# How to set up a gaming chair for desk use Source: https://chairandposture.co.uk/blog/how-to-set-up-a-gaming-chair Published: 2026-10-12 Publisher: Chair and Posture **In short:** Set the seat height first so your feet rest flat and your thighs are roughly level. Lock the back upright for desk work, place the lumbar pillow in the curve of your lower back or remove it, and set the arms level with the desk. Use the neck pillow and recline only when leaning back. Then check your forearms are level with the keyboard. Gaming chairs have the same basic controls as office chairs, plus pillows, deep recline and sometimes a footrest. Set up well, they work at a desk. Set up badly, the pillows push you forward and the bucket seat feels cramped. This guide sets each control in a sensible order, using the HSE display screen equipment points for desk work, and explains how to use the extras. ## Step 1: seat height Stand in front of the chair and raise or lower the seat until the front edge sits just below your knee cap. Sit down with your feet flat on the floor. Your thighs should be roughly level, with your knees at about the same height as your hips. Then check against the desk. With your shoulders relaxed and your elbows by your sides, your forearms should be roughly level with the keyboard. If the desk is too high, raise the chair and add a footrest. Our [standing desk height chart](https://chairandposture.co.uk/blog/standing-desk-height-chart) gives typical desk heights by body height. ## Step 2: recline and tilt lock For desk work, set the back upright or slightly reclined and lock it. Most gaming chairs have a lever on the right that releases the backrest angle, and a rocking tilt with a lock and a tension knob under the seat. Set tension so the chair does not tip back suddenly when unlocked. Save deep recline for breaks or watching. Our [tilt mechanisms explainer](https://chairandposture.co.uk/blog/office-chair-tilt-mechanisms) covers the types of tilt you will find. ## Step 3: lumbar and neck pillows The lumbar pillow should sit in the curve of your lower back, roughly at belt height. If it pushes you forward off the back, it is too thick for you; move it lower, loosen the strap or remove it. Some chairs have a built-in adjustable lumbar instead; our [lumbar guide](https://chairandposture.co.uk/blog/how-to-use-lumbar-support) explains how to set it. The neck pillow is for leaning back. At an upright desk position it can push your head forward, so lift it out of the way or remove it while you type. ## Step 4: arms Set the arms so they are level with or just below the desk surface, with your shoulders relaxed. If the arms stop you getting close to the desk, lower them or turn them inward. 4D arms add depth and angle adjustment, explained in our [armrests explainer](https://chairandposture.co.uk/blog/armrests-2d-3d-4d-explained). ## Step 5: footrest and screen A built-in footrest is for reclining. Tuck it away for desk work so you can keep your feet flat. If your feet do not reach the floor when the seat is at the right height, a separate footrest under the desk is better. Finish with the screen. The HSE suggests the top of the screen at or slightly below eye level, at a comfortable distance, typically about an arm's length. Use a riser or monitor arm to lift it if needed. ## Saving your settings and sharing the chair Gaming chairs rarely have memory settings, so if you share the chair it is worth noting your seat height in notches or cm, the lumbar pillow position and the arm heights. A small piece of tape on the cylinder cover at your seat height makes it quick to reset. Recheck your setup after a few days. Small changes, such as lowering the arms a notch or moving the lumbar pillow a few cm, often make a bigger difference than expected. Our [office chair adjustment guide](https://chairandposture.co.uk/blog/how-to-adjust-an-office-chair) has more detail on each setting and applies to gaming chairs too. ## If the chair still does not fit Bucket seats with raised side bolsters can feel narrow for broader users, and fixed seat depth can be too long for shorter users. If the chair still does not fit after these steps, consider one with a flatter, wider seat or seat depth adjustment. Our [why gaming chairs feel uncomfortable](https://chairandposture.co.uk/blog/why-gaming-chairs-feel-uncomfortable) article covers the usual reasons, and our [gaming chairs guide](https://chairandposture.co.uk/best/best-gaming-chairs) compares current models. [Compare gaming chairs](https://chairandposture.co.uk/best/best-gaming-chairs) ## Frequently asked questions **How high should a gaming chair be?** High enough that your thighs are roughly level with feet flat, and your forearms are level with the keyboard. Add a footrest if you need to raise it further. **Should I use the lumbar pillow?** Use it if it fills the curve of your lower back without pushing you forward. If it does push you forward, move it lower or remove it. **How do I use the footrest on a gaming chair?** Pull it out when reclining. For desk work, tuck it away and keep your feet flat. **Can I game in a reclined position?** For controller gaming, yes. For keyboard and mouse, an upright locked back is easier to set up. ## Buying guides on this topic - https://chairandposture.co.uk/best/best-gaming-chairs - https://chairandposture.co.uk/best/best-gaming-chair-under-400 - https://chairandposture.co.uk/best/best-fabric-gaming-chairs ## Sources - [HSE: Working safely with display screen equipment](https://www.hse.gov.uk/msd/dse/)