The Best Cheap Office Chairs Under $200 for 2020

Best Office Chair Under 200 Dollars

In this guide, we take a look at seven of the best office chairs under $200. We’ve compared four of the best office chairs under $200, and three decent cheap office chairs under $100 as well.

BEST OFFICE CHAIR UNDER $200:
SPACE Seating Professional

Best Office Chair Under $200
  • Max 250 lbs.
  • Mesh/Leather
  • Mid Back
  • 3 Different Styles
8.7/10

CHECK PRICE »

BEST LOOKING CHAIR UNDER $200:
Poly and Bark Karlen

Best Looking Affordable Office Chair
  • Max 250 lbs.
  • Breathable Mesh
  • Mid Back
  • Black Design
8.7/10

CHECK PRICE »

BEST OFFICE CHAIR UNDER $100:
Modrine Task Chair

Best Office Chair Under $100
  • Max 250 lbs.
  • Faux Leather
  • Mid Back
  • Black Design
8.0/10

CHECK PRICE »

I‘ve spent some time reviewing gaming chairs and now I’m going to start diving into office chairs. And, today, I’m going to take a look at some of the best budget office chairs under $200.

While gaming chairs are designed to be flashy and are typically high-back chairs, office chairs—especially in this price range—are designed to be more practical and more often than not come in a mid-back form.

From an ergonomics standpoint, the consensus is that office chairs are better off. And, while this is more true at the higher-end of the scale than it is at the lower-end of the scale, from a dollar-for-dollar basis, an office chair will typically always give you better ergonomics than a similarly-priced gaming chair.

So, if you’re looking for a chair that is more ergonomically sound and better suited for a work environment and you don’t have a huge budget to spend on the Herman Miller’s and Steelcase’s of the world, this guide will help you find a decent office chair at a moderate price.

We’ve broken the guide down into two sections: the best office chairs under $200, and the best office chairs under $100. And, while the chairs in the under $100 section aren’t ideal options, if you absolutely need a chair and you don’t have the budget for something more expensive, these cheaper office chairs can hold you over for the time being.

Best Office Chairs Under $200

If it were me, the $100-$200 price range is probably as low as I’d go for a cheap office chair. If you don’t have any other option but to spend under $100 on a chair, then the options in the under $100 category can hold you over for the short term.

However, these office chairs under $200 are suitable long-term options and will provide you with a much better overall sitting experience. In my opinion, the SPACE Seating Professional, the Poly and Bark Karlen, and the Modway Articulate are all great options in this price range.

SPACE Seating Professional

SPACE Seating Professional

    Max 250 lbs.

    Mesh/Leather

    Mid Back

    3 Styles

8.7/10

Check Price

Read Review »

CLOSE X

SPACE Seating Professional Office Chair

Recommendation

I sat in a SPACE Seating Professional for four years before switching to a Secretlab Titan and it held up well during that timeframe. It’s not a chair that is going to blow you away with its comfort, ergonomics, or adjustment options, but then again, no chair under $200 will do that. Ultimately, it’s a solid chair to hold you over until you have enough to get a really high-end chair.

Learn More

TECH SPECS

BACK Mid Back
COLOR Variety
ADJUST Multiple Options
MATERIAL Mesh/Leather
CAPACITY Max 250 lbs.

SPACE Seating Professional Overview

The SPACE Seating Professional doesn’t have any outstanding features. But, in reality, none of the office chairs under $200 (or even $300) do for that matter.

What the SPACE Seating Professional does offer is a quality office chair that is comfortable to sit in, has the basic adjustment features, and should hold up well for a few years or more.

And, I know for a fact that it will hold up for at least few years because before I started buying gaming chairs to test out, I sat in a SPACE Seating Professional for four years.

In terms of comfortability, the chair was great. It’s not a chair that is going to “Wow” you with comfort, but it is also not one that you’re going to be complaining about.

In terms of specs, the SPACE Seating Professional has a PU leather covered seat and a thin mesh covering on the backrest. It also has a maximum weight capacity of up to 250 lbs.

It doesn’t have a ton of adjustment features. It can til back a bit at the backrest, but it can’t lock into a tilted position. It can, however, rock back and forth (at the backrest) when the tilt feature is unlocked.

The SPACE Seating Professional’s height can also be adjusted as well as the height of its armrests.

All-in-all, if you don’t have a ton of money to spend but you need a quality chair that is fairly comfortable to sit in and will hold up over time, then the SPACE Seating Professional is likely a chair you’ll want to look into.

Get This Chair

Poly and Bark Karlen

Poly and Bark Karlen

    Max 250 lbs.

    Mesh

    Mid Back

    Black

8.7/10

Check Price

Read Review »

CLOSE X

Poly and Bark Karlen Office Chair

Recommendation

In my opinion, the Poly and Bark Karlen is the nicest-looking chair on this list. To me, it looks more like a high-end Herman Miller than it does a budget-friendly office chair. But, aside from its aesthetics, it also sports a truly breathable mesh covering and has enough adjustment features to accommodate most users. Overall, the Karlen is another excellent option if you need a solid office chair that won’t break the bank.

Learn More

TECH SPECS

BACK Mid Back
COLOR Black
ADJUST Multiple Options
MATERIAL Mesh
CAPACITY Max 250 lbs.

Poly and Bark Karlen Overview

The Poly and Bark Karlen stands out on this list as it looks more like something Herman Miller would make than the standard-looking office chairs that typically fall under the $200 price range.

And, if you are taking aesthetics into consideration, in my opinion, the Karlen is the best-looking chair for under $200.

The Karlen also has an all mesh design, but unlike some of the other mesh chairs on this list (or even in higher price ranges), the Karlen is truly a breathable mesh. A lot of times you’ll get a mesh covering on a cushion and the manufacturer will say the mesh makes it “breathable”. But, since there’s a cushion there, the mesh can’t really breathe.

On the Karlen, the mesh is “stretched” or suspended across the seat and back rest’s frame, so it is a chair that will actually breathe for you.

Aside from that, the Karlen can support users up to 250 lbs. The chair’s height can be adjusted and it can tilt back as well. There is also a tilt tension knob that will help you get the til feature to operate exactly how you want it to.

The chair’s armrests are a bit different than most other office chairs, as they can flip back to a completely vertical position which turns the Karlen into a task chair.

Overall, the Karlen is one of the best chairs on this list. If you’re looking for a nice-looking option that has a breathable mesh and that can turn in and out of being a task chair, the Karlen is likely the best option for you.

Get This Chair

Modway Articulate

Modway Articulate

    Max 330 lbs.

    Mesh

    Mid Back

    5+ Styles

8.6/10

Check Price

Read Review »

CLOSE X

Modway Articulate Ergonomic Mesh Chair

Recommendation

The Modway Articulate has a few features and aspects that help it stand out in this price range. First, it is quite a bit cheaper than the SPACE Seating Professional, second it has a higher maximum weight capacity (330 lbs.) than any other chair on this list, and finally, it comes in the most color schemes. Its mesh-covered seat cushion isn’t the best option, though, but if you can get past that this is another quality option to consider.

Learn More

TECH SPECS

BACK Mid Back
COLOR Variety
ADJUST Multiple Options
MATERIAL Mesh
CAPACITY Max 330 lbs.

Modway Articulate Overview

If you’re looking for something even less expensive than the SPACE Seating Professional and Poly and Bark Karlen, the Modway Articulate comes in at about ~$30 cheaper and closer to the $100 mark.

It’s not a stunning chair. But it does look fairly similar to both the SPACE Seating Professional and the HON Work Chair (listed below) and has a standard design for an office chair in this price range. And, the one stand-out feature that the Articulate has—from an aesthetics standpoint—is that it comes in multiple color schemes, including, blue, red, green, white, and brown.

The seat is a bit more heavy duty than the other chairs on this list, though. (At least, based on the maximum weight capacity provided by the manufacturer.) The Articulate has a maximum weight capacity of up to 330 lbs., which makes it the only real option for heavier users on this list.

For adjustment features, the Articulate’s armrests can be adjusted up and down, and the chair’s height can be adjusted up and down as well.

And, the chair also has a tilt and lock feature, too.

In the end, if you’re looking for a chair that is closer to $100 than it is to $200, or you need a heavier duty option, or you’re looking for something with some color, the Modway Articulate will likely be an option you’ll want to consider.

Get This Chair

HON Work Chair

HON Work Chair

    Max 250 lbs.

    Mesh

    Mid Back

    Black

8.2/10

Check Price

Read Review »

CLOSE X

HON Mesh Work Chair for Office

Recommendation

HON’s Work Chair is a pretty standard offering when all things are considered. The chair doesn’t have any truly remarkable features. It can support a maximum weight of 250 lbs., its height and armrest height can be adjusted, and it has a breathable mesh back, and a mesh covered seat cushion. Where it does gain an edge over its competitors, though, is in the 5-year limited warranty that it comes with.

Learn More

TECH SPECS

BACK Mid Back
COLOR Black
ADJUST Multiple Options
MATERIAL Mesh
CAPACITY Max 250 lbs.

HON Work Chair Overview

The last option in this price range is the HON Work Chair. The HON Work Chair is probably the most standard—and perhaps a bit boring even—option in this price range.

Its features are all fairly basic. It has a maximum weight capacity of 250 lbs., it only comes in all black, it has the basic height and armrest adjustment features, and it has a breathable mesh back and a mesh covered seat cushion.

The downside of the HON Work Chair is that it doesn’t come with as many features as the Modway Articulate despite only costing a few dollars less.

However, the one thing that helps the HON Work Chair stand out is the fact that it comes with a 5-year limited warranty. And, that is by far the longest warranty that comes with any of the chairs listed here.

So, if you’re someone who values a lengthy warranty, then you might be persuaded by the HON Work Chair, despite its pedestrian feature set.

Overall, though, the Work Chair is a decent option, but if it were my money I’d spend the few extra bucks to get the Modway Articulate.

Get This Chair

Best Office Chairs Under $100

If you just don’t have the money at the moment to get a higher-end chair, but you need some kind of seating option to hold you over until you can afford something better, the office chairs below are all okay options that won’t cost you a ton of money.

Modrine Task Chair

Modrine Task Chair

    Max 250 lbs.

    Mesh

    Mid Back

    Black

8.0/10

Check Price

Read Review »

CLOSE X

Modrine Office Task Chair

Recommendation

The Modrine Task Chair is a pretty basic offering that will at least win some users over due to its very affordable price tag. The chair has a maximum weight capacity of 250 lbs., comes with a breathable mesh backrest, and can be adjusted up and down. The Modrine Task chair’s armrests can’t be adjusted and they come with less padding than the other options on this list. However, for just under $100, it’s hard to expect much more than what this chair offers.

Learn More

TECH SPECS

BACK Mid Back
COLOR Black
ADJUST Height Only
MATERIAL Mesh
CAPACITY Max 250 lbs.

Modrine Task Chair Overview

The Modrine Task Chair is another really basic option if you don’t have a ton of money to spend. This Modrine chair comes in at just under $100.

It’s a mid back chair that has a maximum weight capacity of 250 lbs. The Modrine Task Chair’s height can be adjusted but that is the extent of its adjustment features.

Its armrests have a unique design, but they lack the padding that the more expensive options on this list offer.

The one thing the chair does have going for it, though, is that it has a breathable mesh backrest.

Overall, if you have a tight budget and you don’t mind getting a standard looking chair that doesn’t have a lot of extra features on it, the Modrine Task Chair could be an option to consider. At the very least it can help you hold out for a year or two until you can get something that offers better quality.

 

Get This Chair

AmazonBasics Office

AmazonBasics Office

    Max 225 lbs.

    Faux Leather

    Mid Back

    3 Styles

7.7/10

Check Price

Read Review »

CLOSE X

AmazonBasics Office Chair Under $100

Recommendation

The AmazonBasics line of products is meant to be basic. Simple, straightforward products that don’t have any extra features and come in at an affordable price. That’s what the AmazonBasics Office chair provides. It is by no means a long-term option. However, if you are strapped for cash but you absolutely need a chair upgrade (maybe you’re sitting on a table chair, or a metal fold-up chair), then this chair can serve as a temporary option until you can afford a higher quality chair.

Learn More

TECH SPECS

BACK Mid Back
COLOR 3 Colors
ADJUST Height Only
MATERIAL Faux Leather
CAPACITY Max 225 lbs.

AmazonBasics Office Overview

If you’re strapped for cash and you need a chair, the AmazonBasics Office chair is, well, a super basic option. But if you’re sitting on some terrible at the moment, this sub-$70 chair will at least be a temporary upgrade until you can afford a higher-end option.

The AmazonBasics Office has a maximum weight capacity of 225 lbs., it comes in three different colors (black, brown, and white), it has a faux leather covering, and it comes with a height adjustment lever on the bottom of the chair.

That’s about the extent of its features, though. Its armrests aren’t adjustable and there is no tilt feature on the chair as well.

But, again, for just under $70 this chair should only really serve as a temporary option, or as a chair that won’t see heavy use.

So, overall, if you just need a quick and cheap option that is an upgrade over sitting in a table chair, or a metal fold-up chair, or something worse, then the AmazonBasics Office chair could be a potential fit for you.

Get This Chair

BestOffice Task Chair

BestOffice Task Chair

    Max 250 lbs.

    Mesh

    Mid Back

    Black

7.5/10

Check Price

Read Review »

CLOSE X

BestOffice Mesh Task Chair

Recommendation

If you are looking for a really cheap office chair that will serve as an okay sitting option over the short term, the BestOffice Task Chair might be worth considering. It costs under $50, it has a maximum weight capacity of 250 lbs., and it comes with a breathable mesh backrest. Though, if you need a more long-term solution, I would definitely recommend saving up your money and looking for a higher-end option.

Learn More

TECH SPECS

BACK Mid Back
COLOR Black
ADJUST Height Only
MATERIAL Mesh
CAPACITY Max 250 lbs.

BestOffice Task Chair Overview

Finally, if you are looking for the cheapest last resort type of option, the BestOffice Task chair is probably the lowest I’d go for anyone who is spending a significant amount of time in their chair. And, even then I would recommend that you start saving up for a replacement within six months to a year.

It’s actually on par with the AmazonBasics Office chair listed above, but it has a mesh covering instead of a faux leather covering. Its breathable mesh backrest is a nice feature, though, for such a cheap chair.

The BestOffice Task Chair has a maximum weight capacity of up to 250 lbs. and you can adjust its height with the level underneath the chair. Like the AmazonBasics Office, there are no armrest adjustment features and the chair doesn’t tilt back either.

Ultimately, the BestOffice Task Chair is a super cheap office chair that will give you a temporary seating solution until you can find something better-suited for long-term sitting.

Get This Chair

These Cheap Office Chairs Are Decent Options and Should Serve You Well

While none of the affordable office chairs on this list should be considered for long-term use, they will at least serve as nice options that you can use until you can upgrade to something a little more high-end.

There are a few options on this list, though, (like the SPACE Seating Professional and the Poly and Bark Karlen) that should work well even as long-term (4-5 years) solutions.

Ultimately, not everyone has $500 or more to spend on a high-end office chair. And, if that’s the case for you, these options aren’t a bad alternative.

Hey, I’m Brent. I’ve been building PCs and writing about building PCs for a long time. Through TechGuided.com, I've helped thousands of people learn how to build their own computers. I’m an avid gamer and tech enthusiast, too. On YouTube, I build PCs, review laptops, components, and peripherals, and hold giveaways.

Tech Guided is supported by readers. If you buy products from links on our site, we may earn a commission. This won't change how much you pay for the products and it doesn't influence our decision in which products we recommend. Learn more

Leave a Comment

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.