 145 degrees
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Recline Range:
NA, but it does rock back and forth slightly.
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Seat Width:
21.5”
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Seat Width:
21.7”
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Seat Width:
19.1”
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Seat Height:
19” To 21”
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Seat Height:
19” to 22.5”
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Seat Height:
15.4” to 18.9”
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Seat Depth:
19.5”
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Seat Depth:
19.5”
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Seat Depth:
20”
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Pros:
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Pros:
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Pros:
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Cons:
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Cons:
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Cons:
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Our Verdict:
A great buy, if you’re looking for a basic, low-priced, reasonably comfortable office chair.
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Our Verdict:
A great buy. We were stunned to see such an innovative design offered by an unknown company. Well worth taking a chance on.
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Our Verdict:
Highly recommended for shorter users who prefer mesh to leather and are looking for well-implemented ergonomic features.
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- Offered in two colors (brown/black), respected brand with good support, well priced, and surprisingly full-featured.
- None of the ergonomic features are adjustable.
- Surprisingly feature-rich, interesting, and perhaps even a bold design. The aluminum base increases longevity.
- Ergonomic features aren’t adjustable (minus the headrest).
- Incredibly well-implemented ergonomic features. Well-priced. Mesh is more breathable, making the chair better suited to long-duration sitting.
- Mesh isn’t as attractive. No padding, so not as plush or comfortable as other chairs on our list.
Our Pick: AmazonBasics High-Back Executive Chair
Recommended For: Anyone looking for an elegant office chair offered at a great price.
Our top pick is simple and stylish. Amazon offers it under its AmazonBasics brand for an almost shockingly low price. It’s hard to beat the functionality and simplicity paired with a trusted brand like Amazon, so it was virtually inevitable that this chair would be our top pick at this price range.
Ergonomically, it covers the basics, offering adequate head/neck/shoulder support, good lumbar support, ergonomic armrests, and a waterfall-style seat that helps relieve pressure on your legs while sitting in the chair.
Unfortunately, none of the chair’s ergonomic features are adjustable, but that’s to be expected given its extremely low price.
However, there are two potential drawbacks to be aware of.
First, the chair can only support a maximum weight of 225 pounds, which is a bit low compared to some of the other chairs on our list of finalists.
Second, the upholstery is bonded leather, and the base is nylon. Both are fine for light to moderate daily use, but neither will stand up well to heavy daily use. The upholstery will show its age quickly, and the nylon base is prone to cracking and breaking under strain.
On the other hand, it’s one of the few chairs offered in more than one color – you can order yours in either brown or black to make it blend more easily into your home’s décor scheme.
This is an excellent choice as long as you’re mindful of the chair’s limitations.
Runner-Up: Topsky Modern Executive Office Chair
Recommended For: Anyone on a budget. This is an awesome chair.
We were pleasantly surprised with the Topsky Executive Office Chair. You seldom expect to see tiny, unknown brands take design chances, but that’s exactly what Topsky did, and in our view, it paid handsome dividends indeed.
While the design of their chair falls short of being bold, it’s very nearly that and is unquestionably innovative. Inspired by computer gaming chairs, you can see their influence in the seat’s design, which isn’t, but closely resembles a racing-style seat.
Although the padding is simple block foam, a generous amount of it makes the chair a delight to look at and sit in. Even better, it’s a highly adjustable model.
The headrest height can be tweaked to taste (or removed entirely, if preferred). It reclines to an impressive 145 degrees, is lockable in several positions, and features a waterfall-style seat and well-implemented lumbar support.
Sadly, despite its impressive recline range, this model doesn’t come with an ottoman, but once you put the chair together, it’s easy enough to engineer one.
Although the arms are stationary, which is disappointing, they’re padded and ergonomically designed, further enhancing the model’s comfort.
It has an aluminum base, so it’s designed to withstand heavy daily use.
Unfortunately, the same cannot be said of the bonded leather upholstery, which is almost certain to start showing its age long before the rest of the chair does.
If Topsky had the brand history and support track record of Amazon, this chair would have beaten Amazon’s category-winning entry by a wide margin, and that’s saying something.
We have high hopes for Topsky and expect great things from them. In the meantime, we’re proud to award them a solid second-place position in our roundup review.
Budget Pick: Merax Ergonomic Adjustable Office Chair
Recommended For: Anyone who doesn’t mind giving up a bit when it comes to luxuriant comfort and aesthetics.
Merax is a surprising company. They’ve been around for decades and are best known for making CD and DVD jewel cases. You wouldn’t think such a company would have any experience making furniture nor have any luck selling it. Still, they have a fantastic design team and consistently churn out products better than expected. They even offer an impressive (2-year!) warranty on their products.
This model is the only mesh chair to make our shortlist in this category. If you don’t like mesh chairs, you’ll probably pass this one without reading much of this review, but if you’re willing to take a chance on a mesh chair, you’ll find a lot to like here.
First, let’s get the obvious out of the way. Mesh isn’t as attractive as leather, so this chair isn’t much in the looks department. On the other hand, leather makes you sweat when you sit in it for several hours at a go, while the mesh is breathable.
Combine that with the chair’s rugged construction, and you get something that can easily stand up to the rigors of heavy daily use, which is a claim that none of the other chairs on this list can make. Even the ones built with more durable base materials are upholstered with bonded leather, which won’t age well. You don’t have to worry about that here.
It improves because you can tweak three different chair aspects to make it a perfect fit. The headrest is articulated, the padded armrests are height adjustable, and, of course, the seat height itself can be adjusted to taste.
Regarding ergonomic features, the headrest and lumbar support are incredibly well implemented, with the armrests being good but falling short of greatness. Finally, although the chair doesn’t recline, it provides some rocking motion within the 90 to 105-degree range.
We’re continuously impressed by Merax and highly recommend this model.
Notable Ergonomic Chairs Under $150
We realize everyone’s tastes and preferences differ, so if you disagree with our top pick and none of the finalists are exactly what you’re looking for, we’ll share some of the other models we considered. You’ll find them just below.
Vanbow High Back Memory Foam Leather Office Chair
Recommended For: Anyone on a budget who’s looking for a great ergonomic Executive Office Chair but doesn’t need all the bells and whistles.
While its ergonomic features aren’t as strongly implemented as those in many of the other models we’ve reviewed, Vanbow makes up for it in two ways: comfort and an impressive one-year warranty.
Indeed, many people who shop for value-priced furniture aren’t as concerned about the warranty as basic functionality and comfort, but quality still matters. Vanbow has one of the best warranties in this market segment, second only to Merax’s two-year warranty.
In addition, Vanbow chairs are the only ones on our list to offer memory foam padding, which is significantly more comfortable than the conventional block foam used in most chairs. If comfort is high on your list of priorities, this model deserves a second look.
Unfortunately, comfort isn’t just about padding. It’s also about how well a chair’s ergonomic features are implemented, and Vanbow falls short on that front.
Where ergonomic features are concerned, you’ll find adequate head and shoulder support, a waterfall-style seat, lumbar support, and ergonomically designed armrests. The seat design is the strongest ergonomic feature.
In addition to its shape, the seat contains support springs like those in a mattress, which increases its comfort and makes it a great chair for long-duration sitting.
Also, note that the height-adjustable seat can be set anywhere between 20” and 22” and supports a maximum user weight of 250 pounds. This is a mixed bag; the seat height adjustment range makes it ideal for taller users, but the maximum supported weight is a bit on the low side. Bear both in mind if you’re thinking about buying this chair.
Finally, the fact that it has a nylon base and is upholstered with bonded leather works against using this chair for long periods daily because neither of those materials will stand up to heavy daily use. If ever there was a chair that cried out for grain leather upholstery and a steel or aluminum base to pair with that memory foam, this is it!
This is an excellent option if you’re mindful of its limitations and prioritize comfort.
Songmics UOBG71B Office Chair
Recommended for: A great ergonomic option for anyone on a budget. Note that if you’re more worried about your head and neck, then you want the 76B, rather than this one.
This is Songmics’ strongest ergonomic design and deserves a spot on our list. It’s a close cousin of another model that didn’t quite make our shortlist but that we’ll mention later in this article.
Interestingly, this chair would have been even stronger if it had swapped a few features with its cousin. If the designers do a bit of rearranging, this chair could easily move up 1-2 places on our chart.
As it stands, it’s surprisingly robust for a value-priced piece of furniture. It boasts a chrome-plated steel base, generous padding, and well-implemented ergonomic features, including excellent lumbar and neck/head/shoulder support.
It’s also on the big side as office chairs go, making it a good choice for bigger, taller folks.
Best of all, though, is the fact that this model can perform double duty as a recliner! Granted, it’s not a great recliner and not something you’d want to spend a whole night in, but it’s fine for stretching out to read and relax, or even take a short nap in.
Unfortunately, Songmics is one of those brands that may or may not be here in the long run. We hope so because their furniture is a cut above average and, if they keep working on their designs, has the potential to be exceptional. As it stands now, this is a great option to consider, especially if you’re big and tall and are interested in owning a solid ergonomic chair that also pulls double duty as a recliner.
Songmics UOBG76B High-Backed Ergonomic Office Chair
Recommended For: Users who need head/neck/shoulder support, including adjustable lumbar support pillow and adjustable headrest.
This model has a score that’s identical to the Songmics UOBG71B. The reason it won an honorable mention on our chart has nothing to do with the strength of the 76B’s ergonomic features.
The ergonomic features on this chair aren’t quite as strongly implemented, but they’re still good enough to warrant a brief mention here. This one is notable for its extra support pillow on the headrest, which gives it one exceptionally strong ergonomic feature.
If your main goal is head/neck/shoulder support, and you won’t miss the recline function of the 71B, then this is the model you want. If you want better overall ergonomic support, give this one a pass and get the 71B (assuming you’re down to choosing from between these two models, of course).
Note that this chair utilizes a nylon base versus the chrome-plated steel of the 71B, making it somewhat less durable. It’s fine for light to moderate duty, but again, if you’re looking for a chair that can stand up to heavy daily use, the 71B is the better option for you.
Kadirya Mixed Upholstery Executive Office Chair (KD1020S)
A great-looking chair that offers the perfect blend between cloth and leather upholstery. Recommended for anyone.
The first thing we need to discuss is why the lower-rated Songmics chair beat out this Kadirya model to take the honorable mention spot in our list of finalists.
If we were comparing office chairs in general, this model would have been in the honorable mention slot, and the Songmics chair would be here. In this particular case, though, our purpose is to zero in on the best ergonomic features, and when you focus on that aspect of the design, the Songmics (narrowly) beats this one out.
Having said that, there’s a lot to like about the Kadirya 1020S, and if the chairs on our shortlist leave you wanting, this one is well worth considering. Here are the most important things to know about the chair:
So, putting all those elements together, where does that leave us?
First and foremost, take a look at the seat height adjustment range. This chair is a poor fit for shorter users but would be an excellent choice for taller, long-legged users.
It’s also ideally suited to moderate use and can withstand heavy daily use. If the base were aluminum or steel or if the ergonomic features were even slightly better implemented, it would have easily earned a spot on the shortlist.
The most intriguing aspect of the chair is the upholstery. One of the biggest weaknesses of bonded leather is that, while pretty, it’s just not very durable. This model gets around that problem, at least in part, by utilizing mesh fabric where your back rests against the seatback and where your rear end touches the seat itself.
That’s a savvy move that will prolong the life of the bonded leather. Unfortunately, the armrests are still bonded leather; this is where you’ll see damage to the leather first. It’s a great model; it’s just not the best ergonomic model on the list.
LCH High-Back Executive Office Chair
Recommended For: Anyone on a budget and under 250 pounds who’s looking for a low-cost executive chair with lumbar support.
The seat height can be adjusted between 17.7” and 21.7”, and it supports users up to 250 pounds. It also comes with a one-year warranty.
This is another interesting model worth considering if the ones on our shortlist left you wanting for one reason or another. Like the Kadirya chair we just talked about, its ergonomic features are good but fall short of greatness.
That said, quantity can be its quality, and this model has more ergonomic features than any other chair. Those features include:
Again, though the implementation is good, it is not outstanding.
In addition to those things, you’ll find:
Given the seat height adjustment range, this model is a better fit for a wider market. It can accommodate people ranging in height from (approximately) 5’4” to 6’2”, depending on the length of the user’s legs.
Although it has an impressive warranty, the nylon base combined with the bonded leather upholstery makes it relatively poorly suited for heavy daily use. However, it’s an excellent occasional use chair and is well worth considering.
Viva Office Ergonomic Office Chair
This chair is a clone of our top pick, the AmazonBasics chair. Right off the bat, you might be asking why on earth we’d include a no-name variant of our winner. Well, a couple of key differences make it worth mentioning.
First, there’s padding. The Viva is slightly more comfortable than our winner in this category because more padding can be found. The tradeoff, of course, is that nobody’s ever heard of Viva and everybody’s heard of Amazon. Plus, the Viva only comes in one color, and you can order your AmazonBasics chair in two.
Second, check out the small but important differences in the seat dimension and seat height adjustment:
| FEATURES | Amazon Basics | Viva |
|---|---|---|
| Seat Width | 21.5” | 19.3” |
| Seat Height | 19” To 21” | 18.1” to 21.9” |
| Seat Depth | 19.5” | 18.5” |
These are relatively small differences, but when it comes to comfort, details matter, and the simple truth is that if you’re shorter or have shorter legs, the AmazonBasics chair might not be a great fit for you. If you buy it anyway, you’ll be underwhelmed.
If you’re thinking about buying our top pick, we urge you to take careful measurements and compare them to the chart above. The Viva office chair may be a slightly better fit for you.
Chairs are a bit like clothing in that way. You’ve got to wear them daily (well, most people do, anyway!), and if they don’t fit right, you’ll be uncomfortable.
It’s important to make sure your office chair fits you like a glove, and that’s the main reason we included the little Viva in our list!
Yamasoro High-Back Ergonomic Executive Office Chair
Recommended For: Heavier users on a budget. Lighter users will enjoy the extra padding but may find it difficult to sit comfortably in the chair.
Sporting mostly black bonded leather with white accents, making it look a bit like a zebra on wheels, its aesthetic might not be for everyone, but it’s got the basics well covered.
It’s generously padded and offers an ergonomic headrest, armrests, and a waterfall-style seat, all aimed at maximizing comfort. The arms flip up, making it easy to store under your desk when you’re not using the chair. This makes it a natural pick for some musicians looking for a chair to play or practice in.
It also features a tilt and lock function, although the angle of recline is a modest 110 degrees. Perhaps its most compelling feature is that it supports up to 300 pounds of user weight, has a big, comfy seat, and has a good seat height adjustment range (20.8” to 24.8”), making it an excellent choice for bigger, taller users.
Note that the base is nylon, and the upholstery is bonded leather. Neither of these will stand up well to heavy daily use, but at a price, it’s being offered, it’s easy enough to replace it down the road if it starts showing its age.
Best Ergonomic Office Chair Under 100 Dollars 2024
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Our Pick
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Primary Rating:
3.9
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Primary Rating:
3.9
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Primary Rating:
3.9
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N/A
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$78.88
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N/A
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Overall Dimensions:
23.6” x 18.5” x 42.1” to 46.1”
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Overall Dimensions:
26” x 24” x 43” to 47”
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Overall Dimensions:
21.2” x 21.1” x 44” to 46.5”
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Chair Weight:
30.9 pounds
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Chair Weight:
41.2 pounds
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Chair Weight:
37.8 pounds
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Max. Supported Weight:
225 pounds
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Max. Supported Weight:
250 pounds
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Max. Supported Weight:
225 pounds
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Recline Range:
NA
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Recline Range:
90 to 120 degrees
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Recline Range:
90 to 120 degrees
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Seat Width:
19.7”
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Seat Width:
20”
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Seat Width:
21.2”
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Seat Height:
17.7” to 21.7"
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Seat Height:
19” to 23”
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Seat Height:
13.9” to 16.5”
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Seat Depth:
18.5”
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Seat Depth:
20”
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Seat Depth:
21.2”
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Pros:
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Pros:
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Pros:
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Cons:
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Cons:
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Cons:
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Our Verdict:
If money’s tight, this is the chair you want, hands down.
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Our Verdict:
It’s in the same class as our top pick. We recommend it but note that you give up a good warranty for added comfort.
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Our Verdict:
As long as you keep the chair’s dimensions in mind and compare to your own, this is a superb model with a fantastic warranty for a product in its price range.
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- S-Shaped chair back provides some lumbar support. Comfortable headrest. Two-year warranty!
- Not as generously padded as other models. Only two ergonomic features.
- Better than average lumbar support, ergonomic headrest and armrests. Offered in a variety of colors.
- No adjustable ergonomic features. Limited warranty.
- Two-year warranty! A full range of ergonomic supports. Optimized for shorter, heavier people.
- No adjustable ergonomic features. Relatively poorly suited to taller users.
Our Pick: Modern Luxe by Merax High Back Executive Office Chair
Recommended For: Taller users with a slim or medium build who are on a budget and looking for a cream-colored/off-white chair.
As we said before, Merax is a consistently surprising company. You wouldn’t think it, because they don’t have a long history in the furniture market, but they make surprisingly good chairs.
The Luxe is an example of that very thing. Make no mistake, as office chairs go, this one is about as basic as it gets. It’s conventionally styled, features moderate standard block foam padding, and is upholstered in bonded leather.
Leather in any form is excellent, although, as you might expect, bonded leather is at the low end of the spectrum, given the shockingly low price of the chair. It’s made from fused leather scraps, which makes it less durable and supple than grain leather.
Coated with polyurethane, it’s water-resistant, but it’s almost guaranteed to show its age much more quickly than you’d like. On the other hand, given the price, it’s a simple matter to buy another one.
It doesn’t recline, it doesn’t rock, and it has only two ergonomic features. Still, they’re exceptional: an S-shaped seatback that follows the natural curve of your spine and padded, ergonomically designed (non-adjustable) armrests.
Perhaps the best feature of the chair though is its warranty. Most bargain-priced furniture comes with a 30, 60, or, at best, a 90-day warranty. You rarely find anything more than that, which is what makes Merax’s 2-year warranty jaw-dropping. It’s not something you see in bargain-priced furniture, but then, as we said, Merax is a surprising company.
All that to say, this model from Merax is surprisingly robust and more capable than most other bargain-priced furniture at standing up to the rigors of heavy daily usage. Depending on who you are, that could be a very good thing.
We’ll be quick to note that this isn’t a perfect chair. The padding is adequate for short to medium-duration sitting, but if you plan to be in the chair for more than 4-5 hours a day, you wish you’d gotten something with a more luxuriantly padded seat.
Given the price, though, this is one of the best values in today’s world of value-priced furniture. As long as you’re mindful of its limitations, this is an amazing and highly recommended chair. We stand by it as our pick for the best ergonomic office chair under 100 dollars.
Runner-Up: BestOffice High Back Executive Office Chair
Recommended For: Anyone looking for a high-back, well-padded office chair for under $90.
This chair’s final score is identical to our top pick, but we gave top honors to the chair offered by Merax because they’ve been in the business longer and have a better record of post-sales customer service and support. That said, there’s a lot to like about this office chair.
First, it’s offered at a price that will make you smile. Second, it’s got thicker padding than our top pick, so you won’t mind sitting in it for longer periods.
Unfortunately, that’s balanced by the fact that the Best Office chair is of lower production quality, which makes it less capable of withstanding heavy daily usage. Still, light to moderate daily use will provide a more comfortable seating experience.
This model also has the same ergonomic features as our top pick, but the designers here choose to focus on different things.
You’ll find decent lumbar support and a waterfall-style seat, which takes the pressure off of the backs of your legs while sitting in the chair. Neither is adjustable, but that’s not at all unexpected in a chair offered at this price point.
Although the pillowed upholstery isn’t our favorite, it blends in reasonably well with most home décor schemes. This is strengthened by the fact that you can order the chair in three different colors: black, white, or brown.
Finally, note the seat height adjustment range. It’s higher than our top pick, making this model a better overall fit for taller users. Given all this, we feel our second-place ranking is well deserved and recommend the model as one of the best ergonomic office chairs under $100.
Value Pick: Merax High Backed (Updated) Executive Office Chair
Recommended For: Short to average-sized users looking for a rugged, durable office chair that offers all the basic ergonomic supports.
Merax dominates our list of the best low-priced office chairs, scoring two spots on our list of finalists. This model is more expensive than the Luxe but also better appointed. It is, in fact, comparable in most respects to the Best Office chair we just mentioned, although the padding isn’t quite as generous. It’s only offered in one color, making it somewhat less aesthetically flexible.
Even so, you’ll find this to be a superb chair.
Like the Luxe, it comes with a two-year warranty and is rugged and durable enough to withstand the rigors of heavy daily use reasonably well, although the bonded leather will start to show its age rather quickly.
In terms of features, it offers:
Like the Best Office model, none of these features are adjustable, although that’s not much of a surprise given its modest price tag.
Although it’s surprisingly high-quality office furniture, potential buyers should consider the chair’s low seat height range. This will be a deal-breaker if you’re taller or have long legs. Fortunately, we’ve got other chairs on our list of finalists, which would be a much better fit if that were the case!
Other Notable Contenders Under $100
As we mentioned in the first portion of this review, where we listed the best ergonomic chairs for under $150, we realize that everyone’s tastes and preferences differ. You may disagree with our top pick.
If you do, and none of the other finalists are exactly what you’re looking for, we’ll include the rest of our picks for this category so you can take a closer look at some of the other models we considered. You’ll find them just below.
Yamasoro Leather Office & Gaming Chair
Recommended For: Anyone looking for a surprisingly good, versatile chair.
This chair has several features in common with our third-place winner, the Merax High-Backed Executive Office Chair. It offers a full range of basic, non-adjustable ergonomic features. There are some key differences to note, however, including:
This model sports more padding than any other chair on our list and can be ordered in brown or black.
Unfortunately, Yamasoro is one of those brands that may be around in the long run and may be gone tomorrow, so getting post-sales support might be a bit of an adventure. Still, given the relatively modest price, this probably isn’t a deal-breaker for most people. It’s a solid value for the money.
Zenith High Back Mesh Office Chair
Recommended For: Anyone who's on a tight budget. For under $100, the chair offers ergonomic features, breathable mesh, and padded armrests.
The Zenith is an interesting chair for several reasons. First, it’s the only mesh-backed chair on our list, with bonded leather dominating the chart.
Second, it’s styled like a gaming chair, with a seat that draws inspiration from racing-style seats.
Note that it isn’t a true racing-style seat, so you won’t feel like it’s wrapping itself around you when you sit in the chair, but it’s clear that the design team took their inspiration from the design of popular gaming chairs.
That’s not bad; it’s quite a handsome design, although the mesh backing takes a bit away from its overall aesthetic.
Like all the other chairs that have made our list of finalists, this one is high-backed with an ergonomic headrest, padded ergonomic armrests, and a dedicated lumbar support pillow to help soothe your aching back when sitting in the chair for extended periods.
People tend to feel strongly about mesh. They either really like it or they despise it. If you’re a fan, this chair will probably be higher on your personal list than it was on ours. Mesh does have the advantage of being more breathable, which makes the chair better suited for long-duration use, but it’s not as attractive as leather or even cloth upholstery.
The seat is adequately padded and is certainly suitable for short—to medium-duration use. However, if you plan to use it for several hours a day, every day, you’ll probably find yourself hunting for a pillow to sit on and thus bolster the chair’s cushion.
None of Zenith’s ergonomic features are adjustable, and it doesn’t recline, but it does rock, and the arms flip up, making it ideal for many musicians and convenient storage under your desk when the chair’s not in use. It’s not for everyone, but it is a surprisingly capable chair, given its modest price.
Vanbow Extra High Ergonomic Computer Chair
Recommended For: Anyone on a budget. A superb, low-cost office chair with full ergonomic supports.
This is an odd-looking chair.
The seat bears faint traces of racing-style design, and the chair is upholstered in a strange mix of cloth, bonded leather, and mesh. Although the patchwork upholstery approach didn’t do it any favors in the looks department, it does provide a surprising level of comfort. If you can get past its unusual appearance, you’ll find it surprisingly capable.
Granted, the padding isn’t as plush as some of the other models on our top ten list, so this isn’t a chair you’ll want to spend the whole day in, but it’s fine for light to moderate daily use.
In addition to offering a full range of (non-adjustable) ergonomic features, this model also reclines to a maximum of 120 degrees and has height-adjustable armrests, which makes it one of the most adjustable chairs in its class. That’s a low bar, to be sure, but it’s not nothing. It’s an excellent value for the money.
Vanbow High Back Mesh Office Chair
Recommended For: Anyone on a budget, whose primary interest is ergonomic supports.
Like the Vanbow Extra High Back we just discussed, this model isn’t the prettiest one you’ll see, but it has a very well-implemented set of ergonomic features.
Suppose strong ergonomic support is the main reason you’re in the market for a chair, and you’re one of those rare people who don’t care about aesthetics or even maximizing comfort over posture support. In that case, this one deserves a second look despite not placing among the finalists in our sub-$100 rankings.
Its lumbar support is dynamic and quite cunningly designed. We’d rate it better than many chairs that cost three or four times as much!
The padded headrest and armrests are height-adjustable, and although the chair does not recline, it does have a modest range of rocking motion.
The seatback is breathable mesh, and the seat cushion is mesh fabric stretched over standard block foam. The padding is adequate for short to medium-duration daily use, but if you plan on spending most of every day in it, you’ll either want a model with more padding or you’ll buy a pillow to provide your own additional padding.
Furmax High Back Executive Computer Chair
Recommended For: Anyone looking for a modern desk chair under $100.
Stylistically, this is a close cousin of the Zenith, which got an honorable mention in our sub-$100 list. It’s a cheaper variant and not as capable. The fact that the manufacturer only offers a 30-day warranty should indicate what you’re in for here.
This chair does have a couple of interesting things going for it, however: First, it can support up to 280 pounds of user weight, which automatically makes it interesting to bigger, taller users.
While the production values are low, you can expect this chair to hold up fairly well if you weigh well under the maximum supported limit.
The upholstery is a mix of bonded leather and breathable mesh where your back touches the chair, which means that the leather won’t be subjected to as much wear and tear. It, too, should hold up well under regular daily use. And it’s offered in multiple colors, too! (black, blue, gray, and red).
While it’s not a perfect chair, it does offer basic ergonomic supports (non-adjustable), and although it doesn’t recline, it can rock slightly. If our top picks have left you wanting, this one might be closer to what you want.
Devoko Modern Office Desk Chair
Recommended For: Anyone on a budget. Limited feature set, but better quality than the rest of the Devoko line.
This is a surprisingly good, although minimalist chair. Its main downside is its relative lack of padding, making it less than ideal for extended periods of use. However, it’s quite the find if you only plan on using it lightly.
With sleek, clean, modern lines and an S-shaped seat back that follows the natural curve of your spine, it provides a surprising level of comfort, even without plush padding—again, provided you’re not sitting in it for hours on end.
Unlike most of the other chairs in the sub-100 top ten list, the base of this chair is stainless steel, and if you’re only using it lightly to moderately, this model should hold up very well over time.
Giantex Executive Office Chair
Recommended For: Anyone looking for an affordable yet stylish and comfortable office chair.
This brightly colored chair sports a modern look, although the mesh backing and color scheme make it difficult to blend seamlessly with many home décor schemes.
If you don’t mind that, you’ll find that the chair is more rugged and durable than its modest price would suggest. With adequate padding and decent lumbar support, it’s not a chair you’ll want to spend all day in but is fine for light to moderate daily use.
It’s height adjustable and can recline to a maximum of 135 degrees, but the armrests and headrest are fixed in their positions, making this model not quite as adjustable as we’d like. Still, for the money, it represents an excellent value.
What Is The Best Ergonomic Chair Under $100? Under 150?
The value segment of the office furniture market is a lively, bustling place, filled with a mix of names you recognize and companies you’ve never heard of, all vying for your attention and your hard-earned dollars.
It used to be the case that when you started looking at bargain-priced furniture, you had two or three basic models to choose from, and that was it. Those days are gone. The number of choices is staggering, and it can be hard to cut through the clutter and find the one you want.
At the end of the day, “best” means different things to different people, so perhaps the better question is, ‘Which value-priced office chair is right for you?’
We’ve worked hard to separate the wheat from the chaff and presented a pair of top-ten lists, one for each of the market segments we examined, that offer something for a wide range of tastes and preferences.
There were some genuine surprises on both lists and even if you disagree with our top picks, the odds are excellent that your next office chair is somewhere on this report. That’s our hope, anyway!
Before making a final selection, we would encourage readers to set this roundup review aside for a while and spend some time thinking about what features are most important to you in your chair of choice, then come back and review our top picks again to see if one model, in particular, stands out.
Best of luck in your search, and we hope we’ve made it easier to find exactly what you’re looking for!
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Ergonomic Office Chairs Under 200 Dollars
If you’re looking for the best ergonomic office chair under $200, our top picks may be right on the money.
REFERENCES & RESOURCES
- Merax Office Chair, Official Brand Website.
- BestOffice Ergonomic Chair, Official Brand Website.
- Yamasoro Leather Office Chair, Official Brand Website.
- Zenith Office Chair, Official Brand Website.
- Furmax Executive Chair, Official Brand Website.
- Amazon Basic Executive Chair, Official Brand Website.
- Topsky Executive Office Chair, Official Brand Website.
- Songmics Ergonomic Office Chair, Official Brand Website.