Which gaming chair should you choose? A practical guide to what to look for before buying

The third hour of a session quickly puts any chair to the test. Your lower back needs support, your elbows hover above the desk, and the edge of the seat starts pressing into your thighs. These problems often come from choosing a chair purely for its looks, without checking whether it suits your build, desk and sitting habits. Here is a step-by-step guide to what to look for when choosing a gaming chair.

In this article, you will learn:

• How do you choose a gaming chair to suit your height, build and desk?
• Which adjustments really affect ergonomics?
• What is the difference between 2D, 3D and 4D armrests?
• Should you choose a leather or fabric chair?
• How do bucket-style gaming chairs differ from more ergonomic designs?
• What mistakes should you avoid when buying a gaming chair?

Before deciding which gaming chair to choose, start with yourself

When choosing a gaming chair, start with your own measurements and habits. These play a major role in how comfortable it will be to use. Your height, leg length, hip and shoulder width, and body weight all matter. Two people of the same height may need completely different seat settings.

How you use the chair matters too. A chair for two hours of evening gaming and a gaming chair for a full day of work and play need to meet different requirements. When sitting for long periods, ergonomics, freedom to change position, breathable upholstery and the range of adjustments become more important.

That is why choosing the right chair should start with one question: how much time do I spend at the computer, and what position do I sit in most often?

How to choose a gaming chair for your height and build

Dimensions are often what determines comfort, and they are easy to check before buying a gaming chair. Compare your own measurements with the seat dimensions, adjustment range and maximum load capacity.

Seat height adjustment and desk fit

Seat height adjustment lets you match the chair both to your legs and to the desktop. With the correct setting, your feet should rest flat on the floor, your thighs should be roughly parallel to it, and your knees should be bent at close to a right angle.

You can sit on an ordinary chair and measure the distance from the floor to the bend behind your knee. Then compare the result with the seat adjustment range of your chosen model.

Your desk is the second point of reference. With your hands resting on the keyboard, your shoulders should stay relaxed and your elbows should be roughly level with the desktop. If the desktop is too high, raising the seat and using a footrest may help.

Seat width and depth

The seat should be slightly wider than your hips. If it is too narrow, it may press into your thighs; if it is too wide, it moves the armrests away from your body and makes it harder to rest your forearms comfortably.

To check the depth, sit with your back against the backrest. There should be a small gap of roughly two to three finger widths between the front edge of the seat and the bend behind your knee. A seat that is too deep makes it harder to use the lumbar support, while one that is too shallow does not support your thighs adequately.

Backrest height and gaming chairs for tall people

The backrest should support your back at least up to your shoulder blades. For a tall person, its height is not the only thing that matters: seat height adjustment and seat depth are important too. That is why a gaming chair for tall people should not be chosen solely on the basis of the maximum user height listed in a table. It is worth comparing all the key dimensions.

The maximum load capacity, meanwhile, specifies the load the frame and mechanisms are designed to support. When choosing a gaming chair, it is worth allowing some margin above your own body weight.

Gaming chair ergonomics: lumbar support and headrest

Ergonomics is not simply about how many adjustments a chair offers. What matters more is whether its individual elements can actually be adapted to your build.

Lumbar support is designed to fill the gap between your lower back and the backrest. It may take the form of a separate cushion or an element integrated into the chair. What matters most is whether you can position it correctly: you should feel its support, but it should not push your body forwards.

A headrest or neck pillow is particularly useful when the backrest is reclined. Check whether you can adjust its position to support your neck rather than the back of your head or your upper back.

Armrest adjustment: 2D, 3D or 4D?

Armrest adjustment helps you position the armrests to suit your desk, keyboard and sitting habits. Correctly adjusted armrests support your forearms and help keep your shoulders relaxed.

The number next to the letter D indicates the number of adjustment directions. Typically, 2D includes height and one additional movement, 3D adds further sliding adjustments, and 4D armrests also allow the pads to rotate. Manufacturers do not always define these terms in the same way, so check the model's specifications for its exact adjustment options.

For short sessions, 2D or 3D is often enough. A wide adjustment range may be more useful for extended use, an unconventional keyboard position, or a chair shared by several people.

TILT, reclining and backrest adjustment

Backrest adjustment primarily gives you more freedom to change position. TILT lets the seat and backrest tilt together, while reclining changes the angle of the backrest alone. The Multiblock version also lets you lock the chair in several positions.

When gaming, you spend most of your time sitting upright or slightly reclined. A wider backrest adjustment range is mainly useful during breaks, watching content or resting.

When choosing a gaming chair, do not focus only on the maximum recline angle. What matters more is whether the adjustable backrest makes the chair comfortable in the positions you actually use.

Leather or fabric chair? Which gaming chair upholstery should you choose?

The choice of material affects both appearance and comfort. Fabric is usually more breathable and works well for long periods of sitting, especially in a warm room. However, it requires more care when cleaning.

PU leather, on the other hand, is easy to maintain and gives a more uniform look, but is less breathable and can get warmer in summer. Mesh fabric is usually highly breathable and is more commonly found in ergonomic and office chairs.

Hybrid designs combining fabric and PU leather are also available. When buying a gaming chair, consider the room temperature, the time you spend at the computer and how you use it.

Bucket-style gaming chairs or ergonomic chairs?

Broadly speaking, gaming chairs can be divided into bucket-style designs and more ergonomic options.

A bucket-style chair takes its cues from racing seats. It has a tall backrest, contoured side bolsters and often extra neck and lumbar cushions. It may suit people who like firm support and resting in a reclined position. However, the side bolsters may restrict movement for people with a broader build or those who sit cross-legged.

Ergonomic chairs are closer to office chair designs. They usually offer more freedom to change position and have a more neutral shape. An ergonomic gaming chair may be a good option if you want one chair for both work and gaming.

No single type is better for everyone. Choosing the right chair depends on how you sit, the time you spend at the computer and your individual preferences.

The construction you cannot see in photos

A good gaming chair for your computer carries weight every day, so it is worth looking at the parts hidden beneath the upholstery when buying one.

A steel frame provides structural rigidity, while cold-cured foam is usually denser than cut foam and generally retains its shape for longer. Also check the gas lift's class and load capacity, as well as the material of the base. Castors should suit the type of flooring.

Remember the space around the chair, too. A wide backrest adjustment range requires room behind it, and a protective mat may be useful on laminate flooring or carpet.

Which ENDORFY gaming chair should you choose?

These criteria can be applied to two series of ENDORFY gaming chairs, designed for different ways of using a computer.

The ENDORFY Scrim series is an option for people who prefer a bucket-style shape and a wider recline range. Chairs in this series have contoured side bolsters, a tall backrest made with cold-cured foam, neck and lumbar cushions, and 4D armrests. The backrest reclines from 90–150°, while the Multiblock mechanism lets you lock the chair in several positions. The series includes several variants, including the Scrim BK F with all-fabric upholstery.

The ENDORFY Meta series is closer to ergonomic and office chair designs. Chairs in this series support the spine at five points and have 3D armrests and a backrest that reclines from 100–125°. They are available in Meta BK and Meta RD versions.

All ENDORFY chairs have class 4 gas lifts with a static load capacity of 150 kg and a dynamic load capacity of 120 kg.

Full specifications, including seat dimensions and adjustment ranges, are available on the product pages in the gaming chairs category.

Common mistakes when choosing a gaming chair

When buying a gaming chair, it is easy to focus on looks or the number of features rather than how well it fits your build. A seat that is too deep, poorly adjusted armrests or an unsuitable height can reduce comfort even in a well-equipped model.

Before buying, check the following in particular:

• seat dimensions and height adjustment range,
• backrest height, load capacity and armrest adjustment options,
• upholstery material and the amount of space around the desk.

After assembling the chair, take a moment to adjust the seat height, lumbar support and armrests. Adapting the chair to the user matters more than the number of adjustments it offers. A well-chosen chair should suit your build, desk and the way you use your computer. If you already have your measurements, compare them with models in the ENDORFY gaming chairs category.