10 Best Gaming Chairs Under $500

Gaming chairs have quickly become a must-have item for casual or professional gamers. As esports and Twitch streaming continues to grow, gaming chairs will only become increasingly popular as well. 

Fortunately, more competition in the market forces manufacturers to produce higher quality, more ergonomic, and affordable gaming chairs for consumers. Finding an aesthetically appealing and comfortable chair to sit on doesn’t mean breaking the bank either. We’ve compiled a list of the best gaming chairs under $500 and provided a buyer’s guide on choosing the right one. 

The Best Gaming Gaming Chairs Under $500

• Secretlab Titan Evo – Best Overall
• GTRACING Gaming Chair – Budget Pick
• GTRACING ACE Series L3 – Best Value
• Vertagear PL6000 – Best for Big and Tall People
• DXRacer Racing Series – Best for Short People 
• AKRacing Core Series EX – Best Fabric
• RESPAWN Specter – Best Mesh
• RESPAWN RSP 900 – Best Gaming Recliner
• Homall Gaming Recliner – Best Sofa Recliner
• Dowinx Gaming Chair – Best Massage Gaming Chair

Secretlab Titan Evo – Overall Best Gaming Chair Under $500

Read our full Secretlab Gaming Chairs Review

The Secretlab Titan Evo is arguably the gold standard for gaming chairs. It outclasses most chaddddirs in terms of ergonomics, build quality, and design. It’s available in three sizes: small, regular, and XL, meaning you can select the size option that best suits your height and weight. 

Furthermore, users can choose from a wide variety of designs, many of which are inspired by esports teams or pop-culture icons. For example, some of their special edition designs include Harry Potter, Superman, League of Legends, Dota 2, and the Flash. 

One of their signature ergonomic features is their L-Adapt integrated lumbar system, which can adjust by height and depth. As a result, you can customize the support to precisely fit into your lumbar curve and personalize the amount of support you receive. Additionally, it flexes based on your movements for continuous support. 

Instead of gaming chairs’ standard bucket seat design, the Titan Evo uses a pebble seat design. It has sloping side wings to help guide you toward the middle of the seat. However, the seat has an open design giving you more space to operate. 

Another unique aspect is their magnetic headrest pillow. It has infused cooling gel inside to keep your head cool. The memory foam provides body-hugging support to help alleviate pressure points in your neck while helping you maintain an upright posture. 

Pros: 

• Available in design options and many are inspired by pop-culture brands
• Adaptive lumbar support is four-way adjustable and flexes to your movements for continuous back support 
• Reclines up to 165 degrees to help you relax 
• Magnetic memory foam head pillow relieves neck pressure points and keeps you cool 
• It comes in either Neo Hybrid Leatherette or Softweave Plus Fabric, depending on your comfort preferences 

Cons: 

• The magnetic pillow can be nudged off 

GTRACING Gaming Chair – Best Cheap Gaming Chair Under $500

Read our full GTRACING Gaming Chairs Review

For students or entry-level workers, finding an affordable gaming chair is the way to go. GTRACING gaming chair is an excellent low-priced option with a compact design and is ideal for slim adults of average heights. 

It’s doesn’t have the fanciest of features, but it does offer some of the essentials you’ll need from a gaming chair. The GTRACING chair can recline up to 160 degrees while also having a nice rocking function. A deep recline allows users to nap in between gaming sessions.

Additionally, it provides a nice back relief since reclining has been proven to off-load the spinal pressure from sitting in an upright posture. The GTRACING chair has three tilt lock positions, which encourages changing positions. Changing recline positions helps stimulate blood flow circulation and prevent muscle aches from statically sitting in one position for long periods. 

Also, the chair features a large lumbar and headrest pillow to help your body support. The pillows can aid in keeping your posture in a good position and prevent slouching. 

Pros: 

• Very affordable gaming chair 
• Available in eight different colors 
• Lumbar and headrest pillow helps keep your posture upright 
• The backrest reclines 160 degrees to unload spinal pressure 
• A dense seat cushion helps to provide pressure relief 

Cons: 

• PU leather isn’t the most breathable 

GTRACING ACE Series L3 – Best Value Gaming Chair Under $500

It’s rare to find a gaming chair that is affordable yet still delivers exceptional value and ergonomics. The GTRACING Ace Series L3 offers a variety of ergonomics that make the chair an excellent choice for consumers on a budget. 

It features a soft-padded 4D armrest, which can adjust up and down, left and right, forward and back, and pivots inward or outward. These adjustments provide the optimal forearm placement that ensures the wrist is neutral to your work surface. This minimizes wrist pressure and muscle strain to prevent carpal tunnel syndrome. Furthermore, the armrests reduce strain on your neck and shoulders. 

We’re also quite surprised by the durability and strength of the chair. The GTRACING ACE Series L3 can withstand up to 400 pounds, making it a great option for heavy users. It is constructed from a thick steel frame, which also helps users feel stable while sitting. 

The chair offers an impressive 170-degree reclining allowing you to relax and take a nap. Furthermore, the chair uses premium PU leather for comfort and durability. The PU leather is stain and wear-resistant, meaning there is little to no maintenance involved. 

Pros: 

• 4D adjustable arms ensure forearms are properly supported to maximize gameplay efficiency 
• The backrest reclines up to 170 degrees and has four tilt lock positions 
• Supports up to 400 pounds 
• PU leather is wear and stain resistant 
• Wide seat dimensions give users extra space 

Cons: 

• The lumbar pillow isn’t adjustable 

Vertagear PL6000 – Best Gaming Chair Under $500 for Big and Tall People

Read our full Vertagear Gaming Chairs Review

If you’re a big and tall person, stability and spaciousness are likely at the top of your list when it comes to gaming chairs. Fortunately, the Vertagear PL6000 checks both boxes. This is a super heavyweight chair that supports up to 440 pounds. Also, it’s recommended for individuals between 5’9” to 6’8” tall. 

Taking a closer look at the build quality, there are several features that make the chair sturdy and stable for larger users. It uses ultra-premium high resilience foam, which supports up to 2.5 pounds per cubic foot. This unique high-strength foam prevents deformities and helps to provide pressure relief to the user’s buttocks and hips. 

The chair also uses an integrated steel skeleton frame to keep users stable and secure during intense gameplay. That means the chair won’t feel wobbly when your reclining or moving around in your chair. 

Vertagear PL6000 is designed with supportive features such as a lumbar and neck pillow, 4D adjustable armrests, and a backseat recline from 80 to 140 degrees. 

Pros: 

• The chair supports up to 440 pounds 
• Slide-in backrest hardware allows for quick and easy assembly 
• Recommended for people between 5’9” to 6’8” tall 
• Ultra-premium high resilience foam withstands 62% more per cubic foot than standard foam gaming chairs 
• 4D adjustable arms help to support forearms and prevent the likelihood of carpal tunnel syndrome 

Cons: 

• Small users may feel like the chair is too big 

Check out our guide on the Best Gaming Chairs for Heavy People

DXRacer Racing Series – Best Gaming Chair Under $500 for Short People 

Read our full DXRacer Gaming Chairs Review

Short people shouldn’t be sitting in a large chair that engulfs their entire body. The worse thing you can do is have your legs dangling off the chair, which cuts off circulation. Or perhaps the lumbar pillows aren’t aligned with your lumbar curve, which only causes muscle strain. 

The DXRacer Racing Series gaming chair is designed specifically for short people because it supports only individuals up to 6 feet tall and withstands up to 200 pounds. Overall, the dimensions are much smaller and narrower, which keeps your body in the center. 

DXRacer Racing series features many standard chair designs, such as 3D adjustable armrests to help support your forearms and prevent wrist strain. Having 3-away adjustability means the armrests can adjust up or down, slide forward or back or rotate inward or outward. 

Furthermore, the chair features a wider 5-star wheelbase to add stability to the chair and provide quiet operation. The dual-wheel casters can roll on any floor surface, including hardwood and carpet. This means you can roll around the room without the annoying squeaky sounds. 

Pros: 

• Recommended for individuals up to 6 feet tall and a maximum weight capacity of 200 pounds 
• 3D armrests help to relieve wrist pressure and muscle strain 
• Lumbar and headrest pillow help to promote good posture 
• High-density foam seat cushion keeps you comfortable while gaming all-day
• Available in six colors 

Cons: 

• Only reclines up to 135 degrees 

Check out our guide on the Best Gaming Chairs for Short People

AKRacing Core Series EX – Best Fabric Gaming Chair Under $500

Read our full AKRacing Gaming Chairs Review

Unlike most standard gaming chairs, the AKRacing Core Series Ex uses a soft and breathable fabric cover. This chair is upholstered with 100% polyester fabric to give a cozy and plushy feeling. Additionally, the material has tiny pockets to allow air to pass through, which keeps you cool and well-ventilated. Sitting in a warm seat can be extremely uncomfortable, but fabric upholstery can prevent head build-up. 

The AKRacing Core Series EX features a backrest that reclines a full 180 degrees along with a convenient rocking function and tilt-tension adjustment. The recline allows users to take a nap in between gameplay and reduce the stress in their lower back. Adjusting the tilt-tension lets you control how much pressure is needed to recline to keep you feeling balanced. 

Besides the adjustability and upholstery, we’re also impressed by the build quality of the Core Series EX. It is constructed with an extra heavy-duty hand-welded steel frame and reinforced with belts. According to the AKRacing, the chair has under 11 point quality-control tests and will last for at least ten years. 

Pros: 

• Breathable fabric upholstery is durable and soft 
• The fabric also allows airflow to keep users cool 
• Cushioned 3D armrest help to provide support to wrists and arms 
• Extra-heavy hand-welded steel frame lasts for a minimum of 10 years 
• The highly dense foam cushion has gone through 80,000 stress tests for durability and comfort 

Cons: 

• Some gamers may prefer PU leather upholstery 

Check out our guide on the Best Fabric Office Chairs

RESPAWN Specter – Best Mesh Gaming Chair Under $500

Read our full RESPAWN Gaming Chairs Review

When you think of gaming chairs, you may think of a PU leather seat with race car stripes and flashy colors. However, the Respawn Specter has the look and feel of an office chair. Instead of PU leather, the Specter has an elegant full mesh design optimized for comfort and ventilation. 

Compared to other upholstery types like fabric and PU leather, mesh offers the most airflow into your chair. The perforated surface keeps your back cool and dry and helps you avoid sweating. Additionally, mesh materials provide better flexibility, which gives ample support to upper and lower back muscles. Mesh material tends to be more adaptive to your movements to provide continuous support. 

Unlike most chairs that use a one-piece backrest, the Specter has a three-part contoured back that adapts to back muscles. The bottom section of the backrest pushes outward to support your lumbar spine. 

Also, this chair features a synchro-tilt mechanism, where the seat angle raises one degree for every two degrees that the backrest reclines. This means the front edge of the seat remains closer to the ground, enabling the feet to stay relatively flat on the floor while sitting in a reclined position. Also, the synchro-title motion helps open the torso angle to improve spinal alignment and improve circulation in your legs.  

Pros: 

• A fully mesh chair allows maximum airflow to prevent sweaty backs and keep users cool 
• Waterfall seat edge promotes blood flow circulation in your lower extremities 
• Tilt-tension control lets users control the ease and speed of recline 
• Three-part mesh contoured back cradles users and provides optimal back support 
• Synchro-tilt mechanism improves spinal alignment and improves circulation 

Cons: 

• Some gamers may prefer a padded cushioned seat instead of a mesh 

Check out our guide on the Best Mesh Gaming Chairs

RESPAWN RSP 900 – Best Reclining Gaming Chair Under $500

Reclining gaming chairs are an excellent option for console gamers. That’s because most people play console games on their TV screens, so they’ll need a chair that sits lower to the ground. 

The Respawn RSP 900 features a continuous surface leg rest allowing you to kick your feet up. Changing your leg position helps improve blood flow circulation to your legs. Furthermore, staying in a static position for long periods leaves you prone to muscle pains. That’s why having a reclining function and leg rest is incredibly important to any gaming chair. 

This reclining gaming chair also includes a built-in cup holder on the leg arm and a removable side pouch to hold accessories such as controllers, remotes, phones, keys, and wallets. 

Sitting on the Respawn RSP 900 feels like sitting in a movie theater seat. The chair has a thick cushioned armrest, a large headrest pillow, and segmented padding on the chair to leave you comfy and cozy while you’re enjoying your favorite games. 

Pros: 

• A recliner chair is perfect for people who enjoy console games 
• Side pockets and cup holder to hold drinks at accessories 
• Footrest extensions let you relax and take pressure off of your legs 
• Thick segmented padding and dense headrest pillow keeps you comfortable for a long time 
• The footrest is a continuous surface to prevent wires from getting caught around the chair

Cons: 

• Lumbar support is lacking 

Check out our guide on the Best Recliner Gaming Chairs

Homall Gaming Recliner – Best Sofa Recliner Under $500

Sitting for long periods while gaming can place a lot of stress on your body. The Homall gaming recline helps alleviate pressure by keeping your back supported and your legs elevated. This puts your body in a state of relaxation to rejuvenate your body. 

The Homall chair recliner has a backrest that can recline from 90 degrees to 180 degrees, making it suitable for gaming, watching movies, or napping. Compared to standard gaming chairs, this one is larger and offers more padding to make it comfortable for sitting hours at a time. 

Furthermore, this chair has a built-in lumbar massager to help relieve the tension in your lower back muscles. It comes with a remote control that allows you to control the vibration settings. Users can adjust the motors’ intensity, vibration modes, and speed with the remote control. The motors vibrate and move in a circular motion to improve blood flow and relax any stiff back muscles in the lumbar region. 

Pros: 

• Massage function in the lumbar support helps to relieve pressure and tension in your lower back 
• The sofa recliner can recline up to 180 degrees so you can nap 
• It takes only three minutes to install 
• A great option for console gamers 
• The dense and thick sponge cushion provides pressure relief and comfort 

Cons: 

• Armrests are thin and non-adjustable 

Dowinx Gaming Chair – Best Massage Gaming Chair Under $500

Sitting for long periods can cause tight hips and back pain. That’s because your hip flexors and shortens, and your back is prone to hunching over. However, the Dowinx gaming chair aims to prevent these side effects by promoting movement in your chair. 

This chair has an extendable footrest to adjust to the length of your legs. Furthermore, it’s well-padded to alleviate some pressure off your lower body and improve blood flow circulation. Keeping your legs elevated is a great way to numbness, aches, and tight hips. 

Moreover, the gaming chair offers a reclining function where users can tilt back from a 90-degree angle to a 160-degree angle. Whether you want to lie down for a quick nap or need to sit up for intense gameplay, the reclining function can support your needs. 

The chair features an advanced USB-powered massage lumbar pillow to help relieve back lower back tightness or pain. The motors will rotate to loosen the back muscles to help you feel refreshed and rejuvenated. Not to mention, the lumbar pillow helps to fill the lumbar curve and keep you in a healthy upright posture. 

Pros: 

• The backrest can recline up to 160 degrees and has four tilt-lock positions 
• The seat cushion features five inches of high-density foam for durability and comfort 
• It has an extendable footrest to keep your feet relaxed and improve blood flow circulation 
• USB-powered massage lumbar pillow relieves stress in your lower back 
• Supports up to 350 pounds 

Cons: 

• Armrests are non-adjustable 

Check out our guide on the Best Massage Gaming Chairs

How to Choose the Best Gaming Chair Under $500- Complete Buyer’s Guide  

Knowing the best gaming chairs under $500 isn’t enough. It’s important to know what to look for in a chair so that you select the one that is right for you. This varies based on your height, build comfort preferences, price, and more. 

Materials & Build Quality

Most gaming chairs either use PU leather, fabric, or mesh upholstery. PU leather may require the least maintenance since it’s likely to be stain and scratch-resistant. Whereas the fabric can be prone to stains or food getting stuck into the pockets. However, fabric upholstered chairs are more breathable. 

Another material to look for is the density of the foam cushion. A high-density foam cushion maintains its structural integrity. Seat cushions also tend to be cold-cured, meaning the air pockets are dispersed around the foam, which helps the foam return to its original shape when pressure is applied. High-density foams tend to last the longest compared to standard foams. 

A chair that utilizes metal frames and bases tends to have the strongest support and sturdiness. We prefer chairs with a steel frame over a nylon frame. Nylon frames use more plastic material, increasing the likelihood of damage. 

Look for potential indicators of good build quality such as high weight capacity, third-party certifications, or generous warranty guarantees. If a chair has a five-year warranty, the manufacturer is confident about the build quality of their chair. For example, Secretlab Titan Evo is ANSI/BIFMA certified, meaning the chair has been thoroughly tested for durability, comfort, and safety. 

Ergonomics

A gaming chair is ergonomic if it has plenty of adjustments to support your body type and sitting preferences. As a consumer you should look for adjustable seat height, armrests, back angle, lumbar support, headrest, tilt tension, and even synchro-tilt. 

The seat height adjustment allows you to adjust the seat to fit your height. This ensures your feet are planted on the floor, your knees are parallel with your hips and your monitor screen is eye-level. 

Armrest adjustability ensures your forearms and wrists are parallel to the workstation. As a result, you can prevent wrist strains while using your mouse and keyboard. Furthermore, armrests have been proven to reduce shoulder and elbow loads. 

Adjustability lumbar support is a critical support to keep your spine aligned and your back in an upright position. If possible, we recommend getting a chair with integrated lumbar support such as the Titan Evo. It allows you to adjust the height and the amount of support you need for your lower back. 

Tilt tension adjustability lets users decide how much pressure is needed to recline the backrest. This allows users to feel balanced and enjoy a “rocking sensation.” Less tilt tension can be advantageous since it leads to redistribution of pressure points and increased circulation. 

Comfort (seat comfort, back comfort, arm comfort)

There are certain characteristics that make a gaming chair more comfortable than others. Most gaming chairs use high-density foam cushion padding to provide pressure relief to your buttocks. This prevents coccyx and hip pain since it distributes your weight evenly across the seat. A mesh gaming chair may have a waterfall seat edge, which prevents any cut-off in blood circulation at the knees. 

Heat-build-up and sweating can easily cause discomfort in the body. Nobody likes sitting in a heated chair. If sweating is a problem, we recommend getting a fabric chair like the AKRacing Core Series EX or a mesh chair like the Respawn Specter. These chairs have pockets of holes in the fabric that allow airflow to pass through to prevent heat build-up. Staying cool and dry allows you to stay comfortable and prevent the transfer of body heat onto the chair. 

Back comfort typically comes down to the reclining function and their lumbar support. Most gaming chairs have a deep recline function. Sitting in a reclined function can improve or prevent problems such as neck, back, shoulder, and joint stiffness. Reclining helps to decompress the spine and take the pressure off of your back muscles, allowing your body to relax. 

The lumbar support supports your lower back enabling you to easily sit up straight without putting a strain on your back. An adjustable backrest should allow you to fit into the lumbar curve easily. Without the adjustment, you can do more harm than good if the support doesn’t support the right area. 

An armrest aims to provide support to your forearms and wrists. This prevents your wrists from bending, which can strain your wrists and cause carpal tunnel syndrome. Having forearm support also helps to reduce strain in your neck and shoulders. 

Features

Depending on the gaming chair you select, they may offer various unique features that you won’t find on your standard gaming chair. For example, the Homall gaming chair offers a built-in lumbar massage function that vibrates to relieve muscle tension and help you relax. Sitting all day can cause the back muscles to become stiff, which leads to disc degeneration and chronic pain. 

Another useful feature that some gaming chairs offer is an extendable footrest. This allows your feet to rest in an elevated position to improve circulation in your lower extremities and prevent fatigue or stiffness in static muscles. Increased circulation is proven to improve brain focus and concentration, which can help enhance your gameplay. 

Weight Capacity

The weight capacity is usually correlated with the build quality of a chair. Gaming chairs that can support a lot of weight generally have a steel frame and aluminum base. Metal materials tend to hold more weight and provide greater stability.

Furthermore, chairs will incorporate a heavy-duty or high-density foam cushion to prevent deterioration. For example, the Vertagear PL 6000 utilizes a high resilience foam that can withstand 62% more per cubic foot. Standard gaming chairs usually only support up to 250 pounds, but the Vertagear PL6000 can withstand up to 440 pounds. 

Design

Gaming chairs are best known for their two-toned flashy colors and race-car-themed design. In fact, gaming chairs were inspired by race cars, so many of them include a bucket-seat design. We recommend finding a gaming chair with an open seat design, which is more spacious and gives greater freedom of movement. 

Most gaming chairs offer plenty of colored accents, where users can choose the colorway that best matches their interior design. Secretlab Titan Evo is unique in that it offers logo designs on the chair back based on esports teams or pop-culture icons. 

Price 

For most consumers, price plays a role in their decision. Luckily, we’ve provided chairs in all price ranges to suit your needs. Low-budget gamers may choose the GTRACING gaming chair or GTRACING Ace Series L3. They offer the essential features that everyone needs to feel supported during intense gameplay. 

However, if the price isn’t an issue, we recommend paying a little more to get the Secretlab Titan Evo. For the extra cost, you’ll get advanced ergonomic features that are customized to your body type and movement. Not to mention, you’ll have more visually appealing design options to choose from. 

Keep in mind; you generally get what you pay for. Higher-priced chairs offer better build quality, ergonomics, and even a longer warranty. 

Recap of the Best Gaming Chairs Under $500

Gaming Chair Under $500	Best For
Secretlab Titan Evo	Best Overall
GTRACING Gaming Chair	Budget Pick
GTRACING ACE Series L3	Best Value
Vertagear PL6000	Best for Big and Tall People
DXRacer Racing Series	Best for Short People
AKRacing Core Series EX	Best Fabric
RESPAWN Specter	Best Mesh
RESPAWN RSP 900	Best Reclining Gaming Chair
Homall Gaming Recliner	Best Sofa Relciner
Dowinx Gaming Chair	Best Massage Gaming Chair

Conclusion 

Gaming is incredibly fun, but the pains you receive from sitting all day aren’t. That’s why finding an ergonomic and comfortable gaming chair can help relax your body and reduce the strain that sitting can cause. 

We recommend looking for chairs with many adjustments, ergonomic features, and solid lumbar support. Fortunately, we’ve done the heavy lifting for you and given you the best affordable gaming chairs in the market. Now it’s your turn to choose the right chair for your needs!