Best 5 Budget Gaming Chairs

If you’ve ever watched an esports tournament, or gone to an internet cafe, you’ve probably seen these cool, sleek, racer-style looking chairs. Well, those are gaming chairs and are a pretty recent addition to the gaming world. Of course, the problem is that gaming chairs tend to not be on friendly terms with your wallet.

Thankfully, with the growing gaming chair industry, prices have fallen and more manufacturers have entered the market, bringing down the overall cost of these chairs. Even more so, they have given rise to budget gaming chairs which have that racer look or ‘gaming’ features, but without the matching price tags.

So, what are the best budget gaming chairs? 💺 🎮

View At Amazon

Pros & Cons

• Great price
• Quick and easy assembly

• Non-adjustable armrests

Specifications:

• Material: High Density Shaping Foam, PU Leather
• Maximum Tilt: 180 Degrees
• Weight Capacity: 300 lbs

Homall Gaming Chair Review

While there’s certainly a lot of choices in the lower end of gaming chairs, Homall is a well known-brand and seeing them in this price bracket is good.

The first feature I’d probably point out is the whooping 180 degree tilt that allows you to lay the back flat and take a quick nap if you want to. You may wonder why I mentioned that aspect first and that’s due to the fact that not many gaming chairs tend to tilt that far back, so it’s already a big plus. That, or maybe I’m just lazy and like to take a lot of naps, who knows?

As you’ll see the chair is made of a high-density shaping foam, which is their marketing speak for ‘memory foam’. The seat padding is reasonably good, but the padding on the back could be a bit thicker, although it is a budget chair, so you can’t complain much there.

Wrapping all that memory foam is some relatively good quality PU leather which provides both a comfortable sitting experience and easier cleanup.

All that fun stuff is support by 1.8mm thick frame and a class 3 certified gas lift which can support up to 300lbs. That means it’s a great option for those of you who are a little bit heavier. That being said, be aware that the chair overall sits slightly high, so if you have a low desk, you might have issues.

Of course it’s not all unicorns and rainbows and there is an issue with this chair, namely that the armrests are non-adjustable. That may not seem like a big deal if you’ve never had a gaming chair or a chair with adjustable armrests, but I assure it becomes a pain in long term use when you can’t get it adjusted properly to rest your arms on.

Thankfully though, they are quite widely set apart, so for those of you who have a larger midriff, you shouldn’t have an issue.

In conclusion, while the Homall isn’t the best chair out there in terms of foam thickness and armrest adjustable, it’s still an excellent gaming chair that manages to balance price and features. Oh and it’s good for those who are a bit bigger than average, so that’s also awesome and is one of the most comfortable gaming chairs.

View At Amazon

Pros & Cons

• Adjustable armrests

• Less seat padding

Specifications:

• Material: High Density Shaping Foam, PU Leather
• Maximum Tilt: 170 Degrees
• Weight Capacity: 300 lbs

GTRACING Gaming Chair Review

GTRacing is another well known brand in the gaming market and with this entry, they bring a high-end chair in the budget price bracket. One thing I especially like about the GTRacing chair is the more pronounced bucket seat as compared to the Homall. Unfortunately the seat itself is slightly thinner, so that could be an issue for some users on the heavier end of the scale.

That being said, the winglets and the bucket sides of the seat have more padding than the Homall, so you could always think of it as a padding redistribution.

Of course, it’s still covered in reasonably good leather and a snazzy design which should make most people happy. Similarly, it has a metal frame and a heavy duty lifter that can take up to 300 Lbs. Unfortunately, even though it’s a bit more expensive, it only reclines to 170 degrees, which still isn’t that bad if we’re completely honest.

Thankfully it does have a big positive in the adjustable armrests which can be adjusted up/down or removed completely. Would have been nice to see a couple more degrees of adjustability, but at this price point, I won’t complain.

You’ll also notice that there’s a couple of vents up near the top of the back. That’s super useful for some ventilation, especially if you game for long periods of time and need that extra air. Finally, you get yourself some really nice lumbar support and headrest pillows.

While the GTracing is not a considerably large upgrade over the Homall, the overall slightly better build and material is worth the money. Oh, and the adjustable armrests of course, that’s the real kicker!

View At Amazon

Pros & Cons

• Pretty cheap

• Not a lot of features

Specifications:

• Material: Soft Padding, PU Leather
• Maximum Tilt: None, but it does rock.
• Weight Capacity: 280 lbs

BestOffice Office/Gaming Chair Review

Of course, if you just want to get one of the cheapest things you can, I believe BestOffice has you covered. Going into this, you can really see the amount of features you’re missing out on. For one, this chair has absolutely no tilt to it, so no lying back and resting for you. It does still have a rocker function though, so I guess that’s some sort of silver lining.

Similarly, the armrests are non-adjustable, as you can probably see from the fact that they’re essentially bolted on to the chair. That being said, they do have much more padding, which is more than I can say for some of the other chairs on this list. They’re also curved so you might be able to get a good height for your arms.

Moving on from that, one interesting feature you’ll see here is the integrated lumbar support pillow. This is going to very much be a hit or miss depending, although I’d probably say it’s going to be a miss considering that most people might find an immovable cushion irritating. On the other hand, you won’t lose it I guess!

Construction and materials are relatively ok, although don’t expect the same level of quality as the previous two chairs. The padding on the seat is pretty thing, although the overall metal construction is still good and can support a bit of weight. It’s not a bucket seat though, so if you’re a bit of a bigger build, you might find this chair uncomfortable.

All in all, the BestOffice gaming chair isn’t going to win any awards, but at the very least it’s a reasonably good chair at a rock-bottom price.

View At Amazon

Pros & Cons

• Embedded, front facing speakers
• Can connect to any device with RCA or 3.5mm jacks

• Floor chair and won’t work for gaming desk environments

Specifications:

• Material: Soft Padding, PU Leather
• Maximum Tilt: None. . . it’s a rocker!
• Weight Capacity: Not mentioned, but assuming 240lbs

Ace Bayou X Rocker 5143601 II Review

This chair is a pretty cool entry, even if you aren’t necessarily into rockers.

What makes it really stand apart from the other chairs in this list is that it has 2.1 speakers embedded inside. For those not in the know, that’s 2 front facing speakers and 1 subwoofer placed in the back. Combined they offer you the opportunity to listen to your media audio through the chair directly, rather than the TV.

I say media entertainment, because not only can you hook that chair up to your TV through the RCA ports, you can also hook it up to a smart device using the 3.5mm jack. So you can totally just sit and watch a film or listen to music on the chair. Oh, and it rocks, so you can do that too while you entertain yourself.

One other night aspect of this whole thing is that it’s all easily accessible using the panel on the side of the chair. Along with the inputs and outputs, you also have volume and bass control knobs, so you can control things from there as well rather than just the smart device.

Aside from the speakers, it’s a reasonably good chair. It’s made out of wooden frame, although you shouldn’t have to worry too much about that since it sits directly on the floor. Padding is also pretty good, although it could certainly be better and there is the possibility you might feel the wood underneath after lots of use.

Finally, all that comes wrapped in some good quality leather. While we’re at the exterior, I’ll also mention the armrests, which unfortunately are not adjustable or padded, so that’s one downside.

Ultimately, this is a great gaming chair . . . for a child, teen or young adult, since it is a bit on the smaller side. Given its features though, it’s a great chair and a great gift if you’re planning to give one. If you want to see more similar options, check out our article on gaming chairs with speakers.

View At Amazon

Pros & Cons

• Great price
• Padded armrests

• No Tilt

Specifications:

• Material: Soft Padding, PU Leather and Fabric Mesh
• Maximum Tilt: None
• Weight Capacity: 280 lbs

Furmax Gaming and Office Chair Review

The previous chairs on the list were really great . . . unless you want a gaming chair that doesn’t look like a gaming chair. As you can see, the Furmax’s chair is actually pretty plain looking and would fit well in an office environment. Of course, it isn’t an expensive chair, so the padding on the seat isn’t that great and comparable to the BestOffice chair from earlier.

Unlike that chair though, the Furmax isn’t full PU leather and they opted to go for a leather and fabric mesh mix which actually adds to its aesthetic.

Beyond just aesthetics though, the fabric mesh is meant to offer a bit of breathability. The two vents at the top also help with cooling and the two things combined are what give it a more gaming aspect, since it’s made for many hours of sitting down.

You’ll also notice that unfortunately it doesn’t have any tilt for the back, although I guess that’s not too bad since it is meant to double as a productivity chair. That being said, the whole chair does recline and there’s a rocking function, so there’s a silver lining.

Similarly, the armrests are not adjustable which is a bit of a letdown, but on the bright side, they are padded and somewhat curved, so you should be able to get a comfortable fit. That being said, even though it can carry up to 280lbs, it might be a bit small for those who have a larger midriff, so this chair certainly isn’t for everybody.

There’s really not much more to say about Furmax’s chair; It’s a bare-bones gaming/office chair that’s meant to be as affordable as possible. Yes, you do lose a few features, but for just under $60, it’s not a bad proposition at all.

Budget Gaming Chairs: Buying Guide

Much like any other product, when you go to the lower price brackets, you tend to lose a lot of features along the way. As such, there are a few things you should pay attention to whenever you’re buying a budget gaming chair, especially since every dollar counts.

If you aren’t a fan of any picks we showcased until now, we suggest you check out the Merax Gaming Chair which can be considered a budget choice and is extremely durable.

Material

Obviously, one of the biggest thing you’ll have to compromise on in the lower price bracket is not only material but material quality.

Most gaming chairs in the bracket tend to use something called PU leather, or Polyurethane leather. Essentially this is made using the leftover bits used to make genuine leather, which is coated in Polyurethane and used to cover whatever frame or material is being used. Essentially it’s faux leather made using high-quality plastics and left-over hide.

PU leather isn’t fancy, but it’s certainly cheap which is why budget chairs tend to use them. Another thing you’ll often find on budget gaming chairs is fabric mesh. Now, it might not actually seem that great, but fabric mesh is pretty breathable, and depending on the design and how much is used, it can be more breathable than leather. So if you see a chair with fabric mesh, don’t necessarily be scared away from it.

Finally, the internals are usually made of memory foam and can be dense or not dense. Dense is usually made for chairs that don’t have much padding so that it doesn’t deform too much and you end up sitting directly on the frame. Not dense on the other hand tends to be used when there’s more padding since it has a lot more give to it. Which you prefer is completely up to you and how firm you like your seat.

Tilt/Rocking

Another thing that you might not always find in a budget gaming chair is a tilt function which allows the back of the chair only to tilt. This is contrasted with a recline function that allows for the whole chair to recline backwards, usually freely. Finally, there’s the rocker function which basically gives a bit of back and forth sway to the chair, similar to what you’d find in a rocking chair.

Each one has its merits and people who prefer it. For those of you who love the rocker and recline functions, you’ll be happy to know that pretty much all gaming chairs tend to have those. That being said, always keep an eye out, as I certainly can’t account for every chair out there!

Weight Capacity

This one is pretty self-explanatory, but there are some who might not realize that even chairs have a weight capacity. Make sure you check what weight the chair can handle before purchasing.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do gaming chairs help posture?

Any chair that is ergonomic can help posture, and most gaming chairs tend to be. I add that little extra caveat at the front because not all gaming chairs, especially budget ones, are necessarily ergonomic. Also, there’s varying degrees of ergonomics and their quality.

Different brands might work better for improving your posture, as seen in our DXRacer vs. Maxnomic debate.

What is the purpose of a gaming chair?

Essentially, gaming chairs are made for prolonged periods of use and are usually ergonomic. Similarly, they might have vents or breathable fabric mesh which allows for a bit of cooling that plain office chairs do not. Finally, most racer style chairs have little winglets that help support your upper body.

Put that all together and you get a chair that’s fit for many hours of use. That being said, please always make sure to stand up and walk around often. The chair may be made for long periods of use but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t stretch every once in a while.

Are gaming chairs good for work/study?

As mentioned above, gaming chairs are made to be comfortable and used for long periods of time, so they’re great for both work and study.

Conclusion

As you can see, there’s a field of choices when it comes to budget gaming chairs, from the slightly expensive, to the very ‘not gaming chair looking at all’. Granted, you aren’t going to get things like footrests, genuine leather or any of the other items that would be considered luxuries, but at least you’ll get what you do for a great price.

Or, maybe you’re considering upping your budget a bit and going for some nicer stuff, in which case you’ll want to check out our very own, Tim White’s article about overall best gaming chairs. Either way, I hope I’ve offered you some interesting and cool choices to pick from, or failing that, some good advice on what to look out for.

Sources:

1. Ergonomics & Office Chairs, Explained, OfficeDesigns, February 25th