Best Office Chair Under $500 – My Top 5 Recommendations

Introduction – a foreword about high-end office chairs

A high-end office chair, unlike budget and mid-priced models, can’t afford a single flaw, let alone several of them. If you’re comparing two models and they’re labeled as “high-end” chairs, the only “con” you might notice should be a detail that is less to your liking when compared to the second one.

These “more expensive” models boast outstanding qualities, which pretty much justifies the high price. Regardless of your personal preferences, you’ll most likely be satisfied with whichever high-end office chair, as they’re inches from perfection performance-wise.

Let me give you a little advice before we continue – this price point category is filled with superb models, that much is certain, but you should keep an eye out for details more than you usually do. The main differences between two high-end office chairs are usually hidden in the design and features.

Basically, these chairs boast extraordinary design patterns, supremely comfortable materials, a whole dozen of unique, exquisite features, and, finally, a huge value for the cash. I’ve taken the liberty of handpicking only the best of the best, so feel free to check out the comparison below:

Best Office Chair Under 500 Bucks Comparison

Best Office Chair Under 500 Dollars Reviews

Crossford Furniture Co. Executive Lumbar-Support Office Chair

Nothing says “comfort” like a good, padded office chair, and, luckily, here we have one of the best models that actually don’t cost a fortune. The Crossford Furniture’ executive office chair is everything you’ll want and need if you’re searching for a well-built, premium-quality, good-looking chair.

The thing I like the most about this chair is that it comes with soft, squishy pads all over. The back, the seat, lumbar support, as well as the mini headrest – they’re all padded with soft cushions which greatly improve the overall comfortability this office chair offers.

This special ergonomic design allows for full body movement while gently contouring the seat, minimizing the lower back pain and stress. The armrests come supplied with extremely gentle arm pads at elbow area, which makes casual lean as gentle as rain.

There’s plenty of room for modifications, as the majority of features are fully and easily adjustable. You can either kick back and relax after those long hours at work, or align the joints of this chair to provide as much comfort as needed in order to relieve yourself from that nasty stress buildup.

You’ll need to assemble it once the package arrives, as it’s quite bulky in nature, but rest assured, the assembly process is exceptionally plain and straightforward.

As the manufacturer states, this office chair was “designed for productivity”. You will benefit from exceptional back support, you will feel very, very comfortable, and, best of all, there are no major drawbacks whatsoever.

Some people claim that this chair lacks the durability of a proper high-end office chair, but I beg to differ. The sturdiness of this chair is a bit inferior to the best models for the buck, but it’s still beyond satisfactory, and that’s an understatement.

Overall, this is the chair you’re looking for if your budget is set at $500. It’s very plain, there are hardly any other models that could provide such a comfortable experience, assembling it is all too easy, and, even though it’s not super durable, it could still pass as a sturdy office chair.

 

DXRacer Racing Series DOH/RV001/N Office Chair Gaming Chair

DXRacer’s office gaming chair is certainly a model you won’t see in every office. It was built for gamers, but it soon caught the attention of the world’s second most-sedentary category of people – the people with suits. As you probably already know, gamers and office workers have a thing in common – they spend countless hours sitting in front of their desk, and they simply demand a comfortable chair.

I didn’t pick out this chair by coincidence – it’s superbly comfortable, but I liked how it looks just as much.

There are six color variations to choose from. The spacey black & green is definitely all-gamer chair, and I’d advise against it if you value professionalism. The red & black, on the other hand, looks a bit intimidating and macho, even alluring in a certain way. The gentler gender would perhaps like the black & violet style more, as it looks cute and feminine all the way.

The other three are quite plain – black & white is pretty much for people who couldn’t decide between pure black or pure white, the “all black” is for plain folks who value minimalism, and the orange & black seems like it was built for teenagers rather than office work people. That’s about it as far as aesthetics are concerned.

This office chair features an ergonomic design with several padded areas, including the seat, backrest, and the armrests. Both the lumbar support and headrest areas feature additional cushioning for improved comfort, but, sadly, the seat isn’t cushioned enough, so you might want to consider adding a pillow on top.

The seat is very flexible and comfortable, and just sturdy enough for it to withstand some serious punishment. The assembly process is fairly easy, although you’ll get plastic connectors – each poses a chance that it won’t “click” due to the nature of this particular material. This is also the only thing people tend to dislike about this office chair, but I think it’s pretty great for the money in general.

Last, but not least, the brand offers a lifetime warranty on the frame and a 1-year warranty on the parts. This definitely sounds reassuring, but I think they might’ve predicted that there will be some issues with durability in near future. If I’m wrong, then the extra warranties sure seem helpful and promising.

Wrapping it up, this is a beautiful office chair, and, I daresay it’s the best office chair under 500 bucks as far as versatility is at stake.

 

WorkPro Quantum 9000 Series Ergonomic Mid-Back Mesh/Fabric Chair, Black

WorkPro’s Quantum 9000 mid-back office chair is one of the few plain high-end models I’ve had the pleasure of testing, and it certainly passed with flying colors. It’s remarkably durable and ergonomic, and there are plenty of things I liked about it, but there are some little drawbacks I just couldn’t ignore.

First of all, let me begin by saying that this is a highly comfortable chair. It features breathable mesh backrest and a highly cushioned seat. The armrests are easy to adjust, and the tilt-lock mechanism is as straightforward as it gets.

The ergonomic design definitely feels great, and I’ve felt zero back pain whatsoever. The aluminum frame with heavy-duty casters appear and feel sturdy and durable, so I’ve had no issues in this sphere as well.

The first issue I’ve had with it is the lack of extra headrest or accentuated lumbar support. Of course, most mesh office chairs come without one, so I wasn’t very surprised, but you’d expect a high-end chair to come with this much-needed feature. On top of that, this chair is just too minimalist for my taste. It doesn’t look bad, per se, but it looks quite ordinary – it doesn’t particularly excel in aesthetics.

On the other hand, this model is a beast, as far as performance is considered. The looks can definitely be so very deceiving, and I believe this is such a case. This office chair is amongst the most comfortable models I’ve ever tested, and the plain features it comes supplied with are awesome, to say the least.

Overall, weighing the pros against cons was an easy task, with the pros being an absolute, uncontested winner. I’m glad to announce the best office chair under 500 dollars, as far as minimalist design doesn’t bother you.

 

VIVA OFFICE High Back Bonded Leather Recliner Office Chair with Footrest

Leather office chairs are usually quite plain, mostly because it’s difficult to engineer a model with extra features, as the leather might not take it too well. Be it as it may, Viva Office’ engineers took it a step further with their brilliant minds (and hands), resulting in a beautiful, and plain awesome office chair.

The model we’re looking at is, by far, the most beautiful one in this review. It features a set of smooth rolling casters made of premium-quality, heavy-duty nylon, a super-durable chrome base, all bonded in beautiful leather.

Personally, I loved the full-adjustability of the features – the armrests, the tilt-lock, the backrest. Literally, everything was made for sheer convenience. Needless to say, it’s as comfortable as it gets.

There’s one feature we haven’t seen in a while – the adjustable footrest. This particular feature allows you to literally sleep in this chair if need be, and it would be as comfortable as laying in a high-quality bed.

The only potential issue I see here is the mediocre weight capacity. Namely, this office chair can support up to 250 pounds, so people who weigh a bit beyond the average might not be able to reap full benefits of this chair. Apart from that, everything is top notch.

 

HON Ignition Series Mid-Back Work Chair – Mesh Computer Chair for Office Desk, Black (HIWM2)

The last high-end chair in this review comes from HON, Ignition series. Essentially, it’s a small, yet capable mid-back mesh office chair that definitely looks a bit different than the ones I’ve shared with you so far.

You’ll be able to choose between the “upholstered back” and the “mesh back” styles, and the center-tilt, synchro-tilt, or the synchro-tilt with back angle adjustment for additional comfort and convenience.

As far as aesthetics are of concern, there are 12 color variations at your disposal, including a full spectrum of vivid colors, such as blue, red, green, black, espresso, cerulean, glacier, and other exotic colors.

The breathable mesh material offers a unique level of comfortability, but it’s quite durable as well. The arms are fully adjustable, even though they appear to be a bit too small for everyone’s liking. Overall, that’s about the only bad thing about it.

 

Things to consider before buying an office chair under $500

Choosing a high-end office chair shouldn’t be too hard. There are absolutely no special hints or guidelines you should follow, as these chairs are the best of the best.

Regarding the durability, any high-end office chair should last for years, if not decades. There’s a handful of models that can’t pass this criteria, but the brands that make these less sturdy chairs often compromise for this drawback with promising warranties, free repairs, and replacements.

Speaking of the price, you should know that you’re going to part with a fortune. There are no significant differences between a chair that costs $300 and the one that costs $500, apart from the plethora of details in the design that your eyes will catch on eventually.

As for the features, you shouldn’t settle for anything less than absolute comfort and fully mod-friendly adjustable set of features.

Last, but not least, make sure to pay close attention to how the chair is designed. Even though all beauty is in the eye of the beholder, it’s your eyes we’re talking about, and it’s your money. You deserve the best, most beautiful chair the market can offer if you’re prepared to lay out this amount of cash for it.

Conclusion

It’s nearly impossible to declare the victor of this little roundup. Every chair we’ve seen so far can bear the title of the “best office chair under 500”, as they’re simply faultless – the only small drawbacks are the details the engineers missed.

As I’ve said earlier, pay attention to detail, but rest assured that it’s quality you’re looking at, as far as you’re looking at the models I’ve reviewed for you. Good luck in your search, I certainly hope that this review was helpful for you.