Best Gaming Chairs 2024
If you're going to spend hours in front of your PC, you may as well be comfortable.
A good gaming chair does more than just add personality to your battle station — it also provides support for your back, hips, and shoulders. Your body needs as much attention as does your CPU (and it's much harder to replace).
The best gaming chair isn't necessarily one that's marketed as a gaming chair. Many gaming chairs emulate the aggressive, bucket-style design associated with luxury sports cars, but sitting in front of your computer is very different from... well, driving a sports car (or any car). If you're looking for a chair that's ergonomically designed for sitting at a desk for hours on end, you should probably be looking at task chairs.
There's no one-size-fits-all perfect gaming chair, but here are a few of our favorites.
Quick List
Best Overall
Best Gaming Chair Overall
The first original collab from Herman Miller and Logitech G features an “active, forward-leaning alignment” and the PostureFit lumbar support system from Herman Miller’s higher-end chairs.
Best Customizable
Best Customizable Gaming Chair
This racing-style chair offers a range of adjustments, including a backrest that lies fully flat. It comes in several sizes, upholstery types, and colors — there's no question you can find one that will fit your battlestation's aesthetic.
Best Budget
Best Budget Gaming Chair
This hybrid office/gaming chair has adjustable lumbar support, a tilt mechanism, height- and width-adjustable armrests, and a sub-$400 price tag.
Best Ergonomic
Best Budget Ergonomic Gaming Chair
This racing-style chair has a breathable, mesh back and adjustable lumbar support, and it costs half the price of the Vantum.
Best Task Chair
Best Task Chair
It's not even trying to be a gaming chair, but the soft, lightweight frame and weight-activated design make it an excellent task chair that's comfortable for hours at a time.
Best Splurge
Best Gaming Chair Splurge
This pricey but highly-ergonomic task chair features excellent spinal support and has cooling foam in the seat (and it comes in gamer-friendly colorways).
Best Looking
Best Looking Gaming Chair
This gorgeous statement piece designed by Studio F.A. Porsche features real leather upholstery and a shiny, curved ABS shell.
Best Mesh
Best Mesh Gaming Chair
This chair features a "cyborg-inspired” design, all-mesh upholstery, adjustable lumbar support, and a removable acoustic head panel.
Best for Big and Tall
Best for Big and Tall
This robust XL racing-style gaming chair can accommodate people up to 6’9” and 395 pounds.
Best Gaming Chairs 2024
Why you can trust Tom's Hardware
Best Gaming Chair
Specifications
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The majority of gaming chairs take their inspiration from car seats — specifically, bucket-style luxury sport seats, which are primarily designed to hold your body in place inside a fast-moving vehicle. If you’re looking for a chair that’s primarily designed to support your body when it’s not inside a moving vehicle — and is instead parked in front of a PC — it really makes more sense to look at companies that make office chairs.
The Herman Miller x Logitech G Vantum is the first original collaboration from luxury office furniture maker Herman Miller and Logitech’s gaming division (Logitech G). It features an “active, forward-leaning alignment,” as well as adjustable lumbar support, passively-adaptive thoracic support, and a suspension backrest for breathability. It originally launched with a price of $995, and has since dropped to $895 — still more expensive than the average gaming chair, but not nearly as expensive as Herman Miller's regular line of task chairs.
The Vantum is an excellent gaming chair, especially for PC gamers. It feels sturdy and well-built, despite weighing less than 40 pounds. It borrows its PostureFit lumbar support from the Aeron (which might be the most iconic office chair of all time). It’s perfect for those who are looking for an ergonomic task chair, but it’s not necessarily the best choice if you’re looking for a typical gaming chair: it doesn’t really recline (and it certainly doesn’t recline flat, like many gaming chairs), and it only comes in one size.
The Vantum is currently on sale for 20% off and now comes in a variety of colors, including navy blue, lilac, orange, and turquoise, along with the original black, red, and white.
Read: Herman Miller x Logitech G Vantum Review
Best Customizable Gaming Chair
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In 2021, Secretlab discontinued two of its chairs — including one of our longtime favorites, the Secretlab Omega — in favor of the multi-size option Secretlab Titan Evo 2022. The Titan Evo 2022 comes in three sizes (small, regular, and XL) to fit gamers ranging in height from 4’11” to 6’9” and weighing up to 395 pounds. The Titan Evo 2022 comes in either leatherette or fabric upholstery, and can be purchased in a range of colors and styles — including special editions from eSports, video games, movies, and TV shows.
The Titan Evo 2022 offers a complete range of adjustments, including a backrest that can sit from 85 to 165 degrees and a new 4-way knob-adjustable lumbar support system. Its faux-leather topped armrests move up, down, forward, backward, and turn diagonally inward and outward. They can also be moved to be wider or narrower relative to the seat, though this adjustment requires a screwdriver.
With an assortment of upholstery types and colors and multiple size options, the Titan Evo 2022 is a great gaming chair for a range of body types. The multitude of adjustments means you can sit in this chair however you want — or even lie completely flat.
Read: Secretlab Titan Evo 2022 Review
Best Budget Gaming Chair
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The Boulies Master chair is a hybrid of office and gaming chair — heavy on the “office," which means it won’t look out of place in a more professional setup. It comes in either water-repellent fabric (charcoal or ash gray) or leatherette, and costs just under $400 (currently on sale for $359), making it an excellent budget pick for best gaming chair.
Don’t be fooled by its relatively affordable price tag or its less gamer-y aesthetic — the Master chair is as adjustable as they come, with a backrest that reclines a full 90 degrees, a tilt mechanism, adjustable lumbar support, and height- and width-adjustable armrests. It also comes with a neck pillow for extra support.
Perhaps the biggest drawback of the Boulies Master chair is its overall size — we often look at the maximum height/weight a chair is designed to support (the Master supports users up to 6’2” and 298lbs), but not at the minimum height/weight they’re designed to support. The Master chair’s minimum height is listed at 5’5”, so smaller users should stay away.
Read: Boulies Master Chair Review
Best Budget Ergonomic Gaming Chair
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Cooler Master’s Hybrid 1 gaming chair is so-named because it blends the bucket-style gaming chair with a task chair: it has a wide, foam seat and racing-style wings, but features a breathable, mesh back with adjustable lumbar support. It also costs around half the price of the Herman Miller x Logitech G Vantum.
The Hybrid 1 isn’t the most attractive chair on the market — the leatherette/mesh combo in particular makes for a disjointed aesthetic. But it’s highly-adjustable and it feels sturdier than the Vantum, with a wide, dense, foam-filled seat and an aluminum base. It also reclines to 180 degrees — that’s right, completely flat — for those who are looking for a gaming chair they can take a nap in.
The Hybrid 1 offers the extra heft and adjustability of racing-style gaming chairs with the lumbar support and breathability of a task chair. If you’re looking for a chair that will offer ergonomic support for both work and play, the Hybrid 1 is one of the more affordable options on the market.
Read: Cooler Master Hybrid 1 Review
Best Task Chair
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The Steelcase Karman starts at $846 for an armless version, which is already pricier than most of the chairs on this list, and goes as high as $1,596 with all the bells and whistles. The ready-to-ship version has a more modest range of $1,129 - $1,336, but there's no question that this chair is a splurge. And, like many of the pricier gaming chairs out there, it's not even branded as a gaming chair — it's a task chair, but, at the end of the day, sitting in front of a computer is sitting in front of a computer, whether you're working or gaming. And while the Karman might not come decked out in the colors of your favorite Overwatch 2 heroes, it does make a fantastic gaming (or just sitting) chair for anyone spending hours at a desk.
The Karman is a mostly-mesh chair with a slim, lightweight frame and a unique weight-activated design that moves with your body. It features a "patented hybrid seat," consisting of mesh resting atop a padded cushion, which offers slightly more support than you might find in an all-mesh chair. The Karman's frame is softer and flexible than most mesh chair frames, but it's still prominent enough to be felt under the mesh if you're pressed up against it. The chair has only one adjustment knob — a combination height paddle and "comfort dial" for adjusting the chair's recline, which is also weight-activated and has four steps. It doesn't really recline like racing-style chairs, but rather has a weight-activated tilt similar to what you'll find in the Herman Miller x Logitech G Vantum.
The Karman is a very comfortable chair for task-use and gaming alike, and it comes in several colorways — including a unique dual-tone option — and features Steelcase's proprietary "Intermix" mesh, which feels a bit more fabric-like than the plasticky mesh of other mesh chairs. The only real downside to this chair is its limitations — it only comes in one size. The chair has a weight limit of 350 pounds (158.7kg) and is designed for people who are between 5'2" and 6'4", but it has a somewhat shallow seat depth of 16.3 inches (41.4cm), so people with longer legs may want to stay away. The chair is also somewhat limited in its adjustability, as it relies primarily on its weight-activated movement design to adjust to each user, and it's not going to be nearly as versatile as a racing-style chair that you can recline 90 degrees and take a nap in. But if you're looking for a chair that's designed for sitting at a desk, in front of a computer, for hours at a time, you can't really go wrong with a dedicated task chair like the Steelcase Karman. Yes, it's a splurge, but your back will thank you.
Read: Steelcase Karman Review
Best Gaming Chair Splurge
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There’s no question that the Herman Miller x Logitech G Embody is a splurge: At $1,495, it’s one of the most expensive gaming chairs we’ve ever tested. And if you’re wondering if it’s really that different from Herman Miller’s high-end task chair with the same name... it’s not. Sitting in the Embody feels like sitting in a “really nice office chair,” because, well, that’s what it is.
Herman Miller has made some gamer-friendly adjustments to the chair, including the addition of cooling foam in the seat to keep you from heating up while playing games (though if seat-heat is really a problem, you may want to go with a mesh chair such as the Asus ROG Destrier). The Embody features Herman Miller’s BackFit spinal support, height- and width-adjustable armrests, seat depth adjustment, and a tilt limiter, but it doesn’t recline the way many racing-style chairs do.
If you’re looking for a chair you can take a nap in, this is probably not the chair for you. But if you’re looking for a chair that will support your back and feel great while you’re gaming (and not napping), the Embody is worth its $1,495 price tag.
Read: Herman Miller x Logitech G Embody Review
Best Looking Gaming Chair
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A lot of gaming chairs look very similar (if not basically identical), but not Thermaltake’s Argent E700. Designed by Studio F. A. Porsche, the Argent E700 features real leather upholstery with contrast stitching and a shiny, curvy ABS shell that comes in nine colors, including the striking ‘ocean blue’ we reviewed. If you’re looking for a statement piece, this is it. Not only is the Argent E700 beautiful, its glossy shell is highly reflective — guaranteed to distract the eye from any extra clutter on your desk.
This chair looks fantastic, but looks aren’t everything. The Argent E700 is definitely less adjustable than many of its competitors (to be fair, gaming chairs often go a little over the top when it comes to adjustments — I don’t necessarily think you need a chair that reclines to a lying-flat position). It reclines, but only locks at four positions: 107, 113, 119, and 126 degrees. It has a headrest that slides vertically, and 4d armrests that don’t lock in position — and so end up moving around and clacking pretty often. It doesn’t have built-in lumbar support, though not many do (many come with pillow, which can be bought separately). The chair also has relatively firm padding, and a seat that, while not overly narrow, has rigid measurements.
The Argent E700’s $1300 retail price is very steep, even for the high end of the gaming chair market. But while chairs like the Herman Miller X Logitech G Embody Gaming Chair are zeroed in on ergonomics, the Argent E700 really is mostly about looks — and it looks amazing.
More: Thermaltake Argent E700 Review
Best Mesh Gaming Chair
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The Asus ROG Destrier doesn’t look like the typical racing-style gaming chair, nor does it look like an office or task chair. Featuring a “cyborg-inspired” aesthetic, the Destrier is an aggressively-styled all-black chair with a mesh seat, mesh backrest, and adjustable lumbar support. It also has a headrest and an optional “acoustic panel,” designed to block distracting noise and keep you in the zone while gaming.
The Destrier’s backrest doesn’t lie flat, but it does recline to 135 degrees, with four lockable steps (at 90, 105, 120, and 135). It has 3D armrests that can rotate 360 degrees and are height-adjustable, but they don’t lock in place — our reviewer found it was too easy to dislodge them by leaning against them, resulting in frustrating clacking and movement. The chair also features tilt, tension, and depth adjustments.
The Destrier definitely has a unique look, and it’s not for everyone — but our reviewer loved it. The acoustic panel is a little gimmicky, but the chair’s mesh suspension and lumbar support system are perfect for long, heated gaming sessions.
Read: Asus ROG Destrier Review
Best Gaming Chair for Big and Tall
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The AndaSeat Kaiser 3 comes in two sizes: large and XL. The large model fits people up to 6’2'' and under 260 pounds, while the XL model can accommodate people up to 6’9” and 395 pounds. We tested the XL version in black leatherette — the chair also comes in maroon, white, pink, teal, orange, and brown leatherette, or in black or gray linen upholstery.
The XL Kaiser 3 has a firm, padded seat that’s 20.8 inches wide and 22.4 inches deep, and features a four-way adjustable internal lumbar support system and a backrest that can lie almost completely flat (165 degrees), as well as 3D magnetic armrests. It’s highly-adjustable (the large version can accommodate people as short as 4’11”) and comes with a magnetic neck pillow made of memory foam covered in a layer of cooling gel.
If you’re looking for something just a little bigger, the AndaSeat T-Pro 2 is another excellent big-and-tall chair that accommodates frames up to 6’10.7” and 441 pounds (up to 330.7 pounds if you want to rock), but stock fluctuates.
Read: AndaSeat XL Kaiser 3 Review
How We Test Gaming Chairs
For many people, gaming chairs are as much about aesthetic as they are about comfort, adjustability, and longevity. Our gaming chair testing begins with the delivery — we take a look at how big and heavy the box is, and how well-packed the chair is. If the chair comes unassembled, we look for sturdy packing materials, individually-wrapped and padded elements, and easy-to-spot instructions, tools, and hardware. (If the chair comes fully assembled, we mostly just look for easy-to-recycle packaging.)
We then assemble the chair using the (hopefully) included instructions and tools. We track how long it takes to assemble the chair, how easy or difficult it is to assemble alone, and how moveable it is once it's assembled. We also take note of how easy it is to disassemble it, should the need arise.
We then spend as much time as possible sitting in each chair for work, gaming, and everything else. We take note of how adjustable each chair is and how those adjustments affect our personal comfort, and we also try to have friends and family members sit in each chair for a while to determine how well it can be adapted to different body shapes and sizes. All adjustments are not created equal, of course; while many gaming chairs do have the option of reclining 180 degrees (flat), this isn't really a common gaming chair scenario and therefore does not impact the final score significantly (it's more of a fun bonus, if anything).
We consider how well the chair fits into our space, taking note of things like armrest height, wheelbase width, and overall aesthetic. We test the upholstery and materials used for both comfort and cleaning/upkeep, and we take into account other upholstery options that can be ordered.
We don't usually get to spent nearly as much time testing each chair as we'd like, so our testing continues even after we post the review. We try to check in a year or two after the review has posted to update our readers on whether anything has changed.
Shopping Tips for Best Gaming Chairs
✅ Check the height and weight specs: Many gaming chairs come in multiple sizes to suit a range of heights and weights, so make sure you check both the lower and higher ends of the scale — especially if there's a chance more than one person might use the chair.
✅ Watch shoulder and lumbar support: Chairs without enough backrest height and width to support your shoulders and lumbar region via a dedicated mechanism or pillow may leave you with soreness after a long day.
✅ Mind your measurements: Some chairs provide measurements for the whole seat, which may be smaller than the measurement for the actual sittable area. Make sure the seat’s point of contact is wide enough for your hips — and how you like to sit.
✅ Which adjustments do you need: Height adjustment is pretty standard, but you may also want to recline (or tilt forward), move the armrests in multiple directions, or have the ability to rock. Recline may not seem as important for mouse-and-keyboard gamers, but if you plan to use a game controller you may find that you prefer a less active position.
✅ Find the right aesthetic: There are a lot of gaming chairs that look like racecar bucket seats, use faux leather, and come in a variety of colors and themes. Faux leather won't last as long, but real leather is pricier. Mesh or fabric is more breathable, but can be harder to clean. If you want something that looks more subdued, consider non-gamer-oriented task chairs.
✅ Measure the rest of your furniture: If you're pairing your chair with a specific desk, make sure the chair's height and armrests will fit under the desk, so you can push it in when you're not using it. If you have a smaller space, it's also a good idea to make sure the chair's wheelbase will be able to fit through any narrow passages.
Savings on the Best Gaming Chairs
Whether you're shopping for one of the best gaming chairs on our list above or a similar model, you may find savings by checking out our lists of Razer promo codes, Newegg promo codes or Best Buy promo codes.
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Sarah Jacobsson Purewal is a senior editor at Tom's Hardware covering peripherals, software, and custom builds. You can find more of her work in PCWorld, Macworld, TechHive, CNET, Gizmodo, Tom's Guide, PC Gamer, Men's Health, Men's Fitness, SHAPE, Cosmopolitan, and just about everywhere else.
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Phaaze88 I don't know... the first 3 look oddly similar... if only I could see inside all three of them, as that would be what separates them all... maybe.Reply
They're probably fine if you don't already have back problems. -
ThatMouse Faux leather peels and makes the chair unusable, sometimes in as little as a year of use. You see this on headphones as well. It's not fixable either.Reply -
Dantte This is laughable... #1, 2, and 3 are all "racing chair" styles, there is virtually no difference between them. If given a grade of A-F (A being the best), even the very best "racing chair" style is at most a C-grade!Reply
Cost aside, the Logitech (Herman Miller) chair is by far the best "Gaming Chair" you can buy, and if you want to save a few $$$, you can get the actual Herman Miller chair (not logitech), its the same thing without the flashy colors, but is this a "Gaming Chair" still? -
kiniku Admin said:We rank the best gaming chairs in 2021, including budget seats and big and tall thrones.
Best Gaming Chairs 2021 : Read more
I see. So you lump them all in one category, give them one average grade, and then promote yours. One manufacturer on the list "Secret Labs" makes superlative chairs. Period. Their products consistently receive positive reviews from numerous professional reviewing sites. It would behoove you to read or try one.Dantte said:This is laughable... #1, 2, and 3 are all "racing chair" styles, there is virtually no difference between them. If given a grade of A-F (A being the best), even the very best "racing chair" style is at most a C-grade!
Cost aside, the Logitech (Herman Miller) chair is by far the best "Gaming Chair" you can buy, and if you want to save a few $$$, you can get the actual Herman Miller chair (not logitech), its the same thing without the flashy colors, but is this a "Gaming Chair" still? -
kiniku Secret Lab's Omega is designed for smaller frames and weights. I am tall, 6'0", weight 200lbs. I tried the Omega first, it was far too cramped for me. Their Titan model is designed for larger frames and it's excellent as well.Reply -
Friesiansam
As well as that, faux leather is horrible in warm or hot weather, especially if it is humid. It gets very sweaty and you'll stick to it if you wear shorts in hot weather. Added to the poor durability, good reasons to avoid it like the plague.ThatMouse said:Faux leather peels and makes the chair unusable, sometimes in as little as a year of use. You see this on headphones as well. It's not fixable either. -
Friesiansam
Herman Miller (HM) chairs also come with a 12 year warranty and good spare parts availability. HM chairs will still be sound years after a cheaper "gaming" chair has been replaced, probably more than once. BTW, I have an HM Aeron.Dantte said:Cost aside, the Logitech (Herman Miller) chair is by far the best "Gaming Chair" you can buy, and if you want to save a few $$$, you can get the actual Herman Miller chair (not logitech), its the same thing without the flashy colors, but is this a "Gaming Chair" still? -
Frank45B You should NOT be promoting Secret Lab chairs. People are becoming very ill from the toxic smell. Here are just a few comments. There are many more posted online.Reply
SecretLabChairs/comments/mkhcgyView: https://www.reddit.com/r/SecretLabChairs/comments/mkhcgy/wtf_is_this_chemical_mess_of_a_smell_honest/
secretlab/comments/g9vf6kView: https://www.reddit.com/r/secretlab/comments/g9vf6k/secret_lab_titan_softweave_concern_with/
secretlab/comments/g6owk6View: https://www.reddit.com/r/secretlab/comments/g6owk6/brand_new_titan_softweave_chemical_smell_anyone/ -
C.wolf IMHO, if you want a great chair then go with one of the better Office chairs made by Steelcase, Hon, Herman Miller, and a few others.Reply
I did and I'll never look back. -
coloradoblah yeah like previous posters have said, the best gaming/task sitting all day chair is the Aeron, easy to find used all over and it will last forever and you will not have back pain or a sweaty rear lolReply