5 Best Gaming Chairs For Big Guys: Buyer’s Guide
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If you have big body, look for a gaming chair that has extra depth, width and back height. Since you are likely to be heavier than average, it’s also important that the chair be sturdy and supportive.
Beyond size and support, also check whether the chair has an adjustable fit, if it’s breathable and whether it’ll last long.
In this buying guide, I review the top five gaming chairs for big guys. All my picks are designed for gamers that are close to or taller than 6 feet and weight more than average.
I have a couple high-end picks for those who want the best, some mid-range options for those who want the best value for their money and an affordable option for budget-minded gamers.
If you’re in a hurry, here is a summary of my best picks:
Tip: High quality gaming chairs are not just for gamers. Some big guys use gaming chairs for office work because they offer more support and comfort than ordinary office chairs. Basically, if you spend hours a day sitting down whether typing, writing or coding, a gaming chair can be still a good choice. However, there are office chairs specifically made for big guys, and these represent a better choice for non-gaming activities for reasons described here.
Key Considerations When Choosing A Gaming Chair For A Big Person
A. Size
The first thing to check is whether the chair is a good fit for your body size. Check the maximum and minimum seat height, the seat width and depth and the back height and width.
Gaming chairs for big guys are deeper, higher and wider than normal gaming chairs. You should be able to sit comfortable without your thighs getting squeezed by the armrests or your head going above the headrest.
B. Comfort
Gamers can easily spend hours continuously playing. Such a long playtime requires an extremely comfortable chair. Otherwise, you are going to end up with an aching back and a sore neck.
Over time, an uncomfortable chair can cause serious back and joint problems.
Here’s what matters when it comes to the comfort of a gaming chair.
- Seat and back padding – padding provides pressure relief for your joints and back. Good gaming chairs have a padding that falls somewhere between firm and soft. It may feel too firm at first but it’ll conform to your body after sometime.
- Neck and lumbar support – most gaming chairs incorporate neck and lumbar cushions. These ensure your neck and spine stay naturally aligned to prevent back pain and neck soreness.
- Breathable – don’t get a gaming chair that leaves you all hot and clammy after a few hours of playing. The fabric should be breathable. If you heat up and sweat easily, I recommend avoiding PU leather gaming chairs and going for a fabric one instead. PU leather is easy to clean but has poor breathability.
C. Adjustability
Gaming chairs are much more versatile than ordinary office chairs. The best gaming chairs let you adjust multiple parts of the chair to provide a perfect fit. You can also adjust the chair for different situations such as when gaming, relaxing or taking a nap.
Here’s the kind of adjustability to expect from a good gaming chair.
- Reclining back. You can sit upright, lean back a little to take a breather or lean completely back for a longer break. Pricier gaming chairs offer 180-degrees flat recline while cheaper options can’t recline all the way back.
- Adjustable seat height. This is a must-have feature. You can adjust the seat height depending on the height of your desk and how long your legs are. Remember to check the max and minimum seat height to make sure the chair is a good fit for your body size.
- Adjustable armrests. Even low-cost gaming chairs have adjustable armrests. But the level of adjustability depends on price range. With cheaper models you can only move them up and down. Pricier models offer 4D adjustment: up & down, back & forth, sideways & diagonal tilt.
- Adjustable headrest and lumbar support. With some models, you can completely remove the lumbar and headrest cushions if they feel uncomfortable.
D. Support
Mot big guys weigh more than average. So support is an important consideration when choosing a gaming chair.
A chair with inadequate support will feel uncomfortable and will probably not last long.
Look for a gaming chair with a sturdy metal base and frame. Most gaming chairs use steel because it can support a lot of weight.
Talking of weight, also check the chair’s max capacity. This depends on how sturdy the base and frame are as well as the capacity of the gas lift cylinder used.
Most gaming chairs designed for bigger body types can support between 300lbs and 400lbs.
Make sure you don’t buy a chair that has a lower capacity than your body weight. It could be dangerous to use especially when you recline.
E. Rocker
If you find rocking relaxing, look for a gaming chair with a rocker function. Make sure there’s an option to enable and disable the rocker as it can be annoying to have it on all the time.
Best Gaming Chairs For Big Guys: Top 5 Reviews
1. AKRacing Masters Series Max Gaming Chair
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The AKRacing Masters Series Max costs as much a couch. Spending this much money on a gaming chair may sound ridiculous, but the AKRacing Master Series Max is worth it.
It’s one of the best and most gaming chairs for big guys. It’s designed to accommodate a large body size and last for years. I highly recommend it for tall and large gamers who frequently have hours-long playing sessions. The AKRacing chair cuddles and supports you as no other chair does.
Let’s start with the weight capacity. The AKRacing Master Series Max can hold up to 400lbs of weight, thanks to a heavy-duty steel frame, a lightweight but strong aluminium base and extra-wide caster wheels.
The seat is wide and flat to ensure you can easily fit into it. It’s also deeper than ordinary gaming chairs, a plus for gamers with long legs.
You can adjust the seat height from 14.9” to 17.4”. The tall back is also adjustable. The four recline positions are 90 degrees (normal), 120 degrees, 165 degrees and a flat 180 degrees. That’s right, you can take a nap lying flat on the AKRacing Master Series Max chair.
The 4D armrests can be adjusted four ways: in & out, back & forth, up & down and side rotation.
Other adjustable features include the headrest, the lumbar support and the rocking function.
The outer materials of the AKRacing Master Series Max is PU leather. It is soft to the touch though it can get a bit warm.
High-density foam padding under the cover lasts for years without forming permanent indentations. It feels supportively firm yet soft enough to mold to your body.
To guarantee the chair’s durability and construction quality, AKRacing offers a 5/10 warranty; 5 years on the chair and 10 years on the frame.
What I like about it:
- Very comfortable for large and tall gamers.
- Excellent support with a high weight capacity.
- Versatile adjustability including 4D armrests and 180-degree recline.
- Long warranty.
2. Arozzi Verona XL+ Extra-Wide Premium Racing Style Gaming Chair
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If you are looking for something cheaper but still premium quality, I recommend the Arozzi Verona XL+ Extra-Wide gaming chair.
The Arozzi Verona XL+ gaming chair has a weight capacity of 350lbs, a seat width of 22.4”, a seat depth of 19.6”, a back height of 33” and an adjustable seat height between 18.1” and 21.2”.
In addition to seat height, you can also adjust the recline of the back part up to 165 degrees in 4-degree increments. The Veron XL+ does not lay flat like the AKRacing chair, but it reclines far enough that you can comfortably take a nap in between play sessions.
You can also activate a rocking feature and adjust the resistance.
The armrests are also adjustable, but again, not to the extent of the AKRacing 4D armrests. The Veron XL+ armrests only move up and down.
Two adjustable pillows provide extra support and pressure relief for your neck and lower back.
A metal frame and base provide extra support and durability. The Pleather cover feels soft and is easy to wipe clean, though it can get a bit warm. If you heat and sweat easily, keep a fan or cooler handy.
High-density foam padding provides firm support while also contouring to your body for pressure-relief.
Notably, only the seat has high-density foam padding (55-65kg/m³). Padding in the back has a significantly lower density of 18 kg/m³, meaning it will likely thin out and deteriorate faster than the seat padding especially if you recline a lot.
But overall, the Arozzi Verona XL+ is a great choice for large and tall gamers looking for a premium quality, supportive and comfortable gaming chair.
What I like about it:
- Great support.
- Versatile adjustments.
- Includes a rocker function.
- Easy to clean pleather cover.
3. AKRacing Core Series EX-Wide Gaming Chair
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If you want the quality, craftsmanship and durability that AKRacing is known for but think the AKRacing Master Series Max is too expensive, the AKRacing Core Series is a more affordable alternative.
The Master Series and Core Series chairs share certain similarities. The Core Series chair can recline flat at 180 degrees and has the same extra-wide and deep design of the Master Series Max gaming chair.
You also get the same heavy-duty steel frame, an aluminium base and wide 2.5” casters.
There are some major differences as well. The cheaper AKRacing Core Series chair has a lower capacity gas lift cylinder. It supports up to 330lbs vs. the 400lbs capacity of the AKRacing Master Series Max.
The cover of the AKRacing Core Series is polyester fabric, rather than the easy to clean PU leather. The upside of the fabric cover is that it stays cooler and reduces sweating.
Instead of 4D armrests, the AKRacing Core Series has 3D armrests. That’s still much more versatile than the basic 1-dimensional armrests on most gaming chairs that only move up and down.
You can adjust the 3D armrests up & down, back & forth and rotate them to the sides. The only thing you cannot do is move them inwards or outwards.
Overall, the AKRacing Core Series EX-Wide gaming chair is my best value pick. It offers the same premium comfort and construction quality as the high-end AKRacing Mater Series, but at a much lower price. You even get the same 5/10 warranty; 5 years for the chair and 10 years for the frame.
What I like about it:
- Good value for money.
- Long warranty.
- Versatile adjustability.
- Cool fabric cover.
4. Nokaxus Gaming Chair
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Looking for a gaming chair with a footrest? I recommend the Nokaxus Gaming Chair.
A footrest provides extra adjustability, allowing you to recline more comfortably. Of course, the footrest can be retracted out of the way when you don’t need it.
Another bonus feature I love in the Nokaxus gaming chair is the lumbar massage. The USB massage feature is built into the lumbar support pillow. It’s not as good as a dedicated massage chair; it’s more of a mild vibration. But it can still help reduce back tension and fatigue especially after playing for hours.
Onto the chair itself. Construction quality is great. The Nokaxus gaming chair has a strong steel frame, a sturdy metal and wood floor-friendly PU caster wheel. Combined with the Class 3 gas lift, the Nokaxus gaming chair can support up to 350lbs.
You can adjust seat height between 19.3” and 22.4” and recline the back up to a flat 180 degrees. Inner seat width is 16.5”, the depth is 20.9” and the back height is 36.2”.
The armrests can also be adjusted up and down and are covered with soft padding.
There are quite a number of complaints regarding the quality of the armrests, with several customers reporting broken or damaged armrests. But as long as the chair is still under warranty, the manufacturer will send a replacement.
The warranty is for 1 year.
The cover of the Nokaxus chair is PU leather. It’s easy to clean and wear-resistant. Under the cover is thick high-density padding that lasts for long.
Overall, I think the warranty could be longer and the construction quality better. But for the money, the Nokaxus gaming chair is a good buy for gamers on a budget.
What I like about it:
- Affordable price.
- 180-degree recline.
- Includes retractable footrest and USB massage.
- Available in multiple colors – the pink and blue are especially popular.
5. Hbada Gaming Chair
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Hbada is my least expensive pick, making it a good choice for gamers looking for a low-budget gaming chair.
As expected, the Hbada gaming chair has less adjustability, fewer fancy features and a lower weight capacity.
But it’s still designed to accommodate large and tall gamers. The weight capacity is still pretty high at 300lbs. The seat is 21.6” deep and 20.8” wide. The backrest is 31.5” high.
Adjustability is not too bad either. You can recline the seat in three positions up to 155 degrees and adjust seat height between 15.7” and 18.8”. The armrests are also height-adjustable to accommodate different body sizes and desk heights.
The head and lumbar headrests are removable. You can also adjust the position of the lumbar cushion to better fit your lumbar curvature.
A metal frame and base provide plenty of support while high-density foam padding allows you to game for hours without getting sore. The PU leather cover feels soft and is easy to wipe clean.
The warranty is for 1 year.
Overall, the Hbada gaming chair is better made and more versatile than I expected at this price point. It may not last as long as pricier gaming chairs. But if you are on a tight budget, it’s one of the best gaming chairs for large and tall gamers.
What I like about it:
- Low price.
- Adjustable seat height, armrest and recline.
- Rocker function.
- Easy to clean PU leather cover.
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Mike J Farman
I’ve been a programmer for most of my life. I live in Chicago, IL with my lovely wife and 2 year old boy. Today, I’m proud to be considered somewhat of an authority on chairs – a seating aficionado if you will. Now, did I choose this path? Definitely not; but my readers demand it!
