I spent a week hauling Big Lots computer chairs in and out of my apartment. Not because I'm a masochist. I needed a chair for a weird corner under a low window, and I wasn't about to drop $500 on something I'd hate. So I bought seven—yes, seven—chairs from Big Lots, tested each for at least a day, and returned five. Here's what I learned.
First, the glaring rule: measure your space, not just your butt. My corner is only 28 inches deep, and the back of most chairs sits at 30+. If you have a low window or a shelf behind you, you'll bang your head. I measured before each purchase, but the specs online are sometimes generous. Always check the actual dimensions on the box.
Second, the seat depth matters more than the height. I'm 5'9", and most Big Lots chairs have a seat depth around 19–20 inches. That's fine, but if you're shorter, your knees will hit the edge. The cheap foam bottoms out after a month. I could feel the plywood base on the $60 model by day two. If you're heavier or sit long hours, skip the thin padding.
Delivery is another beast. Big Lots ships to the store for free, but you're hauling the box yourself. The box is heavy—like 40 lbs. I pulled a back muscle lugging one up three flights. And returns? They're not too painful, but you need the original packaging. Don't toss the styrofoam.
Now, the three I actually kept, at least for a while.
The first is a high-back faux leather chair—currently on sale for $129. It looked sharp in photos, but the leather is thin and cracks after a few months of daily use. The arms are hard plastic, which dug into my elbows. I returned it after three days.
The second is a mesh back chair, $149. Better airflow, but the lumbar support is a cheap plastic bump. It's positioned too high for me. I had to stack a cushion behind my lower back.
The third, and the one I eventually kept, is a simple padded office chair with a fabric seat, $89. It has no arms, which was a plus for my narrow corner. The seat is surprisingly firm, but after a week, it hasn't sagged. The mechanism is basic—just height adjustment and tilt lock—but it does the job. The fabric is a dark gray, which hides stains.
If you're on a tight budget, the leather ones look tempting but feel cheap. The mesh ones are okay if you run hot, but the lumbar is a gamble. My advice: go for the no-frills fabric chair. It's not glamorous, but it won't fall apart in six months.
If you're also considering other options, I've written about how a cheaper chair can surprise you, like the Desk Stool: The $60 Experiment That Made Me Ditch My Chair. Sometimes less is more.
For more on seat depth and what actually matters, check out my piece on Best Desk Chairs 2022: The Only Number That Matters Is the Seat Depth. And if you're shopping around, my notes on My Messy Notes on Finding a Wirecutter Office Chair That Actually might help.
Anyway, the $89 fabric chair is still in my corner. The back is a little low, but it works for now. Maybe I'll upgrade later. Maybe not.