Even if you’re on a tight budget, you don’t need to sacrifice comfort. Some of the best gaming chairs of 2024 come with an affordable price tag while still offering top-notch ergonomics and a quality build. Just look at our favorite cheap option, the Corsair TC100 Relaxed Gaming Chair, with its robust steel frame, lumbar pillow, and adjustable armrests for under $250. But if that’s not for you, we’ve found everything, from mesh seats and chairs well-suited for bigger gamers to rockers and bean bags.
TL;DR – Shop The Best Budget Gaming Chairs in 2024:
- Corsair TC100 Relaxed Gaming Chair (Best Overall Budget Pick)
- GTPLAYER Gaming Chair
- Homall High-Back Racing Chair
- Respawn 110 Fabric Gaming Chair
- Nouhaus Ergo3D x
- Big Joe Roma Chair
- X Rocker Mammoth x
The best budget gaming chairs offer a strong foundation, ample padding, durable upholstery, and proper ergonomics. Once the basics are settled, features like lumbar support, adjustable armrests, and tilt are nice additions that allow you to sink in and relax in the seat whether it’s pulled up the best gaming desk or plopped in front of the best gaming TV.
However, weeding through the endless duds is a pain. So, we’re here to help. Our tech and gaming experts have researched and compiled the best budget gaming chairs out there, narrowing down the cream of the crop—and all cost under $400. Some can even go for as little as $100, giving you more room to splurge on a gaming PC deal or the best gaming accessories, like a great gaming mouse or keyboard. Check out our top nine budget gaming chairs in 2024 - and find cheap gaming chairs in the UK too.
Best Budget Gaming Chairs
1. Corsair TC100 Relaxed Gaming Chair
Best Budget Gaming Chair Under $300
Corsair isn’t new to the gaming chair game, and that knowledge extends to their wallet-friendly option, the TC100 Relaxed. This racing-style throne offers a robust steel frame and wide seat packed with plush padding to ensure your behind is comfortable during your legest sessions playing the best PC games. The entire seat is then wrapped in a durable leatherette or soft fabric material with perforated sections for extra breathability to stay cool during intense play sessions.
Setting you back only $249, TC100 Relaxed isn’t as feature-full as more expensive chairs, but it has all the basics you need. 2D armrests and a gas lift with a wide range of height adjustments make for an ergonomic alignment with your desk. There is no built-in lumbar support. However, back and neck pillows come with it, while a deep recline lets you kick back between matches.
2. GTPLAYER Gaming Chair
Best Budget Gaming Chair Under $200
The GTPLAYER Gaming Chair is a comfortable racing seat with a thick cushion to rest your behind. The wings on the edge of the seat, though padded, can dig into the side of your legs. Luckily, the chair is relatively wide, so it shouldn’t be a big issue. It also features a sturdy metal frame that can hold up to 250 pounds, ensuring most gamers can enjoy this affordable option.
With such a budget price, you do lose out on a robust feature set. You only get padded armrests that move with the seat as you recline, but there’s no other adjustability. There are lumbar and neck pillows helping improve ergonomics, while a handy footrest pops out from under the seat for deeper relaxation. Beyond that, the chair can raise or lower and recline up to 135 degrees.
3. Homall High-Back Racing Chair
Best Budget Gaming Chair Under $100
It’s hard to find a big and tall gaming chair that’s also super cheap, but luckily, there’s the Homall High-Back Racing Chair. For around $100, you get a seat that rests on a sturdy steel frame and five-star base, holding a max load of 300 pounds to accommodate heavier gamers. If you’re on the taller side, it’s also an effective fit thanks to that seat’s 20.5-inch depth and the gas lift height adjustments from 17 to 22 inches.
The Homall High-Back Racing Chair is surprisingly comfortable with its high-density foam seat, though it is on the narrower side at 14.5 inches. Adding to the ergonomics are moveable pillows for your neck and lumbar, but unfortunately, the armrests don’t adjust. And when you want to take a break from the game, you can tilt the seatback 180° for added comfort or even rock.
Be sure to check out more of the best big and tall gaming chairs
4. Respawn 110 Fabric Gaming Chair
Best Fabric Gaming Chair Under $200
A good chunk of gaming chairs feature PU leather or pleather for the haters, but if you’re gaming in shorts or a tank top, it doesn’t always feel great on the skin, especially when the inevitable sweat starts to happen. To avoid that sticky situation, you can snag a fabric option, like the Respawn 110, while still staying on budget. You’ll welcome this racing-style chair’s soft, breathable, and surprisingly durable material that’s ready for even your longest gaming sessions.
Respawn didn’t skimp on features, starting with its large, inviting seat toting built-in lumbar support and headrest, while a sturdy frame and piston can hold 275 pounds, so bigger gamers need not shy away. If you want to kick back after each match, you get a deep 135-degree recline, and the tilt tension is adjustable for a bit of rocking action. Unfortunately, the armrests don’t move, but at least it’s easy enough to adjust the seat height to get ergonomic positioning at your gaming desk.
5. Nouhaus Ergo3D
Best Budget Ergonomic Gaming Chair
When grabbing a budget chair, the first features to go are often the ergonomic chairs. Luckily, the Nouhaus Ergo3D is an office chair that lets you get comfortable on a budget. And while it's more expensive than pretty much every other chair on this list at $400, it's the only one that offers ergonomic features like 4D adjustable armrests and a a special backrest with separate sections for your lumbar, upper back, and neck – ensuring you’ll be happy sitting for hours.
Rather than the actual seat being made of leather or cloth, it's made of an 'ElastoMesh' material that makes it incredibly breathable, while also giving just enough way to conform to the countours of your body. That's why, after all, there's little to no padding in the backrest: Because it doesn't need it.
And you don't have to worry about this sizable investment breaking on you a year later. The Nouhaus Ergo3D is rated for a maximum weight of 275lb, and is largely made of iron, so you know that it won't break easily. Plus, it's supported by a 3-year warranty, so you can literally rest assured that it won't break for a while, and if it does, you can easily get it replaced.
6. Big Joe Roma Chair
Best Gaming Beanbag Chair Under $100
The Big Joe Roma is a bean bag chair that's grown up a bit to provide better comfort and support. With such a low price, you can even grab a set of them to surround your living room gaming setup for all your friends to relax while playing. It comes in several color options, too, so you can pick a seat that best matches your room’s aesthetic.
You'll be able to lean back and lounge in this heavily stuffed seat featuring a special arch shape. But if you ever find the bean bag chair losing its original comfiness, it’s easy to refill with new beans. And at 2 feet wide, the Roma should comfortably seat most, while double stitching and an easily cleanable fabric make this seat surprisingly durable.
Be sure to check out more of the best bean bag chairs for gaming
7. X Rocker Mammoth
Best Budget Rocker Gaming Chair
If you don't need all the bells and whistles of a rolling, deep-reclining, and pillow-loaded gaming chair, then the X Rocker Mammoth offers a solid but simple rocking alternative. This rocker sits on top of a pedestal that lets you swivel all around, and you can adjust tilt to get the rocking to your liking. It also has padded armrests and built-in lumbar support to ensure you’re comfortable during marathon gaming sessions.
The X Rocker Mammoth offers a more unique feature, as it’s packing speakers and a subwoofer in the chair ready to connect to your gaming consoles for a more immersive gaming experience. And though the simple black faux leather styling isn’t a huge eyesore, the chair does fold up for easy storage. It’s also important to note that this rocker doesn’t have the biggest dimensions, so it’s best for smaller players.
Be sure to check out more of the best rocker gaming chairs
What to look for in a Budget Gaming Chair
Buying affordable furniture is tricky, but the gaming chairs above aren't by any means lemons. However, if you'd rather find a budget-friendly option on your own, here are a few things you should look out for.
- Starting at the base, you want a strong foundation for your gaming chair. At this price point, most, if not all seats have a base made of plastic, which can be fine as long as you double-check the thickness of the material for sturdiness.
- The next thing you'll want to look at is the padding and lumbar support. Once again, thickness wins here. There's nothing worse than sitting on a thin cushion that’ll make you sore in the long run, or a poor frame not alllowing your back posture to be straight.
- Upholstery is important to check for quality. If it looks like a cheap pleather chair upon first inspection, chances are it is, and it'll start cracking and peeling on you after just a few months (or even weeks) of usage. When grabbing a mesh chair, you also want to ensure it’s strong and sturdy. Otherwise, it could start sagging.
- No matter which type of gaming chair you choose, you'll want good, adjustable ergonomics. When we say that, we mean a budget chair with at least adjustable armrests and levers for tilt and height. For the most part, all the gaming chairs on this list include at least one to all the points of adjustability mentioned, and you'll want to take advantage of them.
Be sure to check out our guide on how to pick the best gaming chair for more information.
How We Pick the Best Budget Gaming Chairs
When making our selections, we try our best to get our hands on (or rather our behinds in) as many chairs as possible for real-world testing. Unfortunately, we can’t review them all in person, so we’ll do extensive research, paying special mind to the specs and pricing.
Our main goal is to find a range of budget chairs that fit various needs and body types. Of course, max load and chair dimensions are where we often start. Beyond the basics, build materials, like the frame, fabric type, and cushioning, are important deciding factors. We never forget to look for features that improve ergonomics and comfort, like adjustable armrests, a movable headrest, lumbar support, and recline; yes, it’s possible to find these quality-of-life extras in a budget gaming chair.
Budget Gaming Chair FAQ
Are budget gaming chairs actually good?
Affordable gaming chairs can be just as good as their pricey cohorts. You just need to research before purchasing, as many cheaper options make promises that are too good to be true and lack lasting durability. Sacrificing features like 4D armrests or synchronized tilt might be worth it to get a comfy seat and lumbar support. You need to find a product and a price that's comfortable. Rest assured that we only recommend quality options that keep that in mind.
Should you get a gaming chair or an office chair?
Gaming chairs and office chairs serve the same general purpose: giving you a comfortable place to sit while pulled up to your computer. When comparing gaming chairs vs. office chairs, the biggest difference you’ll notice is in their styles. Gaming chairs feature long backs, bucket seats, and flashy designs. Also, providing better back and shoulder support while sometimes toting neck and lumbar pillows. Office chairs keep their looks more subdued and focus on adjustability. However, the seats are often flatter and the backrests are less supportive than gaming chairs.
How should you sit in a budget gaming chair?
The best gaming chairs almost force you to sit up straight thanks to the tall backrests and lumbar support. Once you’ve got your back properly aligned, you want a seat deep enough to just tap the back of your knees, while the seat height should let you plant both feet on the floor. Admittedly, you might not find this to be the most comfortable or relaxing way to sit in your gaming chair, but it’s the most ergonomic and might even help with focus.
When taking a break between gaming sessions, reclining is a great way to unwind and relax. Just be sure not to strain your back glancing at the best gaming monitors or 4K TVs when you’re doing this.
Best Budget Gaming Chairs in the UK in 2024
Unfortunately, a vast number of gaming chairs on this list are currently either out of stock or completely not available in the UK at the moment. This will likely change in the future and we will update this page accordingly when it does. Here are some additional current gaming chairs in the UK you can get now:
Kevin Lee is IGN's Hardware and Roundups Editor. Follow him on Twitter @baggingspam
Danielle Abraham is a freelance writer and unpaid music historian.
