Both gaming chairs and office chairs are very comfortable. Even though they are made for different purposes, they still have much in common. The first thing you need to do when trying to decide between a gaming chair vs office chair is to ask yourself one simple question: what do you intend to do with the chair?
Gaming Chair vs Office Chair comparison: the biggest difference between a gaming chair and an office chair lies in the design. Generally, gaming chairs resemble car seats and are more padded, usually made with faux leather material. Office chairs, on the other hand, are often thinner and more streamlined.
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With that said, there are many differences between gaming chairs and office chairs. In this post, we will compare gaming vs. office chairs and discuss their unique features. Once you determine exactly what you’re going to do with your chair, it naturally will be a lot simpler to decide which chair to buy in the end.
Gaming Chair vs. Office Chair
The most common form of a gaming chair. It has more padding than office chairs and is covered with a faux leather material.
Although gaming chairs are often used for leisure and office chairs are mostly used for work, the two classes of chairs can be used interchangeably without any major problems. Why is that?
First of all, both chairs are made for comfort. Most of the time, they are both very large chairs with many cushions to keep you comfortable for a very long time. A lot of these chairs even have an ergonomic design to keep you from suffering repetitive motion injuries, and that is yet another one of their many benefits.
The fact that both of these chairs have the same goal in mind – to keep users comfortable and pain-free for long periods of time – is one of the reasons they are made so similarly. However, there are key differences in the two chairs, as seen in the gaming chair vs office chair comparison table below:
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Gaming Chairs vs Office Chairs FAQs
Now that you’ve understood the basic differences between gaming chairs and office chairs let’s take a look at some of the most common questions often asked surrounding this gaming vs. office chair debate.
1. Are gaming chairs more comfortable than office chairs?
A common question often asked is: are gaming chairs more comfortable than office chairs? Whether gaming chairs are more comfortable than office chairs depends strictly on the user’s preference. Generally, office chairs offer more adjustability, while gaming chairs offer more padding or cushion for comfort.
With more padding and cushioning, a gaming chair can offer a more soft and supple feel when you sit. It also has a padded, comfortable seat to keep the buttocks and legs supported. Your neck and lumbar region will also be supported thanks to lumbar pillows that support the spine and its natural curves.
2. Can gaming chairs be used as office chairs?
So, can gaming chairs be used as office chairs? Yes, gaming chairs can be used as office chairs. Some models, like this one, are labeled ergonomic gaming chairs. This means the chair is designed to promote better or healthy posture while looking like a swaggy and cool racing-style gaming chair.
Did you know that several pro gamers and streamers use ergonomic office chairs instead of ‘racing-style’ gaming chairs?
Michael “Shroud” Grzesiek sits on a Herman Miller Aeron with an additional headrest.
Take Michael “Shroud” Grzesiek as an example. As the third most popular streamer in the world, he uses the Herman Miller Aeron, arguably one of the best office chairs from the Herman Miller brand. The well-known Canadian made his mark on the Twitch platform with over 7 million followers.
This is a testament to how comfortably office chairs can also be used as standard gaming chairs and vice versa.
3. How different is a gaming chair from an office chair in terms of design?
Another primary difference between gaming chair vs office chair is their standard design or aesthetics. Gaming chairs are famous for having flashy colors or several colors. For instance, some chair components, like the stitching or accents, are more colorful than the chair’s actual seat, headrest, and backrest.
On the other hand, an office chair usually has a subtle design and comes in basic, safer palettes, such as white, gray, and black. That said, you’ll now find models in bright colors, such as pink, but still not as flashy as the design of gaming chairs to match the wants of more chair buyers.
How to Decide Between Gaming Chair or Office Chair
Now, how do you decide between a gaming chair or an office chair? Of course, if you’ll be using the chair for neither gaming nor office work, it might be more of a challenge to buy the right one. Therefore, let’s look at some of the things you need to consider when deciding between these two types of chairs.
1. How long will you use the chair?
First, let’s look at how long you’ll be using the chair. If your plan is to use the chair for just a few hours a day, either a basic office chair or a typical gaming chair will work just fine. Both types of chairs, ironically, do not always accommodate all-day use. If you’re planning to be in the chair for no more than two to three hours daily, you can’t go wrong with either one.
However, if you plan to use the chair for long hours, you must choose one for prolonged use. Thankfully, several gaming and office chairs come with a recline feature. This allows you to take a rest or frequent breaks in between working and gaming sessions, should you need to work and play for long periods of time.
If you sit all day long, you will start slouching to accommodate the weight of your body, so you’re unconsciously sitting with a poor posture. This is also why people who sit for long periods of time (more than four hours at a time) tend to have numerous muscular aches and pains, some of which become chronic over time. Choosing the right chair should be top priority, not only to have a comfortable experience but to prevent health issues due to poor posture.
PRO TIP: If your job or occupation demands longer sitting hours, consider reviewing the best computer chair for long hours of sitting. We spent countless hours of research and testing to ensure that you can make the best buying decision and achieve better comfort, all the while avoiding unnecessary work-related injuries.
PRO TIP: If your job or occupation demands longer sitting hours, consider reviewing the best computer chair for long hours of sitting. We spent countless hours of research and testing to ensure that you can make the best buying decision and achieve better comfort, all the while avoiding unnecessary work-related injuries.
2. Where do you plan to place your chair?
The next thing you need to consider when deciding on the style of chair that will work best for your needs is the room where you’ll place it. The overall design of gaming chairs isn’t too universal compared to common office chair designs. Also, these chair styles are bulkier and bigger.
It goes without saying that if you have enough space, choose gaming chairs over office chairs. You’ll find that it’s the better choice whether you’ll use the chair to accomplish work assignments or play your favorite video games.
On the contrary, a more professional at-home office environment would require an office chair. That is especially true for remote office workers who attend video conferences, meetings, and client calls. We highly recommend opting for premium office chairs even though they belong to the higher price scale. A premium model ensures you stay comfortable even when working for a couple of hours.
3. What type of design do you like?
Once you’ve decided the intended purpose of the chair, you can now consider the design of the chair itself. Do you prefer a bright-colored racing-style design that shouts awesome? Or do you prefer a sleek and modern ergonomic office chair that oozes class and sophistication? The choice comes down to you, the chair owners.
Office chairs often offer more adjustment options. They are made either with fabric, breathable mesh, or leather. Gaming chairs, on the other hand, offer more padding, but usually come with a faux leather material only. Ultimately, you can have peace of mind knowing that both gaming and office chairs can be used interchangeably.
Ergonomic office chairs offer a more sleek and modern design than gaming chairs. Newer models are designed to support your body while sitting. Office chairs can also be used for gaming and vice versa.
Office chairs often offer more adjustments. They are made either with fabric, mesh, or leather. Gaming chairs, on the other hand, offer more padding but usually come with a faux leather material only. Ultimately, you can have peace of mind knowing that gaming and office chairs can be used interchangeably.
4. What Additional Features Do You Need?
Apart from the basic features of your chair for gaming or office work, you also have to consider extra features you specifically prefer and need. Some manufacturers integrate their chairs with massage functions, adaptive mesh upholstery, and bells and whistles for maximum comfort and support.
Most of them are highly beneficial for individuals with shoulder, neck, and back issues. Remember that the more advanced features are added, the higher the chair is in the price scale. Nonetheless, investing in high-end chairs will make your life more convenient.
5. What’s your budget?
Last but not least, you should consider your budget. How much are you willing to spend on your ultimate personal chair? Some ergonomic office chairs go upwards of $1,000 (you can find ergonomic office chairs under $200, too), but offer top-of-the-line ergonomic features that can last for a very long time. While they are expensive, they are worth the investment.
The same can also be said about comfortable gaming chairs. One of the most popular gaming chair brands, DXRacer, offers some of the top gaming chairs in the world. Their top-notch gaming chairs should fit the bill if you want an excellent, high-end gaming chair. You can check out the best prices on Amazon here.
Final Verdict
And there you have it, a breakdown of the gaming chair vs. office chair comparison. Whether you are looking to enjoy time playing games for leisure or work hard on your side hustle, choosing the right chair for your needs should be a top priority. After all, sitting comfortably should be the norm, not a luxury.
Taking everything into account, we recommend you to invest in the best ergonomic office chair. The reason is simple: better sitting posture.
Even pro gamers now use ergonomic premium office chairs instead of ‘racing-style’ gaming chairs. Office chairs are designed for healthier sitting combined with a modern look.
