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Home Computing Chair Advice

Ultimate Gaming Chair Sizing Guide: For S, M, & XL Sizes

When you buy something using an affiliate link in this post, ChairsFX may receive a small commission, at no additional expense to you. This has no influence on our editorial content. See our Affiliate Disclosure for details.
May 9, 2019 - Updated on January 4, 2024
Reading Time: 17 mins read

The point of a gaming chair is to keep your spine in a healthy alignment while you sit for long periods. For best results, you should choose a chair that fits your body type. There are small, medium, and XL gaming chairs on the market. Slim sizes should look to a chair’s seat depth as the key fitting metric. Thicker sizes must also factor in the seat’s width. This gaming chair sizing guide breaks down key specifications for small, medium, and tall bodies (ranging from slim to obese).

Gaming chair poor vs good fit posture examples
Using a seat that’s too deep for your knees can ruin your posture in a gaming chair.

A gaming chair that’s too large for a user will have a seat that’s too deep for their legs. This will set off a biomechanical chain reaction that distorts good posture.

  1. A gaming chair seat too deep will pull a user’s knees forward.  (Thigh, knee, and buttocks pain) 
  2. Knees pulled forward flattens the lower back (lumbar) curve.  (Lower back pain) 
  3. A flat lumbar curve destroys upper body posture.  (Neck, shoulder, and upper spine pain) 
Flawed gaming chair comfort study
The study sat a short user in a gaming chair too large for his size.

The biggest problem using a chair too large is an excessive seat depth. A seat that’s too deep will pull the user’s knees forward. That makes it difficult to tuck the hips and keep the spine in a healthy alignment.

Good gaming chair seat depth vs one that is too deep for shorter legs
L-R: a well-fitting seat depth (slight space between the knees and seat lip) vs a seat that’s too deep for the user.

Beyond a suitable seat depth, fat people should also make sure a seat is wide enough for their needs.

Find Your Ideal Seat Depth & Width

A suitable seat depth and width are the key things to look for when assessing the potential fit of a gaming chair. You can measure these easily at home using a measuring tape (most supermarkets sell them).

Calculate Your Ideal Seat Depth

To find your ideal depth, use a measuring tape and a dining room chair. Bend your knees at a relaxed angle of around 110-120 degrees.

How to find your ideal seat depth for a chair
Measure from the start of your knee bend to the end of your seat to find your target seat depth.

Then, measure under your thigh from the start of your knee bend to the rear edge of your seat. For example, the rear end of my seat to the start of my knee bend roughly measured around 19.5″.

Titan vs Titan XL fit for a 177 cm size
The medium-sized Titan (left) fits my 5’9″ size; the XL version’s seat is a touch deep for my legs.

Looking at my fit in Titan Evo medium and XL chairs shows that my measurement was accurate. The medium Titan’s 19.3″ seat provides a great fit for my size. In contrast, the XL version’s 19.7″ seat depth is quite snug for my size.

Calculate Your Ideal Seat Width

Lay down a pair of your pants that fit you snugly. Measure the width (around 7″ below the waistband) from end-to-end. The resulting number is (roughly) the width of your hips at their widest point.

How to measure your ideal chair seat width
Check your ideal seat width by measuring a pair of your pants from hip to hip.

For example, my pants measure around 16.5″ hip-to-hip. That means a chair with a seat width 16.5″ or less will be too tight for my size. To test that, check out my fit in a medium sized Secretlab Titan Evo.

Titan Evo seat measurements
A medium-sized Secretlab Titan Evo seat width specifications.

A medium-sized Titan Evo has an 18.5″ total inner seat width; this includes soft bolsters on each side. It also has a flat inner portion that measures 14.5″.

Medium-sized Titan chair demo fitting
My 16.5″ ideal width measurement fits nicely in a medium-sized Titan Evo.

Given my 16.5″ minimum seat depth measurement, these numbers are (in theory) suitable for my size. In practice, we can see that the Evo chair’s 18.5″ total inner seat width almost perfect for someone my size.

S, M, and XL Chair Sizing Templates

Most gaming chairs come with recommended size ratings. Many cheaper brands exaggerate their size ratings to sell more chairs. In contrast, the Secretlab Titan Evo and Herman Miller Aeron are available in three sizes. Each comes with accurate manufacturer size ratings.

Even if you don’t buy a Titan Evo or Aeron, you can use either chair’s dimensions to gauge the potential fit of other chairs.

  1. Secretlab S, M, and XL size ratings: very accurate.
  2. Aeron S, M, XL ratings: fairly accurate.
  3. Cheap gaming chair size ratings: often exaggerated.

Secretlab S, M, XL Gaming Chair Template

Most gaming chairs in 2023 cater to average or XL sizes. The Secretlab Titan Evo 2022 is the only gaming chair on the market available in three specialty sizes.

Secretlab TItan chair sizes
The Titan Evo 2022 Series offers specialized versions for small, average, and XL sizes.

Here are the dimensions of each Secretlab Titan 2022 Series size:

Titan Evo Small Titan 2022 Medium 2022 Series XL
Seat 17.7″ (W) x 18.9″ (D) 18.5″ (W) x 19.3″ (D) 19.3″ (W) x 19.7″ (D)
Backrest 20″ (W) x 32.3″ (H) 21″ (W) x 33.5″ (H) 22″ (W) x 35″ (H)
Seat height 17.7″ to 20.5″ 17.7″ to 20.5″ 18.1″ to 21.9″
Size rating 4’11” to 5’6″; 285 pounds 5’7″ to 6’2″; 285 pounds 5’11” to 6’9″; 395 pounds
Prices $549 $549 $599

Verdict: Accurate

ChairsFX has tested medium and Xl Titan chairs and found both size ratings spot on. For instance, I stand 5’9″ (177 cm); the medium-sized Titan is rated for sizes 5’7″ to 6’2″. Here’s my fit:

Average sized person seat closeup in a medium sized Titan gaming chair
My 5’9″ frame in a medium-sized Titan seat.

For my 177 cm frame, the seat fits perfectly. You can see a generous gap between the back of my knees and the seat lip. There also looks to be enough space for people sized 5’7″ (Secretlab’s minimum height rating).

To test the XL chair, I used myself and a 6’5″ (199 cm) model (rated for sizes 5’11” to 6’9″). As Secretlab’s size rating foretold, the seat is indeed too deep for people shorter than 5’11” (I’m 2″ below that threshold):

Average and tall sizes showing the seat fit in a Secretlab Titan Xl gaming chair
My 5’9″ size and a 6’5″ model showing off the fit in a Titan XL seat.

In contrast, there’s a decent gap between the back of our 6’5″ model’s knees and the seat edge. That suggests the 6’9″ maximum size rating for this chair is also very accurate.

Tall user showing the fit in a Titan XL seat
A 6’5″ model in a Titan Xl chair (rated for sizes up to to 6’9″).

The bottom line is that Secretlab’s size ratings are meticulous and reliable. Here’s a wider view of my 5’9″ size in medium and XL Titan chairs:

Titan 2022 Series sizing
My 5’10” (160-pound) body in Titan 2022 Series medium and XL chairs.

Given the accuracy of my fit vs Secretlab’s size ratings, the small version’s 4’11” to 5’6″ rating also looks to be legit. Learn more:

Titan 2022 Series Size-Hacking Guide

Aeron S, M, XL Office Chair Template

Most ergonomic office chairs have depth-adjustable seats. That lets users customize chairs to fit various sizes. In contrast, the Herman Miller Aeron has a fixed, non-depth-adjustable seat. It caters to different body types by serving up three different sizes:

Herman Miller Aeron chair sizes

Summary of Aeron small, medium, and XL chair dimensions:

Aeron Size A Size B Size C
Seat 15.75″ (W) x 16.75″ (D) 17″ (W) x 16.75″ (D) 18.25″ (W) x 18.5″ (D)
Backrest 20.25″(W) x 21″ (H) 21.5″ (W) x 22″ (H) 22.75″(W) x 23″ (H)
Seat Height 14.75″ to 19″ 16″ to 20.4″ 16″ to 20.5″
Size Rating 4’10” to 5’9″; 300 pounds 5’2″ to 6’6″; up to 350 pounds 5’2″ to 6’6″; up to 350 pounds

Verdict: Optimistic; Different Than Gaming Chairs

I’ve tested the medium Aeron Size B (rated for sizes 5’2″ to 6’6″). I noticed three things. First, the Aeron comes lined with a hard plastic edge. If your seat is too deep, that edge will dig painfully into the back of your knees!

Herman Miller Aeron sharp seat edges closeup
The Aeron’s hard plastic edges will dig into your knees if your seat is too deep for your legs.

Second, office chair seat dimensions have a different impact than gaming chairs. For instance, the Aeron Size B has a 16.75″ seat depth; the medium Titan’s is 19.3″. Even so, both leave a similar gap between the back of my knees and the seat’s edge:

Aeron and Titan chair fits for a 5'9" model
Herman Miller Size B vs Secretlab Titan medium sized fit for a 5’9″ user.

This is because the Aeron’s entire seat depth is usable. In contrast, padding and lumbar support push bodies away from the backrest in a Titan chair by around 3″. As a result, both seats — despite the different depths — fits my 5’9″ frame similarly.

The third thing I noticed: the Aeron Size B’s size rating seems too optimistic. It’s rated for sizes 5’2″ to 6’6″. However, notice how little space there is between the back of my knees and the seat edge:

Medium user in Aeron Size B seat fit closeup
A closeup of my 5’9″ (177 cm) fit in an Aeron Size B chair’s seat.

Given the limited space, for my 5’9″ size, people sized 5’2″ are likely to suffer hard seat edges digging into the back of their knees! Therefore, if you’re shorter than 5’6″, I recommend choosing the Aeron Size A without question!

Fully-loaded Aeron From Herman Miller $1750

Learn more: Hands-on Aeron Remastered Ergonomic Office Chair Review

Inaccurate Cheap Chair Size Ratings

Most gaming chairs come with on-paper size ratings. But in practice, we’ve found some are inflated. For example, the GTRacing Pro Series is rated to fit sizes 4’9″ to 5’9″. That makes it (on paper) suitable for short to average sizes 4’9″ and up.

Closeup of the GTRacing Pro Series seat width and depth
A 5’8″ model showing the fit in the Pro Series seat (22.8″ deep).

We tested it with a 5’8″ model: she found the seat’s depth perfect for her size. But we can also see clearly that the seat is much too deep for a person sized 4’9″.

Short sizes who’ve never used a gaming chair before might not even notice the poor fit — until lower back pain sets in. Then, they’re likely to trash their gaming chairs and start shopping for another one. That’s a mistake.

Short person using large chair
Short user in a seat too deep= arm strain, flattened lower back, hips curled forward.

According to Doctor William Duncan, willy-nilly chair shopping to address pain is a fool’s errand:

Postural issues typically arise from poor strength and endurance in the postural muscles — not the type of chair someone uses. A chair alone cannot fix your issues. If you work on strength & endurance and use a good chair, this will most likely resolve the source of your symptoms. ​Dr. William Duncan

To avoid such hassles, start off with a strong foundation. That begins by choosing a gaming chair that’s appropriate for your size.

Gaming Chair S, M, and XL Fitting Advice

Based on global size averages, ‘tall’ men are those 6’1″ (185 cm) and above. Tall women are those 5’7″ (170 cm) or more. At a ‘tall’ height, back pain becomes more prevalent.

Definition of 'tall' for men and women

Meanwhile, ‘big’ is a measure of girth calculated using a Body Mass Index (BMI). A body mass index (BMI) over 25 is considered overweight; over 30 is obese.

Obesity BMI chart
A BMI of 25+ is considered overweight; A BMI of 30+ is considered obese.

As a reference, I stand 5’9″ (average height) and weigh 165 pounds. My 23.7 BMI is in the ‘normal’ range; use this BMI Calculator to figure out yours.

Average Size Definition
  • Men: 6’0″ or less with a BMI of 24.9 or less (6’0″ with 24.9 BMI = 183 pounds).
  • Women: 5’7″ or less with a BMI of 24.9 or less (5’7″ with 24.9 BMI = 159 pounds).

Small, average, and XL sizes can refer to these quick-fitting tips as they shop for their perfect gaming chair:

  1. Average sizes (5’7″ to 6’0″): enjoy versatility. S, M, and XL chairs are all potentially usable.
  2. Short (under 5’6″): avoid chairs with excessive seat depth. All shorties should use a footrest.
  3. XL sizes: this group includes  short fat people ,  tall (6’1″ +) thin people , and  tall fat people . Each type has unique needs.

Sizing Tips For Average Sizes

Average sizes include men 6’0″ and 183 pounds or smaller, or women 5’7″ and 159 pounds or less. Average-sized men have the luxury of fitting in small, medium, and XL gaming chairs. For instance, here’s my 5’9″ 165-pound frame in all three sizes:

Average sized person in small, medium, and XL gaming chairs
My 5’9″ (177 cm) size showing off the fit in small, medium, and XL gaming chairs.

At a glance, each chair appears to be a pretty good fit. But look closer to spot key differences:

  • Average size in small gaming chair: shorter backrest & headrest range; larger gap between the seat lip and the back of one’s knees.
  • In a medium gaming chair: good headrest fit; sufficient gap between the seat lip and the back of one’s knees.
  • In an XL gaming chair: cavernous backrest; good headrest fit; tiny gap between the seat lip and the back of my knees.

Chair Benchmarks For Average Sizes

Secretlab’s medium-sized Titan provides a superb fit for slim, average sizes. If shopping for other chairs, you can still use these numbers as benchmarks for your size:

Titan 2022 Medium
Seat 18.5″ (W) x 19.3″ (D)
Backrest 21″ (W) x 33.5″ (H)
Seat height 17.7″ to 20.5″
Size rating 5’7″ to 6’2″; 285 pounds
Prices $549
Secretlab Titan seat fit demo with an average-sized model
The medium Titan chair’s 19.3″ seat depth is ideal for average sizes.

Sizing Tips For Small Sizes

In 2023, there are only three fully-ergonomic chairs on the market specially designed for short sizes. Summary of specs:

Small Titan EVO small Aeron size A AKRacing California
Seat 17.7″ (W) x 18.9″ (D) 25.75″ (W) x 16″ (D) 21″ (W) x 17.7″ (D)
Backrest 20″ (W) x 32.3″ (H) 20.25″(W) x 21″ (H) 21″(W) x 27.7″ (H)
Seat height 17.7″ to 20.5″ 14.75″ to 19″ 13.75″ to 17.25″
Size rating 4’11” to 5’6″; 285 pounds 4’10” to 5’9″; 300 pounds 4’9″ to 5’6″; 330 pounds
Price $549 from Secretlab $1750 from Herman Miller Price not available on Amazon

Herman Miller and Secretlab are both revered for their attention to detail. The AKRacing California’s dimensions are consistent with the Aeron and Titan’s. This gives us a good template of appropriate chair dimensions for short people.

Titan vs Aeron small size dimensions
Small Secretlab Titan 2022 vs Size A (small) Herman Miller Aeron.

Broadly, small ergonomic chairs are for sizes 5’8″ or less in the normal or slightly overweight BMI range.

Elijah Wood Test

Based on the previous section, gaming chairs for short people should roughly fit sizes 4’10” to 5’6″. ChairsFX could not find a model in that range. Instead, we used measuring software with 5’5″ Elijah Wood (Frodo Baggins the hobbit from LOTR).

To measure his fit for a chair, we first plotted his 5’5″ height. Then, we used that as a baseline to measure out other parts of his body. To calculate his ideal seat depth, we used waist thickness + hip-to-knee thigh length.

Elijah Wood 5'5" seating size calculation
Our ‘Elijah Wood’ formula finds a maximum seat depth of 19″ ideal for 5’5″ (165 cm) sizes.

So the maximum seat depth for 5’5″ Elijah wood would be 20″. Here’s how he’d fit in each of the three small chairs:

Small Titan EVO small Aeron size A AKRacing California
Seat 17.7″ (W) x  18.9″ (D)  25.75″ (W) x  16″ (D)  21″ (W) x  17.7″ (D) 
Backrest 20″ (W) x 32.3″ (H) 20.25″(W) x 21″ (H) 21″(W) x 27.7″ (H)
Seat height 17.7″ to 20.5″ 14.75″ to 19″ 13.75″ to 17.25″
Size rating 4’11” to 5’6″; 285 pounds 4’10” to 5’9″; 300 pounds 4’9″ to 5’6″; 330 pounds
Price $549 from Secretlab $1750 from Herman Miller Price not available on Amazon

Given Elijah’s (calculated) fit, the Titan, Aeron, and AKRacing California all look suitable for sizes under 5’6″. However, extremely short people (4’10”) should be wary of the Titan’s 18.9″ depth vs the others.

Short Person + Small Chair + Footrest = Good Fit

Beyond a perfect chair fit, short people also face the challenge of syncing their chair with a desk. To achieve a clean neutral posture, you need to sync the armrests with the desktop. At the same time, your feet should be firmly planted.

How to sit at a desk for optimal health
Desk targets: sync your desktop with your chair’s armrests; keep your feet planted.

The problem for short people is that most adult desks are 28″ or higher. To sync the armrests with the desktop, they need to raise the seat too high. As a result, the feet dangle instead of planting firmly.

For example, here’s a 5’4″ student in a Secretlab Omega chair (5’3″ to 5’11” size range). When he first sat in the chair, it looked like a perfect fit.

Ergonomic footrest to boost height at a desk
Short users should use a footrest for a good fit with a standard desk.

But when used at a desk, he started to slouch. Then, the chair looked way too big for him!

Craft Series sizing demo
Shorter users will need a footrest to plant their feet firmly on the floor.

The solution for all users 5’10” and under is to add an ergonomic footrest. Doing so will help you to sit taller in a chair while still keeping your feet planted. As a result, you can sync your armrests to a perfect height with your desk.

Why All Gamers 5’10” Or Shorter Need An Ergonomic Footrest

Related: Secretlab Professional Footrest Review: Dynamic Posture Supercharge

Sizing Tips For XL Sizes

In the seating world, ‘big and tall’ is a sweeping term that actually covers three distinct body types. ‘Tall’ women are those 5’7″ or taller; the threshold for men is 6’1″ or more. Big people are those with a BMI over 25.

Big and tall seating definitions
Most ‘big and tall’ chairs support either the overweight, tall people, OR big & tall ones.

A ‘big and tall’ man is, therefore, one 6’1″ or taller in the overweight or obese BMI range. The biggest difference between a ‘big’ and ‘tall’ type is the skeleton size.

Skinny vs fat musculoskeletal systems
Obese bodies overstrain the musculoskeletal system and significantly weaken joint strength.

Tall people enjoy the luxury of larger skeletal systems able to bear greater weight loads. In contrast, overweight people have normal-sized skeletons. As they gain more weight, the skeletal system works harder and degrades more easily.

Gaming chair sizing
Wide sizes need to make sure to buy a wide chair they can fit into.

Here are specialized sizing tips for each XL body type. For a more detailed look, see this Sizing Guide For Big & Short, Big & Tall, and Tall People.

  1. Tall sizes: good posture support with seated movement support best supports this size. For these reasons, ergonomic office chairs work best.
  2. Short & Thick Sizes: weaker spines make sitting straight harder. Gaming chairs provide more options and better support for this group.
  3. Big And Tall Sizes: the ergonomic office chair industry largely ignores tall obese sizes. In contrast, there are plenty of gaming chairs for this group.

Sizing Tips For Tall Sizes

Tall men (6’1″+) and women (5’7″+) develop larger bones to compensate for their height. However, develop longer but not wider spines.

Tall vs fat skeletal structures
Taller bodies develop larger bones for stronger support; fat bodied bones are normal-sized.

Longer spines without added thickness must work harder to hold tall-bodied torsos upright. As a result, tall people are more prone to slouching than average sizes.

Tall people forward neck tilt
Tall people using small office furniture are vulnerable to a forward head tilt.

Another problem for tall people is varicose veins. Scientists speculate this may be gravity-related(1).

Best Ergonomic Seating For Tall People
Herman Miller AeronBased on their needs, ergonomic office chairs are best for tall people. One with excellent lumbar support will soothe long but weak spines. Synchronous tilt functionality will promote movement to ease varicose veins.

Finally, support for crisp, neutral sitting postures will help forge healthy posture habits. Check out the best ergonomic chairs for tall people.

Sizing Tips For Short, Heavy Sizes

This section includes tips for short-to-average-sized overweight and obese people.

Fitting Tips For Overweight People

Men shorter than 6’1″ and women under 5’7″ with a BMI over 25 are overweight. For instance, an overweight 5’7″ woman would weigh at least 159 pounds. People in the overweight class tend to have bigger bottoms or thicker thighs.

Bladed vs flat seat edges
Overweight body types should look for chairs with flat seat edges.

For overweight short-to-average sizes, office chairs and gaming chairs are both great options. In either case, thick figures should make sure the seat has flat edges, rather than bladed ones.

Find your fit: see Best Chairs For Overweight Sizes.

Fitting Tips For Obese People

Once their BMI reaches 30+, a person is considered obese. For instance, an obese 5’7″ woman would weigh at least 192 pounds.

Obese people in office chair vs gaming chair
An obese person may find a mid-back office chair harder to adapt to than a full-back gaming chair.

Obese people suffer from weaker joint strength, chronic musculoskeletal pain, foot problems, lethargy, and worse. The problem with mid-back ergonomic office chairs is that they force users to sit upright at all times.

This can be a struggle for a weak musculoskeletal system lugging around excess weight. In contrast, a full-back gaming chair gives heavy bodies the option of easing into good posture habits.

Posture therapy in a Secretlab Titan chair
Easy posture therapy in a Titan XL: lean back and let gravity do the work of aligning your spine!

If sitting straight is too difficult, simply deepen the recline and let gravity do the work. Over time, your back muscles will get stronger. Then, you ease your body into healthy sitting habits instead of forcing it.

Best Chairs For Short & Heavy People
Best ergonomic chairs for obese peopleOverweight people shorter than 6’1″ can find a decent fit in any average-sized gaming chair. However, for best results, look for a seat with flat edges instead of restrictive bladed ones.

Obese sizes of average or shorter height will find a greater variety of budget and premium options among gaming chairs. Beyond more variety, gaming chairs offer obese sizes a gentler entry into healthy sitting habits.

Check out the Best Ergonomic Seating Options For Obese People

Sizing Tips For Big And Tall Sizes

A ‘big and tall’ man would stand 6’2″ and weigh at least 195 pounds. Once he reaches 234 pounds, he’d be classified as obese.

Extra-wide big & tall 400 pound gaming chairs
Many gaming chairs cater to big and tall sizes with a range of budget and premium options.

Between gaming chairs and ergonomic office chairs, the latter provides a lot more options. You can find a solid collection of both cheap and premium XL gaming chairs that support tall bodies and up to 400 pounds.

Review: big and tall ergonomic office chairs
Three of the best XL office chairs that support over 400 pounds.

In contrast, the only ergonomic office chairs that cater to big and tall sizes are cheap models priced under $350.

Best For Big & Tall: Gaming Chairs
Gaming chairs for big bodiesFull-back chairs are best for big & tall people, especially obese ones. Heavier bodies have weaker spines. Over long periods of sitting, it’s hard to hold heavy torsos upright.

Gaming chairs give big bodies the option of easing into good posture habits. What’s more, there’s a greater variety of gaming chairs on the market for big sizes than office chairs.

Sync A Gaming Chair Into A Workstation

After you choose a well-fitting chair, the next challenge is to sync your chair with your PC workstation. That involves three things. First, syncing the armrests with the height of the desktop.

How to sit at a desk for optimal health
Desk targets: sync your desktop with your chair’s armrests; keep your feet planted.

Second, keeping the feet firmly planted. You can plant them on the floor, or use a footrest if your legs are too short. Finally, syncing the height of your computer screens with your eye level.

Proper Desk Height

Most adult-sized desks are 28-30″ high. For people shorter than 6’1″, this will result in improper workstation sync. On the flip-side, taller sizes using a work surface too low will also suffer problems.

Standing desk height guidelines
Ideal and improper desk heights from a standing position.

In all cases, the ideal desk height should let you bend your elbows at a 90° angle, parallel to the floor.

Here are size recommendations from BlitzResults(2). “Chair height” refers to the distance from the floor to the seat. “Armrest height” measures the distance from the seat to the armrests.

User height Desk height Chair seat height Armrest height
5’2″ (157 cm) 25″ (63.5 cm) 16.7″ (42.4 cm) 9.2″ (23.2 cm)
5’5″ (165 cm) 26.2″ (66.5 cm) 17.5″ (44.45 cm) 9.6″ (24.3 cm)
5’7″ (170 cm) 27″ (68.5 cm) 18″ (45.7 cm) 9.9″ (25 cm)
5’9″ (175 cm) 27.8″ (70.6 cm) 18.5″ (47 cm) 10.2″ (25.9 cm)
6’1″ (185 cm) 29.4″ (74.6 cm) 19.6″ (49.7 cm) 10.8″ (27.4 cm)
6’3″ (190 cm) 30.2″ (76.7 cm) 20.2″ (51.3 cm) 11.1″ (28 cm)
6’5″ (195 cm) 31″ (78.7 cm) 20.7″ (52.5 cm) 11.4″ (29 cm)

Effective Computer Monitor Height

Even with the perfect chair and desk height, a monitor set at the wrong height can misalign your spine. The most common mistake is to set the screen too low. Doing so forces the spine into a curve and cranes the neck forward.

Setting a computer monitor too low
Setting a computer screen too low can ruin the benefits of your ergonomic chair.

Sitting that way strains the lower back, neck, and shoulders. In contrast, setting the monitor too high cranes the neck. Over time, that causes pain in the shoulders and lower back.

The general rule of thumb is to set the top of the monitor to around the level of your eyes. That lets you sit with a straight back without bending the neck forward.

Eye level computing using a gaming chair.
A Pro esports gamer using a monitor set at the optimal height.

With your eyes aligned with the top of the screen, you get an optimal peripheral view of the entire screen. To focus on one part of the screen, you can move your eyes, rather than moving your head. As a result, the body experiences less neck and lower back strain.

Height-adjustment Accessories

After buying an ergonomic chair, it’s important to optimize your desk and monitor heights. As an example, a study of locked-down faculty at the U. of Cincinnati found some troubling WFH issues.

Poor work from home setup
Improper equipment and sloppy computing habits can both hinder work-from-home productivity.

For one thing, most staff were sent home with only a laptop. For another, more than half used their desktop screen instead of using an external one. Many of them spent their time using ‘makeshift desks’ (knees or pillows).

Makeshift desk examples
Two seasoned professionals working from home using ‘makeshift desks’.

As a result, reports of pain were off the charts. Notably, upper back and shoulder pain was the most common complaint.

This dovetails with increased use of cell phones for work purposes. These days, the average person spends around 3 hours using a phone — usually with a severe 45° neck bend.

Text neck kyphosis damage
Poor posture can deform the spine and make people physically shorter.

To avoid such issues, keep these accessories in mind to optimize your workspace heights:

  1. Ergonomic Footrest: helps shorter people sit taller in a chair. It also makes it easier to maintain neutral postures.
  2. Height-adjustable desk: a tall person at a desk set too low will be forced to slouch.
  3. Desk-mounted monitor stands: lets you adjust the height, depth, and angles of your screens with the push of a finger.

For Short People: Ergonomic Footrest

People 5’7″ and shorter (170 cm) using a standard 28-30 inch desk might suffer from pain in the shoulders, wrists, and lower back. Raising the height of the chair can help. However, for people under 170 cm, that might raise their feet off the floor.

Planting your feet while sitting in a gaming chair
Planted feet provide the power to hold your torso upright while sitting.

That’s a problem — feet planted on the floor provide essential support for the back while sitting. The simple solution for anyone with short legs is to add a footrest. For instance, most ergonomic chairs for kids aged 4-12 come with removable footrests. Raising the height of the chair while using a footrest makes it possible for kids to use adult-sized desks.

Boosting sitting height with a footrest
Adding a footrest can compensate if your desk is too tall for your size.

For adults, the concept works the same. Short people using a desk too high can solve the issue with two steps. First, raise the height of the chair’s seat. Second, use a footrest that supports the feet even when raised off the floor.

Benefits of using an ergonomic footrest
You can boost height, posture, comfort, and blood flow with an ergonomic footrest.

Beyond raising your sitting height, adding an ergonomic footrest yields several advantages. For one thing, it reduces pressure on the lower thighs.

Instead, power from the legs bypasses the thighs and presses into the lower back. With lumbar support in place, that makes it easier to sit up straight.

Foot workout with footrest
A footrest lets you work feet, ankles and calf muscles while you sit.

For another thing, ergonomic footrests let you move while you sit. Rocking back and forth works your ankles and thighs while getting the blood flowing.

Sit Taller And More Dynamically With An Ergonomic Footrest

Related: Secretlab Professional Footrest Review For Dynamic Postures

For ALL Sizes: Desk Mounted Monitor Stand

Many people set their monitor screens too low. That forces the spine into a slouch and cranes the neck forward. Sitting this way over long periods can lead to chronic pain in the back, neck, and shoulder areas. The ideal height aligns the top of the screen with your eye-level.

Setting a computer monitor too low
Setting a computer screen too low can ruin the benefits of your ergonomic chair.

A monitor desk mount can replace the base of compatible monitors with a flexible steel arm. The arm lets you position your screen at any perfect height and angle you prefer. Without the stand, the screen floats above your desk with rich adjustability. You can angle the screen, adjust the height, turn it vertical, or even rotate 360 degrees.

VESA-compatible computer monitors
Four screws on the back of a compatible monitor attach to the stand via a VESA plate.

To see if your existing screen is compatible with a desk mount, look for four screw holes on the back. Those are universal VESA mounts.

As one example, the Mount-It! Dual Monitor MI-1772 Spring Mount ($109.99 on Amazon) is one of the best in the industry.

Mount-It! MI-1772 monitor mount
Mount-It! MI-1772 mechanical spring dual monitor mount.

It has two counterbalanced mechanical spring arms and supports two 32″ monitors weighing up to 20 pounds each. You can adjust the height, tilt the screens, swivel 180°, and rotate 360°. It also provides fantastic value with a five-year warranty!

Clean computing with desk mounts
Desk-mounted monitor mounts can raise your workstation ergonomic game to a much higher level.

Screen ergonomics can have a huge impact on your workstation wellness and productivity. To learn more (and browse more monitor desk mounts), check this feature:

Ergonomic computer monitor setup guide

For EVERYONE: Height-adjustable Desks

A person taller than 5’10” (177 cm) might find their desk set too low. Then, the neck bends and shoulders hunch. That places excessive stress on the wrists.

VIVO sit stand desk chair
A sit-to-stand desk can adjust high enough to support even the tallest of sizes.

Conversely, short people often find desks too high for their stubby little legs. Meanwhile, text neck problems caused by sloppy mobile computing postures are skyrocketing. On top of it all, excessive sedentary computing times keep growing.

Magnus Pro desk providing multi-device computing support
A good chair + standing desk supports multi-device computing with more opportunities to move.

A sit-to-stand desk solves all of these problems in a single shot. Small, medium, and tall sizes can all make use of one to customize the height of their work surface.

Mobile users can also make use of one to support healthy computing postures — while sitting or standing! On top of it all, using a sit-to-stand desk will supercharge movement.

Woman working her hips while sitting and standing at a computer desk
Work your hips, legs, and spinal muscles every time you switch from sitting to standing.

Each time you shift from a sitting to standing position (or vice versa) replicates a squat. That works your legs, hips, and back muscles for a quick, circulation-boosting jolt of refreshment.

Multi-Device Ergonomics: Why You Need A Sit-Stand Desk

Related: Secretlab Magnus Pro Standing Desk Review: Impressions After 6 Months

Conclusion: Sizing Makes A Difference!

Many people assume that when you pay more for an ergonomic chair, you get ‘better ergonomics’. In fact, all ergonomic chairs are designed to support healthy neutral postures.

Neutral postures in cheap vs expensive ergonomic chairs
Healthy neutral postures in GTRacing Pro Series & Ace; Secretlab Titan; Herman Miller Aeron.

It doesn’t matter how much you spend. It doesn’t even matter whether you use a gaming chair or an ergonomic office chair.

What does matter is the sizing. If your chair’s seat is too deep for your legs, it will pull your knees too far forward. That will flatten your lower back curve and destroy your entire spine’s posture.

Gaming chair sizing too large demo and back pain result
Using a gaming chair seat that’s too deep for your legs can ruin your sitting posture.

If you’ve never used a gaming chair, you might not even notice the mis-fit until pain emerges. At that point, you may feel tempted to chuck your chair in the trash and buy a new one.

Core gaming chair features
ALL ergonomic chairs support good posture with the same trio of adjustable components.

Instead, avoid disappointment altogether by choosing a gaming chair that’s appropriate for your size. Then, it doesn’t matter how much you spend.

GTRacing Pro Series ($120) vs Secretlab Titan ($549+) compared: sizing MATTERS!

A good fit + adjustable lumbar, arms & recline + proper usage can yield incredible results — even for less than $150! Learn more:

Cheap Vs Expensive Gaming Chairs: GTRacing Vs Secretlab

Footnotes

  1. Lisa Rapaport. ‘Tall people may be more prone to varicose veins’. Reuters Health, November 3, 2018. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-tallness-varicose-veins-idUSKCN1N72CA, (accessed 24 June. 2022).
  2. BlitzResults. ‘Ergonomic Office: Calculate Chair & (Standing) Desk Height’. https://www.blitzresults.com/en/ergonomic/, (accessed 15 July 2022).

Anil Ramsey

Anil Ramsey

I'm the ChairsFX founder and Chief Editor. I'm a member of the OSHA Education Center Association (OECA), with an OSHA Ergonomics Certification. Beyond these credentials, I've been hands-on testing the world's finest ergonomic desk chairs since 2018. Learn more about me and this website on the About Us page.


 

Table of Contents

  1. Find Your Ideal Seat Depth & Width
    1. Calculate Your Ideal Seat Depth
    2. Calculate Your Ideal Seat Width
  2. S, M, and XL Chair Sizing Templates
    1. Secretlab S, M, XL Gaming Chair Template
    2. Aeron S, M, XL Office Chair Template
    3. Inaccurate Cheap Chair Size Ratings
  3. Gaming Chair S, M, and XL Fitting Advice
    1. Sizing Tips For Average Sizes
    2. Sizing Tips For Small Sizes
    3. Sizing Tips For XL Sizes
  4. Sync A Gaming Chair Into A Workstation
    1. Proper Desk Height
    2. Effective Computer Monitor Height
  5. Height-adjustment Accessories
    1. For Short People: Ergonomic Footrest
    2. For ALL Sizes: Desk Mounted Monitor Stand
    3. For EVERYONE: Height-adjustable Desks
  6. Conclusion: Sizing Makes A Difference!

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