Watch Gaming Chairs vs. Office Chairs Video
Table of Contents
1. Pricing
When you look at the way each of these chairs are designed, you’ll notice that office chairs are designed with the functionality of the chair in mind. Things like providing good support, lasting a long time, and adjustability are essential for office chairs, while aesthetics may not be the first priority.
Looking at gaming chairs, you’ll see that a lot of focus is put on the way that the chair looks with different colors, stitching, logos, pillows, and other features that make the chair stand out or match specific setups for a home office.
It’s important to understand that while these chairs have different purposes, the price may vary depending on the quality of the chair. For example, a $400 gaming chair is on the high end while at $400 standard office chair is more middle of the road. With that being said, typically, a middle of the road office chair will have more functionality, a better warranty, and better adjustments than a high-end gaming chair.
2. Bucket vs. Standard Seat
The biggest difference between bucket seats on a racing style gaming chair and a standard office chair seat is the way that they make you feel while you’re sitting in the chair. A bucket seat is designed like a car seat and makes you feel like the chair the hugging you as you sit. A standard office chair will give you a little bit more freedom to move around and it won’t hold you in one place. Deciding which style is best for you comes down to preference and how you like sitting for long periods of time.
The main downside to the racing seat design and lack of freedom to move is the side bolsters. If you’re a person who likes crossing your legs or sitting in different positions throughout the day, this may become an issue if you’re not a slimmer/smaller person. On the other hand, a standard office chair will allow a wide range of sizes to sit comfortably.
3. Overall Look
One of the biggest reasons why people choose to go with a gaming chair in opposition an office chair is based off how the chair looks. The main differences are the flashy color combinations, stitching, and customization options that will fit personal home office setups. It’s important to consider that these features may bring the price of your chair up. You typically don’t find these features with standard office chairs.
When choosing between a gaming chair or standard office chair, it’s important to know if you’re prioritizing the look of the chair or the overall functionality of the chair at your specific price point.
4. Recline Function
The typical backrest recline for gaming chairs and standard office chairs will also be very different. When comparing a racing style gaming chair to the Eurotech iOO, which has one of the largest recline ranges of the chairs we’ve tested, you’ll see that the iOO doesn’t come close to the recline range of the racing style gaming chair.
Most racing style gaming chairs are capable of reclining almost to the point where you are parallel to the ground. You will not be able to find this function in most standard office chairs because of its lack of practicality. There are few, if any times, that you’ll need to recline that far in a chair made to be sat in ergonomically while working in an office setting. As for the gaming chair, it might be useful for those who like to kick all the way back to watch a movie, stream, or whatever you may like to do in your home setting.
5. Warranty Policy
Almost all of the gaming chair brands will have two-to-three-year coverage periods. For example, a Secret Lab Racing Style Chair comes with a three-year warranty that covers the entirety of the chair. When comparing that to a similar priced Eurotech Office Chair, you’ll find a big difference. A Eurotech Office Chair comes with a limited lifetime warranty with five years of coverage on the foam and fabric with models in this price range. It’s safe to say, when choosing a standard office chair instead of a gaming chair that are around the same price, you’re going to get a lot more coverage, guaranteeing a longer lifespan on your chair and bringing the per-year cost down for your overall investment.
6. Ergonomic Adjustments
When comparing the adjustability of similar priced gaming chairs and office chairs, the biggest difference right out of the gate is the mechanism chosen by each style of chair. Most gaming chairs feature a swivel-tilt or knee-tilt mechanism. Looking at mechanisms as a whole, these are typically lower end recline mechanisms that won’t provide the most ergonomic positions. Chairs like the Eurotech Vera and iOO feature a synchro tilt mechanism or a weight sensitive mechanism that will allow you to sit very comfortable and ergonomically for the same price.
This also applies when you compare the other adjustments on these chairs. A GTRacing Chair will only have height adjustments in the arms, or a Secret Lab Chair will have two or three-way arms depending on which model you go with. Comparing that with a Eurotech Vera, you’ll find four-way adjustable arms with larger ranges that will provide more functionality.
There are also adjustment functions on standard office chairs that you simply won’t find in gaming chairs. Adjustments like forward seat tilt, sliding seat mechanisms, independent backrest angle adjustment are all going to be featured at every imaginable price.
7. Lumbar Support
Almost all racing style gaming chairs have adopted a style that features a completely flat backrest with some type of pillow support option. In my opinion, these are not very good lumbar support systems, the pillows compress easily, the strap or attachment systems usually don’t keep them in place and overall, they don’t provide a lot of support. This is one of the biggest downsides to choosing a gaming chair instead of a standard office chair.
The Eurotech Vera doesn’t have any type of adjustable lumbar support. Even without the ability to adjust, it has much more support than a racing style gaming chair, testing as one of the most comfortable backs from everyone in our office at BTOD. This is because it has a very nicely designed curve and quality mesh to hold you in place and give you the support you need. If you’re specifically looking for something with lumbar adjustability, you can certainly find it on other standard office chairs with the same price range.
Final Thoughts
Gaming chairs have continuously grown in popularity and offer an upgraded seating experience versus a couch or furniture from around the house when playing video games. However, opponents of gaming chairs will typically cite them as being not as functional, overpriced strictly for aesthetic purposes, and lacking when it comes to warranty. Most of the time the knocks are correct, but the simple fact of the matter is that gaming chair offer things that standard office chairs don’t. These things are the look and the way they make you feel when you get your chair in your specific home setup and play your game. You can’t get multi-tone colors, custom logos, or other custom things on standard office chairs. If you’re strictly buying your chair for looks over functionality, then gaming chair is the way to go. If you’re looking for a comfortable, adjustable, ergonomic chair with support to sit in, then I would recommend going with a standard office chair.