Gaming chair vs office chair: which is better for a desk?

Seat shape: bucket against flat

Most gaming chairs borrow from racing seats. The seat has raised side bolsters and the back has wings at shoulder height, which hold you in place when you lean back. Some newer models, such as Corsair's relaxed series and Razer's Iskur V2 X, soften or widen the bolsters because many people found them tight.

Office task chairs use a flatter, wider seat with no raised sides. That leaves you free to shift position and keeps the edge of the seat from pressing on your thighs. A waterfall front edge, which curves down, is common. If you are broad across the hips, a flat seat is usually more forgiving than a bucket seat of the same width.

Adjustment: what each type usually has

The HSE display screen equipment guidance looks for a stable chair with adjustable seat height and a back that supports you, with your forearms roughly horizontal at the keyboard. Both types can manage that, but the details differ.

Office chairs more often have adjustable seat depth, built-in lumbar support you can move, and a synchro or weight-activated tilt that moves with you while you work. Gaming chairs more often use loose lumbar and neck cushions, a separate recline lever and a rocking tilt. Armrests vary across both types, so check whether they are 2D, 3D or 4D.

Recline and lounging

Gaming chairs win on lounging. A separate recline lever lets the back go well past upright, and a head pillow supports you while you watch or play with a controller. Many add a footrest. Office chairs recline less, often stopping somewhere between 120° and 145°, because the tilt is designed to keep you supported while you work rather than lying back.

If you mostly work upright, the extra recline is not much use, and a big gaming chair backrest can get in the way of a desk drawer or a shelf behind you.

Materials and heat

Many gaming chairs use PU leather, which wipes clean but can feel warm in a heated room and may crack with age. Fabric gaming chairs, such as the Corsair T3 Rush, avoid that. Office chairs are more often mesh, which breathes best, or fabric. Our mesh vs fabric vs PU article covers cover materials in more detail.

See fabric gaming chairs →

How to choose

Think about how your hours split. If most of the day is typing and mouse work, an office chair with seat depth, adjustable lumbar and 3D or 4D arms will usually serve you better. If you mainly game with a controller or watch video, a gaming chair's recline and cushions make sense. For mixed use, a gaming chair with 4D arms and a firm seat, or an office chair with a headrest and generous recline, covers both.

• Typing most of the day: office chair
• Controller gaming and films: gaming chair
• Broad hips or thighs: flat seat or relaxed-fit gaming chair
• Warm room: mesh office chair or fabric gaming chair
• Mixed use: 4D arms and adjustable lumbar on either type

See ergonomic office chairs →

Frequently asked questions

Are gaming chairs bad for working? Not necessarily. A well-adjusted gaming chair with good arms and lumbar can work fine. The common problems are tight bolsters, loose cushions that slip and no seat depth adjustment.

Do office chairs work for gaming? Yes, especially for keyboard and mouse games at a desk. They are less suited to lying back with a controller.

Which lasts longer? It depends on build. Look for a steel frame, a class 4 gas lift and a cover that will not peel. Mesh and fabric avoid the cracking that some PU leather shows.

Why do gaming chairs feel uncomfortable to some people? Usually the seat is too narrow or the bolsters press on the thighs. See our article on why gaming chairs feel uncomfortable.