Debating whether to buy an office chair instead of a gaming chair? Here are the pros and cons of each!
As remote work and the gaming community have greatly expanded over the past few years, so has the need for quality computer chairs. There’s an ergonomic arms race going on, and gaming chairs are caught up in the middle of it.
During this time, many gamers had conversations with friends and family about their gaming PC work from home setup, and many people were rightfully jealous. Office chair manufacturers have definitely improved their designs in response, but is it enough? Exactly what are the differences between office chairs and gaming chairs?
First and foremost comes the distinctive padding on gaming chairs. These foam pieces are contoured to support the head, neck, back, legs, and arms. They’re stiff enough to withstand hours of pressure at a time, yet have enough give that gamers feel cushioned all around.
More specifically, most gaming chairs often have padding along the sides, top, and bottom of the back, over the seat, and on the armrests. Some models may have only some of these options or may only offer each feature as separate purchases, but even many budget gaming chairs will have most, if not all of this upholstery.
On the other hand, office chairs are not consistent with their comfort designs. While ergonomics is a main focus, the way each design approaches this can be very different from one another. This is great news for gamers looking for a specialty chair though. Some of the standard designs include mesh-back chairs supported by a strong, wide frame; the iconic, simple rolling chair made with just two thickly padded oval pieces and no pesky arm rests; and leather executive chairs with tall backs and rippled padding.
Many of the best office chairs have the same features as gaming chairs, but few have all of the features in one design, especially not at the same price point as a gaming chair. However there is one significant benefit to office chairs as far as comfort goes: they can be much cooler than gaming chairs. The mesh back design is particularly ideal for keeping cool and the support system behind it can be nearly as good as a gaming chair, but at a lower cost. Additionally, many of the fabric choices are intentionally made to fight off moisture and maintain good airflow. So, gamers who run hot may actually prefer the less-padded mesh chairs or moisture-wicking fabric office chairs.
Typically when it comes to office chairs, users are given three choices: black, white, or gray. This is slowly beginning to change, with splashes of color here and there on commercial office furniture, but gaming chairs are already on the scene.
There are tons of colors to choose from when looking at gaming chairs. The most popular colors do tend to be red and black, but it’s rare to find a chair with only these color options. Tie-in designs are also a common occurrence, with franchises like Overwatch and Harry Potter working with chair manufacturers to create gaming chairs that show off a fan’s love.
Plus, the racing-style gaming chairs are aptly named. They’re comfortable to sit in, help improve immersion, and actually do look a little like a racecar or pilot seat.
That being said, there’s only one thing a gaming chair can ever be. The second anyone walks into an office with a gaming chair, they will notice it. For some professions, fun colors and logos are the opposite of what’s wanted in the office. There are certainly gaming chair options that are muted and professional but honestly, office chairs have a better variety of sizes and styles that are minimalist, yet impressive.
The differences in durability between office chairs and gaming chairs stem from the simple fact that these chairs are designed for two completely different activities. Many gamers move around in their seats, throw their body weight around when frustrated, and often get up or sit down aggressively.
Meanwhile, in the office, users typically just sit in their seats, maybe spin around a bit, and generally try to be respectful of their coworkers by not making a lot of noise. Office chairs do need to withstand years and years of 8-hour days, but overall they just aren’t made with the durability of gaming chairs.
Gaming chairs are typically stain resistant, which is important to a lot of gamers who love to snack while they play. The adjustable functions on the chair tend to be better constructed on gaming chairs, so they get stuck less often and break down slower. The wheels (called casters) are also usually rated to support higher weight limits while maintaining a low overall weight.
This isn’t to say that office chairs have poor durability, because they don’t. Office chairs are ready to stand up to a lot of abuse, it’s just that gaming chairs are slightly better. Should durability be a deciding factor between gaming and office chairs? Not really, because the difference can be negligible depending on the user.
There isn’t much to say about the adjustability of office chairs versus gaming chairs. Gaming chairs usually offer users the ability to adjust the height of the chair, the width of the arm rests, the angle of the seat back, and how far forward the seat is. Some gaming chairs also provide a pop-up footrest, an adjustable headrest, and adjustable lumbar pillows.
Office chairs however, typically only let people adjust the height of the chair and the angle of the seat back. Once again, this is a feature that is actually relatively easy to find on office chairs, but at a much higher price than a gaming chair equivalent. It’s usually not worth the extra cost to get some adjustable options on an office chair that are done better on a gaming chair.
As mentioned earlier, the best budget PC chairs are office chairs. There are a wide variety of budget office chairs that can comfortably support a player for many months, but it’s much more difficult to find a gaming chair of any quality under $100. But, once we look at chairs listed over $100, the quality begins to shift in favor of gaming chairs. Both office and gaming chairs have an average cost of between $200 and $400, but what gets prioritized as the price goes up is another stark difference between the two types of chairs.
Office chairs with a higher price tag tend to be made with much higher quality materials, such as genuine leather and galvanized steel frames. These upgrades look great in executive offices and are supported by ergonomic designs.
As gaming chairs get more expensive, they tend to add new features, like footrests or massage functions. Since they start at a higher price tag, they don’t need to improve their materials or design as the price goes up; those elements are already some of the best. Essentially, people get the most value out of their purchase at a lower price point with gaming chairs compared to office chairs.
Clearly, office chairs have a lot to offer, especially for gamers on a budget. However, gaming chairs are simply superior. They have excellent quality upholstery that’s breathable and soft and padding designed to provide ergonomic support even after years of use. Players can choose from a much wider variety of colors and brands, too; and it’s easy to find affordable options that are only slightly more expensive than an office chair of much lesser quality.
Even non-gamers would most likely be better off with a gaming chair in their office rather than whatever run-of-the-mill chair they currently have. Gaming chairs have office chairs beat at almost every point: comfort, style, durability, adjustability. One of the major factors that office chairs are consistently better at is providing decent budget options, although some gaming chair companies have begun to close in on that market as well.
Related: The Best Gaming Chairs
More: Great Gaming Chairs To Level Up Your Setup
The best chair for office work is one that supports your body for the full length of time that you’ll be sitting in the chair. Not all seats are created equal, and not all chairs will be suitable for every body type.
Office chairs are designed to be lightweight, durable, and able to support a specific person every day. Desk chairs (also called task chairs) are much more industrial and are designed for public spaces such as libraries and schools; they tend to have much less padding and less features than office chairs or gaming chairs.
A good cheap office chair should come with some padding, at least three wheels, and hold at least 150lbs of weight. Typically, budget office chairs can be found for around $50.
You want to adjust the height of your chair to support the movement of standing and sitting. You should be able to do a simple squat into your chair; if you have to bend over or do not bend your knees at all when sitting down, you may need to adjust the height of your seat.
Gaming chairs can be an excellent option for office workers who want to prioritize style and comfort over everything else.
The short answer is yes. While there are some professional-looking gaming chairs, for the most part gaming chairs are viewed as unprofessional due to their vibrant and often branded designs.
Yes, size matters when it comes to gaming chairs. Typically, you’ll want the top of the chair to just barely reach over the top of your head so that your full back is supported. Along the sides, you should have 2-4 inches of space next to your hips; many gamers test this using their fists.
Megan is a writer with a passion for gaming and animation. Starting with the Super Nintendo and Sega Genesis, she has been a console gamer for her entire life and is currently favoring Xbox and Switch gaming. Megan is also an old school otaku and can often be found reading manga and watching anime. Luckily, she doesn't have to sit on the floor at bookstores anymore though.