Most gaming chairs have two holes high up in the backrest. This has always given rise to the wildest speculations about their purpose and many users are wondering rightly what the holes in gaming chairs are for.

What Are the Holes in the Backrest of a Gaming Chair for?

To answer the actual question right from the start, the holes in the backrest of a gaming chair are actually of no use. If you look at all the chairs on the market, there are a plethora of gaming chairs with and without holes. If the holes were so important, then all the chairs without holes would be less usable.

And what about all the regular office chairs, they have no holes. Still, office workers spend a third of their lives in them. So they can’t be that important. So, how to go about it? There are so many myths revolving around gaming chairs with holes.

Myth: Why Do Gaming Chairs Have Holes in Them?

Let’s start with one of the most common myths. Some people believe the holes in gaming chairs are just for style — but when you think about it, that doesn’t make much sense.

• Better Structure?

So, why do gamers really invest in gaming chairs? It’s all about comfort, support, and durability. The holes in the backrest aren’t just for show — they help reinforce the chair’s structure, promote airflow, and support the natural curve of your spine. This design encourages better posture during long gaming sessions.

Whether the holes high up in the backrest of a gaming chair actually improve its structural integrity is questionable. It’s true that certain design elements — like honeycomb structures or strategic struts — can enhance strength and durability. However, in this case, the placement of the holes in areas that experience minimal load makes the structural benefit debatable.

If the presence of holes truly added significant reinforcement, then logically, chairs without them should be less robust or structurally sound — which we know isn’t necessarily the case. This suggests that the holes may serve other purposes, such as aesthetics, branding, or ventilation, rather than contributing meaningfully to the chair’s overall strength.

• Ventilation of Air?

Gamers often spend hours at a time sitting in their chairs, and extended use can lead to overheating, heat rashes, or skin irritation. It’s often claimed that the holes in gaming chairs improve ventilation and airflow, helping to keep users cool during long sessions.

At first glance, this seems reasonable. The backrest is typically tall and could potentially block airflow, so openings might help. However, if you look more closely at where the holes are actually placed — usually near the shoulders — the logic starts to fall apart. These areas don’t align with the parts of the body that are most prone to overheating, like the lower or mid-back, where the chair is in closest contact with your body.

So while the idea of improved airflow sounds good in theory, the practical benefit of these high-placed holes for ventilation is likely minimal at best.

• Comfort and Flexibility?

Comfort and flexibility are what gamers crave. However, if it becomes too flexible, it can cost you both game and comfort. Getting the right gaming chair with adequate flexibility will help you enjoy the game to the fullest. Hence, a gaming chair with holes will help you have a more relaxed seating position.

Same contra again, the holes are over your shoulders. How are they supposed to have anything to do with sitting comfortably and leaning comfortably on the backrest?

• Part Of The Ergonomic Design

A good gaming experiment boils down to the right gaming chair as it’s one of the essentials you will be spending much of your time on.

If you are not comfortable and fit, it would hamper the quality of your gameplay. Hence, choosing the right gaming chair that provides ergonomic support can be the answer to your woes.

It doesn’t seem to me that the holes in the backrest contribute anything to the ergonomic design of the chair. What about all the ergonomic office chairs that are not equipped with this feature, which is so typical for racing seats.

Benefits of Having Gaming Chairs with Holes

Here are a few points that make perfect sense, and what the holes in gaming chairs can be good for.

• Correct Placement of Pillows

Sitting and playing games for long hours can wreak havoc on your neck and shoulder muscles. It’s obvious you won’t be playing without support cushions and pillows as they provide more comfort.

But, if they aren’t placed correctly, they won’t be of much help. That’s where holes in the gaming chair come to the rescue.

With holes in the gaming chair, you can easily place the pillows in the right places. This, in turn, will provide you with support and prevent early fatigue while playing.

• Good Posture

A good sitting posture which is promoted by a well-placed support pillow for the head and a lumbar support pillow, leaves little arguing that this can benefit comfort. If the holes in the chair contribute to this, then they have at least served one purpose.

• Enhances Productivity

Those who sit more comfortably can concentrate longer and do not tire so quickly. Comfort is what determines the productivity level.

• Improved Well-Being

The last two points make sense, what is beneficial for well-being is good. So, at least we have a few good arguments as to what the holes in gaming chairs are good for.

The Takeaway

If you put all of these ideas and myths together, the only thing left is the design issue. We all know that the typical gaming chairs are inspired by racing car seats. They look cool and flash, and the holes in the backrest are simply part of a racing seat.

But what are the holes in the racing car seat for? Obviously, normal seat belts as found in everyday vehicles are not sufficient for racing cars. After all, racing car drivers are exposed to extreme g- g-forces when cornering or when accelerating and braking.

Racers want to sit safely in their seat without sliding, hence the typical side wings of the bucket seats and a 4 or 5-point safety harness system that keeps the driver firmly in his seat. The holes are necessary for the safety harness to work properly. They are a kind of guide so that the shoulder belts are guided over the driver’s shoulder close to the body and thus provide optimal support.

Now, as we are not buckled up in a gaming chair, the holes are actually useless. However, they have a small practical use; you can put the straps through for the popular lumbar pillows. In my opinion, besides the perhaps important design aspect, this is the only other purpose that the holes in the gaming chair are good for.

So are gaming chairs with holes worth it? Whether gaming chairs with or without holes are better, everyone has to decide for themselves; it’s a matter of taste. With holes, they might look a bit more racing-like, but in those without holes, you sit just as well.