10 Best Gaming Chairs for Back Pain

Most gamers spend hours at a time playing games on their computer or console device. Prolonged sitting without proper support will lead to poor posture and back pain. If you’re a gamer like myself, then you probably love spending money on high-tech gaming gear to enhance your gaming experience. However, it’s important to invest in a high-quality gaming chair. 

Gaming chairs include a variety of ergonomic features such as a high backrest, adjustable headrest, and lumbar pillow, recline back, rocking feature, adjustable armrest, and adjustable seat. We’ve meticulously vetted dozens of chairs based on what gamers are looking for to provide you with ten of the best gaming chairs for back pain. 

The Best Gaming Chairs for Back Pain

• Secretlab Titan – Our Top Pick
• GTRACING Gaming Chair – Budget Pick
• DXRacer Tank Series – Best for Heavy People with Back Pain 
• Herman Miller Aeron – Best Mesh Gaming Chair for Back Pain
• E-WIN Gaming Chair – Best Big & Tall Gaming Chair for Back Pain
• Herman Miller Embody – Best Back Support
• Respawn RSP-900 – Best Gaming Recliner for Back Pain
• AKRacing Core Series EX – Best Fabric Gaming Chair for Back Pain
• X Rocker Pro Series H3 – Best Floor Rocker Gaming Chair for Back Pain
• RESPAWN  RSP-110 – Best With Footrest

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Secretlab Titan – Our Top Pick

Secretlab Titan is our pick for the overall best gaming chair for back pain. The new Secretlab Titan comes in 3 available size options, making it suitable for all audiences. The chair features their new and improved hybrid leatherette upholstery, which mimics the luxurious look, feel, and durability of high-end NAPA leather. This material is made to be stain, spill, and abrasion-resistant. In addition, the hybrid leatherette has a very supple and plush feeling for extra comfort. 

Furthermore, the chair has all of the adjustments users are looking for such as 4D armrests to pivot their arm into their desired position. This chair also has a deep recline of up to 165 degrees, so users can nap or rest comfortably. In terms of build quality, everything about the Secret Lab Titan is top-notch. The base is reinforced with gussets and ribs. Not to mention, the frame and base are made from high-strength aluminum. 

When it comes to ergonomics and comfort, the chair has a medium level of firmness to strike the perfect balance between supportive and comforting. A mushy chair only leads to poor posture, while hard chairs can feel stiff to sit on. Secretlab features a head pillow with cooling gel and new and improved built-in adjustable lumbar support that is leaps and bounds ahead of the rest of the gaming chair industry. If you’re someone with back pain looking for a racing-style gaming chair, then the Secretlab Titan is going to be your best bet.

Pros:

• Extremely roomy and made for big individuals
• Multiple Size Options
• Includes a 4D armrest
• Able to recline up to 165 degrees back

Cons:

• Expensive
• Armrests can be Rickety

Check out our full Secretlab Gaming Chairs Review

DXRacer Tank Series – Best Gaming Chair for Heavy People with Back Pain

Read our full DXRacer Gaming Chairs Review

The DXRacer Tank series our pick for the best gaming chair for heavy people with back pain. And as the name would suggest, this chair is a tank, supporting up to 400lbs. DXRacer is one of the most popular and proven gaming chair brands on the market. Although they’re best known for their stylish race car design, the best feature is their chair padding. DX Racer’s backrest and seat padding are filled with high-density mold shaping foam that firmly supports your back, legs, buttocks, and hips. The mold shaping material actively responds to the body, ensuring a true body fit. It evenly distributes the pressure across the body and makes sitting for long periods comfortable. Additionally, the foam holds the structure of the padding for a long time.

This chair offers plenty of adjustments to help gamers customize their seat. Users can adjust the height along with reclining their chair up to 135 degrees. You can also rock your chair at any seating angle up to 15 degrees back. Whether you’re looking to sit upright to play games, sit back to read, or lean back to rest, DXRacer makes it easy. 

For an inexpensive gaming chair, it’s quite durable. The upper base of the frame is made of steel, while the lower base is made of aluminum. This helps strike a balance between sturdiness and lightweight. If anything goes wrong, DXRacer includes a generous two-year warranty on parts, so you can always replace any parts as needed. 

Pros:

• Includes high-density mold shaping foam for a comfortable experience
• Armrests are 3D adjustable 
• It offers a 15-degree rocking feature
• Three different sitting mode with up to 135 degrees in reclining angle 

Cons:

• Cheaper PVC leather instead of PU Leather
• Lack of Color Options
• Expensive

GTRACING Gaming Chair – Best Cheap Gaming Chair for Back Pain

Read our full GTRACING Gaming Chairs Review

If you’re looking for a gaming chair that doesn’t break the bank, the GTRACING gaming chair is a great option to choose from. At only a fraction of the costs of most gaming chairs, you get plenty of ergonomic features such as padded seating, adjustable seat height, armrests, recliner, and even a retractable footrest. Footrests enable gamers to change positions by shifting their weight and lower the strain placed on their back. Overall, footrests will help reduce fatigue in a person’s knees, ankles, feet, and thighs, while also aligning with their posture. 

Something we’ve found fascinating about the GTracing chairs is their deep recliner. It can recline up to 170 degrees meaning users can take a nap during breaks. We also enjoy the comfort of this chair. It has a thick padded seat and back to ensure comfort while sitting for long periods. 

GTracing uses a bonded leather material, which is a cheaper alternative to genuine leather. However, it has a sleek and consistent texture making it look similar to an executive office chair. In addition, you’ll find a headrest and a lumbar pillow that is detachable and height-adjustable. With the lumbar pillow, you can position it precisely to adjust where you need the most support. 

Pros:

• Affordable pricing
• Rest mode sitting allows for nearly up to 180 degrees reclining angle 
• Supports up to 350 pounds 
• Contains a height-adjustable headrest and lumbar pillow 
• Includes a retractable footrest 
• Padding makes sitting for long periods comfortable 

Cons:

• Armrests aren’t padded 
• Armrests are only height adjustable 

Herman Miller Aeron – Best Mesh Gaming Chair for Back Pain

For more information, check out our full Herman Miller Chairs Review

Despite the hefty price tag, the Herman Miller Aeron ranks as one of the top mesh back chairs in the market. The Aeron features a unique PostureFit SL mechanism that fits the natural S shape of a person’s back to promote a healthy posture. Without a proper lumbar system, most people will resort to a slouching position or a C shape posture. Its lumbar support is built-in and made of high-density memory foam to support your lower back by putting your spine in a comfortable position. 

Another standout feature of the Aeron is the mesh material. The Herman Miller uses a woven pellicle mesh material that allows air circulation and won’t allow heat or pressure to build up. Increased air circulation has been proven to increase the amount of oxygen in your brain which boosts productivity and focus. For gamers, it means you’ll bring your A-game. The pellicle material also is woven to support eight specific tension points to help support and relax your back. 

Herman Miller also offers an incredible 12-year warranty for their products. This means if any of the parts fail, you can easily get it replaced or have your chair fixed free of charge. As an industry standard, most sellers only offer a one-year warranty. 

Pros:

• Offers an incredible 12-year warranty 
• Mesh back allows air to pass through and prevent heat build-up 
• Chair ships fully assembled
• PostureFit SL provides lower back support to specific areas 
• Lumbar support is height adjustable 
• Supports up to 350 pounds 

Cons:

• Can be quite expensive 
• No neck or head support since it’s a mid-back chair

For more recommendations, check out our guide on the Best Mesh Gaming Chairs

E-WIN Gaming Chair – Best Big & Tall Gaming Chair for Back Pain

For big and tall individuals, the E-WIN gaming chair is an excellent choice to make your gaming experience more comfortable. It has a wide seat width and high backrest, while also supporting up to 330 pounds. Unlike most chairs that use aluminum, particle boards, or even plastic materials, the E-WIN chair includes a steel frame for durability and easy to clean. 

This chair allows the user to recline their seating angle from about 85 degrees to 155 degrees, so gamers can find the angle that works best. It features a thick high-density foam material to provide additional comfort. Like most gaming chairs, they come with a height-adjustable headrest pillow and lumbar cushion. The lumbar cushion is much wider to properly support your lower back. 

One of the most common positive feedback from customers is how the item is easy to assemble. It comes with all of the hardware pre-installed along with an installation video for guidance. All of the tools and Allen screws are supplied. Assembly time should be under 30 minutes. 

Pros:

• Assembly is fast and easy, usually takes under 30 minutes
• Pillow and lumbar pillows are detachable and height-adjustable with straps
• The armrest is 3D adjustable
• Ideal for big individuals and has a weight capacity of 330 pounds with a wide seat width
• Recline feature tilts up to 155 degrees

Cons:

• PU leather can cause heat to build up resulting in a sweaty back

For more recommendations, check out our full guide on the Best Big and Tall Gaming Chairs

Herman Miller Embody – Best Back Support

Read our full guide on the Best Herman Miller Office Chairs

The Herman Miller Embody is one of the most ergonomic chairs in the market and is best suited to help with back problems. Unlike the other gaming chairs that have a wide backrest, this one is designed much slimmer. The purpose of the skinnier backrest is to allow more freedom of movement, so users can stretch and move around easier. Furthermore, it aligns with your entire spinal curve for a healthy sitting posture. 

The Embody features a pixelated material for its seat cushion and backrest. This pixelated system is designed to evenly distribute the weight across different areas of the chair depending on your body and weight movements. Too much pressure in one area of your body like your spine can cause back pain. One cool aspect of the Embody is how it is able to bend at the top giving you more flexibility when in a locked upright position or a reclined position. 

Like the Herman Miller, Aeron, it includes a mesh back to allow airflow to pass through. Sweat and heat buildup can make sitting for long periods extremely uncomfortable. In addition, it has all of the adjustable features that most chairs have such as fully adjustable arms, adjustable seat depth, height, and recliner. 

Pros:

• Offers 10 colors to choose from
• Fits all body types
• Ergonomic design supports healthy posture
• Supports up to 300 pounds 
• The manufacturer offers a 12-year warranty 
• Pixelated support distributes pressure across the body and reacts to any movement 

Cons:

• Quite expensive compared to other gaming chairs 

Respawn RSP-900 – Best Gaming Recliner for Back Pain

Read our full RESPAWN Gaming Chairs Review

If you’re a console gamer, then consider the Respawn RSP-900. Although it doesn’t have all of the adjustments that a PC gaming chair would, it has lots of padding across its armrests, seat cushion and backrest. The chair features segmented padding along with a plush headrest pillow for additional comfort. The segmented padding is designed to contour to your body so that it adjusts to your body’s movements.  

Frequent breaks are essential for your health. The Respawn RSP-900 allows you to recline up to 135 degrees while still feeling secure since you’re positioned lower to the floor. Even at the reclined position, you’re able to swivel the chair around 360 degrees. Furthermore, it has an extendable footrest for you to relieve pressure off of your legs and feet. 

Most gamers love to keep their drinks and snacks around. The chair has a handy built-in cup holder along with a side pouch to hold any small items such as their phones or snacks. 

Pros:

• Includes a built-in cup holder and a removable side pouch to hold small items
• Lots of padding including padded armrests 
• Offers an extendable footrest for additional comfort
• Supports up to 275 pounds
• Comes in 7 different color options

Cons:

• Doesn’t offer any height-adjustable features

For more recommendations, check out our full guide on the Best Recliner Gaming Chairs

AKRacing Core Series EX – Best Fabric Gaming Chair for Back Pain

For more information, check out our full AKRacing Gaming Chairs Review

The AKRacing Core Series EX gaming chair is my pick for the best fabric gaming chair for back pain.

This racing style gaming chair uses a premium soft fabric upholstery that is extremely comfortable. If you’re someone who tends to get warm while sitting at your desk, then this chair is could be a good option for you because the fabric is more breathable than the typical PU leather found on most other gaming chairs.

The chair has has a large metal frame underneath that is durable and supportive, meaning you won’t feel any give or sagging overtime, which is something that can cause back pain.

The AKRacing Core Series features a pillow headrest and lumbar support. They are a bit on the firmer side, which some people might not find as comfortable as softer foam chairs. However, the firmness makes it more supportive, which is a benefit if you’re someone with back pain.

Overall, I would definitely recommend this chair if you’re looking for a premium fabric gaming chair at an affordable price. For less than $300, this chair is an excellent bang for your buck.

Pros:

• Cold cure foam padding helps maintain structure to prevent sagging
• Armrests are 3D adjustable
• Has a weight capacity of 330 pounds 
• Their fabric material is both soft and breathable
• Backrest has the capability to recline to a horizontal position

Cons:

• A little more pricey to some of its competitors
• The seat cushion is a bit on the harder side

For a full list of chair recommendations similar to this, check out our guide on the Best Fabric Gaming Chairs

X Rocker Pro Series H3 – Best Floor Rocker Gaming Chair for Back Pain

Read our full X Rocker Gaming Chairs Review

Aside from PC or rocker chairs, the X Rocker Pro Series H3 is a gaming chair that sits flat on the floor. For those who want a fully immersive experience, the X Rocker provides a few features to enhance gameplay. For starters, it connects to most gaming systems such as PlayStation, Xbox, and Nintendo Wii. The chair has four front-facing speakers with audio modulation technology and a powerful subwoofer. This means users can fully immerse themselves in their game, music, or movie. 

In addition, the chair includes vibration motors that directly sync with the audio. These vibration motors allow you to feel a full-body sensation keeping you entertained for hours. If you’re a gamer that prefers headphones, there are many input and output jacks to connect to an external audio source. You’ll also be able to use the control panel on the seat to control the bass and volume levels. Users can connect with other X Rocker chairs nearby to sync the audio and vibration motors together. 

As far as to build and material, the chair features a durable wood for its base. It also uses a padded vinyl that won’t easily stain or tear. Users can simply fold the chair in half for easy storage. 

Pros:

• Compatible with a variety of devices and game consoles without any cables
• Very affordable seating and ideal for console gamers
• Extremely comfortable and provides relief for lower back pain
• Easy to assemble and foldable for storage 
• Vinyl material is easy to clean and durable 

Cons:

• Armrests aren’t adjustable
• Vibration experience directly correlates to volume meaning if the volume is soft, the vibration is also low

RESPAWN  RSP-110 – Best With Footrest

Respawn is one of the best value chairs in the market. For its price tag, you’d expect a chair of much lower quality. The RSP-110 is available in nine different colors, so you’re sure to find something to fit the interior design of your room. The colors are bold and contrasting, however still upholds a very sleek look. 

This chair offers a retractable footrest that has thick padding to allow your legs and feet to relax. Prolonged sitting causes reduced blood circulation to your lower extremities leading to strains on your ankle and feet.

Its backrest features segmented padding to provide contoured back support. There’s also a thickly padded headrest and lumbar pillow. Both are height adjustable, so you’re able to utilize the cushion where you need the most support. The Respawn RSP-110 features a back recline of up to 155 degrees. It also comes with a 4D armrests adjustability and padding on the armrests. The armrest’s adjustability helps to ensure you’re in a relaxed position and puts less strain on your shoulders and neck. 

Pros:

• Extremely soft padded footrest
• Includes a padded armrest 
• Strong and sturdy base 
• Able to recline at a very deep angle 
• Has a 4D armrest adjustability 

Cons:

• Strong plastic odor when opening box
• A little deflation in cushion over time 

For more recommendations, check out our guide on the Best Gaming Chairs with a Footrest

Choosing the Best Gaming Chair Back Pain – Buyer’s Guide

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Ergonomics

Ergonomics is a crucial component to ensure comfortability and prevent potential health issues from sitting down for long periods. The ergonomics will vary from a console chair versus a PC gaming chair. PC gaming chairs are designed to ensure gamers are sitting at an upright position. If you’re not used to sitting straight, it may feel unnatural or uncomfortable at times. 

Console gaming chairs are designed to lean back and have a rocking feature. Sitting closer to the floor encourages your body to lean forward. 

One of the most ergonomic aspects to gaming chairs is their high back with a fixed headrest design. Since gamers sit for long periods, they tend to slouch their shoulders and bend their neck forward. The high back and headrest pillow provides sufficient support for your shoulder, neck, and head. Similar to how a pillow and backboard is essential to a good night’s rest, this design provides better comfort and support than most office chairs with a mid or low backrest. 

Lumbar Support

Most standard office chairs will reduce the lumbar curve by rotating the pelvis. As a result, your spine and shoulders will overcompensate and lead to back pain. 

Gaming chairs include a detachable lumbar pillow cushion. Make sure that the cushion is height adjustable so that it targets a specific area in your back. External lumbar support pillows help to promote a neutral spine, healthy posture, and provide relief to your lower back. With a lumbar cushion, it helps to prevent the body from sagging forward and will keep you upright. With the tall backrest and lumbar support, it’s nearly impossible to slouch. 

Higher-end gaming chairs will include more sophisticated support. For example, the Secretlab Titan or Herman Miller chairs use an internal lumbar. Users can adjust the depth of the lumbar to provide the right amount of firmness or pressure to your back. The internal lumbar support feels much more natural since it feels like a part of the chair rather than a separate pillow. 

With Herman Miller, you get other adjustments to ensure your back is healthy. For example, their lumbar support allows you to adjust both the height and depth. Each individual has their own unique needs and different height and weight profiles. The more customizable your lumbar support is, the better it is for your back.

Adjustability

Every gaming chair should have a variety of adjustments. Adjustments help make sitting more comfortable. For example, sitting on a chair that is too high means you’ll have to strain your neck to the computer screen. The adjustment that a chair may have includes adjusting your seat height, width, depth, seat angle, swivel, lumbar depth and height, and headrest height. 

The seat height is likely the first thing you’ll need to adjust. Adjust the height, so that your head is leveled to the computer screen. In this position, your feet should be flat on the floor with your hips positioned higher than your knees. The armrests should be the same height as your desk. They help to reduce pressure placed on your upper body including shoulders, neck and upper back. Armrests that are positioned correctly help to give your wrists a break without having to bend at an angle to use the keyboard. This reduces the chances of getting carpal tunnel syndrome, which occurs when your nerves are strained from being pressed by the tendons around them. 

Comfort (seat comfort, back comfort, arm comfort)

Besides adjustments, there are many aspects that make a chair comfort including the seat cushion, backrest, and armrest. Usually, the more padding, the more comfortable a chair is. However, plush and soft isn’t always the best for your health. Sofas are incredibly soft and comfortable to sit on, but not ideal for your back. Try to find chairs that strike a balance between comfortable and supportive. 

Most gaming chairs come with a waterfall or bucket seat cushion with thick padding. A waterfall design slopes downward slightly to reduce the pressure placed on the back of the thigh. It also increases blood flow to the lower limbs. Lack of blood circulation causes numbness in your legs and even leads to soreness or injury. Most gaming chairs typically include high-density memory foam or cold cure foam seat cushions. Cold cure foam is twice as denser than normal foam, so it’ll feel much more firm and supportive. However, the foam will soften when pressure is placed on it for maximum comfort. 

For backrests, gaming chairs usually include PU leather padding, mesh, vinyl, or fabric materials. PU leather is similar to the foam padding where it feels very smooth and soft to rest against. However, heat may build-up causing users to sweat while sitting for prolonged periods. Mesh materials allow ventilation in your seat to keep users dry and cool. The mesh material is also much more flexible giving you a lot of wiggle room to move and adjusts the support based on the person’s movement. 

Armrests are great for allowing your arms to rest without bending while using the keyboard. Some gaming chairs, especially the console gaming chairs, have thick padding for additional comfort. 

Build Quality

Build quality ensures that your gaming chair will last for a long time. Cheaper chairs tend to use metal frames made out of aluminum alloy or aluminum. These materials are very light, however they aren’t as strong nor hold as much weight compared to steel chairs. Avoid chairs that use particle boards as frames since they are more likely to break down quickly. 

Sometimes breakdowns may happen, so make sure that the manufacturer has a warranty where they will send you replacement parts free of charge. Many sellers offer a minimum warranty of one to two years. 

Price

Depending on your budget, there are great options in each price range. However, higher-end chairs tend to use high-quality materials and offer more adjustable features. Inexpensive brands such as Respawn, DXRacer, and GTracing use cheaper alternative materials such as aluminum for their base or PU leather for the exterior. These chairs often have features that are more for aesthetics compared to functionality. For example, the bucket design or winged back design doesn’t offer much of a purpose. Instead, it mimics the design of a race car seat. However, these chairs still offer the standard adjustments needed such as seat height, reclining angle, and even lumbar and headrest pillows. 

With high-end brands like Herman Miller or even mid-tier brands such as Secretlab, you get more sophisticated ergonomic features. Herman Miller puts great attention to detail with their woven mesh material to ensure flexibility and relieve pressure points in your back. They also offer an internal lumbar system so the lumbar support feels more comfortable than an external pillow sticking out. Overall, it comes down to your individual needs and budget. High-end chairs give you more custom features, durability, and ergonomics for better back support.

FAQs

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Recap of the Best Gaming Chairs for Back Pain

Gaming Chair	Best For
Secretlab Titan	Our Top Pick
GTRACING Gaming Chair	Budget Pick
DXRacer Tank Series	Best for Heavy People with Back Pain
Herman Miller Aeron	Best Mesh Gaming Chair for Back Pain
E-WIN Gaming Chair	Best Big & Tall Gaming Chair for Back Pain
Herman Miller Embody	Best Back Support
Respawn RSP-900	Best Gaming Recliner for Back Pain
AKRacing Core Series EX	Best Fabric Gaming Chair for Back Pain
X Rocker Pro Series H3	Best Floor Rocker for Back Pain
RESPAWN  RSP-110	Best With Footrest