A gaming chair with a footrest hides a padded footrest under the seat. When you want to relax, you can pull it out to elevate your legs. After, you can retract the footrest and use your chair for desk work. Most footrest gaming chairs target first-time gaming chair users with sub-$200 prices and basic features. Are they worth it? Based on ChairsFX tests, only for casuals — not those seeking postural perfection.
A simple padded footrest hidden under the seat can turn a gaming chair into a lounger. Sitting with a footrest raises your feet off the floor. Elevated feet + a supported lumbar spine + knees bent beyond 90° reduces the power absorbed by the seat.
This position ‘hacks’ gravity, letting your backrest support your spine instead of your back muscles. With lumbar support in place, that lets desk workers enjoy comfortable, effortless posture for long periods — in theory.
In practice, footrest gaming chairs provide cheap, basic support that’s not ideal for full-time desk work.
Bottom line: footrest gaming chairs best suit casual gamers and families wanting comfort and convenience. Those seeking high quality posture support should look elsewhere.
Footrest Chairs For Casuals & Families
Most footrest gaming chairs have basic adjustable features. For instance, the Price not available Elecwish footrest chair has cheap padding, basic support pillows, and non-adjustable armrests.
Our chair 6’2″ tester reported it ‘comfortable enough’ for 20-minute sitting periods. However, for intense full-time desk work, the support it provides reflects its rock-bottom price.
Our chair tested has two kids. While he was moderately satisfied with the Elecwish chair, his daughters were thrilled with it.
For them, the chair’s rugged build, non-adjustable padded arms, and footrest was like an amusement park ride. Because of its low price, Dad wasn’t bothered if they treated it roughly.
As a shared family computing chair, gaming chairs with footrests stand out. Families with kids (and other similarly casual gamers) will enjoy these chairs the most.
Best Living Room Footrest Game Chairs
Two features make this style of chair optimal for use in the living room. First, living room footrest chairs come with fixed armrests. When sitting at a desk, adjustable armrests help to sync your chair and body with the desk height.
But in a living room without a desk, you don’t need adjustable armrests. Second, most of these models have flat, wide seats. Typical racing-style chair seats come with ridged edges that restrict leg movement. Flat seat edges do the opposite, providing enough room to sit cross-legged.
If you use an Xbox or PS5 in the living room, these provide better back support than console gaming seats. Thus you can enjoy La-Z-Boy-style reclining with good posture and healthy benefits:
- Elecwish Footrest Chair: an original classic that’s still one of the most popular. (Price not available)
- Respawn 110 (RSP-110): a pricey long-time favorite from a reputable brand. (Price not available)
- Sitmod Fabric Footrest Chair: like the RSP-110, but in four fabric upholstery styles. ($89.99)
- Soontrans Gaming Recliner: popular ultra-cheap footrest chair ($139.99)
Elecwish Footrest Chair
Amazon price: Price not available
All footrest gaming chairs for the living room have similar features. That includes a height-adjustable lumbar pillow, deep recline, adjustable arms, and a footrest. The Elecwish is one of the originals, around since 2016.
Since then, this model hasn’t evolved much — yet consistently ranks among Amazon’s best-selling gaming chairs. That’s a testament to this chair’s reliability.
It performs as advertised. Its highlights include a solid build, ease of use, and exceptional versatility that the whole family can enjoy.
Key Features
This chair is designed for slim users from 5’5″ to 5’11”. As a reference, our 6’1″ model found a usable but very snug fit. In particular, the backrest and headrest were barely able to fit his torso.
As well, the seat was a bit too shallow to support long sessions comfortably. On the flip side, average sizes should find a decent fit. On top of that, ultra-short kids can also make use of this chair:
While the posture support is far from perfect for tiny sizes, this is a safe chair for kiddies. Above the seat, there aren’t any adjustable parts to potentially snag fingers. Instead, the recline and height controls are safely tucked under the seat.
Like most living room footrest chairs, the Elecwish has a vibrating massage unit stuffed into the lumbar pillow. Other features are predictable. You can adjust the height of the seat, swivel 360 degrees, and recline the backrest to from 90-170°.
- Functionality: footrest; backrest recline to 170°; fixed armrests.
- Upholstery: memory foam padding; PU leather seat and backrest; neck and lumbar support pillows.
- Extra: USB-powered massage unit stuffed inside the lumbar pillow.
- Warranty: 1-year warranty.
- Seat width & depth: 21.7″ (W) x 21.7″ (D)
- Backrest height & width: 32.3″ (H), 21.7″ (W)
- Floor to seat range: 18″ to 21.3″
- Total height: 50.3″ to 53.6″
- Size rating: 5’5″ to 5’11”; 330 pounds
Elecwish Advice
The OG living-room-style gaming chair with footrest remains our top 2023 pick in this genre. Competing footrest chairs with fixed arms are a bit flashier — and more expensive — than the Elecwish.
But they’re all tribute chairs — jazzed up Elecwish clones with the same functionality. That makes the Elecwish an easy #1 pick in this genre.
Given its price, performance, and consistent longevity among Amazon’s best-sellers, it’s a very safe pick. As a pure desk chair it’s mediocre — you can tell that just by looking at it.
But as a shared computing family chair in a budget household, the Elecwish delivers. For at least a year, expect comfortable, versatile support for lounging, gaming, and light desk work.
Elecwish Chair on Amazon Price not available
Learn more: Elecwish Footrest Family Gaming Chair Review
Respawn 110
Amazon: Price not available
This model also consistently ranks among Amazon’s most popular footrest gaming chairs. It has similar features as the Elecwish, plus a flashier style. But a recent $100 price hike has soured its appeal.
As a full-time working chair, the Respawn 110 will flatten out in less than a year. For $224.99, it’s unreasonable to hype it over the Price not available Elecwish model.
Respawn 110 features
This is a compact chair suitable for sizes 5’5″ to 5’11”. Unlike other Respawn chairs, it only comes with a basic 30-day return policy.
- Functionality: fixed padded armrests; footrest; recline to 155°; adjustable seat height.
- Upholstery: high density foam padding; standard faux leather; neck and lumbar support cushions.
- Warranty: 30 days return policy only (details).
- Seat width & depth: 21″ (W) x 21.5″ (D)
- Backrest height & width: 30.5″ (H), 22″ (W)
- Floor to seat range: 19.25″ to 22.5″
- Total height: 48″ to 51.5″
- Size rating:5’5″ to 5’9″; 275 pounds
Buying advice
The Respawn 110 has a fluffy look and feel. With the footrest extended, it feels like sinking into a marshmallow.
On the downside, the high price is a potential deal-breaker. Although not as flashy, the Elecwish model does a similar job — for less money and a 1-year warranty.
Respawn 110 on Amazon Price not available
To compare the entire Respawn collection, check this Respawn Chair Brand Review.
Sitmod Fabric Footrest Chair
Amazon price: $89.99
At a glance, the Sitmod collection stands out with a modern design in a choice of four fabric upholstery styles. Compared to cheap gaming chair faux leathers, fabric gaming chairs offer superior breathability and durability.
But despite the fabric advantage, trust is an issue with unproven budget brands. For example, that’s the biggest problem with this model.
Sitmod Chair Features
The Sitmod collection’s product description hypes the chair as able to support 400 pounds. However, it’s also listed under ‘product information’ with a weight capacity of 299 pounds.
Given its shaky, cheap chair feel, I’m guessing the latter to be true.
- Functionality: fixed padded armrests; 90-150° recline; adjustable seat height; 360° swivel.
- Upholstery: high density foam padding; fabric upholstery; neck and lumbar support pillows.
- Warranty: unspecified.
- Seat width x depth: 20.5″ (W) x 20.8″ (D)
- Backrest width x height: 22″ (W) x 32.6″ (H)
- Floor to seat range: 3.2″
- Chair height: 51.2″ to 53.5″
- Size rating: 5’8″ to 6’2″; up to 300 pounds
Beyond the vague weight capacity, the lack of clear warranty information is also a concern. Some users have reported the only available support is in Chinese.
Buying advice
Flashy skins sell more chairs. That’s the angle Sitmod seems to be going for with its footrest collection. Spec-wise, these offer similar features as other fixed-armrest footrest chairs — fabric upholsteries set them apart.
But if blinded by the lights of the fancy upholstery, you might ignore the risk factors. First, there’s no clear warranty. Second, after-care seems non-existent.
Third, despite its billed 400-pound support, these models have a shaky feel best suited to lightweights. On the upside, for $89.99, there’s no huge risk. Expect a decent (but flimsy-feeling) chair with questionable long-term durability
Soontrans Gaming Recliner
Amazon price: $139.99
This footrest chair has the same features as the others — plus a rock-bottom price. Chairs come with a black PU leather base and a choice of color accents (red, white, green, blue, or grey).
Stylewise, Soontrans chairs look plainer than pricier Sitmod fabric footrest chairs. But neither comes with clear warranty protection.
In both cases, expect one year of usage before deterioration sets in. That usually means loosened parts, worn leather, and flattened padding.
Key features
This chair has the same features as the others. That means a deep recline, a massage-stuffed lumbar pillow, and fixed padded armrests.
- Functionality: retractable footrest; backrest recline to 160°; fixed armrests; adjustable headrest pillow and lumbar support.
- Upholstery: high density foam padding; faux leather seat and backrest in five color options.
- Warranty: none specified.
- Seat width & depth: 15″ (W) x 19″ (D)
- Backrest height & width: 21″ (W) x 33″ (H)
- Floor to seat range: 15″ to 18″
- Size rating: 5’3″ to 5’9″; up to 250 pounds
Buying advice
If you’re looking for an ultra-cheap footrest chair for your living room, the Soontrans collection qualifies. The biggest concern at this price point is durability.
In fact, many users report a flimsy build unlikely to last long. However, at this price point, that’s to be expected.
Office Style Footrest Gaming Chairs
These models differ from the preceding ones with adjustable armrests. That makes them better suited for office-style computing. With the footrest folded under the seat, they work like typical ergonomic desk chairs.
- Autofull Conquer: boasts an attractive modern design, specialty support pillows, and an outstanding 3-year warranty. ($249.99)
- Nokaxus 6008: spacious footrest chairs with 2D arms, a 1-year warranty, and support for 350 pounds. (Price not available)
Autofull Conquer Footrest Gaming Chair
Amazon Price: $249.99
Autofull Conquer chairs stack footrests with attractive styling, heart-shaped lumbar pillows, 2D arms, and an impressive 3-year warranty. Chairs are available in five styles.
This combination of selling points beats every other footrest chair in this genre. Given the price, warranty, and styling, these stand out as the best office-style footrest chairs of the year.
Conquer Chair Features
These attractive chairs come with heart-shaped lumbar pillows. Autofull calls them “3D Bionic Lumbar Support” systems.
They’re designed to support the lower back curve with extended support for the waist. as well.
- Functionality: 2D armrests; recline to 170°; tilt tension and rocking.
- Comfort: resilient foam padding; headrest pillow; upgraded lumbar pillow concept
- Warranty: 3-year warranty
- Seat width & depth: 15.3″ (W) x 19.7″ (D) | 38.8 cm” (W) x 50 cm (D)
- Backrest width x height: 22″ (W) x 34.6″ (H) | 55.8 cm (W) x 87.8 cm (H)
- Floor to seat range: 17.3″ to 20.5″ | 44-52 cm
- Size rating: 5’3″ to 6’0″, weight capacity 350 pounds | 160-182 cm; 158 kg weight capacity
Conquer Gaming Chair Advice
The Autofull Conquer is our top-rated (office-style) gaming chair with a footrest. It’s the best-looking and it also comes with the longest warranty.
Spreading the cost over three years, this chair offers tremendous value for money. If you’re slim enough to fit, the Conquer Series is an excellent pick.
Nokaxus 6008
Amazon price: Price not available
This footrest collection features classic racing-style designs, spacious dimensions, and 1-year warranties. Footrest fans needing a more spacious seat can consider this model
Chairs come in a choice of colors. Each comes with the typical massage-stuffed lumbar pillow and support for up to 300 pounds.
Features
- Functionality: 2D armrests; retractable footrest; massage unit; deep recline to 180°
- Comfort: high density sponge padding + standard padding; neck and lumbar cushions
- Support: heavy duty steel frame that supports up to 350 pounds
- Warranty: 1-year
- Seat width & depth: 22″ (W) x 21″ (D)
- Backrest height & width: 36.2″ (H), 23.2″ (W)
- Floor to seat range: 19″ to 22″
- Chair height: 55.2″ to 58.2″
- Size rating: 5’7″ to 6’3″; up to 350 pounds
Nokaxus Advice
Chunky users wanting a cheap but reliable footrest gaming chair should consider this model. Its sturdy build and spacious dimensions also make it a good shared family chair.
On the downside, the quality of the materials is mediocre. After a year of full-time use, expect the upholstery to start degrading. If you can live with that and like the specs, click to buy:
More About Footrest Gaming Chairs
Is a gaming chair with a footrest right for you? Here are some points to consider:
What Is A Footrest Gaming Chair?
A gaming chair with a footrest can be used in two ways. With the footrest folded under the seat, it works as an ergonomic desk chair. With the footrest retracted, it serves the same purpose as a living room recliner.
You can use one to take a nap, read a book, or play console video games in your living room. When playtime is over, retract the footrest and use it as a PC desk chair.
Zero Gravity Reclining
A gaming chair’s footrest folds under the seat. Extracting it and reclining the backrest turns the chair into a zero-gravity lounger.
“Zero gravity” describes a reclining function that certain chairs have. The position mimics the one astronauts assume during liftoff to space missions. The zero-gravity position distributes a user’s body weight across the chair.
Chairs with footrests use a similar concept. With the footrest opened and the backrest reclined, users can forgo a strict 90° knee bend for a more relaxed 120°+ one.
From a physical therapy perspective, that knee position allows the glutes and quad muscles to fire while reclining. That helps to decompress the spine while seated.
Types Of Footrest Gaming Chairs
In 2023, there are two main types of footrest gaming chairs to choose from. Both deliver a zero-gravity effect.
- Footrest gaming chairs for the living room: most models cost less than $200. All have non-adjustable armrests. Adjustable armrests help to sync a chair with a desk. In a living room without a desk, padded fixed armrests work fine.
- Gaming office chairs with footrest: these differ from living room chairs with adjustable armrests. For serious office work, you can position adjustable armrests to meet the height of your desk and keyboard. When it’s time to relax, yank out the footrest and kick back.
Footrest Gaming Chair Alternatives
This article classifies a retractable footrest as a luxury extra, not a necessity. Beyond the footrest, the biggest attraction of these chairs is that they’re cheap.
However, many other good-quality cheap gaming chairs exist. As well, a built-in footrest isn’t the only way to put your feet up. Here are two alternatives to the gaming chair with footrest option:
Cheap Gaming Chairs Without Footrests
Cheap gaming chairs without footrests offer better value. At the loss of footrest functionality, you get longer warranties, better adjustability, and more varied styles. For example, our top-rated gaming chair under $200 is the GTRacing Pro Series.
For under $150, it comes in a range of fabric and leather styles with 2D armrests. Many others in the same price range offer similar value for money:
Best Gaming Desk Chairs Under $200
Standalone Footrests
Standalone ergonomic footrests don’t raise your feet as high off the ground as gaming chair footrests.
Instead of La-Z-Boy-style lounging, these footrests suit various purposes. These include:
- Reduced knee bend: using a footrest increases a rigid 90° knee bend to a more comfortable 120°+ angle. That helps to reduce stress on the lower back.
- Height-adjustment: ergonomic footrests let shorter people sit taller at a task.
- Movement: most ergo footrests have swivel functions to work your feet while computing.
Here at ChairsFX HQ, I’m using a Secretlab Professional Footrest ($199 from Secretlab). Its functionality (and pricing) is at the extreme high-end.
For average users, Amazon offers a range of good footrests for under $50. Before my Secretlab, I spent several years happily using a $24.99 Mind Reader Footrest. Learn more:
CONCLUSION
Gaming chairs with footrests are designed for first-time gaming chair users. The top-rated models in this review have a few things in common. Most come with basic features, 1-year warranties (or less), and prices under $250.
If sitting in a deep recline is a priority, these chairs are for you. For instance, if you spend a lot of time playing video games on a sofa, a footrest chair provides a healthier alternative.
