TROUBLESHOOTING GUIDE
A gaming or office chair that keeps sinking is almost always caused by a worn-out gas lift cylinder. This guide explains exactly why it happens, how to diagnose it, and how to fix it permanently — for under €30.
⏱️ 5 min read 📊 Easy fix 🔧 Rubber mallet (optional)
Why does a gaming chair keep sinking? A gaming chair sinks because the gas lift cylinder has lost internal pressure. The seals wear out over time and can no longer support your weight. This is the cause in approximately 90% of cases. The fix: replace the gas lift — it takes 20 minutes and costs €19–30.
If your chair slowly lowers when you sit down — or drops immediately when you apply weight — the problem is almost always the gas lift cylinder inside the chair's stem. The gas lift is a sealed unit filled with compressed nitrogen gas. Over months and years of use, the internal rubber seals degrade and gas pressure drops. Once pressure falls below what's needed to support your body weight, the chair sinks.
This is not a design flaw unique to budget chairs. Even premium gaming chairs from brands like Secretlab, Noblechairs, and DXRacer use gas lift cylinders with a finite lifespan. The mechanism is identical across all brands — and so is the fix.
The gas lift is a sealed cylinder filled with gas under pressure. Over time, the internal seals degrade and pressure drops. The chair slowly loses its ability to stay at height. This is the cause in 90% of sinking chair cases.
Gaming chairs experience more dynamic loads than standard office chairs. Fast movements, hard sitting and standing repeatedly stress the cylinder. Peak loads can exceed 120 kg even for lighter users — accelerating seal wear significantly.
Many gaming chairs ship with lower-grade gas lifts that lose pressure faster. These often have thinner seals and lower-quality steel. Upgrading to a BIFMA-certified Class 4 gas lift is a meaningful improvement over stock.
Standard quality gas lifts have a typical lifespan of 1–3 years under regular use. If your chair is older than this, the gas lift is the likely culprit regardless of how carefully it has been used.
If you recognise two or more of these signs, replace the gas lift. A replacement costs €19–30 and the repair takes under 30 minutes.
Browse Gas Lifts →The permanent solution is to replace the gas lift cylinder. There is no repair for a gas lift that has lost pressure — the sealed unit must be replaced.
Pipe clamps, PVC pipes and duct tape around the gas lift stem are popular "hacks" that lock the height in place. They do not fix the pressure loss, prevent height adjustment entirely, and can crack the chair base or bend the stem over time. They are not a safe or permanent solution.
| Feature | Class 3 | Class 4 |
|---|---|---|
| Lift travel | 10 cm | 12 cm |
| Typical use | Office chairs | Gaming chairs |
| Load rating | Standard | Higher |
| BIFMA certified | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| Price | From €19.90 | From €24.90 |
Most gaming chairs use a Class 4 gas lift. If you're unsure, measure the outer diameter and total length of your existing cylinder — or check our gas lift measuring guide.
Total time: 15–30 minutes. No drilling, no screws, no special tools required. A rubber mallet makes removal easier but is not essential.
→ Full illustrated guide with photos: How to Replace a Gas Lift
A BIFMA-certified Class 4 gas lift — the standard we stock — is tested to withstand over 100,000 actuation cycles. Under typical use (6–8 hours per day, 5 days a week), that equates to several years of reliable service. The certification also requires the cylinder to hold pressure under a defined load — meaning it won't fail prematurely the way many stock gas lifts do.
To maximise lifespan: avoid dropping heavily into the chair, and don't leave the chair at maximum height when not in use.
A new mid-range gaming chair costs €150–400. A replacement gas lift costs €19–30. In the vast majority of cases, the chair frame, seat foam, backrest and armrests are completely undamaged — only the gas lift has worn out. Replacing the gas lift returns the chair to full function at roughly 10% of the cost of a replacement.
There is also a sustainability argument: manufacturing a new gaming chair produces significant CO₂. Extending the life of an existing chair by replacing a single €25 part is meaningfully better for the environment.
Because the gas lift cylinder has lost internal pressure. The seals inside the cylinder wear out over time and can no longer hold your weight. This is the cause in about 90% of sinking chair cases. Replace the gas lift to fix it permanently.
The only permanent fix is to replace the gas lift cylinder. It takes 20 minutes, costs €19–30, and requires no special tools. Temporary hacks like hose clamps can damage the chair and do not fix the underlying problem.
This is the classic sign of a gas lift that has lost pressure. The cylinder can no longer hold height under load. As soon as you sit down, it slowly or quickly drops. Replacing the gas lift is the solution.
Yes — replacing a gas lift is one of the easiest chair repairs. No tools are required (a rubber mallet helps). The process takes 15–30 minutes and requires no technical knowledge.
Measure the outer diameter (usually 28–32 mm) and total length of your existing gas lift. Most gaming chairs use Class 4. If unsure, contact us with your measurements and we'll recommend the right size.
Same cause as a sinking gaming chair — a worn gas lift cylinder that has lost internal pressure. The fix is identical: replace the gas lift. Office chairs typically use Class 3 gas lifts.
Standard gas lifts typically last 1–3 years. BIFMA-certified Class 4 gas lifts last significantly longer due to higher-quality seals and construction. Heavy use (long gaming sessions, frequent height adjustment) reduces lifespan.
Almost always yes. A replacement gas lift costs €19–30 and fixes the chair permanently. A new mid-range gaming chair costs €150–400. If the rest of the chair is intact, replacing the gas lift makes clear financial and environmental sense.