If you’re trying to create a cozy and effective home office in a spatially-challenged home, a compact office chair might just be the key. Of course, not just any small chair will do. It has to be comfortable so you can focus on being productive. Bonus points if it looks stylish.
Keeping size, ergonomics, and aesthetics in mind, here are the best office chairs for tight spaces that we’ve found.
Best Office Chairs for Small Spaces at a Glance
- Mimoglad Office Chair – Editor’s Pick for Small Spaces
- Gabrylly Mesh Office Chair – Best with Headrest
- Hbada Task Chair – Best Budget Option
- BTExpert Midback Task Chair – Best White Armless Chair
- Flash Furniture Mesh Office Chair – Most Choices for Colors
- Ovios Fabric Office Chair – Best for Teens and Ladies
- Vari Active Seat – Best for Active Sitting
- Office Star Adjustable Draft Chair – Best Drafting Chair
1. Mimoglad Office Chair – Editor’s Pick for Small Spaces
- Seat Dimensions: 19.68” W by 16.53” D
- Backrest Height: 23.62”
- Weight and Capacity: 29.7 lbs, 300 lbs
Starting off our list is Mimoglad, a well-rounded office chair that checks all the boxes when it comes to size, price, style, and even ergonomics.
Right off the bat, you can see that the Mimoglad isn’t as big as some chairs. At just 21.65” wide at its widest part, which is the base, it’s a narrow chair that can easily fit in tight corners. Plus, the padded armrests flip out of the way so you can slide the chair under your desk when not in use, saving you some space.
The Mimoglad is just as comfy as it is compact. The curved backrest comes with an adjustable lumbar support to keep your back in top form while working. The rocking function can also ease the pressure buildup in your back from hours of sitting. Finally, it can keep you sweat-free with the mesh back and mesh-covered sloping cushion.
These features are paired with a glamorous white and black design, making it a decent deal at the sub $200 range.
Features and Specs at a Glance:
- 135° rocking function
- Adjustable lumbar support
- Flip-up padded arms
- Cooling mesh back
- Waterfall edge cushion
What Other Owners Say:
- I love that I can roll it under my table once I lift the arms up.
- The illustrations are confusing but the chair itself works as it should.
2. Gabrylly Ergonomic Mesh Office Chair – Best with Headrest
- Seat Dimensions: 20″ W x 19.3″ D
- Backrest Height: 18.9”
- Weight and Capacity: 41 lbs, 280 lbs
If you’d like full coverage, the Gabrylly has your head and back – literally. A mesh articulated headrest and backrest work together to put your head and spine in a healthy position. What’s more it isn’t as bulky as other high back chairs so it will still be a good fit for your small office.
The Gabrylly is 25.6″ at its widest and 22″ at its deepest part. Just like the Mimoglad, it has padded arms that swivel out of the way to save you some space when it’s not in use. What sets it apart from the Mimoglad, however, is that its armrests are height-adjustable so you get more personalized support.
The full back and seat are mesh for good air circulation. While the lumbar support is fixed, the Gabrylly makes up for it with a 30° backrest tilt. There’s also the height-adjustable headrest which you can also adjust by angle at two points.
Features and Specs at a Glance:
- Highly adjustable headrest
- Tall backrest with 30° tilt function
- Padded arms fold up and can go up and down
- Fixed lumbar support
- Mesh backrest and seat
What Other Owners Say:
- I thought I had to settle for an armless office chair since I needed it to be able to slide under my desk so I can access the closet behind. This chair did the trick.
- The only thing I could think of that will improve this is an adjustable lumbar support.
3. Hbada Task Chair – Best Budget Option
- Seat Dimensions: 19.7″ W by 19.7″ D
- Backrest Height: 17”
- Weight and Capacity: 24.7 lbs, 250 lbs
If you’re tight on both budget and space, our recommendation for you is the Hbada. This cute entry-level task chair is just a little bit bigger than the Mimoglad at about 23.5” at its widest point. Add to that the fold up arms and you have a convenient space-saving chair.
The Hbada might be cheap at under $150, but in terms of look and feel, it can go toe to toe with more expensive chairs. It’s sleek, minimalistic, and the black and white design looks chic. The breathable mesh is springy and the rocking feature works beautifully in alleviating waist pressure from prolonged sitting.
That said, we wouldn’t mind paying a bit more for a thicker cushion. The general consensus is that the padding is firm and thin. An easy fix is to just get another cushion which you can place on top.
Features and Specs at a Glance:
- Compact and stylish black-white chair
- Arms flip up independently
- Tight mesh back improves airflow
- Rocking function
- Smooth-rolling casters
What Other Owners Say:
- This chair’s space-saving design really saved us during this pandemic since four of us were working at home and we just didn’t have enough space.
- There’s minimal seat padding and the lower back support is barely there.
4. BTExpert Midback Task Chair – Best White Armless Chair
- Seat Dimensions: 17.5” W by 16” D
- Backrest Height: 14.5”
- Weight and Capacity: 22 lbs, 250 lbs
To add the illusion of spaciousness, a minimalistic white chair with no arms like the BTExpert can do the trick.
Shiny chrome metal is paired with ribbed crisp white PU leather for a contemporary design. It’s small and lightweight. The no-frills style will make your home office look more roomy. Since it doesn’t have arms, you can tuck it under your desk in a pinch.
The true white color is absolutely gorgeous. It’s definitely not one of those disappointing off-white or ivory chairs. If you’re worried about staining, one buyer mentioned that 16 months in of careful use, it still looks 95% as it was out of the box. She’s had an accidental pen mark and a nail polish remover did wonders.
We only recommend using the BTExpert for 2 to 3 hours tops at a time though since its only ergonomic feature is a pneumatic lift with an adjustment range of 18 to 23 inches. It doesn’t have a tilt function nor lumbar support to help you maintain a healthy back.
Features and Specs at a Glance:
- Small and lightweight
- Minimalistic contemporary look
- True white complemented by chrome and black
- Armless
- Gas lift with 5” height adjustment range
What Other Owners Say:
- My space is so limited that I have to move things out of the way when I do other stuff. This small and lightweight chair makes it easier to do that.
- I spend hours editing so I had to purchase an external lumbar pillow to avoid back pain.
5. Flash Furniture Mid-Back Mesh Office Chair – Mesh in Different Colors
- Seat Dimensions: 20.25” W by 19” D
- Backrest Height: 23”
- Weight and Capacity: 30 lbs, 250 lbs
Breathable, available in 13 different colors, and space-saving – it might seem a lot to ask for but there’s actually a chair that can deliver, the Flash Furniture.
It sports the same padded flip-up arms as the Mimoglad so you can slide it under your work table. The base is about 25.5” wide, same as the Gabrylly. This compact chair has the widest seat on our lineup so that’s something to consider if you have a large build.
Ergonomics-wise, the Flash Furniture has decent offerings for its price. Standard seat height adjustment, built-in lumbar support, a rocking mechanism with a resistance knob, and a waterfall edge seat can help keep you comfy while working. Of course, the back and seat are also covered in mesh for ventilation.
What makes the Flash Furniture stand out from our other picks, however, is its availability in 13 different colors. If you’re bored with the standard black, white, and gray, you can opt for the cool blue, energetic orange, or fun red to liven up your office.
Features and Specs at a Glance:
- Breathable mesh-covered seat and back
- Padded folding arms
- Spacious 20.25”-wide seat
- Rocking function with tilt tension adjustment
- Contoured seat for less leg pressure
What Other Owners Say:
- I’ve been sitting on this chair 5 days a week for 3 years now. It still works perfectly.
- It’s a very squeaky chair so you need to spray WD-40 every now and then. Otherwise, video conferences will get embarrassing.
6. Ovios Fabric Office Chair – Best for Teens and Ladies
- Seat Dimensions: 19.48” W by 18.89” D
- Backrest Height: 19.49”
- Weight and Capacity: 27 lbs, 250 lbs
For ladies who are looking for a breathable office chair that’s both cute in size and color, our recommendation for you is the Ovios.
Since the Ovios is a chair that’s marketed towards teens and ladies, it’s compact, being only 23.42” at its widest part. The arms also swing up so you can keep the chair out of the way when you’re not using it.
The plastic parts are white and the wheels are black. The breathable linen covering the back and seat you can get in either a muted rose or turquoise blue. This means that if you have a pastel-themed room, the Ovios will fit right in.
The padding is on the thin side so it can get uncomfortable to sit in for more than 2 to 3 hours at a time. However, it does make it up for it with a tilt function and a height-adjustable lumbar support.
Features and Specs at a Glance:
- Suitable for teens, ladies, and petite users
- Breathable fabric covers back and seat
- Flip-up armrests
- 2 cute colors available
- Rocks with adjustable tension
- Height-adjustable lower back support
What Other Owners Say:
- It fits in my bedroom office perfectly thanks to its compact size.
- The chair doesn’t go high enough for me. Definitely not a big gal chair.
7. Vari Active Seat – Best for Active Sitting
- Seat Dimensions: 17” W by 13.75” D
- Backrest Height: no backrest
- Weight and Capacity: 250 lbs
Wobble stools don’t take up much space and they can be better for your health since they keep you active while working. If this sounds like a good deal to you, check out the Vari Active Seat.
With a 17” wide and 15.75” deep base, this chair has a minimal footprint. It’s also very easy to move thanks to the handle. The seat height range goes from 25.5” to 35” so this won’t work with a standard desk. If you do have a standing desk or you work on your kitchen counter, the Vari Active Seat will do great.
It has a heavy, fixed base with an articulating pedestal that introduces a wide range of motion. You can rock in all directions without fear of falling over. There’s a tilt guard that prevents the seat from moving forward more than 20°. The constant movement will activate your core, back, and leg muscles, preventing you from being sedentary even while working.
The only drawback we can think of is its steep price of almost $260.
Features and Specs at a Glance:
- Minimal footprint
- Great for standing desks, kitchen counters, and other high workspaces
- Comes with a tilt guard
- Encourages movement while seated
What Other Owners Say:
- I don’t have enough space for a home office so I work on my kitchen counter. Ditched my kitchen stool for this healthier option.
- It’s more expensive than other active sitting chairs but it’s worth it to invest in something safe and trustworthy.
8. Office Star Adjustable Draft Chair – Best Drafting Chair
- Seat Dimensions: 17.5” W by 17.25” D
- Backrest Height: 10.5”
- Weight and Capacity: 29 lbs, 250 lbs
Last but not least is a chair that’s tall and compact, the Office Star Drafting Chair. With a base that is about 23.5” in diameter and an armless design, it will fit comfortably in a small office with a tall desk.
Just like the Vari Active Seat, the Office Star has a high seat adjustment range at 23” to 33”. This means that it’s suitable for tall workspaces like standing desks and kitchen counters.
Since it doesn’t bend like the Vari Active Seat, your feet won’t reach the floor. This is where the height-adjustable footring comes in to prevent your legs from getting numb. It’s actually sturdy and doesn’t go down when you put your weight on it.
Our favorite features, however, are the backrest height and seat depth adjustments which make it easy to customize it to fit one’s body shape.
Features and Specs at a Glance:
- Compact, armless design
- Great when working on tall work surfaces
- Sturdy height-adjustable footring
- Height-adjustable backrest
- Adjustable seat depth
What Other Owners Say:
- It’s very stable so you won’t fall over. Also, expect to be able to sit on it for hours without discomfort.
- The wheels don’t lock so be careful of slipping when climbing to sit. I would suggest putting a rug under it to avoid this issue.
What to Look for When Buying an Office Chair for Small Spaces
When we chose the chairs in our lineup, we looked at the following characteristics to ensure that it can make the most out of your small office space.
Dimensions
Given that we’re looking for chairs that should have a small footprint. It’s crucial to look at the dimensions of the chair, especially its length at its widest part.
For most chairs, you’ll find that the widest part is the base. So, make sure to check if this measurement will fit in your dedicated space.
Armrests
Armless chairs are great because you can easily slide the chair under your desk when it’s not in use. However, office chairs with flip-up arms are even better since you get arm support whenever you need it.
Comfort
It won’t matter if your chair can fit in in a small space if it’s too uncomfortable to sit in.
Mesh and fabric are both excellent choices if you’re looking for something breathable. Meanwhile, PU leather should be your go-to if you prefer easy maintenance and a sleek look. In general, mesh is the better pick if you work longer hours.
The seat padding should be sufficient enough that you don’t feel the chair’s frame. Meanwhile, the seat itself should have enough space to accommodate your tush. Bonus points if it has a waterfall edge seat to prevent leg pressure.
Ergonomics
Look for adjustable features if you want to avoid discomfort and musculoskeletal disorders in the long run. This is especially true if you sit for long periods at a time. A high level of adjustability means that you can customize the chair to support your body shape and size.
Some ergonomic features that you might want to look for are adjustability in the lumbar support, headrest, armrest, seat height and depth, and tilt function.
Weight Capacity
The weight capacity of office chairs for small spaces are limited to 250 lbs to 300 lbs. This is simply because larger users need bigger chairs.
When buying a chair, it’s important that you’re within the stated weight capacity to protect your safety and make the chair last longer.
Aesthetics
Think about it. This is a chair that you’ll be using for years. Do you really want to be spending that much time with a chair that’s not pleasing to your eyes? Besides, a small room will just light up with a carefully chosen chair. Especially if you pick something with a lighter hue, it can make your home office look roomier.
That said, you should still prioritize your budget, comfort, and the chair’s ergonomic features over style.
