Gaming Chairs Vs. Office Chairs: Everything You Need To Know

June 16, 2025

It’s a puzzle many of us gamers are familiar with: Do you purchase an office chair or a gaming chair — or maybe, one that can do both? Especially nowadays with remote work in full force, there’s a high demand for spaces that can double for work and play. Dual-hybrid ergonomic chairs are the secret to doing both for the long haul.

However, not all office chairs are ideal for gaming — and not all gaming chairs are suitable for working. So to clear up the confusion, we’re highlighting the ins and outs of office chairs vs. gaming chairs, how they’re used, and the best office gaming chair for anyone who wants the ideal chair that can support them while working, gaming, and beyond. Spoiler alert: You don’t have to choose. You can find a chair that does it all!

Plus, we’ll share some tips about what to look for when shopping for a new chair, along with ways to give your body a boost if you find yourself sitting all day in front of a screen. So before you grab your joycon and press play, let’s get the scoop on all things gaming chairs. Your body and well-being will benefit, and so will your score!

First Things First: Why Does Your Chair Make A Difference For Play And Work?

First things first: What you sit on (and how you sit on it) plays a huge role in your health and life. From minimizing discomfort and promoting general well-being to supporting mental acuity and boosting productivity, there’s no shortage of reasons to upgrade to an ergonomic chair stat.

Still not convinced? Studies show that an ergonomic desk and gaming chair can reduce the risk of musculoskeletal disorders, along with overall pain and risk of developing a cumulative trauma disorder. In other words, your chair matters — and whether you’re playing a game, socializing, or cranking through a work project, your body requires ergonomic support to feel its best. No matter if you opt for a gaming chair or an office chair, the right ergonomic support is crucial for your health and productivity.

At Haworth, we’ve spent decades researching and creating thoughtfully designed office products to make your life better, wherever you are and whatever you’re doing. We see ergonomic comfort as a standard, not a luxury — and our mission is to deliver high-quality, long-lasting ergonomic office and gaming chairs at a variety of price points.

What’s The Difference Between A Gaming Chair And An Office Chair?

Let’s tackle that big question. What’s the real difference between a gaming chair and an office chair? And if you’re a professional who loves to game, is there a gamer office chair that supports both? (The answer is yes — but more on that later!)

Not all chairs are created equal. Some serve very different purposes depending on how they’re designed and which materials are used to make them.

A desk and gaming chair may seem similar, but there can be a few differences that have a big impact on the overall experience. Generally, ergonomic gaming chairs usually have these key features:

Adjustable Headrests

To fit the curvature of your neck, headrests will support your head and neck without disrupting your body’s natural movements, whether you’re streaming, playing, or working.

Higher Backs

Are gaming chairs good for your back? The good ones are! Look for a chair with a higher back to help your muscles feel less strain. You’ll avoid slumping and instead maintain a healthy sitting position for your spine’s natural curvature.

Armrests With Padding

Armrests not only support your arms (which account for over 10 percent of your total body weight!), but they also relieve the muscles of the upper back, shoulders, and neck. Especially if you’re sitting for a long gaming session, armrests can be a secret weapon to staying healthy without sacrificing game time.

Adjustable Depth

This feature helps prevent the straining that happens if you sit too far forward (or too far back) in your chair. With adjustable seats, you can distribute your weight more evenly and support your upper legs.

Special Recline Features

These features allow your chair to move with you as you play, whether you’re moving back or forward.

On the other hand, there’s a huge spectrum of game office chairs with a wide range of styles and designs. Office chairs vs. gaming chairs often have lower backs without armrests or headrests. Generally, the adjustability and recline features are more limited to support one seated position for working: sitting upright.

Additionally, non-ergonomic office chairs have a fixed positioning. Meaning they’re not adjustable for your body and you can’t tailor the chair to offer ideal support for your neck, back, head, arms, and wrists. This can — and likely will — create problems over time, especially when you’re sitting for many hours.

What Should I Look For In A Gaming Chair Vs. Office Chair?

Depending on what you’re doing and any issues you’re dealing with, you’ll want a chair that helps you move through your activities better. So if you’re a gamer, you’ll generally want to look for adjustable armrests, the ability to recline, headrests, and a full backrest that’s supportive yet firm. On the other hand, if you’re sitting at a desk all day, make sure you have good lumbar support and the right amount of comfort that allows you to work seamlessly and stress-free.

According to a report from Accenture, gamers may spend a weekly average of 30 hours on game-related activities: 16 hours of gameplay, 8 hours of watching or participating in game streams, and 6 hours interacting in game forums or communities. Often, this is on top of a 40-hour work week. This is why choosing the right office gaming chair is crucial for both work and play.

Why does this matter? Extended gaming tends to put people at risk for injuries and well-being concerns, like elbow injuries, hand pain, eye issues, and neck discomfort. Generally, sitting at a desk and working for long periods is associated with lower back pain, stress, hip discomfort, and shoulder pain.

Because these issues are so common, it’s all the more important to decrease these risk factors, allowing you to focus better and feel happier and healthier over the long haul.

Key Features For Both Ergonomic Gaming Chairs And Office Chairs

Whether you’re working or gaming, it’s important to ensure your chair has adjustable features. No matter what you’re doing, you’ll want to be able to make the little tweaks that go a long way when it comes to setting yourself up for long-term success.

Can you adjust the armrests and height? Can you make the chair feel like it was designed just for you? If there’s a backrest, is it made to support the natural curvature of your spine? When you’re comparing gaming chairs vs. office chairs, all of these should be answered with a resounding yes.

Be sure to pay attention to the material, too. For any chair that you’re sitting in for long periods, it should be:

Breathable

Materials like mesh and digital knit avoid trapping heat. This will help naturally regulate your body temperature while providing support and comfort.

Flexible

Your desk and gaming chair should move with you. That means it should be made with contoured support and materials that don’t add extra friction to your life.

Durable

When your chair is durable, it will save you money over time and prevent unnecessary waste. It’s also a win if the material is made with the environment in mind. We suggest looking for environmental certifications that will ensure your chair is as sustainable as possible.

In short, be sure to find a chair that supports your individual needs for your individual body. Maybe that’s extra neck support or lower back support — whatever you need to feel comfortable throughout the day.

Perhaps you want a bright game office chair that adds a pop of personality to your space. We like to think there’s something for everyone.

Are Gamer Office Chairs Good For Your Back?

Yes! High-quality ergonomic chairs are known for offering the ideal balance of comfort and support that will make it easier for you to sit, play, and enjoy games for hours at a time. In other words, they’ll make you feel less achy and fatigued and more comfortable and supported.

We recommend looking for gaming chairs that offer features that provide full back support: high backs, headrests, and adjustable seat depth and seat height. These details will put you in an optimal position to get full-body support, so you’re not slouching, slumping, crouching, tipping, or overextending yourself.

These design features are made to be effortlessly comfortable, so you’re thinking less about what you’re sitting on and more about getting a high score.

Should I Get A Gaming Chair Or Office Chair? Is A Gaming Chair Good For Office Work?

Good news: Well-made ergonomic office chairs can easily double as gaming chairs. Whether you consider yourself a gamer or a professional who enjoys playing Xbox on weekends, an ergonomic office chair is an excellent solution.

You certainly can invest in an office chair AND a gaming chair. But if you’re tight on space or don’t want to buy two chairs, a high-quality ergonomic office chair offers full-body support that’s ideal for both working and marathon gaming sessions. In the battle of office chairs vs. gaming chairs, it’s a win-win scenario!

Our ergonomic office chair collection is full of options with built-in lumbar support, breathable materials, armrests, adjustable features, and headrests. These chairs do it all — and you can feel confident knowing they’re highly researched and science-backed to deliver real results.

Similarly, our ergonomic office game chair collection is designed to be ultra-responsive and move with you (not against you), which is beneficial whether you're gaming or in a meeting. Our gaming chairs also offer support for your shoulders and back, which helps reduce fatigue and boost focus — both useful for completing goals and working through projects of all kinds.

What’s The Best Office Gaming Chair?

Are you looking for an ergonomic chair for gaming and working? One that’s comfortable and

supportive for sitting over a long period? A chair that’s breathable, durable, and designed with science-backed adjustable features and environmentally conscious materials? You’re in the right place — our gaming office chairs check every box.

Here’s a roundup of our top gaming chairs that will level up your gaming and working experience in more ways than one.

Haworth x Halo Fern Gaming Office Chair

Super-responsive and ultra-adjustable, the Haworth x Halo Fern Gaming Chair will react to your every move and help you maneuver more seamlessly — from working to gaming and everything in between.

Not to mention, this chair is GREENGUARD Gold® certified, so it’s independently tested to be free from over 10,000 chemicals to help contribute to cleaner air in your home. Good for you, good for the planet.

Ergonomic details: With 4D arms, back stop, tilt tension, and adjustable seat height and seat depth, this chair is made to support you with maximum comfort in all directions.

Customer testimonial: “Epic Chair! Smooth, stylish, and comfortable. This thing was totally worth it.” - N.R.

Haworth x Xbox Fern Gaming Office Chair

Made for gamers, by gamers. This limited-edition chair responds to your every move to let you capture peak performance, all in the signature Xbox aesthetic that’s dominated gaming for over two decades.

Ergonomic details: Adjustable seat height, tilt tension control for supportive reclining, 4D arms, seat depth adjustment, backstop, soft casters, and more details so you can play with less fatigue and more focus.

Customer testimonial: “I recently had a really bad hip injury and this is the only chair I found comfortable to sit in for a long period of time. Great comfort!” - Nicolas

Haworth x Xbox Very Game Office Chair

Another limited-edition chair released exclusively in partnership with Xbox, this breathable chair has your back (literally) for long hours of gaming, working, and more gaming.

Ergonomic details: Adjustable seat height, forward tilt control to easily adjust your posture, 4D arms, seat depth adjustment, back lock, soft casters, and waterfall seat edge for leg relief and comfort.

Customer testimonial: “...probably never leave my desk again. All the features & adjustments aside, this chair is VERY comfortable!” - GK

Are Gaming Chairs Better Than Office Chairs?

It depends! If you’re primarily using your chair for work and you game occasionally, an ergonomic office chair might be exactly what you need. Why? An ergonomic game office chair will give you the support, adjustability, and comfortable features that deliver results, whether you’re in a meeting, completing a task, or gaming.

However, if you consider yourself a serious gamer, then we recommend investing in an ergonomic office gaming chair that will give you targeted features to dial in your gaming setup. The adjustable headrests, armrests, and flexible design will give you the adjustability, full-body support, comfort, and durability that any gamer needs to take their performance up a notch. What gamer wouldn’t want that?

Tips When Buying An Ergonomic Gamer Office Chair

Still going back and forth about gaming chairs vs. office chairs? Here are some other tips to keep in mind on your hunt for the perfect chair.

How Many Hours Do You Imagine Spending In A Gaming Chair Vs. Office Chair Each Week?

If one largely surpasses the other, you might have your answer. Don’t forget to keep in mind any other activities you do in your chair like reading, writing, talking on the phone, watching TV, etc. Which support features will be helpful for those activities? If you do a good amount of gaming and working, then get the best of both worlds with a gamer office chair.

Try Your Office Game Chairs In A Real-World Setting

At Haworth, we offer a 30-day risk-free trial. We want you to love the chair in your space and be 100% confident it enhances your setup.

Pay Attention To Warranty

Ergonomic chairs are an investment. You want a chair that you won’t have to replace anytime soon. We offer a 12-year warranty on our ergonomic gaming chairs.

Prioritize Eco-Conscious Materials In Game Office Chairs

We recommend chairs that offer both support and sustainability, using eco-friendly materials whenever possible. For example, we make it clear when our products are GREENGUARD certified and feature products that are made with recycled materials. Learn more about our sustainability efforts.

More Tips And Tricks To Support Your Gaming Performance, Health, And Happiness

Investing in an ergonomic gamer office chair can significantly improve your health and boost your performance in gaming and work. Here are a few more tips to stay healthy if you tend to spend a lot of time sitting.

Make Sure Your Feet Are Flat On The Floor

It can be tempting to sit in different positions (thighs to chest, criss-cross, etc.). But it’s best to keep your feet flat on the floor to avoid putting pressure on your spine and intervertebral discs, which can lead to back pain and pressure, tight hips, and general soreness.

Take Breaks, Set Time Limits, And Move

It’s all too easy to let a short gaming session turn into a marathon. Give yourself time limits to ensure you’re getting proper circulation. Even just a five-minute walk every few hours or standing up from your chair can give your body a much-needed boost and break. If you’re feeling up for it, you can also do some desk exercises to get your body moving and feeling good — with minimal effort.

The Right Lighting — It’s Worth It

To avoid straining your eyes, add good lighting to your space. You might be surprised by the impact the right glow can make! Plus, studies show that good lighting is associated with a boost in mood and productivity. Tip: Layer your lighting using a combination of overhead lighting and task lighting for maximum good vibes.

Make Your Monitor Eye Level

Some easy tips to keep in mind: 1) Your screen shouldn’t be farther than 20-24 inches from you. 2) Your eyes should be level with the middle of the screen (or the top third). That way, you aren’t slouching down, tilting up, or straining your eyes.

Opt For A Sit-To-Stand Desk

Check out our collection of sit-to-stand desks, which can help you integrate more movement into your day. This can improve your posture, alleviate chronic body pain, and boost your mood. If you’re not in a position to buy a new desk, look into a standing desk converter. This will allow you to convert any desk or table into a workstation that lets you sit or stand throughout the day with proper alignment.

Overall: Office Chair Vs. Gaming Chair — You Can Find One That Does It All!

There’s no doubt about it: Your desk and gaming chair should not be overlooked. While the difference between gaming chairs and office chairs might seem minor, it’s worth investigating to make sure you’re getting a chair that not only suits your lifestyle and meets your needs, but also provides the right support through it all.

The best chair for you will depend on your budget, your body, and how you spend most of your time. But when it comes to what you sit on for hours a day — maybe even a third or more of your life — it’s a good idea to give your chair some extra attention.