Six seats, from a reclining seat with sliders included to a real Sparco race seat. Fit matters more than the brand, so each pick shows the waist size it suits and how it mounts to your rig.
We may earn a commission when you buy through links on this page, at no extra cost to you. It never changes our picks. How this works.
Holds your hips and back firmly, so you feel the car through the seat and press the brake against a solid back. Best for competitive racing and motion rigs. You set the angle once with the side brackets.
Reclining
Adjust the backrest for comfort, from upright GT to a lower formula position. Best for long sessions, shared rigs and mixed driving. Less side support.
Match the seat to the position you drive most. GT and touring cars sit more upright; formula cars are low and reclined. Our seat position guide has the angles to aim for.
The best sim racing seats
Sizes, mounting and compatibility come from the manufacturer's or retailer's listing, linked as "Spec source" on each pick.
1. Best overall bucket seat
Next Level Racing Elite ES1
A proper GT bucket that holds you in place, at a mid-range price.
Waist: measure around your hips where the seat will hold you. Most bucket seats list a maximum waist, from about 36 in for a narrow race seat to about 46 in for the largest sim seats.
Shoulders and thighs: broad shoulders or thighs can press against tall side bolsters. Compare with the seat's dimensions if listed.
Weight: check the maximum user weight, especially on reclining seats.
Try before buying if you can: fit varies between brands even at the same listed size.
Mounting the seat
Side brackets bolt to the sides of a bucket seat and set its angle and height. Most bucket seats need them.
Sliders let you move the seat forward and back, which helps if several people use the rig. Reclining seats often include them.
Base plate mounting is fixed in one position.
Buy brackets for your exact seat and rig, ideally from the same seller. Most race seats share standard mounting dimensions, so they fit aluminium profile rigs. See our cockpit guide for rigs sold without a seat.
Can you use a real car seat?
Yes, and many sim racers do. A second-hand seat from a road car is often the cheapest and most comfortable option for a profile rig. Use a seat from a sporty car with good side support, and buy or make brackets that bolt to your rig. Real race seats from Sparco or OMP fit standard mounts too, at a higher price.
Gaming chair or office chair for sim racing?
You can race from a gaming or office chair, and many people start that way with a wheel clamped to a desk. The problems are that chairs roll back and recline under braking, and the pedals are not fixed to your seat, so braking is less consistent.
Make a chair work: remove or lock the castors, or use a chair stopper or a rug, and keep a load cell brake set light. Push the pedals against a wall or fix them to a pedal plate.
Wheel stand plus your chair: a stand holds the wheel and pedals together. Some, like the GT Omega APEX, add a seat frame later. See our wheel stand guide.
Foldable cockpit with a seat: the Playseat Challenge X or Next Level Racing GTLite and F-GT Lite fix you, the pedals and the wheel together, and fold away.
Full cockpit: for direct drive and firm load cell brakes, a cockpit with a proper seat from this guide is the most consistent. See the cockpit guide.
Racing recliners and premium office chairs are comfortable for long sessions, but they are not designed for braking forces; use them only with a light brake setting.
Want to feel the engine and kerbs through the seat? Bolt a bass shaker under it.
After fitting the seat
Set the seat angle, then the pedals and wheel, and finally your screen and field of view. The FOV calculator uses your eye-to-screen distance, which changes whenever you move the seat.
How we chose
We have not lab-tested these seats. We chose seats sim racers recommend, covering bucket, reclining and real race seats, and checked sizes, mounting and compatibility against manufacturer and retailer listings. Where a seat only fits one cockpit, or was out of stock when we checked, we say so.
FAQ
What is the best sim racing seat?
For most drivers, a fixed-back bucket such as the Next Level Racing Elite ES1. For larger drivers or motion rigs, the Trak Racer GT Pro. For comfort over long sessions, the reclining NLR ERS3.
Is a bucket seat or a reclining seat better for sim racing?
A bucket seat holds you more firmly and gives a more consistent braking feel. A reclining seat is more comfortable for long sessions and lets you switch between GT and formula positions.
What is the most comfortable sim racing seat?
A reclining seat such as the NLR ERS3 is the most adjustable. Among buckets, look for padded, ventilated fabric like the Fanatec GT Cockpit Seat, and choose the right waist size so it does not pinch.
Do sim racing seats fit any cockpit?
Most race seats fit aluminium profile rigs with the right side brackets. Some seats are made for one cockpit: the Fanatec GT Cockpit Seat, for example, only fits the Fanatec ClubSport GT Cockpit.
Can I use a car seat for sim racing?
Yes. A seat from a road car with good side support works well on a profile rig with suitable brackets, and it is often the cheapest option.
What is the best sim racing seat for big guys?
Check the maximum waist first. The Trak Racer GT Pro lists up to about 46 inches and 200 kg; the NLR ES1 up to 42 inches and 250 kg.
What is the best gaming chair for sim racing?
A normal gaming chair works for casual racing if it cannot roll or recline under braking. For consistent braking, a foldable cockpit with a built-in seat, such as the Playseat Challenge X or Next Level Racing GTLite, is a better buy than a gaming chair.
Last reviewed October 2026. Prices change often, so check the current price on the retailer's page.