10 Best Office Chairs From Under $300 That Work in 2025 (latest models)

Lower end materials can feel more plastic, have imitations in strength, and can be less adjustable. That usually is the tradeoff with a lower budget. But with mindful research and trials, we are able to pick affordable office chairs that will not be a waste of money. 

Our Top Picks: Cheap Chairs That Work

These chairs can both be economical and sane choices. Whether you need that recline or one that can help you to do tasking jobs, we picked a variety of office chairs with different functions.

Eureka ERGONOMIC Home Office

This is a fancy-looking executive chair that you can purchase for half the price.  It’s made of faux leather and looks quite regal. While it does not have premium components and materials, it has a nice balance between cost and quality. The build is okay, not even bordering flimsy, it is substantial for those who are of average weight. 

The headrest is resilient and feels quite stable. The seat does not flatten out easily despite frequent use. It is able to maintain its shape even after prolonged use.

But what is our favorite part is the backrest. It feels very nice and feels quite supportive for the entire back. 

Union & Scale FlexFit Dexley Mesh Task Chair

This is one of the more comfortable mesh chairs under 300 dollars. We love how our back felt supported with the allowances for customization for the lumbar area.  This is one of ‘em good choices if you are on the hunt for an office chair that allows for a bit of reclining. 

This seat has a tilt tension and so you can lean the chair back as needed. This feature works exceptionally well for the price of the chair. 

The chair has a wide back and an adjustable headrest. This is best for those who have broader and wider shoulders and who want to have their entire back fully covered and supported while seated.

The angle adjustable headrest is a nice touch. It can make you more comfortable and your neck supported if you are sitting in front of your desk for longer hours. 

Staples Dexley Ergonomic Mesh Swivel Task Chair

If you need an affordable chair that can recline further, this is a perfect choice. The chair can be reclined 100 to 140 degrees with 4 lockable positions.

Like the Space Seating 24 above, it has a synchro tilt mechanism that can help you make the chair favorable for multiple seating positions.

But take note that this is more of a petite chair fit for skinny to those of average weight. You can’t find this comfortable if you are on the heavy side. The Dexley is a compact chair designed for small to average sizes. All adjustable components work well for those within the recommended size range. The adjustable components of the chair are very fit for average-sized folks. 

Hon Exposure Mesh

A lot of 300-dollar chairs will lack adjustments and ergonomics is quite lacking. This is where this HON chair excels. This is one of our favorite picks when it comes to customization. It’s rare to find a chair of this price that has adjustable features that work well with one another. 

It is a dependable chair and sturdiness is not questionable. It also has adequate lumbar support, though it isn’t a pronounced one, but will suffice general needs. The backrest is mesh and doesn’t feel hard or abrasive to the skin. 

A note though, chunkier folks might find their hip bones pressing against the bottom of the seat. 

Hbada P3

Office chairs with memory foam seats do not always have to be utterly expensive. This is how we handpicked this chair. The memory foam seat feels very dreamy on the butt without the hefty price tag. 

Even the components of the chair feel more expensive than how they look and feel. 

The chair is designed to accommodate a lot of people. It has a 2D adjustable lumbar that works as intended. Both the design of the backrest and the adjustable lower back help ease the back and make you comfortable for longer hours. It can support your entire back for the entire day. With the mesh material, it can help keep you cool and you can use the chair all year round.

Modway EEI-757

Despite the minimum seat adjustment or levels of customization, this simple looking mesh chair can give other more expensive units a run for their money.  It has a tilt and tension and height adjustment that works cohesively. 

The seat is somehow curved and has an adjustable lumbar support. While you can change the height of the lower back part,  the shape of the seat is too pronounced. So it might not fare well with other people who don’t fit in the chair. It might feel too hard on the back and can be uncomfortable. So it’s either you love it or you do not. 

We also love how responsive the tilt tension is. You can lean the chair back a bit and it holds sufficiently in place. It also can be accessed easily and this is such a treat for a chair of this price. 

It is low priced for the value that it offers. This is one of the cheaper office chairs that you can comfortably use for longer than 5 hours. 

Space Seating 55 Series

We find this a fitting choice if you often stretch while seated. The design of the chair allows for micro-movements. 

The chair has a number of adjustable features, it has no tilt-lock recline but can offer a 100-degree recline. Even this slight recline can help reduce strain on the body, it locks well in place, so there is no unnecessary shaking or wobbling. It has a synchro tilt mechanism that can help you find the perfect angle for the backrest.

Also when you tuck your hips deep into the seat, the backrest will not hit your spine as other chairs at this price range may. The upper portion of the backrest veers away from your spine, so you have ample space to stretch to your liking. 

Branch Task chair

Despite being categorized as a task chair, this might do better than other office chairs in its price range. 

The seat of the chair is quite welcoming to the bum, it has a nice contour that fits well and feels rather well-balanced and supportive at the same time. It does have a bit of bounce to it so our bum will not feel numb despite the firmer cushion. But it does veer on being more firm, that is one thing to consider. If you favor this type of support, then you will find this very comfortable for the entire day’s work. 

The seat is squarish despite the narrower seat pan. So you can also tuck your legs into the seat as you wish. 

This is a slimmer chair that has quite a narrow seat pan that chunky folks might find restricting. 

The mesh backrest is airy at the same time comfortable enough. The material is not too rigid nor is it sticky to the skin as other cheap mesh chairs are.

Silybon Ergonomic Office Chair

In the realm of affordable high-back office chairs, this is a real player. It is also very adjustable, and ergonomic and can be a very carefree and economical solution for your FWH setup.

This chair almost ticked the boxes for an ergonomic chair. Aside from the highback, it has an adaptive lower back that is a great selling point of the chair. The chair adjusts to your liking and seating preferences.  The arms are also 3 way, so it allows you to change the position of the arms according to your needs. And oh, did we mention it has a functional headrest? This helps reduce the strain on the neck, shoulders, and upper back. 

SIHOO M18

We put this model to end the list for a reason.

The SIHOO M18 has received mixed reviews on our team, but it stands out as a budget-friendly option with several appealing features. Pros highlighted by our testers include its affordability, making it a great entry-level ergonomic chair. It offers adjustable lumbar support, a headrest, and a recline mechanism, which many find suitable for long work hours. The mesh backrest provides excellent breathability, a significant plus for those working in warmer climates. The chair’s design is sleek and professional, fitting well into both home offices and corporate settings.

However, some drawbacks are frequently mentioned. The lumbar support, while adjustable, is often criticized for being too firm, leading to discomfort during extended use. The seat cushion is firm, which may not suit everyone, especially those who prefer plush seating. And the armrests, though adjustable in height, lack depth and width customization, limiting their usability for certain body types or desk setups.

Frankly SIHOO M18 is a solid choice for those on a budget seeking an ergonomic chair with basic adjustments, but you should consider its firmness and limited armrest options before purchasing.

Other Models we tested

Autonomous Avochair

This is a curvy petite-looking avocado-shaped chair that might look rigid but is surprisingly comfortable.

While it does not tick the things that you may want in an ergonomic chair, it does offer customization. The back is attached to the seat, but you still can tilt it to lean back as there is a tilt tension with the right side lever. It also sufficiently locks in place.  Although the levels of adjustments are quite limited, it feels sublime. 

The caveat is that the cushion is on the softer side. It might feel too plush for those who want a firmer seat. But if you prefer being hugged and prefer a cradling comfort, then you will fall in love with this chair. It will give you that slow sinking feeling.

Also while it reclines, some may not like how it does. The lack of a headrest may make it unsuitable for taller people when you recline the chair. So that is something to think about. 

Ticova Ergonomic Office Chair 

This chair has tons of ergonomic options and feels reasonably sturdy and steady. All the features do not feel overwhelming and do work well for one another. Why did it fall off our list?

We find the lumbar support too rigid and hard on the spine. It also is quite aggressive and can be too pushy for a lot of people. Also, the arms seem to be a bit too close to one another. So this can be restricting for some people. 

If you favor very aggressive back support and do not mind the hard material, then this can be quite a durable choice. 

Protoarc EC100

This is a chair that presents a more leaning-back type of seating. If you prefer that, then you can find this a suitable choice. So if you need a more vertical position or something a bit more upright, this will be difficult for you. 

The chair has a lot of ergonomic and adjustable options. But folks might find the chair too slouchy. So it’s best used when you are not in an upright position. 

How We Chose Affordable yet Decent Ergonomic Chairs

The price range of below 300 dollars might be too stingy to ever find a chair that is ergonomic and comfortable at the same time. 

It surely has limitations given the limited price. But we didn’t just settle for what was there. So the hunt for more comfy yet cheap office chairs is on. 

And we considered these bits.

There Might be Reduced Ergonomics 

This is true for most chairs in this price tier. You won’t find one that has the bells and whistles. And if you do, you have to be careful to check if they do their job as intended. 

Some may come off as too flimsy, not doing their jobs, and might interfere with other features. 

But we were delighted to find treasures of chairs that have ample adjustable features that actually work well.  Despite the lack of high-end materials, they don’t feel cheap or plasticky and actually can be comfortable, given that you do not overload the chair. 

This is essential. Do not just grab chairs that have the most ergonomic parts. This can be tempting since not a lot of cheap chairs have that. But you have to be mindful and consider if these features are functioning as advertised and not just making the chair worse.

Mind the build

Expensive chairs have great craftsmanship, high-end materials, and superior build. So you often need not worry if the chairs can hold their fort, lock in place, and not splay away, especially when reclined. 

This can be tricky for affordable office chairs. Given the cheaper materials, these will not feel high-end and might have limitations when it comes to their durability.

So aside from taking into mind the weight limit for the chairs, read reviews if these units are able to hold the advertised weight limit.  So we figured out which chairs, despite the advertised weight limit, are true to their claims. Using the chair according to its actual capacity is one way to keep the integrity of the chair and make it last decently longer. 

Recline functions are tricky. So if you are looking for a cheap chair with a recline function, it should be able to lock in place. And we have just these on our list. 

Cheap Chairs That Can Reasonably Work

If there are limitations in the budget, you can’t go for a high-end chair yet. But don’t feel like you have to settle for a flimsy one that you can only use for a couple of months. 

It’s trickier and more challenging to get that with a lower budget, but it can be done. And this list is just what you need.