When you sit down and power on your video game system, you want a chair designed both for comfort and to heighten your entertainment experience. A gaming chair is designed to do just that. The beauty of a gaming chair is you don’t need a large amount of space.
Contents
- Things to Consider
- The Best Gaming Chairs for 2021
- Best Gaming Chair Under $100
- Best Gaming Chair Under $150
- Best Gaming Chair Under $200
- Best Gaming Chair Under $250
- Best Gaming Chair Under $300
- Best Gaming Chair Under $400
- Best Gaming Chair Under $500
- Best Gaming Chair Under $700
- Best Gaming Chair Under $1,000
- Best Gaming Chair Under $2,000
- Conclusion
Or other times you want to confine it to your chair.
The entire purpose of a gaming chair is to increase the quality of your gaming experience while allowing you to remain seated for extended periods of time. To do this, you need a chair built from quality material, designed for optimal back support.
Top of the line gaming chars is so much more than cheap chairs with speakers built into them.
As a video gamer, you know what’s important to you. So there are some specs you’ll need to answer yourself.
However, as there is more to the chair than how it works with your video game system, it’s important to know what to look for and how to select the right chair for a heightened gaming experience.
Things to Consider
Gaming chairs are generally designed to work with a computer system.
Sure, you can use these chairs anywhere. However, in a living room, you’ll likely have more space for larger chairs, surround sound systems, and other additions.
That isn’t always the case with a computer setup.
When playing games on your computer, you’re likely at a desk for long hours.
Space is limited.
And you probably are not able to set up a full surround sound system (or maybe your neighbors don’t appreciate you playing on massive speaker systems at all hours of the night).
That’s when a gaming chair is beneficial. So whether you are a Fortnight fanatic and spend all hours of the night battling against foes or your put up your gaming live streams on Twitch for others to follow, you need a comfortable gaming chair to keep you pepped and ready to go.
Some of the attributes to a gaming chair you need to consider include:
1. Adjustable
Your body is different from the next body. You need to be able to raise and lower the chair to meet your needs. You need something that supports your body.
Basically, you need a computer chair on steroids. Because you’re not spending hours typing away on a spreadsheet. You’re spending hours at a time battling online.
A fully adjustable chair will be able to do more than just raise and lower down to meet your height needs. The arm wrests will shift, the neck and lumbar supports will be adjustable, and some might even have leg stands that slide from the base. When emersed in an extended Fortnight battle you need your chair to remain comfortable for long periods of time. A fully adjustable chair does exactly that.
2. Lumbar Support
Have you ever gone on an all-night video game bender on an inferior chair?
If so, how did you feel the next morning?
Stiff?
Sore?
All of the above and then some?
You need a chair that provides lumbar support. This provides direct support for your back, allowing you to maintain correct posture while also reducing tension placed on your spine and back muscles.
The lumbar support comes in a few different forms. It might be built directly into the chair while others might have an adjustable lumbar support pillow. It’s also important to keep in mind your height when searching for the right chair. Chairs are designed for specific hight ranges. You need to purchase a chair built for your height, otherwise it’s like buying shoes that don’t fit. No matter how good the shoes look it just doesn’t won’t be comfortable.
This way, you can play all night and feel refreshed the next day.
3. Build Material
You don’t want to put a few hundred dollars into a chair, only to have it break down on you.
Many high-end video game chairs cost more than a recliner. If you’re going to put that kind of money into a chair, you need it to last.
Gaming chairs are slender in design, so the kind of padding used is critical. Additionally, you need external material that is not going to flake away, crack and deteriorate quickly.
Many chairs are constructed from a fake leather. Fake leather is durable and easy to clean. If you sweat you’ll want to look for breathable material designed to increase air flow to your back and neck. Some chairs use a breathable nylon to ensure the highest quality of air circulation. After all, there’s nothing worse than playing your favorite MMO game only to peel off from the chair with a sweated through shirt.
High-end build material will likely increase the price of the chair, but it also extends the life of the chair.
4. Price
As is the case with just about anything in the world of video games, prices come in wide ranges.
You can spend around $100 for a video game chair, or you can spend around $2,000.
The price jumps around and so you need to have a clear idea as to what you’re able to spend. This will help make the decision on the right chair for you that much easier.
You will likely spend hours upon hours in your chair, so a video gaming chair is an investment.
The Best Gaming Chairs for 2021
Model | Weight Capacity | Seat Height | Price | |
 | noblechairs ICON | 330 lbs | 18.3" - 22.2" | |
 | Ficmax Massage Chair | 250 lbs | 18" - 22" | |
 | Vertagear Triigger 350 SE | 400 lbs | 19" - 22.5" | |
 | Vertagear S-Line SL2000 | 220 lbs | 17" - 21" | |
 | Homall Gaming Chair | 300 lbs | 17.3" - 21.5" |
Editor’s Pick
The right chair for you is not always going to be the right chair for the next person. Much of this comes down to personal preference. You might want a chair with the best airflow possible. If you sweat a good amount having a chair with mesh is an excellent option.
Other times, you may want a chair that supports more weight or a chair that has a leg rest or built-in back pillow. You’ll likely be spending a considerable amount of time in the chair over the next several years, so you want a chair that can keep up.
For our Editor’s Pick, we went with the noblechairs ION Gaming Chair. It is right in the middle of the pack with its price at under $400. So it will be a monetary investment for some.
With that said, it checks off most boxes you’d want in a gaming chair. Outside of a mesh backing, it has the best airflow of any chair on this list. Plus, because it uses a cold foam instead of just mesh you have more direct support.
The chair also supports up to 330 pounds so most players are able to use this chair.
Some of the reasons why we selected this as the editor’s choice gaming chair include:
- Cold foam backing
- Ventilation built into the back material
- Easy to clean and maintain
- Supports up to 330 pounds
- Fully adjustable
- Tasteful color designs
Best Gaming Chair Under $100
1. Homall Gaming Chair Racing Style High-Back PU Leather Office Chair
The Homall Gaming Chair is basically a souped-up office chair.
So maybe you want to take your office seating to the next level.
Or maybe you want a gaming chair that offers more comfort without a high price tag attached.
This chair provides several adjustable features. You can adjust the height of the chair. There are also a lumbar and neck support pillows that can slide up or down, depending on your needs.
The backrest also adjusts, offering a 90 to 180-degree bend.
Some of the benefits for this gaming chair include:
- Load capacity up to 300 pounds
- PU leather material
- Height-adjustable gas spring cylinder
- Easy to move on five-point coaster wheels
- Headrest pillow and lumbar cushions included
Best Gaming Chair Under $150
2. Ace Bayou X Rocker 5127401 Pedestal Video Gaming Chair
For the Ace Bayou, you’ll move away from the computer desk chair.
This kind of chair is designed for living rooms and other areas where you might want a permanent chair (it does not have built-in wheels).
The Ace Bayou does provide more than just a seating experience though. It has a built-in 2.1 sound system with 2 built-in speakers and subwoofers. There is also a headphone jack, making it easier to listen to your audio with headphones instead of running a cable to the video game system.
The design of the chair is more about giving you added audio control features over-focusing on your back support. It does not have the same kind of tilt, nor does it have the adjustable features of a computer chair.
That is something to keep in mind when selecting a video gaming chair.
Some of the benefits of this gaming chair include:
- Audio controls
- Headphone jack
- Wirelessly connects to the video game system
- Built with a foldable design, making it easier to move it into storage (or out of the way when not a permanent fixture in a room).
- 1 sound system
Best Gaming Chair Under $200
3. Ficmax Ergonomic Highback Large Size Office Desk Chair
This chair takes the entry-level computer gaming chairs and bumps it up a notch.
It is made of the same PU leather. It also has the adjustable lumbar and neck pillow support. The chair uses a five-point wheel and support system as well.
However, there are several improvements over the entry-level chair.
It provides a high-density thicker sponge for improved support. It also has a fold out, adjustable footrest.
The chair also offers a USB electric massager for when muscles begin to tighten up and need some relief.
With a padded ergonomic construction, this chair provides a major improvement over a traditional computer chair.
Some of the main benefits of this video gaming chair include:
- Load support of up to 300 pounds
- Complete 360-degree swivel
- 90 to 180-degree tilt
- Vibrating back to help reduce lumbar fatigue
- Easy to clean PU covering
- Lumbar back and neck cushion
- Adjustable foot support
Best Gaming Chair Under $250
4. E-WIN Gaming Chair
As the price for most gaming chairs goes up, so does the build quality.
The E-WIN continues that trend with excellent built material and an exceptional appearance.
It comes in a number of color options as well, so you can have anything for an executive looking black and brown design, all the way to a more futuristic red and black, black and blue or all black.
The chair is built using a high-security metal frame. The steel frame provides excellent support, with a dense sponge foam applied over top, in order to improve comfort and support.
The chair manufacturer even offers a 3 – 10-year parts replacement warranty, so you know it is built to last.
Some of the benefits of this gaming chair include:
- Excellent build material (including a metal frame)
- Lumbar back and neck pillow for improved comfort
- Five-point roller wheelbase
- 90 to 155 vertical back adjustment
- Number of color options
- Seat height and armrest height are fully adjustable
Best Gaming Chair Under $300
5. Vertegear Racing Series S-Line SL2000 Ergonomic Office Chair
Want color options?
The Vertegear Racing Series has you covered.
There are 10 different color options, ranging from a black green to white blue design.
The chair features a five-star base on roller wheels, making it easy to move about and push out from the chair quickly.
Designed from a PVC faux leather, which is easy to clean and durable.
The adjustable backrest shifts between 80 and 150 degrees. It is one of the few chairs that will tilt forward more than the straight 90 degrees.
Constructed with a steel frame and high-density resilience foam, it is made for optimal support.
One thing to keep in mind with this particular chair though is the recommended height is for someone up to 6’2″ and with a weight of up to 220 pounds.
Some of the benefits of this gaming chair include:
- Adjustable lumbar back and neck support
- A five-point base for optimal support. Roller wheels make moving easy
- Built using premium PVC faux leather, which is easy to clean and durable
- Back bends between 80 and 150 degrees
- Comes in a large number of color options
6. DXRacer Formula Series DOH/FD01/NR Office Chair
Most other gaming chairs have straps running from the top to the base, allowing you to move the adjustable pillows up and down.
Some enjoy this feature. Others find the straps to be a bit displacing. If you sweat, these straps may stick to your back.
The DXRacer does not have this kind of setup.
It uses a much more streamlined construction to offer you a comfortable seating experience.
The chair does come with neck and back cushions, although these do not attach to the chair.
The chair uses an extra high backrest in order to reduce the amount of pressure placed on the neck and spine. The seat back is also flexible to meet your needed comfort.
Unlike many of the other chairs, this design uses a soft armrest design. This way, you are not resting on a harder plastic during gameplay.
A built-in Nylon base and footrest increase your level of support.
The chair does not have much of a tilt as other chairs on this list, going down only 135 degrees. If you are someone who sleeps in a gaming chair and wants it to tilt back further, keep this in mind.
This chair does not use a faux leather though, instead of going with a nylon base and strong mesh material. The other materials are generally easier to clean, due to the smooth nature of the material, but this will help improve airflow to your body. This helps keep you cooler, longer.
If you suffer from back sweats and are often sticking to leathers and fake leather, going with a strong mesh and Nylon base is an excellent option.
Some of the benefits of this gaming chair include:
- Excellent strong mesh and Nylon base for improved comfort and air flow
- Adjustable height and back to fit your needs
- Five-point base with added weight support on the roller wheels
- Armrests are not closed in, so your elbows are not constricted.
- Support pillows are provided
Best Gaming Chair Under $400
7. noblechairs ICON Gaming Chair Office Chair
Do you want the look and feel of a faux leather but wish it would breath more like a Nylon mesh?
If so, the noblehciars ICON Gaming Chair is the way to go.
This chair uses a perforated faux leather to improve airflow to your back, keeping you cooler, longer. The chair uses a 55% density freshly molded cold foam.
The base of the chair supports most gamers as well, with a max load of up to 330 pounds. This is one of the heaviest max loads for a computer gaming chair. As other chairs tap out at around 220 pounds, this is a substantial benefit for many players.
The chair comes in a number of different color combination. And for those who are interested, the PU faux leather is of a vegan material.
The chair is fully adjustable and offers a number of ways to make the chair fit your exact comfort needs. While it does not adjust down to 180 degrees, the 135-degree shift is generally adequate for gamers and power nappers.
Some of the benefits of this gaming chair include:
- Breathable Faux leather for superior comfort
- Excellent build material and 55% density cold foam
- Number of color options with accent color stitching
- Supports up to 330-pound max loads
- 5-point racer wheel support
Best Gaming Chair Under $500
8. DXRacer Iron Series DOH/IS166/NB Newedge Edition Racing Bucket Seat
The DXRacer uses a similar design-build as the previous DXRAcer construction.
The major difference here is the supported weight. Up from 220 pounds the max weight on the chair increases to 275 pounds (although it recommends not going over 250).
The recommended height of a player is 5’9″, with a height limit support of 6’2″.
The chair uses a strong aluminum base and is covered in a leather style vinyl.
The vinyl design is easy to clean and is also durable. However, it isn’t the best material for sweating. It doesn’t have the same kind of air circulation design as other chairs.
The chair does have an extendable leg rest for when you want to put your feet up.
It also comes with lumbar support pillows.
The armrests do not have fixed corners, so you don’t need to worry about your elbows banging into anything.
The chair also uses a five-point roller wheel construction.
Some of the benefits of this gaming chair include:
- Fully adjustable height with a back tilt of up to 135 degrees
- Supports up to 6’2″ height and up to 275 weight
- Lumbar support pillows
- Easy to clean and maintain vinyl.
- Number of different color designs to fit your personal style needs
9. Vertagear PL6000 CM P-Line 6000 Racing Series Chair, X-Large
If you’re looking for a chair that can support the weight of any gamer, this is the chair for you.
Few other chairs can even come close to what this offers.
At up to 440 pounds, it has more than 100 pounds of added weight support.
It also supports a wide height range, spanning between 5’9″ to 6’8″.
Constructed from a steel frame and ultra-premium HR foam, the chair will support you no matter your body type.
It also uses a five-star base with extended, heavy-duty aluminum alloy wheels. This way, if you’ve ever had a roller wheel break on you before this will not be a problem.
The armrests are contoured and fully adjustable. There is also no fixed corner on the armrest so you don’t need to worry about banging your elbow into it.
Some of the main benefits of this gaming chair include:
- Supports up to 440 pounds
- Player heights can range from 5’9″ to 6’8″
- Comes with additional memory foam headrest pillow and lumbar support cushion
- Constructed with heavy-duty metal base frame
- 5-star heavy-duty alloy material for a solid base
- 10-year manufacturer warranty on the steel frame
Best Gaming Chair Under $700
10. Vertagear Gaming Series Triigger Line 350 Ergonomic Office Chair
In reality, this is more of an office chair that happens to be a quality gaming chair.
It’s also probably the best chair on the list if you suffer from excessive sweating.
The entire back is fully vented, allowing more total airflow to reach your back. You can even put a fan behind the chair and feel the breeze against your back.
The construction does use a reinforced DuPoint TPEE Mesh, which is a high-end mesh that will maintain the lifespan of the chair.
The chair also uses an aluminum alloy frame. The base of the chair and edges of the back are made from calfskin leather. This makes it one of the few chair options under $1000 made from real leather.
The stature of the chair is a bit smaller than most gaming chairs. It does not have bright color designs or anything of that nature. It is designed specifically for comfort and function.
It also supports up to 330 pounds.
The arch of the back provides exceptional lumbar support, without the need for additional pillows.
Some of the benefits of this gaming chair include:
- Mesh backing for superior air circulation
- Supports up to 330 pounds
- The seat is constructed from high-end calfskin leather
- Fully adjustable
Best Gaming Chair Under $1,000
11. Vertagear Triigger 350 Gaming Chair
This chair shares many of the same design features as the previous Vertagear Triigger chair. It offers the same Reinforced DuPoint TPEE Mesh for improved air circulation.
It uses the same steel alloy with silicone manganese to maintain your balance while reclining.
It also uses the same five-point base design and calfskin leather.
So why is this particular chair $200 more than the other chair?
A few design upgrades.
First, while it does come in the black on black design, it also has a black and red design, if you’re interested in a bit more color on your chair.
There is also a leg support for when you want to recline. There is an added special edition headrest that comes with the chair as well.
Outside of this, everything else is the same as the other Vertagear Triiggear 350 design.
Some of the main benefits of this gaming chair include:
- Supports up to 330 pounds
- Reinforced DuPoint TPEE Mesh for exceptional air circulation
- High-end construction material
- Calfskin leather seat
- Maintains balance while reclining to prevent tipping over
- Red and black color design
12. Flash Furniture Eclipse Series 3-Seat Reclining Black Leather Theater Seating
Now for something completely different from the other gaming chairs on the list.
Enjoying a video game is not always on your own.
It’s also not always done over an Internet connection.
If you have friends over, you’ll want comfortable seating for everyone. And chances are, you don’t want to invest in a number of gaming chairs. When that is the case, why not get a single chair that seats up to three individuals?
This black leather design is three reclining chairs in one. Similar to what you would find in a modern movie theater, the back and legs will extend. There are also cup holders and storage compartments offsetting each chair.
If you have limited space or are looking for a chair designed for video game systems in a bedroom, this is not the configuration for you. It’s designed specifically for those individuals who want to play with friends, and who regularly have friends over to play.
Some of the benefits of this video game chair include:
- Seating for three
- The genuine leather build material
- Built-in cup holders and storage compartments
- Back and legs recline out
Best Gaming Chair Under $2,000
13. Seatcraft Omega
Do you long for the days of playing video games with your friends? Maybe you grew up in the days of GoldenEye on N64. Or perhaps you were more of a Halo player. Whatever generation you are, having comfortable seating is critical for those extended gameplay sessions. With the Seatcraft Omega series of sofas, that’s exactly what you receive.
The beauty of the Seatcraft Omega sofa series is you can select a customization that fits your needs and it’s for more than just one person. The Seatcraft Omega Sofa is packed with features you just won’t find anywhere else. So if you’re more of a team player, this is the kind of setup you need to check out.
This is also a gaming sofa your significant other will love as well because it’s also great for family night and extended Netflix binges.
With the comfortable leather gel material, it looks beautiful and yet also offers personalized support thanks to the gel inserts.
You also won’t need to search for storage or flat surfaces to place your bag of chips and popcorn because the Seatcraft Omega comes with free tray tables, in-arm storage, and lighted cupholders.
Some of the main benefits of the Seatcraft Omega Softa include:
- Power recline and power headrest
- Leather with gel support
- USB charging
- Lighted Cupholders
- Wall hugging design
- Free tray tables
Conclusion
There are a number of great gaming chairs. The right chair comes down to what you’re looking for. You may want a chair with optimal air flow to your back. Or you might want a chair that can support a larger max weight. Perhaps you’d rather have a chair that has some audio controls built into it.
While there are a number of great chairs, we like the noblechairs ION Gaming Chair. It is right in the middle of the price point at under $400. So yes, it is an investment. However, it packs the best of all worlds. It improves airflow, supports more weight than most, is easy to maintain and is fully adjustable.
What gaming chair would you go with? What chair do you currently own or are interested in? Let us know!
Disclosure: The product recommendations are not sponsored and are chosen by our editorial staff. We may earn an affiliate commission when you purchase an item through our links.
Photo Credit: Unsplash
