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Top 5 Best Budget Gaming Chairs – (2024 Pro Guide)

By Digital Mike

Last Updated Feb 16, 2024

Are you on the hunt for a good cheap gaming chair? If the answer is “yes,” you’ve docked in the right spot. In fact, you might find that budget gaming chairs are better than mid-range options that are just almost amazing. Here at Gaming Chair Genie, I put the time into testing chairs so you don’t have to. I’ve personally been mighty busy this month reviewing chairs, and all the fresh data is flowing through my mind. Now I’m passing that data along to you in my pro guide to choosing the best budget gaming chair.

In each of my comprehensive guides, I share the top models available in specific price ranges, individual reviews of each chair, and the pros & cons of owning them. My guides help you save time by cutting to the chase rather than beating around the bush. Let’s get started below with my Top 5 chart before checking out the reviews.

Chair Specs
#1) DESINO Gaming Chair Racing Style
  • Best Budget PC Gaming Chair
  • Max Recline: 180º
  • Adjustable Armrests: Yes (3D)
  • Model: HB04
  • Dimensions: 21″ x 21″ x 34″ backrest (L x W x H)
  • Load Capacity: 300 lbs
  • Warranty: 1-Year on Defective Parts
  • Price: $$$
#2) Furmax High-Back Gaming Chair
  • #1 Overall Best Budget Gaming Chair
  • Max Recline: 180º
  • Adjustable Armrests: No
  • Model: Gaming Chair Series
  • Dimensions: 20.7″ x 20.7″ x 33″ backrest (L x W x H)
  • Load Capacity: 300 lbs
  • Warranty: N/A
  • Price: $$$
#3) Polar Aurora Gaming Chair Racing Style
  • Top-Rated Affordable Gaming Chair
  • Max Recline: 160º
  • Adjustable Armrests: No
  • Model: Racing Style
  • Dimensions: 19.8″ x 20.5″ x 33.5″ backrest (L x W x H)
  • Load Capacity: 300 lbs
  • Warranty: N/A
  • Price: $$
#4) X Rocker V Rocker SE
  • Best Budget Rocking Gaming Chair
  • Max Recline: Rocking
  • Adjustable Armrests: No
  • Model: 5130301
  • Dimensions: 31″ x 17″ x 29″ (L x W x H)
  • Load Capacity: 275 lbs
  • Warranty: 90-Day
  • Price: $$
#5) BestOffice Gaming Chair
  • Best-Cheapest Gaming Chair
  • Max Recline: No Recline
  • Adjustable Armrests: Yes (Flip-Up)
  • Model: OC-RC66
  • Dimensions: 27″ x 26″ x 47.5″ (L x W x H)
  • Load Capacity: 250 lbs
  • Warranty: 90-Day
  • Price: $

Best Budget Gaming Chair Reviews

If you began your search looking for the best deal on a gaming chair, your future throne is definitely in the chart above. These 5 chairs offer a rocking option, traditional racing-style options, several premium features found in chairs that cost $150 or more, and the cheapest gaming chair that’s actually worth buying.

One thing I did notice in this category is a lack of warranty info or short warranty periods. It’s important to know before you buy, that a chair in this price range isn’t meant to last for years of hardcore gaming. These are great entry-level chairs, and they do have the potential to last for years depending on how much you plan to use yours.

I was surprised to see some of the premium features that the chairs in this guide offer for the money. When you choose one of these models, you definitely get great value for the money. Below, I share reviews of each of the 5 chairs along with the pros & cons according to owner reports. Once you consider the pros & cons and take a closer look at the features of each chair, you’ll know for sure which model is perfect for you.

DESINO Gaming Chair Racing Style (HB04)

Of the brands in this price range, DESINO is the clear winner at the moment. The company managed to pack in a lot of features that chairs in the upper tiers offer for a reduced cost. Two features that stood out to me are 3D armrests and a retractable footrest. 3D armrests allow for complete adjustability of the armrests to find your sweet spot. They’re also good for PC gaming to avoid any collisions between your armrests and desk.

On top of those features, this chair reclines a full 180º. When you’re ready to relax, you have the option to sit all the way back and take advantage of the footrest. What more can you really ask for from a gaming chair at this price? Similar to more expensive chairs, the DESINO comes with lumbar and neck cushions for added support & comfort during marathon gaming sessions. You may also enjoy the U-shaped footrest over the traditional block style.

A couple of final highlights are the rocking control tension knob below the seat, a larger seat than competing models, thicker cushioning, and even a 1-year warranty. In this price range, a 1-year warranty is hard to find, and of the chairs in this price category, DESINO offers the longest warranty. All in all, this is certainly one of the top budget gaming chairs on the market, if not the best.

Below are the pros and cons I found reported by owners in the DESINO reviews:

Pros
  • Easy installation and the package comes with all the required tools
  • The ergonomic shape of the chair is quite comfortable
  • The lumbar and neck cushions keep the body comfortable during long hours of gameplay
  • It looks awesome in person, especially for the price
  • Approved by 6′ tall users
  • The footrest is great to have in a budget gaming chair and gets the job done
  • The recline function is easy and smooth
  • Well-built and solid construction
Cons
  • The armrests may turn more easily than you’d like and not go high enough
  • The footrest isn’t as sturdy as more expensive chairs
  • Unable to tighten the back pillow to hold it in different positions
  • It may feel like the chair is about to tip when leaning

Furmax High-Back Gaming Chair

If you’re cool without a retractable footrest and adjustable armrests, this budget chair by Furmax is the top choice available in this category. This is as close as it gets to dripping into the premium layers of gaming chairs in the budget realm. Personally, I’m good without adjustable armrests in this price range because more moving parts can easily equal more broken and malfunctioning parts. While I do like to see the 3D armrests in the DESINO model above, there were a couple of complaints about them adjusting too easily. With the Furmax chair, you don’t need to worry about that problem.

As far as the chair itself, it’s about the same size as the DESINO chair with the same level of cushioning that most budget racing-style gaming chairs feature. You also get the coveted 180º recline angle with this chair for maximum comfort, though no footrest is a bit of a bummer. A couple of additional highlights offered by the Furmax chair are the 5-star nylon base and Class 3 gas spring. One drawback to consider before buying this chair is zero warranty info.

These are the pros & cons I found reported by current owners in the Furmax reviews:

Pros
  • Smooth-rolling casters
  • Sturdy armrests, no wobbling
  • It looks awesome in person, especially for the price
  • Excellent back support
  • Just as good as chairs that cost double the price
  • A good budget alternative to a DXRacer chair
  • Soft materials
Cons
  • A couple of wobbling seat reports
  • The assembly instructions could be more detailed
  • It may squeak over time and need to be lubed
  • Some quality control issue reports to be aware of

Polar Aurora Gaming Chair Racing Style

This popular model by Polar Aurora is the third and final racing-style gaming chair in this guide. By now, you know what a racing-style gaming chair offers, and I’m sure you already did before you arrived here today. Compared to the two chairs above, there are some minor differences to know about before selecting the Polar Aurora chair. For one, it doesn’t recline quite as far, with a max recline angle of 160º. Secondly, there’s no retractable footrest or adjustable armrests. Whether or not these are actual drawbacks is debatable, and depending on your preferences, you may like the aesthetic quality of this chair above the others.

One thing to consider about all racing-style gaming chairs in this price range is PU leather seat covers. PU leather is the norm in the budget realm. Is that a bad thing? Not necessarily. The advantages of PU leather are it’s soft, easy to clean, and cheap. The disadvantages are that it doesn’t always stand the test of time, doesn’t breathe as well as fabric covers, and not all PU leather is of the same quality.

Overall, there’s nothing else that’s very different about the Polar Aurora chair compared to the two chairs above. Like the Furmax chair, there’s no warranty info provided. At the time of this writing, it does cost a bit less than both the DESINO and Furmax chairs if you want to save a few extra bucks.

Here are the pros and cons I found reported by users in the Polar Aurora reviews:

Pros
  • Super easy to assemble
  • Solidly built
  • Approved by PC gamers for comfort
  • The head and lumbar cushions provide good support
  • The tall & wide backrest makes it a good choice for big & tall gamers
  • Reports about the chair holding up well
  • Good customer service marks
  • Unbeatable price
Cons
  • A couple of quality control issue reports, such as the screws not aligning with the holes
  • May not be the best choice for people over 200lbs
  • You may desire more cushioning for long gaming sessions

X Rocker V Rocker SE (5130301)

I’m a fan of X Rocker gaming chairs, and the V Rocker SE 5130301 is currently the best budget X Rocker chair. Similar to most X Rocker models, the V Rocker features 2 internal speakers and a 4″ subwoofer. Having onboard audio makes the gaming experience more immersive and fun for most people. If you love to watch movies and TV shows (who doesn’t, right?), this chair is great for that as well.

One qualm I have with most budget X Rocker chairs is no Bluetooth connectivity. The V Rocker does have a wireless transmitter, but it’s not as convenient as Bluetooth. The advantage is compatibility. The V Rocker is ready to connect to the latest Xbox and PlayStation systems with the correct cables, though you may have to make an additional purchase depending on which system you own.

The chair itself is very comfortable, and if you like to rock, this chair is clearly the winner of the 5 in this guide. The ergonomic design provides good lumbar & neck support. One thing to definitely consider before you buy this chair is the dimensions. Larger folks will probably want to look elsewhere since the chair is on the smaller side with a 17″ max-width.

Below are the pros & cons I discovered in the X Rocker 5130301 reviews:

Pros
  • Kids absolutely love it, it’s a great gift idea
  • Excellent comfort for gaming
  • Good customer service reviews
  • Awesome sound quality for the money
  • A top gaming chair for small spaces
  • Approved for long hours of gameplay without discomfort
  • It looks really cool in person
  • Comfy materials
Cons
  • Connecting the audio can get annoying depending on your setup
  • It might feel too small
  • Adults may experience discomfort when sitting long hours in it
  • Might be too narrow for you

BestOffice Gaming Chair (OC-RC66)

The final chair is the best cheapest gaming chair currently on the market, and when I say “best cheapest,” I mean this thing is cheap. Compared to the other chairs in the guide, it costs considerably less at the time of this writing. BestOffice isn’t a top gaming chair brand by any means, but the company does sell quality budget office chairs.

Compared to a racing-style gaming chair, the BestOffice chair features a similar backrest with a flatter seat design, which you might actually find more comfortable than a seat with wings. One feature that I like a lot is the flip-up armrests. This feature allows you to get the armrests completely out of the way without having to remove them. In a way, I like flip-up armrests more than 3D armrests since there are less moving parts.

One key missing feature to consider before you buy this chair is no recline function. However, the chair does allow for a certain level of tilt for added comfort. The neck pillow is adjustable, which is a nice touch in the super-budget category. There’s even a 90-day warranty, and as I mentioned already, BestOffice is a reliable budget office equipment vendor. Overall, this is the cheapest gaming chair available that’s actually worth the money.

These are the pros & cons I found reported by owners in the BestOffice gaming chair reviews:

Pros
  • Takes under 30 minutes to assemble
  • The chair does lean back a bit by using the lever beneath the seat
  • Flip-up armrests are great for PC gamers to avoid collisions with your desk or slide the chair under a desk
  • Looks surprisingly good in person
  • Approved for gaming 6+ hours without discomfort
  • Awesome overall comfort for the money
  • The backrest is solid and good quality
  • Smooth-rolling wheels
Cons
  • May feel sticky on humid days
  • Reported problems about the screws coming loose after several months
  • Some broken chair in under 1 year reports
  • May squeak over time

Bottom Line

Now that you’ve checked out the top budget gaming chairs and know what’s available in this price category, I’m sure you’ve already made your decision. Will you go higher up the ladder or stick with a cheap gaming chair? Whichever you choose, you’ll be all good as long as you stick with the chairs in this guide and consider the pros & cons of each before you buy.

The most important thing to do is not to expect the world from a cheap gaming chair. The people who get let down are the people who expect the cheapest gaming chair with good reviews to perform like a top DXRacer model. That’s just not going to happen.

Lastly, I must mention again that I’m impressed most by the DESINO chair for the price. It offers some key comfort features that I look for when shopping for a gaming chair for a very affordable price. Depending on your taste in chairs, you may agree that it’s the best affordable gaming chair on the market.

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