Many people will tell you that gaming chairs are one-size-fits-all. That’s technically true. But the most important function of a gaming chair is to support good posture. This gaming chair size guide explains why a proper size yields the best benefits. It also points out what dimensions to consider before buying a chair.
To get a sense of the right size for your needs, there are a few factors to consider. Start by considering some chair sizing essentials.
Chair sizing essentials
Gaming chair sizing numbers are useless — unless you understand them. Here are the most important things to consider before looking at the numbers:
International sizing
Most gaming chairs are made in Asia and sold in America. But average sizes in Asia are much smaller than they are in the west. Check out these average body sizes by country:
| Average size of men | Average size of women | |
|---|---|---|
| USA | 5'8" 200 pounds | 5'3" 171 pounds |
| China | 5'6" 155 pounds | 5'2" 130 pounds |
| United Kingdom | 5'8" 191 pounds | 5'4" 160 pounds |
| South Korea | 5'7" 163 pounds | 5'3" 133 pounds |
Broadly, cheaper gaming chairs tend to fit Asian average sizes. Some expensive gaming chairs are larger, thus a better fit for average western sizes.
Wide vs narrow seats
PC gaming chairs have two types of seat designs. The most common type has curved edges. These restrict the legs and create a snug fit, like sitting in a race car cockpit. This provides crisp ergonomics that keep your spine in perfect alignment.
The second type is a flat seat with no edges. The advantage of the flat seat design is more legroom. That makes them more comfortable, but easier to sit using sloppy posture.
Most gaming chairs come with narrow seats. If you have wide hips or prefer more legroom, there are two options. In our list of best pro esports chairs, the first five models all have flat, wide seats. The downside of those models is that they all cost over $300. If you’re looking for something cheaper, check our guide of wide seat chairs under $250.
Important gaming chair dimensions
Gaming chairs come with a tall backrest. Between the backrest and your body are neck and back pillows. As you lean your into the backrest, the pillows set your spine into perfect alignment.
Backrest height is important to place your neck pillow correctly. Most backrests range between 33″ and 30″ high. Anything lower or taller is for extremely tall or short sizes.
Also, most chairs come with a manufacturer weight and height rating. Use these ratings as a guideline.
Gaming Chair Sizing Guide
To realize the ergonomic potential of gaming chairs, it’s important to pick the right size. The guide pertains to all gaming chair brands covered on this website.
Gaming Chairs for average sizes
Most of the higher quality gaming chairs fit average to large sizes. The picture below shows the Secretlab Titan on the left. That’s a large-sized gaming chair. On the left is the DXRacer Drifting Series. The Drifting Series is a compact chair.
Here are the key dimensions you should know about both chairs. The most important of these are in bold.
| Secretlab Titan (large) | DXRacer Drifting Series (compact) | |
|---|---|---|
| Seat Width | 22" | 20.4" |
| Seat Depth | 21" | 20" |
| Backrest Width | 23" | 21.75" |
| Backrest Height | 33" | 31.75" |
| Floor to Seat Range | 19.5" to 23" | 19" to 22" |
| Overall height | 52.5" to 56" | 49.25" to 52.5" |
| Weight support | Up to 270 pounds | Up to 200 pounds |
| Height support | 5'9" to 6'7" | 5'3" to 5'8" |
The big difference between the two is the Titan’s larger seat and taller backrest. Thus the Titan will fit users with wide hips. It’s also a good option for slimmer users who prefer a roomier seat.
Gaming Chairs for small sizes
Most of the cheaper brands make small-sized gaming chairs. These are good for kids and slim adults. There are also a few brands that make high-end gaming chairs for small sizes.
Here are dimensions of three popular chairs that cater to short users:
| Secretlab Throne | DXRacer Drifting Series | Homall Executive Chair | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Seat width | 20" | 19.5" | 20.5" |
| Seat Depth | 18" | 20" | 19.8" |
| Backrest Width | 23" | 21.75" | 22.5" |
| Backrest Height | 33" | 31.75" | 30.5" |
| Floor to Seat Range | 16" to 19.5" | 19" to 22" | 18.5" to 22.5" |
| Overall height | 49" to 52.5" | 46.5" to 52.5" | 49" to 53" |
| Weight support | 220 pounds | Up to 200 pounds | Up to 300 pounds |
| Height support | 4'9" to 5'3" | 5'3" to 5'8" | 5'5" to 5'10" |
If looking for a small-sized chair, the Secretlab Throne is the best luxury option. The DXRacer Drifting Series is an average-sized chair that also suits small sizes. It caters to upright office works with extra-thick padding and snug ergonomics.
Among bargain options, the Homall Classic and GTRacing Classic are two top-sellers that bost cost less than $150.
Gaming Chairs for large sizes
Large-sized gaming chairs are for superheavyweights and people with wide hips. These are also viable options for average sizes that prefer roomy chairs.
Among high-end products, there are several great chairs that support 400 pounds. Here are the dimensions of our three top-rated models. Note the width and depth of the seat. These are extra-wide chairs with sturdy support for super heavyweights.
| DXRacer Tank Series | AKRacing Master Series Max | Vertagear PL6000 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Seat width | 23.5" | 24.4" | 21.7" |
| Seat Depth | 20.5" | 23" | 19" |
| Backrest Width | 26" | 24.4" | 20.5" |
| Backrest Height | 30.5" | 34.2" | 31.9" |
| Floor to Seat Range | 18" to 22" | 15" to 17.2" | 20.1" to 24.1" |
| Overall height | 53" to 57" | 49.2" to 51.4" | 50.6" to 54.6" |
| Weight support | Up to 450 pounds | Up to 400 pounds | Up to 440 pounds |
| Height support | 5'6" to 6'6" | 5'6" to 6'4" | 5’9″ to 6’8″ |
Best heavyweight gaming chairs
The problem with heavyweight chairs is that they’re too expensive. What about short people with wide hips? How about average-sized people who prefer roomy chairs? The best option for these people is wide seat gaming chairs under $250.
These models all have flat, wide seats and solid ergonomic features. Thus, all body sizes have solid gaming chair options.
How to use your new gaming chair
After selecting a good-fitting gaming chair, the next step is to learn how to use it. Check out our Gaming Chair User Guide. That teaches how to adjust your chair, how to sit and how to best use the reclining options.