The Best Gaming Chair Deals This Week*
*Deals are selected by our commerce team
Whether you play PC games on a monitor or console games on a TV, you need a place to sit. You can use any form of seating, including a sofa, La-Z-Boy, or dining room chair, but if you really want an optimal seating arrangement for while you play, you should buy a dedicated gaming chair. They’re comfortable, sturdy, and designed with gamers in mind.
We’ve tested many of the most popular gaming chairs on the market and narrowed them down to this list of the very best. Read on for our top picks, followed by what to consider when buying the right gaming chair for you.
Cooler Master Caliber X1C
Best Overall for the Price
Why We Picked It
Most gaming chairs we recommend cost around $500, and finding a model that stands up against them for significantly less is rare. The Cooler Master Caliber X1C costs less than $400 and is comfortable, sturdy, and generally as pleasant to sit in as pricier, conventional chairs. Its armrests are a bit stiff and there aren’t many color options, but those are our only real complaints.
Who It’s For
This is simply a good gaming chair at a reasonable price. We can recommend it for nearly any gamer, though if you want some fancy design elements, such as internal lumbar support or a magnetic head pillow, you might need to spend a bit more money. This chair is structurally simple and direct, but it’s also made very well.
PROS
- Excellent build quality, with dense foam and metal base
- Dual material upholstery features breathable fabric and attractive faux leather
- Deceptively simple, well-designed lumbar pillow
CONS
- Some stiff armrest adjustments
- Lacks color options besides light gray
Herman Miller X Logitech G Vantum
Best “Budget” Herman Miller Chair
Why We Picked It
There’s no question the Herman Miller X Logitech G Embody (see below) is a fantastically comfortable chair, but it’s also absurdly expensive. The Herman Miller X Logitech G Vantum is, well, also really pricey, but at $1,000 it’s much less so. It incorporates adaptive plates that shift to support your lumbar area and upper-back areas, and ends up feeling supremely comfortable because of it. Add a 12-year warranty, and this is a four-digit gaming chair that’s worth your time.
Who It’s For
This is for gamers and workers who spend most of their time at their desk and can afford to spend a bit more for the best possible support. The Vantum is expensive, but its engineering and overall feel justify that price.
PROS
- Fantastic lumbar and upper-back support
- Strong build with high weight tolerance
- Clever reclining adjustment
- 12-year warranty
Secretlab Titan EVO (2022 Series)
Best for Custom Options
Why We Picked It
Secretlab’s chairs have consistently ranked among our top picks for years, and the 2022 Titan EVO continues that trend. This is simply an excellent chair, with rock-solid build quality, dense-but-giving foam, and supple faux leather. The Titan EVO represents Secretlab combining its gaming chair lines (Omega and Titan) into a single product with the best features from both, and a variety of size and material options. Most notable is a two-knob internal lumbar support that lets you adjust the chair’s height and firmness to hit your lower back just right.
Who It’s For
The Titan EVO is a bit pricey at $550 (and up), but you’ll receive one of the nicest conventional gaming chairs available if you can afford it. It’s also available in three different sizes and your choice of faux leather, fabric, or NAPA leather (that one will push $1,000). Plus, there are dozens of different designs, including esports teams, DC superheroes, and League of Legends characters.
PROS
- Excellent build quality
- Comfortable
- Several clever design elements
- Easy assembly
CONS
- Magnetic head pillow can be nudged off
- Faux leather is vulnerable to cats
Respawn Spire
Best for an Embody Alternative
Why We Picked It
The Herman Miller X Logitech G Embody might have the most advanced ergonomics on this list, but it also has the highest price. The Respawn Spire offers a similar look and feel for much less money. It combines a cooling, faux-leather seat with dense mesh on the back, and adds comfortable reclining and the unique ability to flip your armrests down when you don’t want them. We wish it didn’t have a big “R” on it, though.
Who It’s For
This is for gamers who want a minimalist style and strong ergonomics, but don’t want to spend Herman Miller money. This isn’t the cheapest chair, but it’s definitely not the most expensive, and it offers a comfortable seat with handy flip-down armrests.
PROS
- Extremely comfortable
- Pleasant reclining motion
- Arms swing down, out of the way
- Faux leather doesn’t get hot
- Sturdy mesh fabric
CONS
- Armrests too easily slide forward and back
- Huge “R” branding loses some style points
AndaSeat Kaiser 3
Best for a Comfortable Sit
Why We Picked It
The AndaSeat Kaiser 3 is simply a good gaming chair, feeling similar to the Secretlab Titan EVO in design and materials. It doesn’t have as many size or color options as that top-notch competitor, but it has a built-in adjustable lumbar support, dense foam padding, and a magnetic armrest mount for a desk accessory AndaSeat plans to release later this year.
Who It’s For
Anyone looking for a Titan EVO alternative. The Titan EVO edges out the Kaiser 3 in variety and (just barely) upholstery quality, and the Cooler Master Caliber X1C is less expensive, but this is still an excellent gaming chair to consider. Keep an eye for it if you can find it for below retail price.
PROS
- Supportive and comfortable
- Clever (if familiar) built-in lumbar support and magnetic head pillow
- Solid padding and faux leather
CONS
- Armrests easily pop off
- PVC leather isn’t quite as soft or supple as on some competitors
Herman Miller X Logitech G Embody
Best for Design Fans
Why We Picked It
Of course Herman Miller has its own gaming chair, and of course it’s the most expensive one on the list. The Herman Miller X Logitech G Embody is a collaboration between Herman Miller and Logitech, and it tips the price scales at $1,800.
So, what do you get for dropping that kind of cash? An incredibly ergonomic chair with multiple adjustments that go beyond the usual height and tilt tweaks. The chair back conforms to the shape of your spine, going significantly further in fitting your back than the knobs, cushions, and bumpy springy sections on other chairs on this list. This is simply one of the best-looking, best-feeling gaming chairs available.
Who It’s For
Do you have deep pockets? Then get this chair. If you don’t, just about every other option on this list costs a third as much money. This is a gaming chair with a price comparable with our favorite gaming laptops, and it’s not for the faint of wallet.
PROS
- Arrives fully assembled
- Very comfortable
- Many adjustable elements to personalize the feel
- Lengthy 12-year warranty
CONS
- Extremely expensive
- Fairly low-key look for such a pricey chair
Playseat Puma
Best for Front-of-Couch Seating
Why We Picked It
This chair isn’t meant for desk use. This is specifically for gaming in front of your TV, with a light design you can easily toss aside if you want to hang out on the couch with friends. It might look a little goofy, but it’s quite comfortable to sit on, and can gently rock back if you want to further stretch out while you play. It also has useful pockets for stashing your various gamepads and remotes.
Who It’s For
If your couch is just a bit too far away from your TV to comfortably game on, or you just want a more solid seat rather than big, wide cushions, this is the chair for you. It’s small, but sturdy enough to support larger body sizes, feels comfortable whether you want to lean back or bend forward, and you can tuck it away whenever you don’t want your living room to reek of “gamer.”
PROS
- Lightweight, sturdy build
- Comfortable design lets you sit as you’d like
- Useful pockets
CONS
- Not suitable for long, lazy TV-watching sessions
Razer Enki X
Best Build Quality for the Price
Why We Picked It
Your affordable gaming chair doesn’t have to look like it. The Razer Enki X looks and feels just like the more expensive Enki gaming chair because its seat and back are identical. The only differences are the lack of a tilt mechanism (the back reclines, but the entire chair can’t rock back like most can) and fewer armrest adjustments. The tilt’s absence might actually be a boon for some users; I found the Enki X comfortable to sit in, while the pricier Enki Pro hurt my back (the only real ergonomic difference between the two is the tilt). Your mileage can vary just like with any chair, but in my experience with the Enki models, less motion means more comfort.
Who It’s For
Obviously you should consider this if you’re a Razer fan on a budget, but it’s an attractive option for any gamer who wants a conventional seat in the $300 range. It looks good and feels good, even if it doesn’t tilt.
PROS
- Excellent build quality on the seat and chair back
- Very comfortable
- Inexpensive
CONS
- No tilt mechanism
- Lacks 4D armrests
Buying Guide: The Best Gaming Chairs for 2023
What Is the Best Chair for Gaming?
At first glance, gaming chairs don’t look all that different from desk chairs. They’re typically pretty large, with backrests that extend high enough to support your head, along with large armrests and a swiveling base with wheeled castors that let you roll and spin freely (with a few exceptions, like the Puma Active Gaming Seat). You’ve probably seen “executive” office chairs that look pretty similar. Gaming chairs have a few key differences, though.
First, gaming chairs’ color and style options are generally very different from office chairs. Most office chairs focus on dark colors and earth tones, and have more traditional seat designs. Gaming chairs usually come in a variety of colors, and even if the chair is mostly black, there will likely be many eye-catching accents. Some gaming chairs are even branded with superheroes or e-sports teams or movies or shows. The seats of gaming chairs are also designed more closely after racing chairs used in simulators, so you’re going to see a lot more bucket seats than frumpy armchair designs.
Second, gaming chairs are much more adjustable. All of the models we’ve tested have the usual options like height and tilt, just like office chairs. But they go a step further with adjustable armrests you can pivot, slide, and move up and down. Sadly, we’ve yet to find any with cupholders.
Third, gaming chairs recline. While office chairs generally offer only limited adjustments on the angle between the seat and the back of the chair, gaming chairs let you lean back with the pull of a lever. Every gaming chair we’ve tested has a reclining function that lets you sit back comfortably and stare at your TV as easily as you can lean forward and watch your computer monitor.
All of these features add up to a sturdier, more comfortable chair you can easily use in a variety of situations. It also adds up to a hefty price tag: Gaming chairs typically run from around $200 to $600 (with good ones starting at around $300, and some extreme picks reaching near $2,000), making them much more expensive than a basic desk chair you can get at an office supply store. Of course, if you’re going to spend a lot of time in it, you probably want to invest in a good one. They’re like beds that way.
Does Gaming Chair Size Matter?
The most important thing to consider when shopping for a gaming chair is size. Gamers vary wildly in body types, and most manufacturers make chairs specifically designed different sizes.
Standard gaming chairs usually support a maximum of 240 to 300 pounds, depending on the model. Larger, more heavy-duty chairs support maximum weights of 350, 400, and even 450 pounds. The difference in seat dimensions can vary by several inches in width and depth, which can lead to an uncomfortable chair if you buy one that’s too big or small.
Fortunately, most manufacturers offer detailed measurements for every aspect of their chairs. Seat depth and width, backrest height and width, armrest height range, and other measurements affects how a chair feels. If you aren’t sure about a given model, go over the measurements and compare them with your current chair.
What Is the Most Comfortable Gaming Chair?
A chair’s materials are also important to consider, both what’s packed inside and what’s wrapped around it. Most gaming chairs we’ve seen use polyurethane leather (PU), a leather-like synthetic material, for the covering, and dense foam for the padding. It’s the most common configuration for a gaming chair, but it isn’t the only option. Some chairs have fabric shells, while others are available in genuine leather (for significantly more money).
The chairs on this list all use similar foam padding, but the amount and placement of the padding can vary. The seat will almost always be solid, as it should be to support your weight, but the chair back is a different story. Some chairs pad the back’s skeleton, but otherwise use a thinner padding layer and PU leather to provide more give with less mass. Meanwhile, the SecretLab Titan EVO completely packs its chair back with foam. We’re fans of the thick, full-back foam filling.
There’s value in spending more for a chair that seems to have less material, though. Herman Miller’s chairs are incredibly expensive and look more minimalist than the more overbuilt, conventional gaming chairs on this list, but they feel incredibly comfortable because of all the engineering that goes into adjusting to fit your back.
What Is the Best Gaming Chair for the Price?
It’s best to try furniture before you buy it, but that isn’t always the case for gaming chairs. You can sometimes find a limited selection at your nearby Best Buy, Micro Center, or Staples. Aside from that, your best bet to try these chairs before you buy them is to go to video game conventions, such as Evo or PAX, where gaming chair companies often set up booths with chairs to sit in, and offer convention-exclusive discounts. Otherwise, thoroughly research the chair you’d like to buy, because it’s a significant investment.
For more, check out our favorite desktop and laptop PCs for gaming. While you’re at it, take a look at accessories that will help improve your game, including headsets, keyboards, and mice.
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