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It is incredibly common for those who complete office work to find themselves experiencing back and hip pain from long periods spent in a stationary position.
Most of this time, the reason behind this pain isn’t so much due to time spent in the same position, rather it is due to hours spent sitting at your desk in a chair that does not promote good posture.
Posture plays a huge part in the tension that builds up in your body, which is why ergonomic chairs are such a popular purchase.
A good ergonomic chair will keep your body in a position that is comfortable and places no strain on your body. It is very common for positions that feel comfortable in the short term to include slouched posture which is bad for your joints and back in the long run.
Ergonomic chairs manage to improve your posture without making it feel unnatural or uncomfortable, and in the long run, they can greatly reduce pressure build-up in your joints and the aches and pains which go with this.
Unfortunately, the increase in popularity of ergonomic chairs has resulted in it becoming a marketing ploy for many companies whose chairs aren’t actually designed to be ergonomic.
This can make finding the perfect ergonomic chair for you quite difficult, especially when you add a price limit to the mix. But there’s no need to worry because we’ve put together this complete guide to the best ergonomic office chairs under 200 dollars on the market.
It’s complete with absolutely everything you need to know about ergonomic chairs, with recommendations of some of the best in this price bracket, to ensure you buy the one that is right for you.
In a hurry?
If you need a new ergonomic office chair in a hurry, but don’t want to spend any more than 200 dollars on it, then we would recommend the Gtracing Ergonomic Office Chair.
This chair has an excellent price point and is packed with great features, including:
- A strong metal frame that provides insane durability and allows you to find the sitting position which is most comfortable for you.
- 360-degree swivel so that you never need to move the base of the chair to face another way, simply spin when needed.
- A high-quality PU leather design that withstands everyday wear and tear, ensuring this chair will last.
- Thick padded back and headrest for excellent comfort whenever you use this chair.
OUR TOP PICK
Our favorite ergonomic chair is the Gtracing Ergonomic Office Chair. This chair is built with solid materials from the bottom up with a solid metal frame base for incredible durability.
Additionally, the solidness of this frame also improves your sitting position to reduce lumbar pain.
It is fully height and arm adjustable allowing you to find the position that is right for you, and also comes with a 360-degree swivel so you don’t need to move the base of the chair to face other directions.
The metal frame is topped with a thick padded back and headrest for comfort and covered with high-quality, durable PU leather which makes this easily one of the best office chairs on the market.
Pros
- Strong metal frame to promote a comfortable sitting position
- Armrest and height-adjustable to find the perfect position for you
- 360-degree swivel means you can face every direction without moving the chair
- Built with high-quality, durable PU leather
- Perfect style for a modern office
- Thick padded back and headrest for ultimate comfort
Cons
- Does not have the ability to lean forward
EDITORS CHOICE
Another wonderful choice is the Homall High Back Ergonomic Office Chair. This chair is great if you want one that is more unique than the monotone colors you usually find as it comes in a wide range of color options.
It also only uses the best materials including high-density shaping foam and thick steel for incredible durability. It is designed to support up to 300 pounds of weight and can tilt back to 180 degrees, making it a great choice if you want to be able to recline.
With all of this, plus the fact that it has rubber casters to reduce the noise of the chair on the floor, it is clear that this is one of the best options on the market.
Pros
- Available in a variety of different colors to match your office
- Uses the best materials including high-density shaping foam and thick steel
- Designed to support up to 300 pounds of weight
- PU leather design for incredible durability
- Reclines up to 180 degrees to relieve pain and pressure in your back
- Includes rubber casters for ultimate quietness while this chair rolls about
Cons
- No padding on the arms of the chair
BEST VALUE
We also love the SIHOO Ergonomic Office Chair, and we love its price point even more. This chair comes in just under the 200 dollar mark and is the most expensive that we have looked at so far.
Additionally, you can add a footrest onto this chair at an additional cost if you wanted to make it more comfortable.
This chair comes with 5 adjustment abilities allowing you to tailor it perfectly to your body, and it also comes with a breathable mesh back for better airflow to your back and body.
With all of this plus a gas lift for easy height adjustment, there is no question that this is one of the best budget ergonomic chairs on the market.
Pros
- Can be bought with a footrest included to make it more comfortable
- 5 adjust abilities so you can find the position which is best suited for your body
- Includes a breathable mesh back for better airflow
- A well-padded seat ensures you always sit centrally on the seat for the best support
- Includes waterfall front for added comfort
- A gas lift lever which allows you to easily adjust the height of the seat
Cons
- One of the more expensive options in this price bracket
RUNNER UP
You should also consider the Smugdesk High Back Office Chair if you are looking for an ergonomic chair that is reasonably priced. This chair comes in dark black and light grey color options and can be easily put together in less than 15 minutes.
If you ever want to move this chair, it can be taken apart just as easily as it can be put together. It has a mesh fabric back for breathability and a memory foam cushion for ultimate comfort.
Additionally, it can recline back to 120 degrees and can be easily height adjusted using the lever beneath the chair. With all of these features considered and its durable build, this chair is without a doubt one of the best available.
Pros
- Choose between light grey and dark black color options
- Easily put this chair together in less than 15 minutes and take it apart just as easily
- Mesh fabric back for breathability and memory foam cushion for comfort
- Use the lever beneath the chair to easily adjust the height
- Reclines back to 120 degrees to relieve pressure
- Uses only the best materials for an incredibly durable build
Cons
- Basic design compared to other options
RUNNER UP
Finally, you shouldn’t ignore the Hbada Ergonomic Office Recliner Chair. This chair is designed with support at its center as it comes with a Y-shaped back for better lumbar support.
Additionally, it comes with multiple adjustability options allowing you to tailor this chair to your body which will make it more supportive.
It also comes with waterfall seat cushioning for better comfort, and a rotatable headrest that can be moved around until you find the posture that is perfect for you.
It is built with steel and covered with mesh for better air circulation and stress relief while you work.
So with all of these brilliant features considered, there is no question that this is one of the best ergonomic office chairs below the 200 dollar price mark.
Pros
- Y-shaped chair back for enhanced lumbar support
- Multiple adjustment options to tailor this chair to your body
- Waterfall seat cushioning for added comfort and thigh support
- Rotatable headrest to help you find your best posture
- Steel frame build for ultimate durability
- Breathable mesh design for better air circulation and stress relief
Cons
- Not suitable for those exceeding 5 foot 10 inches in height
Best Ergonomic Office Chair Under $200 Buying Guide
If you are looking for an ergonomic chair to reduce tension in your spine and hips then you will often find that some of the best available are excessively expensive.
As you often see, some of the best ergonomic chairs also come with a very high price point, but this doesn’t mean that there aren’t some excellent cheaper options available.
The options that we have looked at above are some of the best ergonomic chairs available, but if you’re still unsure what you’re looking for then we’ve put together this buyer’s guide to help.
It’s complete with absolutely everything you need to know about ergonomic chairs to ensure you find one within your budget which suits your needs. So let’s get started.
Fabric
If you are thinking of buying an office chair, then one of the main things that you need to consider is the fabric it is made out of. The fabric used to build the chair will have a direct impact on how comfortable it will be to use, and how long the chair will last, so you have to think about it before you buy.
Although you will encounter some random types of material used to produce the exterior cover of a chair, there are two main types that appear to be the most popular, and these are mesh and fabric.
In recent years, mesh office chairs have become incredibly popular due to the excellent breathability that they offer. Mesh chairs are able to offer air circulation that is completely unlike any other fabric, which allows you to be comfortable.
Breathability might not be something that immediately comes to mind when you consider buying an office chair, but it is still very important.
The air circulation of the chair is what will prevent you from overheating or becoming stuffy while you work, and it is definitely essential if you work in a warm office or live in an area that has a hot climate.
For those who work in air-conditioned offices and cooler climates, fabric seems to be a popular choice.
Fabric is definitely the more stylish option out of the two, and it gives you more color options than mesh chairs do. But both mesh and fabric chairs have their benefits and drawbacks, so you should consider these before they make a purchase.
Adjustment
Another very important thing that you need to consider before buying an office chair is the different ways in which you can adjust it.
Adjustability might not be something you first think of when purchasing a chair, but it is very important, especially if you are above or below average height and weight.
Most chairs will come with height adjustability options, and some will also come with armrests that are adjustable, so let’s take a look at why these are important.
Pretty much all office chairs will at least come with the ability to adjust the height of the chair. This is not only important if you are above/below average height, but it is also important depending on the height of your desk.
If your desk is not adjustable, you must buy a chair that is to ensure that both components are compatible with one another. It is also becoming more common for office chairs to come with depth adjustment allowing you to adjust it depending on your size.
Additionally, some office chairs also come with adjustable armrests as you may not always want to use them. Most office chairs with armrests will come with the ability to drop the arms when you do not want to use them, but some will also come with the ability to adjust them to suit your own height.
The last thing that you want is for your arms to be uncomfortable while you work, which is why a lot of companies have now begun to include this feature.
Additional Functions
Finally, you want to consider the additional features that might be included with your office chair. These features are not necessarily needed for your office chair to be able to do its job, but they might make your experience of working with this chair more positive.
The main feature that we recommend looking for in an office chair is the ability for it to tilt. Pretty much all office chairs come with the ability to swivel up to 360 degrees, but not all of them can tilt, and tilting is great for reducing hip and back pain.
The majority of lumbar pain caused by prolonged sitting can be attributed to pressure build-up in that area of the spine, and simply tilting your chair can help relieve this.
A lot of chairs will come with a basic tilting ability which allows you to tilt your chair back to 120 degrees, but some will also come with the ability to recline fully to 180 degrees. So you should consider all of the tilting options available before you choose an office chair to buy.
Frequently Asked Questions
How important is a headrest on a chair?
While all office chairs have a fairly similar design, there is one thing that often differs from model to model, and that is whether or not they have a headrest as part of the design.
You might think that the headrest is an unimportant part of the chair, but it is actually vital for maintaining good posture.
The headrest is the part of the chair that prevents you from hunching forward and scrunching your shoulders which not only puts tension into these parts of your body but also causes pressure to build up in your back. So in short, the headrest of a chair is very important.
Do I really need an ergonomic chair?
There is a lot of debate surrounding whether or not ergonomic chairs actually work. A lot of people fail to see how the design of the chair can have a huge impact on your posture, but the simple fact is that they do.
If you work an office job where you spend hours sitting at your desk then an ergonomic chair is essential if you do not want to experience any back or hip pain.
There’s no guarantee that an ergonomic chair will alleviate the pain that you are experiencing, but it is an excellent starting point.
How can I make my desk chair more comfortable?
A common issue that people find with their desk chair is that they quickly become uncomfortable.
Even the most comfortable office chairs can quickly become uncomfortable after hours spent sitting in the same position, however, there are some things that you can do to try and make it more comfortable.
These include ensuring that the height is set to a position that is appropriate for your size, adding a seat cushion if your original one is worn, and adding armrests. If these do not work, then it might be best for you to purchase a new office chair.