Gamers who spend long hours hunched over a keyboard and mouse could find themselves subjected to muscle tension, bad posture, and general discomfort—all of which can ruin any gaming experience. Gaming chairs are specifically designed to target these issues with high-density foam for extra cushioning, neck and lumbar support, and other features like aluminum frames for better durability.
Looking for a basic gaming chair that’s comfortable and affordable? Our experts say you should just buy the Homall Gaming Chair
If you have specific needs, such as your game room doubling as your office space, there are plenty of office-friendly seating options. If you’re interested in customization or higher-end materials, you’ll pay more to get those features. Check out our top picks below to find your perfect gaming chair.
If you want a good gaming chair at a solid price point, the Homall Gaming Chair is great for most needs. It uses high-density shaping foam to provide extra support, and it also features elasticity resilience for an increased life. High-quality PU leather gives a fun, exciting design while also providing wear resistance, so it’ll last for quite some time on the inside and out.
Best Overall
Homall Executive Swivel Chair
Affordable
180-degree reclining
Durable frame
Doesn’t look professional
Our tester Will, who spent a week with the chair, said it proved as comfortable and our more expensive picks.
The frame is made of thick steel, making it an extremely sturdy and durable chair. If you’re the kind of person who needs swivel and rocking capabilities, the Homall can turn the full 360 degrees, and can go up to 180 degrees backwards to lie fully flat.
In terms of adjustability you can expect seat height and armrest adjustability, as well as a removable headrest pillow as well as lumbar cushion, giving some degree of customization. In his review, tech expert Will also liked the chair’s easy setup.
Frame: Steel | Foam: High density | Finish: PU leather | Weight Capacity: 260 lbs.
“The tall, racer-style back is comfortable and supportive for even a fairly large and broad-shouldered adult man, tilting back down to a full 180-degrees.” — Will Fulton, Product Tester
Razer’s Iskur gaming is a great option for those who want a fabric instead of a leather aesthetic. The fabric itself is soft and spill resistant thanks to a densely woven yarn, so it provides protection from water, oil, and dirt. Underneath that modern exterior is a layer of high density foam cushions that will mold to your body shape and offer support.
Best Fabric
Razer Iskur Fabric Gaming Chair
Spill-resistant fabric
Completely adjustable armrests
Durable frame
Metal and plywood base frame
No neck support
Aside from the fabric, the 4D armrests are by far the best feature on this chair, offering adjustability from nearly every angle. You can push them forward, backward, and everything in between. It also has built-in lumbar support that is fully adjustable to your needs, though you will have to purchase a neck cushion separately.
Frame: Metal and plywood | Foam: High density | Finish: Functional fabric | Weight Capacity: 299 lbs.
Extended Recline Technology and specialized lumbar support make this gaming chair one of the best on the market, and with good reason. Locking wheels make sure you stay in place while you game. It’s built top to bottom with ergonomics in mind, from the adjustable armrests to the neck support. The reclining chair can also be locked, and even the seating can be adjusted multiple ways so you can contour it to your shape.
Best Splurge
Mavix M9 Gaming Chair
Mesh lumbar support
Modern design
Durable frame
Wheel locks
Pricey
Mesh is hard to clean
Limited recline
The sleek design complements any modern gaming rig setup, and you can adjust the colors and even the lumbar support finish from mesh to a more sturdy leather (though it will add to the price). If you feel you need a footrest too, you can add a matching one to the setup. In her review, our tester Rebecca liked both the wheel locks and the standard plush foam seating.
Frame: Metal and plastic | Foam: High density or standard | Finish: PU leather | Weight Capacity: 300 lbs.
“In fact, nearly everything can be adjusted from the seat depth to the headrest angle—the chair is easy to mold to your personal needs.” — Rebecca Isaacs, Product Tester
The VON RACER gaming chair is the perfect option for those who want an extra layer of comfort thanks to its massaging feature. The lumbar support adjusts to your height so you can get the most out of the massager. For those who really want to lean into the massaging features, it comes with a retractable footrest to help you truly relax during your gaming sessions. The massage pillow is also detachable.
Best Office Massage Gaming Chair
VON RACER Massage Gaming Chair
Durable frame
Retractable footrest
Limited reclining option
No spill resistance
2D armrests
A star-base with 360-degree swivel wheels also make this great for multi-use purposes, so if you are working in a home office space and your gaming setup is down the hall, you can easily move it around your home.
Frame: Metal and plastic | Foam: Standard | Finish: PU leather | Weight Capacity: 250 lbs.
If you’re working from home and need a chair that is suitable for an office space, the Flash Office Chair is a great way to get the best of both worlds. It’s universally stylish with its mesh and fabric finish, which allows for breathability.
Best Office Chair for Gaming
Flash Furniture Mid-Back Office Chair
It comes with three levers to help you adjust the seat angle, recline, and height so you can get the perfect fit. The arm and back rests also allow for easy adjustment, too, should you need. Most importantly, this chair has been ANSI-rated for its ergonomics.
Frame: Nylon and plastic | Foam: Standard | Finish: Fabric | Weight Capacity: 250 lbs.
About Our Trusted Experts
Rebecca Isaacs has written for Lifewire since 2019. She’s particularly specialized in games, office furniture, and accessories. Her work has also appeared in Digital Trends, NBC, and The Spruce, where she’s focused on tech, home, and lifestyle to help consumers choose the best products.
If you want the best of everything, the Mavix 9 Gaming Chair (view at Mavix) is your best bet. With a customized build and optional footrest, it’s great for those who may want only some true gaming chair features.
Will Fulton is an enormous nerd about more things than you might suspect, but he’s had a lifelong passion for games and technology of all sorts. He began writing for Lifewire in December 2018 and had previously written for Digital Trends and nytheatre.com as a critic and journalist.
What to Look For in a Gaming Chair
Materials
Higher-quality materials used in a chair will increase its longevity — odds are if you opt for a standard foam it will probably sink faster than a high density foam, for example. You’ll want to make sure you’re purchasing real PU leather, or higher quality fabric, to make sure the chair will last awhile.
Adjustment Controls
Adjusting the chair to fit your body is essential to ensuring a comfortable fit. Most chairs have some level of adjustability, but the pricier models will typically have more ways to adjust to your body.
Style
While the race car style is fairly universal for gaming chairs, sometimes that’s not the look you want. The good news is many brands offer simpler and understated race car designs. You can also find more professional-looking designs.
- What are the benefits of buying a gaming chair over office chairs?
- Gaming chairs are specifically designed to provide support over hours of use, and so are designed with that extra support and ergonomics in mind. They often include things like lumbar support and neck support to help keep your spine in the correct posture.
- What kinds of gaming chairs are there?
- Chances are that if you want a certain kind of gaming chair, you can find it on the market these days. The most standard is the “racer” gaming chair, a design that’s similar aesthetically to a racing car’s seat. In terms of benefits, they support your neck, shoulders, and back during long gaming sessions.
- Do gaming chairs improve your gameplay?
- Yes and no. Gaming chairs help with ergonomics, which can help maintain happy and healthy muscles and joints. They won’t actively improve your gameplay, but they can alleviate some of the issues which can prove distracting and help ease aches and pains.
Gaming chairs are specifically designed to provide support over hours of use, and so are designed with that extra support and ergonomics in mind. They often include things like lumbar support and neck support to help keep your spine in the correct posture.
Chances are that if you want a certain kind of gaming chair, you can find it on the market these days. The most standard is the “racer” gaming chair, a design that’s similar aesthetically to a racing car’s seat. In terms of benefits, they support your neck, shoulders, and back during long gaming sessions.
Yes and no. Gaming chairs help with ergonomics, which can help maintain happy and healthy muscles and joints. They won’t actively improve your gameplay, but they can alleviate some of the issues which can prove distracting and help ease aches and pains.
