Best Gaming Chairs 2025 | Tom's Hardware

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).

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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.

We've been testing gaming chairs for years, and while there's no one-size-fits-all perfect chair, here are the ones we're still sitting in today.

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Best Gaming Chairs

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Best Gaming Chair

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 an 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, which is more expensive than the average gaming chair, but not nearly as expensive as Herman Miller's regular line of high-end 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

In , 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 . The Titan Evo 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 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 offers a complete range of adjustments, including a backrest that can sit from 85 to 165 degrees and a 4-way knob-adjustable lumbar support system. Its faux-leather topped armrests move up, down, forward, and backward, and also turn diagonally inward and outward. You can also adjust the arm's width 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 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 Review

Best Budget Gaming Chair

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

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 somewhat 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

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

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

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 $ 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

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.

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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

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

Other Gaming Chairs We Tested

Fractal Refine

Fractal's first foray into the gaming furniture space is with a chair that's an interesting mix of the moto-style gaming chair with a more traditional task chair — though it's not quite either. It comes in mesh and fabric versions and features 4D armrests, adjustable lumbar support, a removable headrest, and a tilt feature rather than a "true" recline. It has a racing-inspired silhouette but without any of the aggressive racing style, and it's surprisingly comfortable — though we did find the mesh to be a little too scratchy — once you make a few adjustments.

The Refine is a pretty solid contender considering it's the company's first gaming chair, but it's not quite as refined as the other mesh task chairs we love (notably, the Steelcase Karman and the Herman Miller Aeron). While it's less than half the price of a premium task chair (unless you get the $899 Alcantara version), at $549 it's still priced at a premium for racing-style chairs, and there's a lot of competition in that space.

Read: Fractal Refine Review

Noblechairs Legend

The Legend is a well-built gaming chair — solidly constructed with premium materials and quality stitching, and it's comfortable out of the box. It's a racing-style chair, but it has a more subdued look, coming in solid, dark colors with simple metallic accents. It looks and feels pretty premium, but it didn't sound premium — the ratchet system for reclining the chair was noisy, and the plastic cover over the gas lift also rattled about whenever we moved across the floor. Our reviewer felt this chair was perfect for someone who was between 5'11" and 6'2" — which was great for him as he landed right in that range, but is pretty limiting overall for a chair.

Read: Noblechairs Legend 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

Gaming chairs are one of the best investments a gamer can make. After all, during those long gaming sessions, where are you going to sit? While gaming keyboards and gaming monitors can really lift your gaming experience to the next level, none of it really matters if you don't have a comfortable chair to sit in. Our top entry, the Secretlab Titan Evo Nanogen, is a perfect example: It's a chair big enough for pretty much any body, and it's comfortable and sturdy enough to sit for hours.

TL;DR – These Are the Best Gaming Chairs:

I've been reviewing gaming chairs for years, and the overall best ones you can buy provide a place to sink into for hours of gaming without fatigue or pain. Including features like customizable lumbar support, adjustable armrests, and a movable headrest to beef up the ergnomics only adds to a more comfortable, distraction-free space to focus on your favorite PC games.

However, there are an excess of options to choose from. To help you out, I've cut this list down to six tested and researched chairs offering solid frames, high-quality material, and all the creature comforts you could want.

Best Gaming Chair

Best Budget Gaming Chair

Best Ergonomic Gaming Chair

Best Mesh Gaming Chair

Best Fabric Gaming Chair

Best Big and Tall Gaming Chair

Best Gaming Chair with a Footrest

Best Gaming Chair for Shorter Gamers

• Price: This will probably be the biggest determining factor. Going out with a set budget is helpful, as you’ll find chairs ranging from under $50 to more than $1,000. Cheaper gaming chairs, like the Corsair TC100 Relaxed, still deliver the comfort of more expensive ones. You just need to be prepared to sacrifice features, like 4D armrests or adjustable lumbar support. I’d stay away from anything under $100, especially if the chair makes promises that appear too good to be true.
• Design: Comfort is king; nobody wants to spend hours in a seat that causes back or neck pain. Finding a chair that’s the right size for you is essential for preventing discomfort. Luckily, most chairs list their dimensions. You’ll want a wide, well-cushioned seat, a long backrest, and a good range of height adjustability. All that should sit on a sturdy metal frame capable of holding your full body weight. If you’re looking into a racing-style chair with bucket seats, like the AndaSeat Kaiser 3, pay special mind to the bolsters, as they can dig into your thighs.
• Materials: For the most part, gaming chairs offer PU leather, fabric, or mesh. PU leather is easy to clean but may not always be super durable, and it gets hot when wearing shorts. Fabric, which is used on the E-Win Champion, won’t be as easy to clean, though it’s less of a heat magnet. Mesh is the most breathable option. However, you’ll lose the cushioned seat and backrest in favor of a suspension system, which can be a hit or miss. The Razer Fujin Pro is one chair that gets mesh right.
• Ergonomics: After locking those in, a movable headrest, adjustable armrests, and customizable lumbar support can enhance the chair’s ergonomic, but these features often make the chair more expensive. Other quality-of-life additions, like a tilting or rocking mechanism, also help with relaxation between heated gaming sessions.

Keep all this in mind so you know how to pick the perfect gaming chair for your needs.

What's the point of a gaming chair?

Because gaming chairs are glorified office chairs, their main selling points are, frankly, aesthetic. Gaming chairs are often a bit more expensive than comparable office chairs and don't have the same comfort features as seats designed for working in all day. Still, if you love the way that gaming chairs look and you're going for a certain vibe in your gaming den, the best gaming chairs do truly shine. You just might want to look at the best ergonomic chairs if you want something that's truly going to take care of your aching back.

How much should you spend on a a gaming chair?

While you can buy a gaming chair for $80 or less, doing so is just asking for eventual pain. Something inexpensive is usually nothing more than a cheap plastic frame (versus steel) with some thin fabric or pleather upholstery on top.

You can get a quality chair for as little as $200, and that’s the absolute bottom floor of affordability we’d go for. Spending $300 or more will get you access to better options. If your budget allows you to soar a bit higher, more expensive gaming chairs start to come with built-in lumbar support, cooling gel layers, and even more adjustable ergonomics, not to mention RGB LED Kits and more. It all depends on what matters most to you in the long term.

Should you get a gaming chair or an office chair?

While there are benefits to both, this is a subjective question and boils down to what you're looking for. If you're after looks and the ability to deeply recline, a gaming chair is a safe bet. If you're looking for a chair that places ergonomics first and has lots of adjustments, you'll have more luck with an office chair. It's important to note, however, that there's plenty of crossover between the two. The Steelcase Gesture, for example, would look fantastic on any stream but it's an office chair, through and through. The Mavix M9, on the other hand, is clearly a gaming chair but has the features and adjustments of premium office chairs. Consider what you value most, how long you'll be sitting in the chair, and what adjustments you would prefer. From there, you can find chairs in either category to meet your needs.

What’s the best brand of gaming chair?

Your classic gaming brands like Razer and Corsair have been known to make mean chairs. Otherwise, brands like Secretlab, Razer, and Corsair consistently deliver comfortable, well-built seats that blend comfort and durability across price points. More classic ergo brands like Herman-Miller, Steelcase, and Haworth have begun releasing chairs for gamers too. Though expensive, those chairs are made with the best materials and are full of ergonomic features allowing them to offer superior support and comfort. Be wary of some brands available only on Amazon: The most inexpensive options will most likely be a little janky. It's probably worth it to save up and spend extra on a more notable brand.

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