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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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.
