Choosing the right chair is an important way to make sure you both are comfortable while you work or play And So you don’t hurt yourself while doing it. Sitting in the right position is vital, but not all chairs are created equal and some are better at getting you to sit correctly than others.
Some are just more comfortable. Or look cool. It is unlikely that you will be able to tick every box with even the best gaming chairs or the best office chairs, but knowing what characteristics office chairs and gaming chairs tend to have will help in making your decision.
We’ll walk you through the main similarities (there aren’t many) and differences (there are some significant ones) between the two camps so you can choose the right one for you. We’ll start with the one that people tend to gravitate toward first — the price.
Gaming chairs vs. office chairs: price and availability
If you are looking for the cheapest chair available, it will probably be an office chair. They are often built with a budget in mind so businesses can fill rooms with them without spending a fortune. Unfortunately, that often means that they aren’t very good either.
Office chairs can start around $50, while your entry-level gaming chair will usually start around $100, but those prices can add up very quickly.
At the bottom of these price ranges, you can expect minimal, if any, cushioning, as well as fewer ways to adjust the chair to adjust it properly. But if it’s just about having something to hold yourself, office chairs are where they’re at. However, you can easily spend thousands of dollars on high-end office chairs as well. The best gaming chairs tend to sit in the mid hundreds.
Gaming chairs vs. office chairs: design
You might think that the chair’s design is somewhat set in stone, and you’d be right to a certain extent. Obviously you’ll need somewhere to actually sit and then there’s a backrest too. If you’re lucky, there’s somewhere for your arms, too.
These days, nearly every chair comes with armrests, though some office chairs at the bottom of the price range may be missing this luxury. Where things really differ between an office chair and a gaming chair is the overall setup.
Most gaming chairs are generally larger than their office counterparts. They’re designed to resemble the bucket seats of a sports car, making them larger, curvier, and more rounded. You can usually expect a bit more padding, and the setup often has you sitting in a more reclining position. This is good for initial comfort, but bad for ergonomics.
Gaming chairs, due to their target market, are often more “there” as a result. You’ll find colorful designs, sometimes with movie or game links. You might even find LED lights, too. It’s a real smörgåsbord of gaming clichés out there.
In contrast, office chairs are usually designed with ergonomics in mind. Unless you’re paying a lot more money, expect something that feels a lot more functional than a gaming chair. You won’t find any colorful cushions here, but you will most likely be able to sit in the right position more easily and there are plenty of them Comfortable chairs to choose from.
In the end, it will all depend on what you are looking for in terms of aesthetics and comfort here. You can get some great office chairs if you’re willing to spend the money, and some gaming chairs let you adjust just about everything to find the right position, too.
Gaming chairs vs. office chairs: Performance
Whichever chair you choose, it will do a job in that it will allow you to sit on it and get important work done or play serious games. But the devil is in the details.
As previously teased, gaming chairs often have more positional options in terms of backrest, armrests, and height. The armrests in particular can be articulated in different ways depending on which model you choose. Even the cheaper options allow you to move it back and forth as well as vertically to make sure you are sitting properly. Unless you’re willing to spend more than the $50 starting price, office chairs are sadly missing here.
While a gaming chair may allow you to move the armrests closer as well as farther away, office chairs often don’t. This means that the former can sometimes provide more flexibility for different body types, for example. Larger seats and adjustable lumbar support, such as Secretlab TitanAlso worth keeping your eyes peeled for.
One of the standout advantages of office chairs is the previously mentioned ergonomics. They tend to be built to ensure that whatever company you use won’t find themselves on the end of a lawsuit, so they almost force you to sit right. Whether that also means you’ll sit comfortably is another matter, but your back may thank you in the long run.
The same is true for your hips, as office chairs usually flush down in the front to ensure that your knees are at the proper height to avoid strain on your hips and back. Again, it may not feel comfortable at first, but it’s the best way to sit if you don’t want to be in pain when you try to get up again. You’ll look even cooler doing it than your gaming chair!
Gaming Chairs vs. Office Chairs: Which One Is Right for You?
In case it hasn’t become clear yet, there is no right chair for everyone. Which one is best for you will definitely depend on who you are, your body type, how long you sit in the chair, and more.
It will also come down to aesthetics. People who play in a room full of LED lights etc. might want something a little more fancy, but those who work in a home office with perfectly curated plants and artwork might opt for something completely different. If this is the style you’re looking for, then this is the way to go vital branch It’s hard to beat – but you’ll definitely pay for it.
If you have the option, try out different chairs for yourself and see which one suits you and your aesthetic best. This may not be easy in the world of online orders, so check our returns policies in case you change your mind.