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Gaming chair or office chair for work?
Updated
For a workday at a desk, pick whichever chair passes the fit checks. We would start with office chairs, since that is where we found the listings that print the adjustments that matter. A gaming chair can work too if it passes the same checks: a seat height range that fits you, a seat depth that fits you, lumbar you can move, and arms that adjust. The label on the box does not decide it. The numbers do.
The same checks apply to both
CCOHS says a chair becomes ergonomic only when it suits the person's body size, their workstation and their tasks. That holds for any chair, whatever it is called. Run these checks on any listing:
- Seat height range. Find the lowest and highest setting, not one number. Compare with your number from the calculator.
- Seat depth. CCOHS says you should sit with your back on the backrest and no pressure behind your knees.
- Lumbar you can move. OSHA's guide asks for lumbar support that adjusts in height to fit the small of your back. A loose pillow on a strap can work if it stays where you put it.
- Arms. OSHA and CCOHS both want arms that adjust, or that you can move out of the way, so you can pull close to the desk.
- Recline. Cornell's guide says a reclined posture of 100 to 110 degrees is easier on the lower back than sitting bolt upright. Deep gaming-style recline is fine for breaks, but you type at a slight lean.
Questions to ask of any gaming chair listing
| Question | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Is the lumbar a pad built into the back, or a loose pillow? | A loose pillow can slide out of place |
| Is the seat flat, or does it have raised side wings? | Wings can press on wider thighs |
| What is the seat covered in? | Faux leather runs warmer than mesh or fabric |
| Is there a seat height range, not one number? | One number does not tell you if your feet reach the floor |
What we list instead
We do not list gaming chairs. For a work chair that passes the checks above, we would start with the HON Ignition 2.0, which has adjustable lumbar and a sliding seat. Owners are split on its firm seat. On a budget, and if you are about 5 ft 4 in or taller, the SIHOO M18 has adjustable lumbar, a headrest and a printed seat range of 17 to 21 inches. Owners say its arms do not adjust.
Compare all seven picks, or read mesh vs foam if you are weighing a leather gaming chair against a mesh office chair.