Are Office Chairs Good for Gaming? Here’s The Truth
Gaming chairs have been incredibly popular over the last few years. Considering their flashy racing designs and logos, it’s no wonder they’re a big draw for many gamers.
But what if you wanted a versatile chair that can be used for both office and gaming needs? Rather than having to buy two chairs, it makes more sense to buy one that can be utilized for both situations.
So the question is, are office chairs good for gaming? Yes, office chairs can be used for gaming because they offer superior ergonomics, adjustability, build quality, and warranties than gaming chairs. This makes office chairs suitable for long hours of gaming.
In this guide, we’ll share why they’re excellent for gamers and share our top choices of office chairs to look at.
Reasons Why Office Chairs are Good for Gaming
Whether you’re working at a desk, doing creative drawings, or even gaming on your computer, office chairs are a great choice. Here are the primary reasons why office chairs are great for gaming.
Ergonomics
Most people choose office chairs over gaming chairs because of their superior ergonomics and adjustability. Manufacturers design office chairs to be ergonomic, meaning they help to support a good posture, so users can work efficiently and sit pain-free.
Everything about the chair is made so that you can sit in the optimal posture for focus, productivity, and prevention of pain. For example, many office chairs are designed with a flexible seat edge to alleviate the pressure placed on the back of the knees. That’s also why office chairs may have headrests or flexible lumbar support systems. The lumbar system will adapt to your specific lumbar curve, keeping your posture intact and preventing slouching forward.
Some office chairs even offer a forward tilt function, so users can lean forward while still receiving back support. It’s very common for gamers to lean forward, especially during intense gameplay, so these features are beneficial for gaming. Being pain-free should be the priority. Sitting on a low-quality gaming chair could do more harm than good, especially if it leaves you with back, neck, or even wrist pain.
Adjustability
One of the primary reasons you should consider office chairs for gaming is their adjustability. Every person is unique in their body type, height, and build. That means adjustments play an important role in feeling comfortable and sitting in a neutral position.
Gaming chairs can sometimes be limited in adjustments. For example, they may only have an adjustable backrest, armrest, and seat height. Office chairs typically offer much more adjustable options. This includes seat height, seat depth, tilt angle, recline, tilt tension, lumbar height and depth, armrest, headrest, and more. The additional adjustments allow users to personalize their sitting experience.
For example, a lumbar support that can be adjusted by height and depth ensures they sit upright at all times. Office chairs tend to be more suitable for preventing lower back pain since their backrest is more dynamic. Premium office chairs will have flexible backrests that flex and bend to even the tiniest of movements, giving you continuous support.
Additionally, the seat depth adjustment is a key feature that gaming chairs don’t have. If the seat pain is too forward, it’ll place too much pressure on the back of your knees. When the seat is too far back, your pelvis is likely pressed underneath, which can lead to a flat lower back posture or even a herniated disc. The seat depth adjustment lets you adjust the seat pan, so you are using the backrest and also have about one or two inches of space between the edge and behind your knees.
Materials and Build Quality
Have you ever sat on an uncomfortable chair that feels a little flimsy? It’s easy to distinguish between a poorly made chair and a chair with the excellent build quality. Cheap and even mid-priced gaming chairs tend to feel unstable and flimsy, especially when sitting in a reclined position. That’s because the base is made from mostly plastic and other low-quality materials.
Often chairs that require little assembly have the best build quality. They use fewer parts but higher quality parts. Many office chairs, especially in the mid to high price range, use polished aluminum, steel, wood, or a durable nylon material for their frame and base.
Many office chair manufacturers have their products tested by BIFMA and ANSI, two organizations that test and verify furniture products. These organizations will perform dozens of tests by placing stress on various components of the chair to ensure they meet their standard. Office chairs that are BIFMA/ANSI certified are a stamp of approval that those chairs will last a long time.
In addition, most office chairs come in a variety of materials, including fabric, mesh, and leather. Gaming chairs are notorious for using faux leather, which is prone to heat retention. Office chairs offer a diverse selection of mesh and other fabrics that are breathable and keep users cool. This is great for gamers who sit for hours and want ventilation through their seat or backrest.
Variety
Office chairs come in a wide variety of shapes, types, colors, and sizes to suit your needs. For example, there are ergonomic chairs, armless chairs, big and tall chairs, kneeling chairs, executive chairs, and more. If you’re someone that prefers more cushion and padding, there are executive-style office chairs that are plush and help to alleviate pressure points throughout your body. Or, if you want a breathable chair to keep you cool during your gaming sessions, plenty of office chairs feature a mesh material for enhanced ventilation.
Office chairs come in plenty of sizes, which help accommodate people of all sizes. Big and tall people can find heavy-duty office chairs that are suited for their height and built to support their weight as well.
While office chairs may not have flashy designs, many chairs do come in a variety of colors. This lets you match and color coordinate your gaming room with a chair. Furthermore, there are many styles to fit your home. Office chairs like the Herman Miller Aeron and Embody look futuristic and modern, which can be statement furniture pieces in your home. Comparatively, the La-Z-Boy Delano is a leather executive chair that feels more traditional and timeless. Office chairs have a wide selection that can accommodate what you’re looking for.
Warranty
Warranties are often overlooked when purchasing an office chair. The length of the warranty is a key indicator of the confidence level that a manufacturer has in their products. Quality office chairs have tested their products rigorously to ensure they will last the lifetime that is stated in their warranty claims.
Office chairs tend to have longer warranties across all price ranges. On the low end, you’ll typically find a three-year warranty length, mid-price chairs may provide a five to seven-year warranty, and premium chairs offer a ten to 12-year warranty.
Office chair manufacturers are usually more flexible with their warranty inclusions as well. Cheap gaming chairs might only cover the frame and base of the chair while excluding more delicate parts such as fabrics, padding, and armrests. Office chairs tend to cover most of the chair itself, including the upholstery.
Make sure to read warranty claims ahead of time. Most manufacturers will exclude normal wear and tear, neglect, product abuse, misuse, or accidents. If it is the manufacturer’s fault, many of them will even send a delivery person to come to pick up the chair for you. It’s much easier for manufacturers to offer better warranty policies simply because the products have a strong build quality.
Price
From a cost standpoint, office chairs vary in all price ranges. Generally, they range from under $100 to well over $1,000. However, with office chairs, you tend to get more ergonomic chairs for the same price that you would for a gaming chair. For example, low to mid-price chairs like the Duramont office chair has more lumbar and armrest chair than similar gaming chairs in the same price range.
High-end office chairs can be quite expensive. However, they’re certainly worth the value that the product provides. It’s always important to consider how long the chair will last. While office chairs can sometimes be more expensive, they do last much longer.
Many of the quality office chairs provide 5 to 12 years of warranty. In comparison, gaming chairs tend to only offer 1 to 5 years of warranty. The warranty guarantees how long you’ll have the chair, meaning it’s vital to look at the durability and build quality. If a chair costs $1,200 but has 12 years of warranty, it only costs $100 per year to sit on it. And most office chairs will even outlast their warranty.
When are Office Chairs NOT Good for Gaming?
While there are many benefits to using an office chair for gaming, there are a few situations where they aren’t ideal for gaming. Here’s why you shouldn’t use office chairs for gaming:
You Want a Chair with a Flashy Design
Unfortunately, if you want flashy designs, office chairs won’t have them. Office chairs are designed with ergonomic seating in mind, meaning their features are geared towards functionality. While there are office chairs that do offer unique designs, they are few and far between. And many of these unique office chairs are meant to staple items for home decor, not gaming designs.
On the other hand, gaming chairs come in a wide selection of flashy designs. Cheaper gaming chairs use a flashy racing style design with two stripes that run down the chair. Users can choose between plenty of bright colors to match their gaming setup.
Additionally, there are even higher-end gaming chairs that include special logo designs. For example, Secretlab partners with a growing network of the world’s leading brands. This includes brands like Riot Games, World of Warcraft, Overwatch, Blizzard, Minecraft, and many more.
Gamers can easily customize their chair to the exact colors, designs, logos, and even accessory items for their chair. For gamers, these types of flashy designs and bold, flamboyant colors help to add to the LED ambiance that most gaming rooms are set up.
You Don’t Game at a Desk
If you’re someone who enjoys playing console games, it won’t make sense to get an office chair. Computing gaming chairs and office chairs are usually adjusted a little too high and are too rigid for console game use. That’s because office chairs are designed for desk use, meaning the height range is made to only accommodate a desk. TVs are usually positioned lower than a desk due to the shorter height of a TV stand.
So the question is, what seating options are good for console gaming? There’s nothing wrong with simply having a couch. However, if you want more advanced features, we recommend a rocker gaming chair, pedestal base gaming chair, or sofa gaming chair.
Rocker and pedestal gaming chairs allow for rocking back and forth and offer much more padding than office chairs. Not to mention, they are positioned lower to the floor, making them ideal for playing games on your TV screen. In addition, they feature convenient features for console gaming, such as side pouches for extra storage to hold accessory items like controllers and even audio compatibility. For instance, some chairs incorporate built-in speaker systems into the chair, so you can connect your console system directly into the chair for an immersive audio experience.
Recommended Office Chairs for Gaming
Now that you know why office chairs can be great for gaming, you may be wondering, what are the best options out there? Fortunately, we’re here to give you our top picks and help you choose the perfect office chair for gaming.
Herman Miller Aeron
You may have seen or heard about the Herman Miller Aeron. With over 8 million units sold, it’s certainly one of the most popular chairs in the market. The Aeron is the perfect blend of comfort, ergonomics, and style.
This chair is best known for this unique 8Z pellicle mesh material, which features a soft feel with lots of flexibility. Unlike most office chairs, the mesh is flexible and bends as you move, so you feel supported even when changing postures. This mesh lays over the seat with spring support giving users the feeling of floating. Despite not having a thick-padded cushion like most office chairs, the Aeron is incredibly comfortable due to its flexibility and spring support.
One advantage of choosing the Aeron over other gaming chairs is their sophisticated and refined lumbar support system. Most gaming chairs offer a clunky lower back pillow, which can feel out of place at times. The Aeron uses an integrated support system called the PostureFit SL. It features two pads, one for the lumbar area (your lower back) and one for the sacrum area (the base of your spine). These pads can be adjusted up or down, giving you complete control and more support for your back.
Gaming chairs sometimes feel unstable due to the low-quality parts used. The Aeron feels ultra-responsive and smooth, especially when reclining. The knee-tilt and synchro-tilt mechanism keeps your body in a good posture even during recline and will likely provide the smoothest reclining experiences you’ve ever had. Not to mention, with the 12-year warranty that comes with the Aeron, you’re assured that this chair will be around for a very long time!
Herman Miller Embody
If you’re someone who wants a slightly edgier design and less restrictive alternative than the Herman Miller Aeron, the Embody is a great choice. It has a very eye-popping design that many tech users love with its curved and thin backrest and wide seat pan.
The Aeron uses hard-bladed edges and a curved seat, which force you to sit with your feet planted at all times. While it encourages good posture, it can feel restrictive at times. On the other hand, the Embodyy has a wider and flat seat pan and a thicker padding material, which allows for looser postures.
What makes the Embody stand out is its emphasis on mid-back or thoracic support. Unlike most office or gaming chairs, the Embody doesn’t have adjustable lumbar support. Instead, it has a molded backrest curve called the Pixelated backrest. It’s designed to fit the human back like a glove and stick to your spine. Instead, the Backfit Adjustment feature lets you toggle the entire angle of the backrest to provide complete support for your back.
Additionally, the backrest and seat pan has flexible edges letting users wiggle and move in their seat while still feeling supported. The Embody offers a multi-layered seat padding using a mix of spring, mat, foam, and fabric layers to provide comfort and promote an active posture style.
While the chair certainly doesn’t have flashy designs, it does come in six fabric colors, so you can choose the best option that matches your room. Like the Aeron, you’re getting a phenomenal warranty, meaning you can expect to get a lot of usage on the chair without any problems.
Steelcase Leap v2
Steelcase Leap V2 is another high-end office chair that works great for gaming as well. While it does have a fairly plain and basic design, its features are far from it. Compared to the other office chairs, the Leap V2 does offer more cushion and feels much softer than the Aeron and Embody. Their seat cushion uses built-in air pockets that corm to the body’s shape and has flexible edges to alleviate pressure points under your thighs.
What makes the Leap V2 special is its high range of flexibility. The Leap V2 uses a contoured and highly flexible backrest called the LiveBack technology. Essentially, the backrest changes shape as you move, which supports the spine in any position. This dynamic support ensures your spine maintains a healthy S-shape even as your switch to a different posture.
The Leap V2, like the Aeron, offers looser postures. Its wide seat design allows you to sit cross-legged or one leg folded up on the seat. Not to mention, the chair is highly adjustable, which can’t be said about most gaming chairs. The armrest can be easily adjusted to nearly any position, which is convenient for gamers who use multiple tech interfaces.
Also, the Leap V2 offers simplified backrest support. For some users, the Embody’s subtle adjustments can feel very advanced and may not be suited for beginners. The Leap V2, on the other hand, features a simple height-adjustable lumbar support along with a lower back firmness control.
This height adjustment ensures the support fits exactly your lumbar curve, while the lower back firmness controls how much support you’re receiving. Every person is unique, so having this versatility helps you feel comfortable and maintain a healthy posture. Overall, the Leap V2 is a highly adjustable, ergonomic, and comfortable seating option that you can’t go wrong with.
Conclusion
While gaming chairs are designed for gaming, there are some advantages to using an office chair for gaming. You’ll get more adjustable features, better ergonomic functionality, and superior build quality. As a result, this means better support and less pain while still comfortable for your gaming sessions. If you’re someone who works at home or works in an office-type of role, office chairs are the perfect chair for both work and gaming activities.
Now that you know why office chairs are great for gaming and which ones to look at, you’re ready to take the next step. We hope you’ve found our guide helpful in your search for a chair!
