Office Chair Vs. Gaming Chair

by Andrew Smith| Last Updated: May 7, 2022

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Office Chair Vs. Gaming Chair

The main difference between an office chair and a gaming chair is the ergonomic support. A gaming chair is more ergonomically fit than its office counterpart, as it gives you a better posture. Having a comfortable chair is crucial whether you sit for a prolonged session when working or gaming.

So, office chair vs. gaming chair?

A gaming chair has a more attractive design, more adjustment options, a higher back, and adequate lumbar support. On the other hand, an office chair has a simple design and fewer adjustment options, making it less expensive than a gaming chair. However, a premium office chair can offer more comfort. 

This article is an eye-opener. Keep reading to understand the difference between the two chairs before you make a buying decision. 

Table of Contents

Office Chair Vs. Gaming Chair: What Makes Them Different?

Office chairs and gaming chairs have various distinguishing factors and similarities. Our ain to draw a clear line between the two pieces of furniture and help you choose the right chair for your home office or gaming. Below are some of the areas in which the two chairs vary. 

That’s not all about the office and gaming chairs. We’ll look at each chair in detail to give you a clear picture. Keep reading!

What Is An Office Chair?

Office chair with desk setup

An office chair is an adjustable and comfortable chair with a 360-degree swivel function and is designed to serve as an office desk. It’s budget-friendlier than a gaming chair and offers basic functionalities. However, you can still find office chairs fitted with more features but at a higher cost.

If your work involves a lot of sitting, choose a chair that provides proper ergonomics to support your back and give the right sitting position. A regular office chair offers the fundamental features you need. You can adjust the chair to your ideal height to prevent lower back pain and stress injury.

What Makes Up A Good Office Chair?

An office chair is made up of various components, including the following:

Let’s look at each of the above features hereunder. 

1. Backrest

Anergomic office chair’s backrest should range between 9 and 12 inches wide. A backrest that is separate from the seat should adjust its height and angle. A good backrest should maintain the natural shape of your spine and have the proper lumbar support.

If the backrest of your chair is attached to the seating area, the backrest should freely adjust forward and backward. Additionally, it should have a locking mechanism to prevent it from moving far back once you determine your preferred angle. 

2. Lumbar Support

An ideal office chair should offer you adequate lower back support. Why is it necessary? Your spine has a natural inward curve, and having prolonged sitting periods without enough support can strain your lower spine’s structure.

An excellent office chair should have adjustable lumbar support that maintains the inward curve of the spine of any user.

3. Seat Width And Depth

Your office chair’s width and depth should accommodate any user. The standard office chair should be 17 to 20 inches wide. 

The distance between the front and the back of the seat (seat depth) should be sufficient, allowing your back to lie on the backrest of your chair. Also, the space should leave about 2 to 4 inches between the chair’s seat and your knees’ back. Furthermore, your office chair’s seat should allow forward and backward adjustments.

4. Seat Height

An ideal office chair should have an adjustable seat height. You can do so using a lever, where the most comfortable height should range between 16 and 21 inches from the floor. That height ensures that your feet, thighs, and arms are rightfully positioned. Your feet lie flat on the ground, the thighs take a horizontal position, while the arms’ height corresponds to your working desk.

5. Armrests

The armrests of an office chair should be adjustable, allowing your arms to rest comfortably while your shoulders relax. Your lower arm and the elbow should rest slightly, while the forearm should be off the armrests while typing. 

6. Seat Material

Your office chair’s back and seat should be properly padded for maximum comfort during extended sitting periods. In this case, a piece of breathable clothing fabric is better than a poreless one.

7. Swivel Function

Your office chair should allow you to rotate and access different areas of your working desk without straining.

What Are The Pros And Cons Of Ergonomic Office Chairs?

Thre are various pros and cons of ergonomic office chairs. Below we look at the two sides of an office chair.

Pros Of Ergonomic Office Chairs

The following are the advantages accrued to an ergonomically fit office chair. 

Let’s expound on the above advantages hereunder. Keep reading. 

1. Health Benefits

A perfect office chair gives your ultimate back support. It adjusts to comply with the shape of your spine, taking its natural inward curve of the lower section. As a result, it supports the spine enough to reduce the lower back pain.

Additionally, ergonomic chairs provide a neutral position for your joints, protecting you against joint pain. The adjustable armrests allow the correct positioning of your arms, preventing shoulder stiffness when working.

2. Cost-Effectiveness

Although an ergonomic office chair costs more than a standard office chair, they’re cost-effective in the long run. It’s a one-time investment that offers you excellent, long-term functionality. High-quality office chairs last long, and manufacturers offer you an extended warranty for easy repair or replacement in case of any breakdown.

3. Easy Adjustability 

You can easily adjust the various components of your office chair. These parts include the backrest, armrest, headrest, and height, just to mention but a few. Moreover, these chairs’ adjustment knobs are easy to operate and allow you to customize your chair for different users.

4. Increased Productivity

An ergonomic office chair provides the utmost comfort that enhances your productivity. These chairs are designed to reduce your body stress so you can handle a lot of work within a short time. Also. a good office chair lets you work for longer hours without getting exhausted.

5. Lumbar Support

Ergonomically designed office chairs offer ultimate lumbar support. Their backrest can adjust to the ideal position of your back. Also, these chairs allow your spine to fit properly, providing adequate support even if you for an extended period.  

6. Easy Mobility

An ideal office chair has high-end swivel options, allowing you to move smoothly to any part of your working area. The chair has top-quality wheels enabling you to move freely on the carpet around your working desk.

7. Extra Padding

A perfect ergonomic office chair has sufficient padding and cushions, allowing your body to relax when working. That reduces stress in your body by balancing your weight on your hips.

Cons Of Ergonomic Office Chairs

Besides the various benefits you gain from an ergonomic office chair, these pieces of furniture have their other side of the story. Their disadvantages include:

An explanation of each of the above disadvantages is provided below. Read on.

1. High Price

Ergonomic office chairs are made of high-end materials for maximum comfort, and hence the price is high. The average starting price of these chairs is $100, which causes you to dig deeper into your pocket.

2. High Maintenance Cost

Maintenance is crucial in ensuring the durability and functionality of your furniture. The parts of ergonomic office chairs are expensive, and this costs you more to keep your chair in good shape. 

3. Encourages Laziness

The remarkable calmness and comfort you get from an ergonomically fit office chair can make you lazy. Your ideal sitting position could make you abstain from breaking in between your work.

It’s clear that the pros of an office chair outweigh the cons. Hence, you can give this piece of furniture a trial and boost your productivity.

What Is A Gaming Chair?

Orange Gaming Chair

A gaming chair is a piece of highly customized furniture to provide the utmost comfort to video game players. This chair allows you to move, rock, tilt, and shift to find your ideal position for playing your game for long hours. You can personalize any part of your sitting experience, where even the budget models offer superb adjustment control.

Gaming chairs have similar functionalities as office chairs. However, their designs are bold, colorful, and flashy. Also, gaming chairs have thick padding on the seats, their backs are highly contoured, and most of their parts are movable. They include the PC, platform, and hybrid gaming chairs.

What Makes Up A Good Gaming Chair?

A good gaming chair is made up of unique features making it for you to spot it amidst other chairs on the market. These features include:

We’ll discuss each of the above attributes to understand a gaming chair better. 

1. Bucket seat

Most gaming chairs take after the racing car bucket seat design. As the seat secures the drivers as they shift from left to right, a gaming chair bucket seat keeps you safe as you move from side to side. The ”F1 racing car experience” gets your mood up and brings you closer to the scene, creating an awesome gaming atmosphere. 

Nonetheless, a bucket seat can be counterproductive. Its movement restriction capability makes the chair ergonomically unfit. Unlike the office chair, which has various sitting postures, gaming chairs deny you the chance to choose your ideal sitting position.

2. High Level Of Back Recline

Many gaming chairs have various reclining positions, including a 180 degrees angle that can make an alternate bed. These positions reduce strain and wear on your discs. That is crucial, especially if you’re a victim of lower back pain.

135 degrees is the most recommended angle for the back recline among the various reclining angles. This position is less strenuous as the least pressure is exerted on your spine. As a result, you experience minimal or no back pain.

If you usually do gaming for long hours, a gaming chair is a better choice than an office chair because it’s more versatile for reclining.

3. Raised Front Lip Seat

The gaming chair’s front lip seat design resembles the actual car seat. Their ergonomic status is like that of their bucket counterparts. Although this sitting position works really well for the car driver, it isn’t the case with the gamers.

The recommended ergonomic sitting posture is your knees bent 90 degrees (waterfall position) with feet flat on the floor. On the contrary, the gaming chair provides an elevated edge position that exposes the back of your thighs to pressure build-up. 

Nonetheless, some gaming chairs have a waterfall posture, but the elevated edge ones are more popular. 

4. Highly Adjustable Armrests

Gaming chairs offer more adjustment options than a standard office chair for the same price. You can find an affordable gaming chair with 2D OR 3D armrests. For such, you can adjust the height, depth, and angle of your armrests to suit different positions of your arms. 

More adjustability means increased ergonomics. For instance, inward carving 3D armrests support the V-shaped part of your arms so you can comfortably hold a controller or type.  

5. Fixed Headrest

A gaming chair has a high back with a fixed headrest for maximum support of your head while playing. It also has a removable head pillow to candle your neck, giving you an ergonomic leaning back posture.

Gaming chairs offer supreme head and neck support. Although most office chairs’ headrests are adjustable, they can’t beat the experience offered by a gaming chair. 

6. Detachable Lumbar Pillow

Gaming chairs have a detachable lumbar pillow that provides a neutral position for your spine and comfort and reduces lower back pain.

Even so, it’s advisable to get a gaming chair with a  movable lumbar pillow that can move up and down to your preferred position.

A gaming chair offers more lumbar support than a standard office chair, but a high-quality office chair carries the day.

7. Winged Backrest

The Winged backrest is the other unique feature of gaming chairs inspired by a car seat design. It prevents unnecessary movement of your upper body when playing,  enhancing a good gaming experience. Nonetheless, big-sized people may feel squeezed by the wings and opt to look for an extra-wide gaming chair.

8. Flashy Colors

Gaming chairs come in various colors. These pieces of furniture are generally attractive, and you can notice them from a distance. The different colors allow you to pick your favorite or the color that blends well with your decor. Nevertheless, the stunning colors look a bit non-official.

What Are The Pros And Cons Of A Gaming Chair?

Gaming Chair Setup

There are various benefits and challenges of a gaming chair. This section will look at the opposite side of this ergonomic chair. 

Pros Of A Gaming Chair

The advantages of gaming chairs include the following.

The above advantages are explained hereunder.

1. Stylish Appeal

Great styles and designs are significant features of today’s gaming chairs. For this reason, you can choose a piece of furniture that complements your decor. Also, the chair can boost your mood when playing due to their race car invent designs.

Additionally, gaming chairs come in different colors and quality material that glows your playing environment. Consequently, your gaming sessions become more relaxing and pleasurable. 

2. Storage And Maintenance

A perfect gaming chair can fit any environmental setup. Its storage is a non-issue as it’s ergonomically designed and occupies less space.  You can reduce its dimensions apparently or reduce its dimension for easy storage. 

Furthermore, gaming chairs need minimal maintenance. The chairs are made of easy-to-clean materials like leather and fabrics. 

3. Comfort

Gaming chairs offer you the utmost comfort you need when playing your favorite game. They’re designed to give you a better posture which creates a good atmosphere for gaming. Most of these chairs have a well-padded seat and back. They’re also fitted with armrests and headrests to ensure full comfortability. 

4. Health Benefits

Gaming chairs are strategically contoured to support your spine. It also maintains your back’s straight posture, preventing potential health issues like lower back pain. Moreover, these chairs improve your blood circulation keeping your cardiovascular system in check. Prolonged sitting in an ergonomically unfit chair can cause feet numbness and poor blood circulation.

5.  Increased Gaming Experience

Some unique feature of the gaming chairs makes them ideal for an unparalleled gaming experience. Some of them are fitted with built-in speakers and vibration options that vibrate simultaneously with the console controller. These features enhance your gaming experience by making the game more alluring.

6. Improved Expertize

A gaming chair sharpens your gaming skills. The chair offers you maximum comfort, gives a better focus, and motivates you to play for long hours. Since there are no distractions from body pain and stress, you improve concentration, giving you a better gaming experience.

7. Multifunctionality

If you aren’t an all-time gamer, don’t shy away from making the one-time investment of buying a gaming chair. You can use your chair for other purposes like working on a desk, reading a book, watching TV, or just relaxing.

8. Adjustability

Most gaming chairs are highly adjustable. The adjustable parts include armrests, backrests, headrests, seat height, and more. You can adjust your chair and personalize it to suit your need. That way, you can get adequate support for your body during long hours of gaming. 

Cons Of A Gaming Chair

There are various limitations that come with a gaming chair. These include:

Get to understand the above drawbacks below.

1. Cost

The price of a gaming chair depends on the features fitted in it. The more the features, the higher the cost you incur. You can look for a chair with only the functionalities you need to minimize cost. Otherwise, if you want a high-end, durable and reliable gaming chair, you’ve to dig deeper into your pocket.

2. Buying Process

Currently, our markets are flooded with gaming chairs from various brands. Hence, you have to do a thorough market search to select an ideal chair. For that reason, consider factors such as adjustability, durability, padding, customizability, and price. Making the right choice might be tricky. For instance, the seller can convince you to buy a chair with many features that you don’t need.

3. Material

Leather material is the main upholstery of gaming chairs. This material is unbreathable and leaves an unpleasant smell when you sweat in it. Prolonged sitting may also make your clothes shinny and can fade quickly if not given proper maintenance.

FAQ

Are Gaming Chairs Worth It?

Yes, gaming chairs are worth it. They’re designed to give you the correct posture and an amazing gaming experience. That ensures that your prolonged sitting causes no health issues in your body and increases your productivity in your gaming. You can’t afford to miss the modern racing car chair because it’s very impressive.

Why Do Gaming Chairs Have Pillows?

Gaming chairs have pillows to support your neck in a recline position. That allows your upper back and shoulders to relax. The neck pillows are neck adjustable so you can fit perfectly in the curvature of your cervical spine (neck region of your backbone). 

Why Do Gaming Chairs Have Holes?

Gaming chairs have holes on the backrests to provide a better and more relaxed posture. For that reason, you can press your back against the backrest for your body to relax. Gaming chairs are flexible enough for your movements while playing. So, you can enjoy your favorite game for as long as you wish without getting exhausted.

Is It Better To Have An Office Chair With Or Without Arms?

It’s better to have an office chair with arms. An armrests-fitted office chair offers your more neck and back support. If your arms are well supported while working, there is minimal muscle strain and less load on your back. However, you should avoid using armrests all the time as your shoulders are likely to shrug and cause stress on the forearm. 

Can You Use A Dining Chair As A Desk Chair?

Yes, you can use a dining chair as a desk. You can use a ding chair to make a simple home office. Nonetheless, if your work involves a lot of sitting or you’ve underlying back problems, investing in an office chair is brilliant. Prolonged sitting on a dining chair may cause or worsen lower back or neck pain. 

Office Chair Vs. Gaming Chair: Which Chair Is Ideal For You?

Both office chairs and gaming chairs are a great investment. However, your choice is inspired by your need for the chair and the available features. These chairs provide almost similar functionalities, and hence, you can also consider your budget and how long you’ll be sitting on your chair.

A standard office chair has fewer ergonomic features compared to a gaming chair. Therefore, it offers less support and comfort than the latter. Nonetheless, a high-end office chair has exceptionally amazing features, offering a sitting experience like no other! Of course, at a higher price. 

With the sufficient information provided here, the ball is now in your court!

Author

  • Andrew Smith

    Andrew Smith is the founder of CozySeating, is a father of 2, and an engineer from one of the leading furniture stores in the country. Due to his 10 years of experience, he has proved to be the best person to offer advice to clients regarding different seating furniture based on their needs and performance. Besides, he is a specialist in product reviews and always keeps up with the current trends in the market.

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