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Cheap Office Chairs

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In this review:
  1. Cheap Office Chairs
  2. Ergonomic Office Chairs
  3. Mesh Office Chairs
  4. Office Chair Reviews
  5. Best Office Chairs
  6. Discount Office Chairs Features Comparison Table
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Cheap Office Chairs Buying Guide

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Anyone who has logged hours upon hours behind a desk knows the importance of finding the right office chair. According to the U.S.
Department of Labor, a good cheap office chair will support your back, shoulders, and neck; help prevent carpal tunnel problems in the hands and wrists; support your legs and buttocks; improve leg circulation; reduce workplace fatigue; and make it easy to reach whatever you need.

On the high end, chairs that fill this bill can cost as much as $1,200. The celebrated Aeron chair by Herman Miller (starting at $869, Amazon) comes in three different sizes, and every piece adjusts to give users the precise position they need. It's also guaranteed for 12 years. While cheap office chairs don't come with the Aeron's warranty and pinpoint adjustability, not to mention its brand name and design pedigree, many aren't lacking in comfort and offer more than a nod to ergonomics. Ergonomic chairs are designed to maximize efficiency and safety. This includes adjustable seat height, tilt, and armrests. It also includes being able to swivel -- ideally 360 degrees -- and roll into position easily. Look for proper lumbar support, which provides a slight curve to your lower back where it would naturally arch.

The seat pan should be wide and deep enough for you to sit comfortably for many hours at a time. Tall users should make sure their thighs are fully supported, the Labor Department advises, and short users should be able to sit against the backrest without the backs of their knees touching the front of the seat pan. The edge of the seat should be rounded (this is known as a waterfall seat) in order to avoid cutting off circulation to the legs. The seat height should be adjustable so your feet are flat on the ground and your knees are slightly higher than the seat edge. The armrests should be padded and lack any sharp edges. If they aren't adjustable, test out the height to make sure they aren't too high or low for you. Ideally your shoulders should be back and relaxed with your elbows close to your sides. Look for breathable seat and seatback material that is easy to clean. Generally mesh is the most breathable and leather is the easiest to wipe clean. Finally, make sure the cheap office chair you choose has a stable five-leg or five-point base.

Review continues below

The Office Star Space 5500 (starting at $150, Amazon) boasts all these must-have features, including fully adjustable seat height, tilt, and armrests, and it's made completely of mesh to be extra breathable. We also like the Staples Vocazo (starting at $105) and the Alera Nico Mid-Back Chair (starting at $134, Amazon). The Staples Vocazo impresses us with a one-year manufacturer warranty -- the only warranty we found on a cheap office chair. The Alera Nico Mid-Back Chair garners praise in reviews for its upholstered back and a seat that looks and feels like leather. The cheapest office chairs on our list don't fare so well. Users posting reviews of the Z-Line Designs Task Chair ZL1001-01TCU (starting at $64, Amazon) complain about the back coming loose. The chair also has no armrests. Likewise, reports of a flimsy back on the Techni Mobili 0097M (starting at $68, Amazon) worry us. While this cheap office chair does have armrests, they aren't padded or adjustable.

by Raechel Conover (Google+ Profile)

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Best Cheap Office Chairs

Office Star Space 5500
Gold Medal

Office Star Space 5500

 The Office Star Space 5500 impresses users with its comfort and complete adjustability in the seat height, tilt, and armrests. This mesh chair has padded armrests and swivels 360 degrees. Other desirable features include a five-leg base, good lumbar support, and carpet caster wheels. Read more »
Where to buy
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Good Cheap Office Chairs

Staples Vocazo
Gold Medal

Staples Vocazo

 Experts rave about the comfy padded seat and ergonomic features on the Staples Vocazo. The seat height and tilt can be adjusted, although the armrests cannot. The back is made of breathable mesh and the seat is covered in microsuede. This chair carries a one-year manufacturer's warranty, a rarity in this price range. Read more »
Where to buy
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Alera Nico Mid-Back Chair
Gold Medal

Alera Nico Mid-Back Chair

 Users call the leather-like material on the Alera Nico Mid-Back Chair soft, breathable, and comfortable. User reviews frequently mention the quality materials and the chair's apparent durability. The seat height and tilt are adjustable, but the armrests are not, although they are padded. Read more »
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Don't Bother Cheap Office Chairs

Z-Line Designs Task Chair

ZL1001-01TCU
This mesh chair has carpet caster wheels, lumbar support, and a 360-degree swivel but no armrests. Numerous user reviewers report that the pieces don't fit together properly, the back is always loose, and in some cases the back actually falls off. The seat height is adjustable, but the tilt is not. Read more »

Techni Mobili 0097M

Users say the back of the Techni Mobili 0097M snaps off with very little pressure, making it an injury waiting to happen. This mesh chair does have armrests, but they aren't padded or adjustable. The seat height and tilt are adjustable, and the chair has a five-leg base. Read more »

 
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