Ergonomic office chair or gaming chair?
The label on the box matters less than the adjustments in the chair. Here is how to tell, using the European standard as the yardstick.
Updated By The Best Office Chairs Europe editorial team5 sources
"Gaming chair" and "ergonomic chair" are marketing categories; EN 1335 is the yardstick. A Type A office chair must reach 400–520 mm, adjust its seat depth, backrest inclination and lumbar support, and pass the EN 1335-2 durability tests. Some gaming chairs claim EN 1335; none of the claims we read states which Type, so ask before you buy.
What EN 1335 asks of a work chair
| Requirement | Type A (EN 1335-1:2020) | What to check on a gaming chair |
|---|---|---|
| Seat height | 400–520 mm, at least 130 mm travel | Published range in mm |
| Seat depth | Adjustable, 425–450 mm, at least 70 mm travel | Many bucket seats are fixed |
| Lumbar support | Height-adjustable, 170–300 mm above the seat | A loose cushion is not the same as an adjustable support |
| Seat width | At least 400 mm | Raised side bolsters can narrow the usable width |
| Backrest | Inclination adjustable over at least 15° | Recline range and lock |
| Durability | EN 1335-2: 110 kg user, 8 h a day | Test report, GS mark |
What gaming-chair makers actually claim
- noblechairs HERO: "Certified as an office chair in accordance with DIN EN 1335" (product page). No part or Type stated.
- IKEA (GRUPPSPEL, MATCHSPEL, UTESPELARE and others): tested to "the latest versions of EN 1335 and ANSI/BIFMA X5.1", according to its Greek guarantee brochure.
- Corsair: a blanket statement that every Corsair gaming chair meets ANSI/BIFMA and EN 1335.
- Secretlab: we found no model-specific EN 1335 claim.
By comparison, IKEA's office chairs MARKUS and JÄRVFJÄLLET state a Type (C and B respectively) in their care documents. Saying "EN 1335" without a Type tells you a chair passed some part of the standard, not how well it adjusts to your body.
Five questions that settle it
- Which EN 1335 part, edition and Type, tested by which lab?
- What is the seat-height range in mm? Compare it with your target in the height calculator.
- Does the seat depth adjust?
- Is the lumbar support adjustable in height, or a separate cushion?
- What is the warranty, and is there a published user-weight rating?
Whatever you sit on, EU-OSHA's advice holds: change position and get up every 20–30 minutes. Browse office chairs with published Types in the register.
Questions buyers ask
Is a gaming chair as good as an ergonomic office chair?
It depends on the specific chair, not the category. Check whether it meets EN 1335-1 and which Type: Type A requires adjustable seat depth, backrest inclination and lumbar height, and a seat height range of at least 130 mm. Few gaming-chair makers state a Type.
Are gaming chairs EN 1335 certified?
Some makers claim it. noblechairs says its HERO is certified as an office chair to DIN EN 1335; IKEA says its gaming chairs were tested to the latest versions of EN 1335 and ANSI/BIFMA X5.1; Corsair says all its gaming chairs meet both. None of the claims we read names the EN 1335-1 Type or the test lab.
Sources
- noblechairs HERO product page: www.noblechairs.de/en-de/noblechairs-hero-gaming-chair-black-black/GAGC-113.html
- IKEA Greece gaming chair guarantee brochure (PDF): mgmt.ikea.gr/files/ImageGallery/Guarantees/CY23/3Y/Gaming_chairs_guarantee_brochure_SEP22G
- CATAS: EN 1335-1:2020 (PDF): catas.com/uploads/media/catas-en-1335-eng.pdf?v3.0
- SGS report reproducing EN 1335-1:2020 Table 2: www.centrufficio.it/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/Play_certificazione-EN1335-1-2020-tipo-B.pd
- EU-OSHA: Prolonged static sitting at work (PDF): osha.europa.eu/sites/default/files/2022-04/Prolonged_static_sitting_at_work.pdf
All sources checked 20 October 2026. Where a manufacturer does not publish a value, we say so rather than estimate it.
Cite this page
Best Office Chairs Europe, “Ergonomic office chair or gaming chair?”, https://bestofficechairs.eu/compare/ergonomic-vs-gaming-chair/, updated .