The Best Fabric Gaming Chairs (from Cheap to Expensive)

Fabric gaming chairs are gaining in popularity amongst gamers due to one big advantage they have over PU leather- better breathability. That’s an especially important advantage if you live in a hotter climate or tend to sit and game for many hours on end.

Furthermore, gone are the days where fabric upholstery equates to bland and uninspired. Modern fabric gaming chairs can be almost just as stylish and colorful as the flashiest chairs out there.

With that said,, here are our picks for the best fabric gaming chairs out in the market, ordered from cheap to expensive.

Best Fabric Chairs at a Glance

• Eclife Gaming Chair – Best Option with Footrest
• Nouhaus Gaming Chair – Most Compact with Flip-Up Arms
• GTRACING Ace – Best Budget Option
• X Rocker 5129101 – Great for Console Gaming
• AKRacing Core Series EX – Best midrange option
• Secretlab Titan Fabric SoftWeave – Most Luxurious Fabric Material
• Anda Seat T PRO 2 – Excellent Choice for Big and Tall Users
• Herman Miller X Logitech G Embody – Most Ergonomic Option

Eclife Gaming Chair

Features at a Glance: Pull-out footrest, external neck and lumbar pillows, height-adjustable arms, 150° recline and 20° tilt with tension control

Starting off our list is the Eclife Gaming Chair, an ultra affordable fabric chair that even comes with a retractable footrest.

The cheapest fabric chair on this list (when on sale), you get a thickly padded chair with anti heat buildup upholstery for the price. The fabric material feels sturdy but rough, so it might feel scratchy if you often wear shorts or sleeveless shirts.

Its respectable 150° recline feature is complemented by a cushioned footrest. Just pull it out, lean back, and you have a comfy recliner that’s perfect for resting in between tough matches. More importantly, the Eclife has a 20° rocking mode with tension control which can help keep back pain away during hours of gaming.

The lumbar support comes with a USB-powered massager. Like most of its kind that we’ve come across in gaming chairs, it’s pointless since it only makes noise and vibrates a little.

The company’s recommended maximum weight for the Eclife is 330 lbs. But, considering its plastic base, 200 lbs is a more realistic figure.

Nouhaus Gaming Chair

Features at a Glance: 135° synchro fingertip tilt with lock, padded flip-up arms, 5-year warranty, rollerblade wheels

If the typical design of gaming chairs is a little too flamboyant for you, the Nouhaus is a good alternative. Unlike regular gaming chairs, its style is clearly more muted, instead opting for the safer corporate look.

The highlight of the Nouhaus is the thickly padded fold away arms. If you ever thought “I wish the arms on my chair could just disappear sometimes”, this is the chair for you. One buyer remarked that the flip up armrests have saved him valuable space in his cramped media room.

The sides of the Nouhaus are upholstered in a combination of elasto mesh and PU leather with white piping. However, the main contact surface of the backrest and seat is a luxurious pairing of high density foam and micro velvet fabric. The result? A soft and smooth feel that won’t make you sweat like PU leather chairs do.

As a sub $200 gaming chair, the Nouhaus is incredibly sturdy and can withstand constant usage. However, its lack of a neck and lumbar pillow, which even the cheaper Eclife has, is disappointing.

There’s a 2-inch curve to the backrest that provides a semblance of lumbar support. However, for most people, this might not be enough. It also doesn’t recline, though can tilt/ rock up to 135°.

GTRACING Ace

Features at a Glance: 4D arms, 5-year warranty, external head and lumbar pillow, 160° recline and knee tilt

Our chosen one for the best budget fabric gaming chair category is the GTRacing Ace S1. This is basically an improved version of the beloved but flawed GTRacing chair we reviewed a while back.

The fabric used to cover the Ace S1 is woven nylon fabric. It’s soft and very breathable.

We were also impressed by the full 4-way adjustable armrests. This is typically only seen on gaming chairs in the $300 range and up. This means that it can be adjusted by height, forwards/backward, width, and pivot angle. It’s a must-have feature for people who spend a lot of time playing on their phone or tablet in their chair. That said, at 10” long, the armrests are on the short side.

You can always count on GTRacing chairs to come with some of the deepest reclining backrests among its peers. The backrest on the Ace chair can go back 160°. When you throw in tilting, that’s near vertical for the folks that like to really stretch out their backs.

Given the price, the GTRacing Ace is still a budget chair, and as such, you can expect just mediocre quality. We would only recommend this chair for people below 230 lbs due to the just average amount of seat cushioning, despite the advertised 330 lb weight capacity.

X Rocker 5129101

Features at a Glance: Flip-up arms, rocking function, 2 speakers and a 4” subwoofer, foldable, connectible to other X Rocker chairs, Bluetooth-enabled, compatible with most smart devices and media and gaming systems

Unlike the other chairs on our lineup that are geared towards PC gamers, the X Rocker 5129101 is a fabric gaming chair that’s best suited in the living room for console gaming.

As a pedestal chair, the X Rocker is a hybrid type of gaming chair which combines a swivel chair, rocker chair and a recliner. The armrests can also flip up to get out of the way when not in use.

The center part of the backrest and seat is covered in mesh while the outer parts are dressed in microfiber suede. While the mesh is soft and breathable, the large holes can feel scratchy if you have sensitive skin.

Just a heads up, the faux suede outer cover can also be a magnet for pet hair.

One of the highlights of the X Rocker is its immersive wireless sound system with volume and bass control. With the two hidden speakers in the headrest and the rumbling from the intense subwoofer at the back, you’ll get surprisingly decent sound quality that you can actually feel. A fan of Genshin Impact remarked that he feels like he’s actually in Teyvat thanks to this feature.

For anyone considering the X Rocker, just be aware that the seat height is not adjustable. People as tall as 6’2″ have remarked that it fit them fine, though if you’re taller than that, you’ll probably find your legs feeling cramped when seated.

AKRacing Core Series EX

Features at a Glance: Height-adjustable neck and lumbar pillows, 3D arms, 3 to 18° tilt function with tension control, up to 10 years warranty, 180° recline, 8 color options

As a mid range fabric gaming chair, you can expect a noticeable bump in build quality with the AKRacing Core EX. The 5 star base is made of metal for example, compared to the nylon material seen in cheaper chairs.

Another big difference between this fabric chair and the ones above it? The seat cushion on the Core SX consists of cold cured foam. The most dense type of foam used in chairs, it resists sagging a lot better, minimizing the chances of you ending up with a hollow seat after just a few months.

With a 15.5” x 19.75” seat and a 21.25” wide backrest, the Core EX is best for people on the slimmer side. The smooth polyester fabric breathes well and is resistant to ripping. According to one gamer who used to have a swampy PU leather seat, he can sit on the EX for hours and not a drop of sweat. 

Gamers who want to match the color of their chair with their gaming setup will also like that the EX is available in 8 color schemes.

We do have a couple of gripes about the EX. After seeing the 4D arms on the sub $200 GTRacing Ace, we were expecting the same for the mid range EX. However, it only has 3D arms. The seat is also on the stiffer side, though this will eventually break in after a few weeks.

Secretlab Titan Fabric SoftWeave

Features at a Glance: Thick 4D arms, 165° recline with seat angle lock, neck pillow with cooling gel, integrated depth-adjustable lumbar support, 5 year warranty

Stepping into the premium league of fabric chairs, we kick it off with one of our all time favorites, the Secretlab Titan. Besides the typical leather options, the chair can also be outfitted in Softweave fabric, a material that took years to develop.

Simply put, Softweave is a denser, softer version of the normal fabric material used to make covers. It’s made of densely-woven short yarn, resulting in an ultra breathable yet durable upholstery.

If you’ve read our comprehensive review of the Titan, then you know that its build quality blew us away. The reinforced high strength aluminum base, heavy-duty gas lift, stainless steel armrest switches, and steel construction combine to create an incredibly sturdy and silent chair that can last up to 10 years with proper care.

As for its ergonomic features, expect personalized support. The Secretlab Titan comes with wide, rubbery arms that move in all directions. This means you’re guaranteed arm support regardless of your sitting position. There’s also a 165° reclining and rocking function, but it’s the seat angle lock that’s noteworthy, since it allows you to continue to work and game even in a heavily reclined position.

At the end of the day, unless you aren’t feeling the corporate look of their chairs, there’s really very little we can find fault with the Secretlab Titan chairs.

Anda Seat T PRO 2

Features at a Glance: 160° recline and tilt with lock, 5-year warranty, 4D arms, external neck and lumbar pillows, wide aluminum base

If you’re a large gamer that has shred every gaming chair up to this point, you’ve finally met your match with the Anda Seat T Pro 2.

The T Pro 2 shares a similar DNA to the company’s Kaiser II gaming chair, one we called a beast of a chair when we reviewed it, and in a good way. Its massive all metal frame and aluminum base creates one of the most heavy duty, stable chairs we’ve come across.

Similar to the Secretlab Titan, the T Pro 2 comes with a robust tilting mechanism that supports seat angle lock in addition to a healthy backrest recline of up to 160 degrees. It’s also extremely well balanced- there’s no sense you’re going to tip when you rock the chair. This is very important for large folks.

Now, let’s talk about the fabric. The king-sized chair is decked in sensible linen fabric. It’s skin-friendly, durable, and free of harmful elements. It feels warm during winter and cool during summer.

The one weak link in the T Pro 2 are the armrests. Despite being 4-D, they are all plastic, unlike on the Secretlab Titan. The track underneath the armrests aren’t entirely smooth either, causing adjustments to sometimes get stuck.

Herman Miller X Logitech G Embody

Features at a Glance: Comes fully assembled, 12-year warranty, 2D arms, cooling foam, PostureFit, BackFit, depth-adjustable seat, die-cast aluminum frame and base, dynamic backrest, 94° to 120° recline, 3° to 15° synchro-tilt 

The Logitech G Embody chair is basically a gamified version of the award winning Embody chair, and by gamified, we mean better for gamers. Compared to the original embody, the gaming version has higher quality foam under the seat, plus more padding in the backrest for superior long term comfort.

Another key difference is the addition of cooling copper-fused foam. With the polyester Sync fabric upholstery, it’s a great combo to keep you from getting hot even during hours of gaming. The fabric also has great UV resistance, flame resistance, color retention, seam strength, and abrasion durability.

Of course, this gaming version of the Embody retains all of its original ergonomic features. This includes the PostureFit which prevents fatigue and encourages proper posture by reinforcing the pelvis and lumbar spine. The same goes for the tunable BackFit for total spinal curve support and the back-conforming dynamic matrix which encourages movement and reduces pressure.

The gaming embody is also the only chair on our list which offers a depth-adjustable seat. This will allow you to give enough space between the back of your legs and the edge of the seat, preventing poor blood circulation to your lower extremities.

The biggest thing that can make you uncomfortable about the gaming Embody is its price. If you want the best of the best, be prepared to shell out roughly $1600. To help ease the pain, Herman Miller offers a 12-year warranty for this chair. It’s good to know that the company has your back after making such an investment.

Depending on your needs, you might also find the 2D armrests lacking. After all, at this price point, it’s only reasonable to expect 4D arms. What it does have is an incredible range of adjustment. While the armrests on standard chairs only adjust by an inch or two, the gaming Embody’s arms are height-adjustable by 4.75” and width-adjustable by 9.5”

Pros and Cons of Fabric Gaming Chairs

Before you buy a fabric gaming chair, there are some things you need to know. Here are the characteristics of fabric upholstery and how it stands against PU leather..

Breathability

This is where fabric shines. Even though some PU leather have micro perforations to encourage good airflow, it still pales in comparison to fabric.

Since fabric is woven, there are small openings that allow the air to go in and out. PU leather is impermeable, so the heat just gets trapped.

Durability

PU leather is a bit more durable when it comes to everyday use. However, it has a tendency to start flaking after a year. Fabric isn’t that far behind in terms of durability and doesn’t chip or flake. Both can get ripped or punctured by naughty little critters.

Feel

PU leather is smooth but can sometimes stick to the skin. Meanwhile, the sensation of fabric depends on the quality and type of material used. Low quality fabric can feel scratchy and can cause skin irritation.

Environment-Friendliness

PU leather is made from plastics that can take hundreds of years to biodegrade. The same is true for man-made fabrics like polyester and nylon. If you’re looking for eco-friendly fabric upholstery, linen is a good option.

Skin-Friendliness

PU leather and synthetic fabrics can both cause skin allergies. They also sometimes have a chemical scent that can be irritating if you have a sensitive sense of smell. In this case, natural fabrics like linen are better.

Aesthetics

Both PU leather and fabric can easily be customized in terms of design and color. PU leather looks flamboyant and luxurious, especially with colored piping, while fabric gaming chairs look elegant and reserved.

Immunity to Spills and Stains

PU leather is virtually spill and stain proof since you can simply wipe the substance off it. Fabrics are absorbent so they’re more likely to stain.

Synthetic fibers, though resistant to water-based stains, are oleophilic. This means that oil-based stains are harder to clean up.

Maintenance

It’s harder to keep a fabric gaming chair spick and span compare to other types of upholstery. This is especially true if you have a pet. You’ll need at least a vacuum, lint remover, and cleaner. With PU leather, all you need to do is wipe it every now and then.

Summary

For a quick recap, here are the pros and cons of fabric gaming chairs.

How to Clean Fabric Upholstery

Most fabric chairs come with specific instructions on how to clean them. If yours didn’t, just do the following steps.

First, use the brush attachment on your vacuum to remove loose debris. Then, check with the manufacturer what type of cleaner you can use.

• Water-Based Cleaners – Apply foam cleanser to the fabric. Let it sit for a few minutes. Use a brush on the stains. Rinse out with a damp cloth. Let air dry. Alternatively, you can use dish soap and water.
• Non Water-Based Cleaners – Put some dry cleaner on a cloth. Gently rub the stains. Use a damp cloth to remove the residue.

If a spill occurs, remember to blot the liquid dry using a dry cloth or paper towel. Do not rub it into the fabric.