With more of us working from home than ever before, finding a quality desk chair that provides you with all the padding, support, tilts, and adjustments to make your time whittling away at work as comfortable as possible is a necessity. But add a price cap - we'll say £200 - and your options become extremely limited if you want the best support for your money. Luckily, we've done the hard work and found the best desk chair under £200 that'll not only look good in your home but keep you supported. You won't need to break the bank, or strain your back in the process!
Working from home has us sitting more than ever, and studies have suggested that prolonged periods of sitting can pose a risk to your health, adding tension and stress to the neck, spine, and back. This can have a prolonged effect on your posture and potentially lead to chronic pain and premature degeneration with the discs being compressed in your spine.
Best desk chair under £200 at a glance
• Best small desk chair: Life Carver Mesh Middle Back Office Chair
• Best desk chair with foldable arms: Flash Furniture Ergonomic Office Chair
• Best high back desk chair: Habitat Alma High Back Ergonomic Office Chair
As well as reducing your sitting time and taking the opportunity to move during the day, even if it's just for one or two minutes, choosing an ergonomic chair will help prevent poor posture and support the spine. It'll help to ease the seated suffering you may already be experiencing and make for a much more comfortable, less stressful, and healthier working day.
With the surge in home working, plenty of desk chairs have popped up across the market. However, it's hard to sift through all the options, especially when comfort isn't guaranteed! Many people assume that 'ergonomic' means a chair has to be expensive - but that doesn't need to be the case! We've found the best desk chairs under £200 that'll not only look good, but they'll also be a treat to sit in. Already got a desk chair and just need to improve your back support? Check out our pick of the best back supports for office chairs to alleviate back pain as you work.
Best desk chair under £200
Best small desk chair
AmazonDescription
This breathable mesh-backed Life Carver Mesh Middle Back Office Chair is ideal for casual use in home offices and can easily be tucked under any desk you're using making it unobtrusive in any room. The cushioned seat is comfortable, and there's curved lumbar support to assist in body positioning. If you're looking for a simple chair with support at an amazing price, this will do the trick.
Customer review: "I am so glad I made this purchase. I needed a small desk chair to fit in my little desk area but I also wanted my chair to be comfortable. This desk chair is comfortable and compact. Most small desk chairs I’ve seen online are not comfortable and they don’t provide enough support, which is not the case with this one. It was super easy to assemble and the delivery was quick! Super pleased! Would definitely recommend it for someone who is looking for a small yet comfortable desk chair."
Pros
- Great value for money
- Curved lumbar support
Cons
- Some may prefer a seat with armrests
Best high back desk chair
Habitatwww.habitat.co.uk
Description
Pretty in pink or grey if that's more your style, this gorgeous Habitat Alma High Back Ergonomic Office Chair has been built with comfort in mind, and is beautifully padded so you'll have to be careful not to doze off! Swivel, lift and tilt to the best position to support your back and neck with the headrest, perfect for long working hours and styling in your home.
Customer review: "A stylish and comfortable chair for home office. I think it is excellent value for money, really sturdy, and no aches or pains after being sat at the desk all day. Not too difficult to assemble either."
Pros
- Includes tilt, swivel and local mechanism
- Mounted on castors for easy mobility
Cons
- Self assembly required
Best colourful desk chair
Wayfairwww.wayfair.co.uk
Description
While the armrests may be fixed, you can get great support and adjustability with this Tate Mesh Back Desk Chair that provides a fun 'pop' of colour to your workspace (though more neutral colours are available too). It'll provide you with ergonomic lumbar support and as well as swivel, the chair's tilt and height can be easily adjusted. This chair will be a long-lasting, affordable piece of furniture for everyday use.
Customer review: "Comfortable chair that meets all my needs. Excellent back support along with superb seat padding enables the user to sit at the seat for hours without getting uncomfortable. Highly recommended."
Pros
- Available in orange, blue, white and black
- Ergonomic lumbar support
Cons
- Some reviewers found the chair to be narrow
Best luxe office chair for under £200
Habitatwww.habitat.co.uk
Description
Are you looking for a more luxe-looking desk chair for your office? This one from Habitat is a great option. The Habitat Alvar Faux Leather Office Chair is made with faux leather in a sleek tan tone and it has a quilted finish so it certainly looks the part. In terms of practicality, it's got a gas lift and tilt action so you can set your preferred height while the metal armrests ensure a supportive sit.
Customer review: "Looks really nice, easy to assemble. A comfy seat and I like the tilt function. The seat base and back tilt together which I like and actually have the seat a little lower just so I can tilt it back and relax. You can lock the tilt feature off so it won't tilt at all. Height adjust is nice and easy. Overall, it's a really nice looking chair and I love to work from home on it."
Pros
- Looks sophisticated
- Tilt, lift and swivel capabilities
Cons
- Some reviewers felt the seat could have been a little wider
Best casual desk chair
John Lewiswww.johnlewis.com
Description
Combining old-time charm with cosy comfort, this ANYDAY John Lewis and Partners Hinton Office Chair is a versatile and durable model. The upholstered, height-adjustable seat and mesh backrest provide comfort while the added lumbar support will help to promote a better posture while you work. John Lewis recommends using it for short periods of time, so this option is best if you're often flitting between your desk and other business.
Customer review: "My colleague tipped me off to get this chair before we all were told to work from home. This chair is better than the one I sit on at work. It is supportive and comfortable and looks great at home. Great service too. Thank you, John Lewis!"
Pros
- Armrests lift up so you can neatly tuck the chair under your desk
- Added lumbar support
Cons
- May not be the best option for someone working from home full time
Best desk chair for preventing neck strain
Habitatwww.habitat.co.uk
Description
Offering the perfect combination of executive sophistication and everyday comfort, the Habitat Milton Mesh Ergonomic Office Chair would be a great addition to any home working setup. Providing the perfect combination of executive style and everyday comfort, it helps to prevent neck strain and other muscular tension as it's easily adjustable so you can tailor the position to suit your posture.
Customer review: "Easy to assemble. Really comfortable, great for long hours sitting in using computer. Reclined to good angles and gives good support for your back. Very impressed."
Pros
- Adjustable arms
- Available in black and grey
Cons
- Has a user weight limit of 110kg so may not be suitable for those over this weight
Best desk chair for full body support
AmazonDescription
If you're limited on space, you'll be pleased to know you can flip the arms up on this chair so you can neatly tuck it under your desk to stop it from taking up valuable room around your home. The backrest is curved to provide ergonomic support, and it is covered in a mesh fabric to allow air to flow, eliminating sweat and moisture buildup. Not a fan of grey? It comes in black, too, so you can choose the colour that best suits your home office space.
Customer review: "This is now the second one we have bought as my husband loved his so much I also bought one for my home office. Great support for sitting all day, is sturdy and looks good. Good price for the quality."
Pros
- Seat is designed with a waterfall edge to take pressure off your legs
- Curved backrest for ergonomic support
Cons
- You may need two people for the assembly, as some reviewers mentioned it was hard to put together on their own
Best desk chair with flip up arms
AmazonDescription
The Naspaluro Home Office chair is not just another piece of furniture, it's a game-changer for your WFH space. With incredible attention to detail, like the soft foam padded seat and flip up arm rests that won't get in the way when not in use, you can say goodbye to any discomfort. Plus, if you're looking to inject some colour into your home, it also comes in pink, blue, green and grey.
Customer review: "I loved the price and was hoping I wouldn't get something cheap and flimsy. I find it very comfortable and I love that it's lightweight; not heavy to move around. My husband was also impressed with the quality and commented on how easy it was to put together. I don't think it took him more than 15 minutes to assemble. Very pleased with my purchase."
Pros
- Armrests can be folded up to save space
- Seat is padded soft foam and covered with elasticated mesh to ensure comfort during extended use
- Multi-directional castors allow you to move the chair smoothly across the floor
Cons
- Backrest is not the most supportive
FAQs: Best desk chair under £200
Our verdict: what is the best affordable desk chair?
The best affordable desk chair really does depend on your budget. If you're looking for a chair that's cheap but comfortable and supportive, the Life Carver Mesh Middle Back Office Chair is great value at less than £50. The backrest features a curved contour line and lumbar support to keep your back comfortable and you can adjust the height to get it in the perfect position for sitting at your desk. You may prefer to have a desk chair that has armrests though.
If you've got a little more to spend, we'd recommend the Hbada Ergonomic Desk Chair. It's the best desk chair under £200 for anyone that needs to sit at their desk for long periods of time. It has adjustable height sitting as well as a reclining function, plus the armrests can be folded up to save room when you're not using it. We also love how it has a thick seat, which will be comfortable for sitting on all day and relieve the pressure on your hips.
What to look for in a desk chair
While it might seem necessary, it is actually important to remember that padding isn’t everything when looking for comfort in an office chair. While an extravagantly padded chair might seem like the obvious choice for back and body comfort, such a design is likely to set you up for an unpleasant time. The padding will store up body heat and paired with an unbreathable material, the chair will become increasingly uncomfortable over time.
For these reasons, contemporary office chairs tend to focus on utilising meshes, breathable materials, and ergonomic shaping to provide a high standard of comfort that can accommodate extended use throughout the day. Another benefit of mesh backing is that, unlike traditional padding, its bounce and comfort don’t degrade over time.
What is the best height, width and depth for an office chair?
According to Spine-Health, seat height that ranges from about 16 to 21 inches off the floor should work for most people. This will allow you to have your feet flat on the floor, with your thighs horizontal and your arms even with the height of your desk.
The standard seat width is usually 17 to 20 inches while the depth needs to be enough so you can sit with your back against the backrest of your chair while leaving approx. two-four inches between the back of your knees and the seat.
Eleanor Weaver is the Deputy Homes & Garden Product Editor for Yours, specialising in home décor, furnishings and appliances. Having worked commercially on Yours magazine and Yours.co.uk for the past six years, she's previously hosted Yours Live events and loves looking for home inspiration online.