The best gaming chairs will provide not only comfort but give you an all-around premium gaming experience that you can truly relax into. If you're a pro gamer or simply an aficionado, then the chances are you'll be spending a lot of time in this chair!
Bad posture and a poor-quality chair is a bad mix that will leave you feeling full of aches and pains after a short period of time, which is why investing in a decent chair is really a good idea.
Now, you don't have to spend a fortune to get a high-quality gaming chair, and in our round-up, we've selected some of the best models that won't break the bank but are guaranteed to give you a luxury gaming experience.
Whatever you look for in a chair, whether it be the soft fabric, the recline function or stable arm rests, we've detailed everything so you can get the facts and choose the chair that's right for you, without having to search for hours on end.
Check out our list below - all of the chairs in this list have the T3 seal of approval, so you can trust you're investing in only the best gaming chairs available.
Best gaming chairs 2023
Why you can trust T3 Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing products and services so you can choose the best for you. Find out more about how we test.
The best gaming chair for most people? That's the SecretLab Titan.
This is the brand new chair from SecretLab that follows up on the SecretLab Titan SoftWeave gaming chair. Indeed, that chair was so well-reviewed that it went on to win the Best Gaming Chair award at the T3 Awards 2021, beating off all other rivals.
As such, the SecretLab Titan Evo had a tough act to follow this year, but as we detail in our SecretLab Titan Evo review, somehow SecretLab has made the best gaming chair on the market even better.
In our full Secretlab Titan EVO review, we comment that "SecretLab has rolled its existing Titan and Omega chairs together into a single offering that delivers the best of both, while also evolving the gaming chair product in a bunch of small but smart and refined ways."
The seat base has also been redesigned in collaboration with ergonomic experts, and it's super neat as not only does it naturally guide its sitter to sit in the middle, but the user can also lounge out if desired over its wings as they've been made to be soft and malleable. It's literally the best of both worlds.
Naturally, all the quality that was already on offer on SecretLab gaming chairs is also in residence, such as 4D armrests, quality hydraulics and tilt functionality, as well as a really fine selection of upholstery finishes.
The result is that the SecretLab Titan Evo builds upon the packages offered by the Titan and the Omega, offering gamers a similar but better experience across the board.
The Epic series gaming chair from Noblechairs is all about combining luxurious leather, best-in-class quality and a classic style reminiscent of high-end racing car seats. It's an easy pick for one of the best gaming chairs, and we'd recommend adding it to your shortlist if you've got a healthy budget.
In T3's Noblechairs Epic Series Real Leather review we state that "the Epic Series real leather chair from Noblechairs might be just the speed boost your gaming set up needs."
This leather-clad beauty is easy to set up and has a high-density cold foam upholstery for maximum comfort – and it's robust too, so it should last you a long time after you've bought it. Be warned, it's one of the bigger chairs in our list, so it won’t do for tight spaces, though.
Overall, if you are shopping at the premium end of the gaming chair market then the Epic Series Real Leather Chair from NobelChairs should be at the top of your list.
Want to compare the top two chairs in T3's best gaming chairs buying guide? Then be sure to check out our SecretLab Titan SoftWeave vs Noblechairs Epic Series Real Leather comparison feature.
We've also got a dedicated feature comparing this premium-priced chair against a top budget offering, too, so if you're unsure whether you need to spend big, check out our Epic Series Real Leather Chair from Noblechairs vs GTPlayer Gaming Chair comparison feature, too.
The best gaming chair for children? That's the Secretlab Titan XXS.
Interestingly this product started off as an April Fools' Day prank by Secretlab, but due to demand for it, the maker went ahead and made it a reality.
The Secretlab Titan XXS is a 1:2 half-size Secretlab Titan (the chair that top's T3's best gaming chair buying guide), and it is designed for children primarily, although pets and even Totoros can sit in it.
As it is for children it has a recommended maximum weight of 70kg (154lbs) and a maximum height of 160cm (5’2”), so if your child falls under those figures then you're golden.
What's so impressive about the XXS, which stands for "Extra Extra Small", is that it really is just a miniaturized Titan, with the same build quality and upholstery options available to shoppers.
You lose a few features of the full-size chair, including a magnetic head pillow (the XXS comes with a strap-on variety), and the armrests aren't quite as maneuverable, but overall it is a very high quality, premium product.
The price shows its premium nature and heritage, and no doubt it will put off a lot of parents from buying (it costs more than some high-end adult gaming chairs after all), but as T3's Secretlab Titan XXS review says, "If you're a fan of quality gaming chairs and want to buy your child/pet/Totoro a seat to sit on while playing games, then the Secretlab Titan XXS is the product for you."
The good folks at AndaSeat know a thing or two about making a comfortable chair. Their models have peppered this buying guide for years, but this model feels like they've finally nailed the formula.
In our AndaSeat Kaiser 3 review, we praised the chair for its brilliant range of adjustment, which in turn led to a massively comfortable experience. 4D armrests and a 4-way lumbar support system makes for a chair that is fully customisable to your body.
It's also incredibly easy to put together, with clear instructions that will leave you in no doubt as to what you're doing. And, the range of finish options are fantastic. Step outside of the usual blacks and greys, and you'll find a range of pastel pinks, blues and browns that are really pleasing to look at.
If you want a viable alternative to the Secretlab Titan Evo, or just want a chair with a really soft seat, the AndaSeat Kaiser 3 is the one for you.
Razer only recently jumped into the gaming chair market, but its first effort, the Razer Iskur, shows just how well the firm understands gamers, as well as just how on lock it is when creating gaming hardware.
As our Razer Iskur review states, this "is undoubtedly one of the best gaming chairs on the market." Firstly, this gaming chair just oozes luxe, with the most stylish backrest we've ever seen (those lines are gorgeous) and fine, quality stitching throughout its smooth and welcoming upholstery. The chair is only available in one colorway, though, which is Razer's distinctive black and green (matte black PVC leather and green stitching). Obviously, if this is a deal-breaker only you can decide.
Cushioning is firm and the sculpt on the seat means the Iskur delivers very much a racing seat fit, with the gamer firmly held in place on all sides. So if you are a larger gamer or one who prefers a looser fit, then that is something to consider. The max bodyweight of the chair is 299lbs.
As you can see from the price, this isn't a cheap gaming chair, but for gamers with a large budget and/or who already use Razer's gaming products, this feels like an excellent way to extend any gaming setup.
It is important to note that the Razer Iskur now also comes in an all-black colorway, too – the Razer Iskur Black Edition. The Black Edition, which is also a 5-star rated gaming chair, offers the same package as the Iskur but does so with a more mature aesthetic that is comfortable in both a gaming and work environment. It's well worth checking out by professionals who like to game and are looking for a two-in-one upgrade for their home office.
To see how this chair compares to our number one gaming chair choice, be sure to check out our Secretlab Titan vs Razer Iskur comparison feature.
Want the best gaming chair under £100? That's the GTPlayer Gaming Chair.
If you're shopping for the best gaming chair under $150 then the GTPlayer Gaming Chair is our top choice.
Firstly, it is very, very affordable. Some of the other chairs in this guide cost 3 or 4 times as much, something that really highlights is value. That value does not mean janky or poor build quality, though. You get a stylish design finished with smooth bonded leather, added seat and headrest pillows, smooth-rolling casters and excellent maneuverability.
The seat itself can swivel a full 360 degrees, while the seat can recline and rock between 90~150 degrees, too, meaning if you want a quick nap between gaming sessions then you can.
The GTPlayer Gaming Chair is available in 5 stylish colorways, too, including White, Blue, Green, Grey and Red. Setup is straightforward as well and each chair comes with a 30-day return guarantee. Yes, you don't get any fancy features like hidden adjustable lumbar support, magnetic head pillows, 4D armrests and heating, but at this price you just can't complain.
Overall, a really strong ultra-budget gaming chair package. You can spend a little more, too, to get a model with a footrest if you wish, which can be nice if you're got very long legs. Compare this chair to a more premium model in our SecretLab Titan SoftWeave vs GTPlayer Gaming Chair comparison feature.
Is a gaming chair actually worth it?
Just like the best office chairs out there, not all gaming chairs are not created equal. Alongside the health benefits of proper posture support, there's not much of a point in throwing down cash on one of the best gaming monitors, a great gaming laptop and a brilliant gaming headset if you're using a sub-par seat.
Comfort and support are both very important. Gaming chairs take both of these factors into account during design, ensuring you've got a seat that provides proper posture support along with a comfortable cushion for extended use.
It also helps to think of your gaming setup overall and how each piece compliments the other. If your gaming chair, for example, doesn't provide proper height and posture support than even the best gaming mouse in the world won't save your performance since you aren't properly setup to use it.
How we test gaming chairs
T3 reviews a lot of gaming chairs and, as we want to deliver the most authoritative best gaming chair buying guide on the market we have a rigorous three-stage testing process for each seat.
The first stage is chair setup, and this involves us charting exactly how easy it is to assemble a gaming chair when it is delivered. We're looking out for ease of assembly as well as things like how clear the instructions are and if there are any tools included in the box.
Once the chair is assembled we then evaluate its build quality and the caliber of its upholstery. Stitch quality is also analyzed, as that is where many lesser gaming chairs fall down, as well as any included extras such as neck and back cushions. How adjustable the chair is also tested at this point.
The final stage then involves actually sitting in and using the gaming chair to play games, work and stream content from Netflix and YouTube. A variety of games are played, with a specific focus on FPS and RPG, and overall long-term comfort is discovered.
After those four stages are complete, we then compare the chair to the rest of the market and judge it on its value for money in our eyes. Only then do we bestow a score on the gaming chair, with 5 stars the maximum score any seat can attain.
How to find the best gaming chair for you
When buying a gaming chair, look out for the differing levels of comfort and support included with each model, like the ability to make adjustments to height, arm rests, and the way the chair reclines too. Detachable cushions are a bonus as well, for that extra layer of comfort.
You should also find out what discipline or gaming genre the chair might have been tailored for, if any – some of the best gaming chairs on the market have been designed with racing or flight simulations in mind, for example, though there are plenty of general, all-round gaming chairs available too.
Naturally, you should also consider the look and style you're going for when choosing one the best gaming chairs currently available in 2023. Everyone's tastes differ a little in this department.
Fortunately, most gaming chairs are suitably stylish and tend to resemble leather-clad racing car seats, but you'll obviously want to pick a style that goes the best with your gaming room decor, as well as a color that won't annoy you or your partner hours into your latest gaming marathon.
After all, picking out a top-quality gaming chair can make a big difference to your gaming performance, just like your choice of monitor and input devices. Don't make your buying decision lightly, or you could end up with a seat that lets you down in a key area, affecting your comfort or gaming ability.
Remember that different gaming chairs can lean towards one specific genre of game, such as seats that work best in multiplayer FPS like Call of Duty: Modern Warfare or others that are perfect for MOBAs like DOTA 2 or League of Legends. And that's saying nothing of dedicated gaming chairs for racing sims.
Getting the best gaming chair for PC or console means getting a better chance of hitting those enemy targets or those high scores you've been chasing, and that makes it a no-brainer to take some time picking out the absolute best gaming chair for you.
What is the #1 best gaming chair?
There are many different gaming chairs tailored towards PC gaming, as well as playing games on Xbox One, PS4, and Nintendo Switch, with size, build material (such as leather), and feature sets differing.
The best gaming chair is therefore, first and foremost, the one that is most suited to your particular gaming setup and intended usage scenarios. Certain gaming chairs, for example, are built for use in simulation games such as racers and flight sims, while others specialise in supporting gamers in MOBA or FPS titles.
Who makes the best gaming chairs in 2023?
When you're picking out the best gaming chair money can buy, it's also absolutely crucial that you pick one up from a premium, respected chair maker with a proper heritage – or, alternatively, a new brand that comes well recommended by others.
With a lot of new entrants in the market just lately, the waters are now well and truly muddied, making it hard for the uninitiated to tell if a gaming chair has the build quality to go the distance.
The makers that follow here are approved by T3 to be gaming chair producers of the highest quality: Nitro Concepts, Secretlab, GT Omega Racing, EWIN, Noblechairs, X Rocker, DXRacer, Vertagear, Corsair, Brazen, and Songmics.
What type of gaming chair is best? Leather or fabric upholstery
Today there are two main types of gaming chair upholstery, leather (both real and man-made) and fabric. And, what's more, many of the gaming chair ranges from the world's best makers (such as SecretLab, Vertagear and Noblechairs) are available in different finishes when ordering, which raises the question of which is better.
The first thing we would say is that the material your gaming chair is finished in has an affect on the eye first, and beauty is in the eye of each gamer. As such, we say don't be pressured too much by thinking about what you should buy, and instead just get the gaming chair finish that appeals to you most. After all, this is the gaming throne that will sit at the heart of your setup for years to come – so make sure you like the look of it.
Of course, past aesthetics then comes the pricing factor. Fabric finishes tend to be cheaper or on par with fake leather, but there are degrees of quality, with SecretLab's SoftWeave fabric a cut above many entry-level chairs but costing more. Next comes premium faux leather finishes, which tend to dominate the market right now, and then top of the pricing scale is genuine leather, with Napa finishes the most sort after.
In terms of properties, leather chairs tend to be warmer than fabric, and also tend to not be as breathable – which can contribute to sticky back, behind and legs. Leather, and especially real leather, is supremely soft and comfortable, though, and also has a really smart and premium finish.
Fabric finishes tend to be more breathable, and therefore are good for staying cool, but in most scenarios don't offer the smoothness of finish or premium looks of leather seats (again, we'd say SecretLab's SoftWeave fabric is an exception). So it is often down to what each gamer prioritizes.
Of course, the ethics of sourcing real leather is also considered by many gamers today, which is why vegan leather chairs are also now produced by many makers.
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