A trip to college—or even hard nights home for high school—might come with an expense you didn’t think about: a good office chair. Dorm chairs are hard, awful, and not exactly ergonomic.
Luckily, there are some decent back-to-school office chair deals right now, among chairs I can vouch for. My colleagues at WIRED and I have been testing and tracking the best office chairs for more than seven years. The ProtoArc Flexer Pro ($176) is half the price it was last year, probably the best deal of the moment. Others of our budget favorites, like the Staples Dexley ($169), are kinda always “on sale,” and remain among the best available at a low price.
Here are the best affordable office chairs and back-to-school chair deals available for the 2026 school year. Every single chair I recommend here is one we’ve personally tested. Also check out WIRED’s other back-to-school guides, including dorm room essentials and college laptops.
A Steeply Discounted Mid-Range Ergonomic Chair
This Flexer Pro ergonomic chair from ProtoArc was a decent deal when it debuted last year at close to $400. But over the past year and month, prices have dropped considerably—this is the lowest price I’ve seen. The chair offers several points of adjustment, including seat pan depth, multiple recline angles, and four-way adjustable armrests.
The build quality and looks are far better than one could generally expect south of $200, with a five-year warranty that’ll get you through undergrad. Just note that there’s a detachable lumbar support that can pop off a little too easily from the backrest. Just note it’s not a great chair for people taller than 6 feet.
WIRED’s Favorite Budget Chair
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Photograph: Julian Chokkattu
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Staples
Dexley Ergonomic Mesh Swivel Task Chair
Staples basically holds down the discount chair scene, and the Staples Dexley is the best ergonomic chair that can be consistently had below $200. The five-year warranty will take it through most degree programs without a big hit to the wallet, the all-mesh seat offers terrific airflow, and the chair is easy to put together and decently adjustable. The mesh is a little scratchy for shorts wearers, but otherwise this is a solid chair with ergonomics good enough to support the occasional all-nighter.