Who Makes The Best Gaming Chairs?

May 28, 2023

There are tons of gaming chair brands to choose from, but is there one that stands out above the rest?

Gaming chairs have long supported PC players since their arrival on the market just in the last 20 years or so. What started with awkward rockers with speakers and an AUX port on the side has evolved into a thriving ecosystem of gaming chairs ready to serve a variety of body types.

Gaming chairs have seriously upped their game over the past decade, with flashy foam molds and terrible peeling leather finally making way for scientifically-backed, ergonomic designs and actually durable materials. These kinds of changes have even caused many office workers to switch to gaming chairs rather than traditional office chairs.

Currently, there are a few major players in the gaming chair world:

The brands listed above have all made major strides in the industry. Almost every gaming chair now uses steel frames for durability and ergonomics is seriously considered on even the most budget-friendly models.

Related: The Best Budget Gaming Monitors

Of course, there are other factors to consider, and some people may never be convinced that gaming chairs are worthwhile. However, it’s becoming clearer by the day that the best gaming chairs are just as good, if not better, than most office chairs. But which brands can really go up against the court of public opinion? And what is the best gaming chair brand overall?

The way a chair looks in front of a PC desk is something that matters a lot to a lot of people. While some players want a chair that is vibrant and perhaps has their favorite franchise logo on it, one of the most consistent complaints about gaming chairs is the fact that they look unprofessional compared to regular office chairs.

It’s true that some models really scream “pro gamer”, and that doesn’t really fit in a “pro accountant” cubicle. Unless that accountant works from home, in which case they can get whatever kind of chair they want. Therein lies the heart of the problem though: there’s a wide variety of gaming chair styles and choosing the best one is a matter of personal preference. The main style choices tend to be mesh chairs, office-style chairs, and racing-style gaming chairs.

Mesh chairs almost always look good. The nature of mesh means that the chair is essentially see-through, making it match almost any aesthetic. Plus, the absence of foam means that the distinctive gaming chair wings are usually missing from mesh chairs, so they fit in even better with office chairs. Vertagear’s Triigger 350 mesh chair is very impressive, but also extremely expensive with an $800+ price tag. Respawn currently holds the title for the best overall mesh gaming chairs. Their Specter and Spire models look good, are affordable, and have comfortable, ergonomic designs.

Office-style chairs combine the tall backs of gaming chairs with more minimalistic design choices such as removing or reducing the side wings. Secretlab is the leader in this type of gaming chair with their versatile Titan Evo. This model is simple and sleek, but like with the rest of their limited selection, there are dozens of colors and special edition options, so users can choose a style they really enjoy. Additionally, Secretlab has chair skins that make it easy to change the look of a chair on the fly. Users can also customize their Secretlab chairs with unique pillows and premium armrests. Although office-style gaming chairs are not exactly office chairs and will likely turn some heads, their design is similar enough to executive-style office chairs, that they will likely be more impressive than jarring in a professional setting.

Racing-style gaming chairs are perfect for gamers who don’t have to answer to anyone but themselves. They’re extremely distinctive and often feature vibrant colors. Recently more muted colors like black and gray have become more popular, but make no mistake – there are still a ton of styles to choose from. The Razer Iskur is one of the most stylish gaming chairs, but has few color options in order to try to better fit in with office settings. As an alternative, Noblechairs has options that are unmistakably gamer chairs, complete with a full lineup of special edition chairs for games like Fallout and Elden Ring. Specifically, their Hero gaming chair has a ton of style options to choose from yet maintains a fairly tame shape.

Best Brand in Style Overall: Secretlab

Pros

Cons

Versatile options that work in both offices and at home

Not many chair shape options

Plenty of special editions available

No mesh options

Not too flashy, but still looks great

If money were no object, would the best products still be the best? Probably not, because cost is a serious factor for most people, even if they’re fully prepared to pay premium prices for quality chairs. That is the trade-off: quality for cost. The best budget chairs are not going to be as durable or last as long as more expensive brands, but if a player can get a year out of their budget gaming chair, that’s a win.

Truthfully, any PC chair listed at less than $200 is a gamble. Consider how much a gaming chair is used: a $500 chair should last at least 2 years, meaning that the monthly cost is only $20. On the other hand, a chair that costs $200 has a monthly cost of $16 and only lasts about a year. Saving $4 per month typically isn’t worth the pain of sitting in a terrible chair every single day.

The upfront cost can be a major hurdle for some though. There are certainly third party sellers with good reviews that can provide a chair that will last at least a few months for less than this price, but those options aren’t even consistent enough to review. One of the biggest differences between gaming chairs under $200 and more expensive ones is the weight limit. That’s typically how the price is kept so low; they use lower quality materials for the frame and as a result most cheap chairs can’t hold more than 200lbs.

Most gaming chairs will be listed between $300 and $600, although with sales and special editions this range can be much wider. For example, Respawn often has chairs available at just around $200 thanks to frequent sales on older models like their Respawn 110 chair. Vertagear has more affordable options with their PL1000 and SL2000 gaming chairs, both listed at under $300. With different deals and sales throughout the year, it’s more than possible to get a chair for well below list price from a trusted brand.

Best Brand in Cost Overall: Vertagear

Pros

Cons

Plenty of options

Looks like a gaming chair

Some models listed at under $300

Not as cheap as some Respawn options

Some models come with lumbar and headrest pillows

Has good reviews

Related: The Best Budget Gaming Desks You Can Buy

The difference between comfort and ergonomics is super thin, but there is a difference. Just because a chair is plush, doesn’t mean it will be comfortable for hours at a time; and just because a chair is stiff, doesn’t mean it won’t soften over time into a comfortable shape.

Most chairs that implement good ergonomic design are also very comfortable, the only exception being when it comes to mesh versus solid seats.

Gamers who run hot should probably be looking at a mesh chair, as a solid chair is simply not going to be as breathable as something made out of holes. Some chairs, like the Respawn Spire, offer a mix of mesh and fabric by making the back of the chair out of mesh and making the seat with a special cooling gel underneath padded fabric. This allows for extra support on the seat and extra cooling along the back. Vertagear’s Triigger line of gaming chairs are another great mesh chair option, but they are more expensive than Respawn chairs. Overall, mesh chairs are very difficult to make well, because mesh just isn’t the best material to have a lot of weight on over long periods of time. If you aren’t worried about sweating or otherwise overheating, it’s likely that a mesh chair won’t be very comfortable for you.

Now with solid chairs, it’s much easier for manufacturers to bake in ergonomic design without it being obtrusive or breaking down quickly. Most gaming chair companies aim for the same goals as far as ergonomics are concerned; there’s not much else they can do while staying provably effective. Good ergonomic chairs should have:

Most major gaming chair brands are already designing chairs with these features, but there are two brands that are really leading the charge in the ergonomic science department: Secretlab and Vertagear.

Secretlab spends thousands of hours testing their chairs and developing new ways to improve ergonomics, such as their cold-cure foam and their lumbar support made with a proprietary lattice of living hinges, both of which are awaiting patent approvals. Vertagear likewise uses cutting-edge technology when building their chairs, relying on a patented fabric called Hygenn X, a combination of foam types, and multiple flexible TPEE lumbar support modules. Both companies take ergonomics very seriously and many users can only choose between the two based on more personal preferences, such as style.

Best Brand in Comfort & Ergonomics Overall: Secretlab

Pros

Cons

25,000 hours of R&D and counting

No mesh option

Patent-pending features are truly cutting-edge tech

Not a lot of shape options in general

Employs a host of scientists and doctors to design chairs

Padding and upholstery are very comfortable

None of these factors mean anything if the chair breaks too soon and has to be replaced. At these prices, players should be able to enjoy their gaming chair for at least 2 years and for as long as 5. That means getting a gaming chair with durable construction and a fabric option that won’t start peeling after a few months.

Upholstery is typically the first thing to go when cutting costs, so budget options are definitely not going to perform well in this category. However, most mid-range and high-end gaming chairs do want to provide users with a durable chair, so the upholstery options are usually much better. It should be noted that fabric upholstery tends to be much more susceptible to stains, as most faux leather options include a protective layer on top that makes it difficult for stains to stick around. At the same time, fabric upholstery is going to be much more breathable than faux leather, often because of that stain-resistant layer.

Razer’s chairs undergo extensive testing to ensure that the upholstery is resistant to tears, scratches, and even punctures. Secretlab’s Neo Hybrid Leatherette material uses a 3D-reinforced polyurethane-microfiber base layer to prevent the moisture buildup that leads to peeling. Vertagear’s patented Hygenn X goes beyond standard durability, tackling smells with technology taken from coffee ground manufacturing and using silver in their fabric to deter germs.

Along with finding a durable upholstery option, having a weak chair frame is something that ends up nixing purchases for many people. A stronger frame means a higher weight capacity, and in a world where perfectly durable-looking office chairs cap out at 150lbs, this is pretty important.

Budget options are once again terrible with weight limits and as such, most of those tend to cap out at a 200lb limit. Razer and DXRacer have models that can handle up to 300lbs, while Secretlab chairs can hold up to 395lbs. However, Vertagear is even stronger. Most of the gaming chairs from all four of these brands have a weight limit of 260-280lbs, with Razer, DXRacer, and Secretlab only reaching their top limits on their XL-sized chairs. Vertagear has 4 chairs that have a maximum weight capacity of over 350lbs.

There are a few other little things on gaming chairs that can break easily due to a plethora of reasons. To take care of these annoying inconveniences, every company has a warranty. The warranties should protect users against things like a broken height adjustment lever or casters that won’t roll, along with bigger issues related to workmanship and manufacturing. Respawn says they have a 5-year warranty, but it’s so limited that their chairs are unlikely to survive long enough to have an issue that’s covered by the warranty; realistically, a Respawn chair will be covered by the warranty for 2 years. Most companies offer a 2 or 3-year warranty, with a few of them offering warranty extensions if the chair is registered.

Best Brand in Durability Overall: Vertagear

Pros

Cons

Multiple chairs with a high weight capacity available

No way to extend warranty

Hygenn X upholstery is cutting edge and somewhat antibacterial

Small, plastic parts are prone to breaking (though covered by warranty)

Standard warranty

Each gamer is going to have their own idea of which gaming chair is the best, but there are a few trusted brands that everyone agrees have the best possible options. It’s tough to say for sure which gaming chair is the absolute best, given that everyone has slightly different preferences.

Despite the subjective nature of the question, when asked, “Who makes the best gaming chairs?” Vertagear and Secretlab come to mind first. Both brands offer top of the line options, with Secretlab having the best premium models while Vertagear offers more affordable options without limiting high quality features.

More: Office Chairs vs. Gaming Chairs – The Verdict on Which is Better for Gamers

Miri is a creative writer with a passion for gaming and animation. Starting with the Super Nintendo and Sega Genesis, she is a lifelong console gamer and overall Xbox fangirl (especially with Game Pass existing!).She still loves Nintendo too though, and will sometimes throw a bone to PC games (if they have cute cats and/or apocalyptic societies). When she isn't writing or gaming, Megan loves to see art through webtoons, comics, anime, and other animated projects!