Best Office Chairs Under $100 – Which Are Worth Your Money?

by: Scott Pierce (founder, blogger & ergonomic consultant)

Finding a good and cheap office chair is not an easy task. We reviewed the best options on the market for you based on ergonomics, price and quality.

Here’s our list of best office chairs under $100:

Best Budget Office Chair – Our Choice

SMUGDESK chair with adjustable headrest is in our opinion top budget office chair on the market.

1. SMUGDESK Ergonomic Office Chair with Adjustable Headrest

SMUGDESK Ergonomic Office Chair with Adjustable Headrest

What distinguished this inexpensive chair from SMUGDESK is the built-in lumbar pillow and adjustable headrest included in the price. Thanks to the pillow in the lower part of the backrest you will get a good lumbar support and the headrest will help to relieve the pressure from your neck and shoulders and keep your upper back area in proper position.

Whether you work at the desk for 8 hours+ a day or often play games for long hours, with this ergonomic office chair you can be sure your back will be well supported. This model can be also great choice for a person who suffers from lower back pain or has problems with tension in neck.

Quick Summary
This ergonomic office chair will take a good care of your proper posture and give you great lower and upper back support. Moreover it looks simple (but not poor or cheap at all!) so it will look good in every workspace or home office. It’s probably the only solid office chair under $100 that comes with an adjustable headrest.

But that’s not all! The seat cushion uses high density shaping foam which molds to your body. This type of a foam is very durable and doesn’t loose its shape that quickly.

There are also two adjustments for maximum comfort of using this chair. There’s a pneumatic adjustment lever for lowering and raising the seat. You can also choose between rocking mode or lock the backrest fully. 

According to many customers the mesh padding on the seat back and seat cushion is great and prevents the user from sweating or overheating. This breathable material allows for air-circulation so you could always feel cool and comfortable while sitting.

You think you can spend more than $100 on your office chair? Here you can find our ranking of the best office chairs under $200

SMUGDESK Ergonomic Office Chair with Adjustable Headrest swivels 360 degrees and has dual wheel casters for easier movements around the workspace.

This chair has one more big advantage: it’s lightweight (only 23 pounds) and doesn’t take up too much room. It is an awesome option for those who work in small office or work from home and don’t want a cumbersome chair that would clutter the whole workspace.

There is however one feature that I’m not a fan of. This office chair by SMUGDESK has stationary armrests. I wish they were at least height-adjustable, but frankly, for this price I can’t really complain. If the armrest height doesn’t suit you, you can always skip the armrest during the assembly and have an armless chair.

SMUGDESK Ergonomic Office Chair with Adjustable Headrest and Lumbar Padding - One of the best office chair under 100
SMUGDESK Office Chair comes with a built-in lumbar support and a headrest that moves up and down

What other customers think about this office chair?

People often ask what is the best place to buy an office chair. In my opinion Amazon is one of them and I always check customer reviews there before I decide to purchase something. This chair was no exception.

It is a bestselling office chair on Amazon. Last time I checked it, it had over 1000 reviews – really impressive result. Below you can find out what features people like the most and what they complain about most often. Don’t forget to check the current number of reviews as well!

Customers praise this chair for being very sturdy and stable. It also rolls easily and the casters work quietly, which is a rare thing on budget office chairs. Another big advantage is the curved lumbar pillow which not only gives good lower back and lumbar support, but also helps to keep the proper posture.

Having the headrest included is a big plus. Customers also praise it for being easy to move up and down.

According to other people mesh padding gives great ventilation which is essential if you live in a hot climate or have tendency to sweat a lot. Moreover, customers seem to like the mesh cover and find it better and more durable than fake leather cover (no tears, no peeling).

Most of previous buyers agree this chair is easy to assemble. According to dozens customers this is a good, cheap office chair and it does its job.

Of course it has some flaws: the armrest are fixed and rather short. There is no option to adjust their height therefore they may be less comfortable for some people. The chair is not designed for big and heavy users (some people say it’s good up to about 200 pounds). Some people also complained about the seat cushion durability.

Nevertheless, this is an excellent affordable office chair for back and neck pain, suitable for small office. If you’re on a tight budget and not looking for anything fancy, this chair will satisfy you.

ProsCons
  • Great desk chair for lower back pain
  • Helps to practice good posture
  • Space-saver – perfect office chair for small workspace
  • Lightweight
  • Mesh padding allows the air to circulate through
  • Reduces tension in neck and shoulders
  • You can’t adjust the height of armrests
  • Small amount of adjustments
  • Rather not for a person over 200 pounds

Best Affordable Office Chair With High Back

In this category we awarded BestOffice Ergonomic PU Leather chair as best budget chair with high back. If you’re on a tight budget and need a chair with long backrest, check out this one.

2. BestOffice Ergonomic PU Leather Chair

BestOffice Ergonomic PU Leather Chair is our choice in category best affordable office chair with high back

According to many customers this chair is suitable for tall people. Even 6’4″ man can comfortably lean his head back on the headrest. This office chair is also a great choice for you if you’re a person with longer torso – it will give you proper back support and allow you to rest your neck during working at a desk, watching a movie or playing a game.

The backrest overall length is 28 inches. Maximum weight capacity of the chair is 250 pounds.

Quick Summary
If you’re looking for the best office chair for tall person that provides enough back and neck support but you’re on a small budget, this model may be just for you.

This budget office chair swivels a full 360 degree and its upholstery is made of soft PU leather. Comfortable ample padding is water and oil resistant and very easy to clean (we all know how often something spills during a movie or work!). Armrests have additional padding, however they are not adjustable.

On the other hand, you can adjust the chair height and tilt back to find the best position and support – it’s very useful feature especially if you’re working for long hours or have some back problems.

You can lower or raise the chair to adjust its to your height and legs length. Thanks to this feature you can find proper position for your feet and knees, whether you’re 5’5″ or 6’4″. The lever is easy to use. It also serves for tilting the backrest. You can choose how easily the seat tilts as well.

Thanks to the fact, that this chair is quite big and comfy, it could be very good option for woman who is looking for pregnancy chairs.

According to many customers BestOffice Ergonomic PU Leather High Back Office Chair is great choice for people who work at the desk for long hours, it is also an excellent chair for home office. If you are person who work a lot you may want to see our article where you can find the best computer chair for long hours.

Lots of customers praise this cheap computer chair for solid and sturdy construction and well-made stitching. At the beginning there may be smell but it quickly disappears.

BestOffice Chair - Two colors, brown and white leather
Apart from black color you can also choose brown and white version of BestOffice chair.

What Other Customers Think About This Office Chair? 

When I checked it for the last time it had over 2000 reviews so I can honestly say it is one of the bestselling office chairs.

Many people praise it for providing great back support during sitting and leaning back, especially for tall and average in height people. Another advantage of this ergonomic office chair is the seat back which tilts back pretty far allowing you to find the best position during working and resting.

According to some customers the material is not very breathable. A few people also mention they are not able to scoot under the desk, because of the unadjustable armrests. Some customers also recommend getting a mat to make the wheels roll better and protect the floor/carpet from damages.

Despite these drawbacks, lots of customers evaluate this chair as well-made and comfortable, especially if you consider its pocket-friendly price.

Keep in mind that this office chair is available in three colors: black, brown and white. The price may vary so don’t forget to compare it.

ProsCons
  • Comfortable for average in height and tall people
  • Ergonomic
  • Gives proper back and neck support during working or playing for long hours
  • Seat height is adjustable and you can control the tilt
  • The chair looks nice
  • Great value for low price
  • Not for very heavy person
  • Pretty big and heavy so it may be a bit difficult to move it from one room to another

Best PC Gaming Chair Under $100

Furmax PU is in our opinion the best PC gaming chair under $100.

3. Furmax Office Chair PU Leather Gaming Chair

Furmax PU Leather Chair is one of the Best PC Gaming Chair Under $100

Thanks to modern design this chair looks a little bit like a racing car seat, so if you’re looking for inexpensive PC gaming chair this one will definitely meet your expectations. It may also serve you as an office chair if you like this style.

The manufacturer says this chair has a bucket seat. Well, I would rather say it’s a “bucket-ish” because the sides of the seat back and seat cushion are only a little bit curved. In my opinion it’s actually a good thing, because if it has large wings they could put pressure on your shoulders and thighs and cause pain.

Quick Summary
Would you like to have an office chair that has a design of a racing chair and doesn’t cost a fortune? This model by Furmax is exactly that chair!

Anyway, this high back chair has rounder backrest (the bottom part) to provide good lower back support. There is also a comfortable headrest where you can lean your head on when you’re resting from working or just playing a game. To help you relax even more, the seat tilts back and forth. You can also lock it to prevent from reclining and of course – adjust the seat height.

The seat is padded with a PU leather which makes it look kind of like an executive office chair. Nevertheless you don’t have to worry this seat will overheat or make you sweaty – there is a breathable mesh padding right under your buttocks and behind your lower back. The armrests are also covered with PU leather – however the padding is minimum. This chair has fixed arms.

Keep in mind that this budget chair works best for short person. For taller people it may not provide enough neck and head support.

There are also PU casters which prevent the wheels from scratching your floor or making marks on your carpet.

Furmax is nice chair with racing style.
If you want cheap chair with racing style, Furmax could be very good and budget option.

One more important thing – this computer chair is available in multiple colors: Black, Blue, Red, Grey and White. Last time I checked on Amazon, each of them had different price (but all were under $100). Keep in mind that some of the colors may have limited availability!

What other customers think about this office chair?

This is one of the best rated office chairs on Amazon. No wonder, it has many features of high-end products, yet it costs less than $100! I checked what people wrote about it to find out what are its main advantages and disadvantages.

Many people evaluates this chair as comfortable and good enough for an average user. Most of the customers also mention the shipping was fast and the customer service is helpful.  Another advantage is nice design of a racing chair and many available colors. A few customer who are above 5’10” mentioned the seat back was too short for them, however some of them didn’t bother that and used the headrest to support their neck or upper back. For others, the lack of head support was a big disadvantage. Some people also complained about the armrest being a bit flimsy.

According to many customers this chair from Furmax is a great option if you want to have a comfy gaming chair or leather office chair that won’t cost you an arm and a leg.

ProsCons
  • Good quality
  • Comfortable
  • Good back support for short people
  • Looks nice
  • Many color versions to choose from
  • Excellent price
  • No head support for tall person
  • Not very soft – it may be not suitable for sitting for longer time (but it really depends on your preferences)
  • Doesn’t recline that far (up to 30 degrees)

Cheap Leather Executive Chair

OFM Essentials Collection ESS-6000 is our favorite cheap executive chair with leather padding. Read along to find out why do we like this chair so much.

4. OFM Essentials Collection Executive Leather Office Chair (ESS-6000)

OFM Essentials Collection Executive Leather Chair

OFM Essentials Collection Executive Leather Chair is rather a simple office chair – it doesn’t have many features, no bells and whistles, but on the other hand it has very low price! 

Let’s see what features this chair can offer. The backrest tilts back. There is a tilt tension knob therefore you can make it more easy or difficult to tilt. You can also lock the seat and prevent it from rocking when you want to sit straight. The chair height is also adjustable, but the range of height settings and the chair size make it best for short and average in height people.

Quick Summary
This affordable office chair has sleek and professional look which will look awesome in any office. If you want something elegant and luxurious, OFM ESS-6000 is one of the cheapest option!

The backrest is only a bit curved in lumbar area so I would say this chair is not a good option for people with back problems. It’s comfy but it rather won’t help you with back pain. Of course you can always get a separate lumbar pillow! 

Depending on your height, you should be able to rest your neck or head on the backrest. However there is no separate headrest. If you’re tall (above 6ft) the backrest will be probably too short for you and you won’t get any neck support.

You may also want to read about the best office chairs under 300 USD

The upholstery is padded with PU leather. Thanks to it this executive chair looks elegant and stylish. The leather is not very soft, but it’s comfortable. Keep in mind that the leather material is not very breathable. If you live in hot climate or have a tendency to sweat, this chair will be less comfy for you.

The armrests on this chair are fixed. I wish I could adjust their height or at least flip them up. But considering the low price, this is just a small inconvenience.

If you’re on a small budget and need a chair that will look luxurious in your office, this one is a good choice. There are no frills, it’s just a simple chair, but at least you won’t spend a fortune!

OFM Leather Executive Chair
OFM Leather Executive Chair is simple and doesn’t have many adjustments, but its price is really low

What other customers think about this office chair?

This is one of the most popular office chairs under $100 on Amazon. Although it’s a very simple chair with small amount of functions, it has been rated really high.

According to many customers this is a great office chair for the money. It’s comfortable, functional and looks good.

Lots of people mention they’ve been using it for sitting at the desk for many hours every day and it has been very comfy for them.

Most of the customers agree that this office chair is very easy to assemble and feels sturdy.

Of course, there are some disadvantages too. According to other people this chair won’t be a good choice for someone who needs a lot of lumbar support or has back problems. This chair gives only a mediocre back support. Moreover, it may be less comfortable for tall person.

According to many customers it’s an inexpensive chair so you can’t expect much, but it does the job.

ProsCons
  • Comfortable computer chair, great for home office and business office
  • Simple and functional
  • Leather padding looks elegant and luxurious
  • Perfect for small budget
  • No head and neck support
  • Not so many adjustments (e.g. the armrests are fixed)
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