Tools

Seat Position Guide

A good seating position isn't just about comfort – it decides how precisely you can brake and steer. Enter the angles from a side-on photo of yourself in the rig and see how they compare with typical targets for GT, Formula and Rally, what to move, and what to check if something aches.

Your angles

What do you drive?
Your heightfor the heel height, cm
150205 cm

How to measure: hands on the wheel at 9 and 3, shoulder blades against the seat, your racing shoes on, and the brake pressed fully. Take one photo from the side and measure each angle with a free protractor app. Joint angles are the angle between the two body parts – 180° is dead straight. Seat recline is measured from upright.

How your position looks

Something ache or feel wrong?

Pick anything you notice – you'll see what to check first. This is about rig geometry, not medical advice: if pain or numbness doesn't settle, see a doctor.

How to set up your seat position, in order

  1. Seat recline and tilt first – together they set your hip angle, and every other check is done with your back against the seat.
  2. Seat height – as low as you can while still seeing the screen over the wheel.
  3. Pedal distance – sets the knee angle at full brake.
  4. Pedal height, then re-check the knee. GT: hips above heels. Formula: heels above hips.
  5. Pedals in line – hip, knee and brake pedal in a straight line.
  6. Pedal face angle – until your heel rests on the plate and the whole sole touches the pedal.
  7. Wheel distance, height, then tilt.
  8. Screen and FOV – moving the seat changes your eye distance, so run the FOV calculator again.

Change one or two things at a time, in 10–20 mm steps, and drive for about 30 minutes before you judge it. A better position often feels odd at first.

Wheel and pedal checks

  • Wheel distance: sit back with your shoulder blades on the seat and stretch one arm over the top of the rim. The rim should land between your mid-forearm and your wrist – and your shoulder blades shouldn't lift to reach any part of the rim you use.
  • Wheel height: the centre of the wheel between your chest bone and the bottom of your neck, with the top of the rim no higher than your eyes.
  • Hands hitting your knees or the rig? Try a smaller wheel before moving the seat.
  • Pedals: heel planted on the plate, ankle a little past a right angle on the brake, and the brake pedal lined up with your hip.
  • No hard number exists for wheel tilt, pedal face angle or brake force – set them by feel and the checks above.

Typical target angles

AngleGT / TCRFormulaRally

Typical ranges from car-seating ergonomics research, used as a guide. Nobody has studied sim rigs directly, so treat them as a starting point and let comfort and consistency have the final say.

Frequently asked questions

What is the correct sim racing seating position?

There isn't one position for everything: GT and Formula cars are set up differently. In a GT car your hips sit above your heels, with the seat reclined about 10 to 30 degrees from upright and your knee at about 120 to 135 degrees with the brake fully pressed. In a Formula car your heels sit above your hips, the seat is reclined about 30 to 40 degrees and the knee is straighter, about 130 to 145 degrees. Your elbows should be bent to roughly 95 to 120 degrees in both.

How far away should my sim racing wheel be?

Sit back with your shoulder blades against the seat and stretch one arm over the top of the rim: it should land between your mid-forearm and your wrist. Then check you can reach every part of the rim you use without your shoulder blades lifting off the seat. Most people sit further away than is ideal.

How far should my pedals be?

Set the pedal distance by your knee angle with the brake fully pressed, not by feel. About 120 to 135 degrees suits a GT position. Much more bent than about 110 degrees and your thighs tire quickly; nearly straight and you have nothing left for a big stop.

Why does my knee hurt when sim racing?

Pain on the side of the knee is most often the brake pedal not lining up with your hip, so the force goes up your leg at an angle. Pain at the front or back of the knee usually points to pedal distance, or a brake set heavier than your leg angle can comfortably push. If the pain doesn't settle, see a doctor.

Why does my lower back ache in my sim rig?

The most common cause is a closed hip angle: pedals set too high, or knees above your hips, which rolls your pelvis back. Open the hip angle first by lowering the pedals or adjusting the recline, and only then add a lumbar cushion for the last bit of support.

How do I measure my seating angles?

Sit in your normal driving position wearing your racing shoes, hands on the wheel at 9 and 3, shoulder blades against the seat and the brake pressed fully. Ask someone to take a photo from the side, then measure each angle with a free protractor app on your phone. Measure the brake leg with the pedal pressed, because the knee angle changes a lot between rest and full brake.

Do I need to change my FOV after moving my seat?

Yes. Your field of view depends on the distance from your eyes to the screen, so moving the seat changes it. Measure the new distance and run the TSR FOV calculator again.