20 Alternatives to Office Chairs Your Back Will Love (2024)

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Reviewed by Chris Leitch

illustration of people working while sitting on alternative office chairs

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Once upon a time, the classic office chair reigned supreme as essentially the only option available to those of us in an office setting or for those who sit at a desk for most of their day.

Ergonomics is essentially the study of work in relation to the human body. Ergonomically speaking, sitting in an office chair for hours at a time can contribute to back pain and soreness, as well as many other negative health effects.

In our ever-evolving world, many more ergonomic options are now available to us. This article will give you 20 different alternatives to office chairs with their advantages and their disadvantages.

From standing desks, beanbags, treadmills and more, stay tuned for the different options, and you’re sure to find one to meet your needs.

1. Kneeling chair

Kneeling chairs contribute to alignment of the spine when we are sitting in them. This helps to prevent pressure on our lower back, helping to relieve the tension in our bodies. They are especially helpful for those of us that already tend to suffer from lower back pain.

Pros:

  • Promotes alignment of spine
  • Reduces strain on lower back

Cons:

  • Difficulty in getting in and out of the chair
  • Leg movement is restrained

2. Beanbag chair

When you think of beanbags, I bet you are transported back in time to a comfortable evening watching TV in your beanbag chair with a bag of popcorn in your hands. When you jump forward to adulthood and present day, you can still have that comfort at your desk with an ergonomic beanbag chair — perhaps without the popcorn, though.

Beanbags can be a comfortable office chair and can also correct your posture, reduce stress on your body with their soft, enveloping features and lead to more comfort when working at a desk.

Pros:

  • Comfortable seated position
  • Promotes relaxation at a workspace

Cons:

  • Difficult to get out of
  • Covers need to be washed regularly

3. Balance board

It is no great secret that those who work at a desk all day tend to be less active during a workday. A balance board is a tool that can contribute to more physical activity while standing at your desk. It is an alternative to sitting all day and requires the user to expel energy to balance their body weight across the board while on it.

Pros:

  • Increases physical activity
  • Reduces time spent sitting

Cons:

  • Potential for injury if the user loses balance
  • Requires constant energy output

4. Saddle chair

It should come as no surprise that a saddle chair is modeled much like its namesake, a horse’s saddle.

This alternative chair allows you to saddle the sides, although there is no back rest on the rear of the saddle. Your weight is distributed, and your back is forced into better posture. Better posture reduces tension and pain in your back, neck and other areas of the body.

Pros:

  • Better posture
  • Relief of tension in various body parts

Cons:

  • No back support
  • Potential to slip off the back of the chair

5. Under-desk bike

It has been a common belief that some desk workers suffer from being overweight or obese, partially because of the sedentary lifestyle that can come with sitting behind a desk with minimal physical movement for hours each day. WebMD recommends using an under-the-desk exercise bike to help combat the negative health effects of sitting behind a desk.

Under-the-desk bikes are very useful in increasing daily physical activity and offer an active sitting alternative. Many of them are compact and can be stored easily under the desk when not in use.

This small amount of physical activity can potentially lead to better overall health and wellness for you. It is incredibly beneficial to add small amounts of physical activity into your workday whenever possible — even if it’s just a few desk exercises.

Pros:

  • Increased physical activity
  • Can easily be stored in smaller office/desk areas

Cons:

  • Potential for injury, as with any exercise equipment
  • Some desk heights may inhibit leg movement with bike

6. Stand-up desk converter

A very popular option for many companies right now is the use of stand-up desk converters. These are great because they can be adjusted throughout the day, depending on whether you want to sit in your office chair/other choice of seat or stand up.

The benefits of sitting-to-standing workstations have been widely studied and include burning calories, strain relief on certain body parts — such as the back and hips — and an increase in muscle use from standing.

Pros:

  • Decrease in sedentary work position
  • The choice to sit or stand throughout the day

Cons:

  • Size limitations of desks available
  • Increased pressure on lower extremities when standing

7. Balance ball chair

A non-traditional office chair that sounds rather fun is the balance ball chair.

One of the best aspects of using a balance ball as an office seat is that it consistently engages your core muscles as you use it. Engagement of the core strengthens your muscles, which can help to prevent or reduce existing back pain.

Pros:

  • Engagement and strengthening of muscles
  • Reduction in existing body pain

Cons:

  • Dangers associated with balancing
  • Constant muscle use

8. Swopper stool

Swopper stools essentially lead to constant movement while seated on one. They are excellent for body movement because they move in every direction, even up and down. Swopper stools do not have backs, which is clever, as it tends to force us into better posture when sitting on them.

Pros:

  • Increase in body movement
  • Better posture

Cons:

  • Potential to fall off due to no back rest
  • No ability to rest/sit still

9. Portable workstation

One of the best aspects of the portable workstation is that you can move it anywhere in your home or office. This includes your office area, living room, kitchen and even the bathroom if you just cannot let go of your work for even a few minutes!

The ability to move your work around to wherever you need it can increase efficiency and productivity. It is extremely helpful to productivity and efficiency to add in small changes throughout your workday — even a simple change of scenery.

Pros:

  • Ability to work from anywhere in your home or office
  • Increase in productivity and efficiency

Cons:

  • Workstation space restraints
  • Potential for items to fall off the workstation when it is being moved around

10. Wobble stool

Wobble stools allow for us to turn 360 degrees in them as needed, allowing us a full range of motion. This reduces turning and twisting for both our necks and our backs, and helps to reduce any strain or pressure we may be feeling from these motions.

Pros:

  • Full range of motion on stool
  • Increase in muscle use from movement of the stool

Cons:

  • No back support
  • Can potentially cause tiredness from moving all day

11. Treadmill desk

There are so many cool desks out there, including treadmill desks. Treadmill desks are exactly what they sound like: workstations with the base consisting of a treadmill.

All the immense health benefits that come with regular exercise come with using this type of desk. They make it very easy for us to get in more exercise and physical activity while performing our job duties at the exact same time. There’s also the option for under-desk treadmills that can be stored away when you’ve signed out for the day.

Pros:

  • Increased exercise and physical activity
  • Increased alertness due to movement

Cons:

  • Takes up a lot of physical space
  • Office attire versus exercise attire must be considered

12. Standing desk

Standing desks have the same benefits as a stand-up desk converter as listed above. They allow for the release of pressure and strain on body parts and have several widely studied health benefits. They also tend to take up relatively small amounts of space, which is helpful for both home and office areas.

Pros:

  • Pressure relief for several body parts
  • Increase in muscle use from standing

Cons:

  • No choice to sit down during the day
  • Potential for joint damage from constant standing

13. Anti-fatigue floor mat

Anti-fatigue mats are excellent for those that prefer standing for long periods at a time. The material decreases the negative effects from standing still all day.

The mats are designed in a way that creates small amounts of movement in the lower extremities throughout the day as they are used.

Pros:

  • Increases muscle movement throughout workday
  • Increase in blood flow during workday

Cons:

  • Potential to trip on mats
  • May not work for all flooring types such as carpet

14. Horizontal desk chair

Horizontal desk chairs have you leaning back in them, much like a recliner. They are adjustable for your body type and height as well. Your body is fully supported while you are in the chair, and there are adaptable desks that can tilt with you.

They are extremely comfortable to work in and allow for you to remain comfortable for the duration of your work period. This can potentially lead to some stress relief related to the workplace. Work stress can negatively affect us, both at work and at home, so it’s incredibly beneficial to find ways to combat stress however you can.

Pros:

  • Adjustable for various body types
  • Comfort while working

Cons:

  • Difficult to get in and out of
  • Potential to fall asleep if leaning back to work

15. Desk hammock

Desk hammocks are typically placed underneath desks to rest your feet in as you work. The ability to kick back leads to both an increase in comfort and physical health benefits. The greatest of these is the improvement of circulation throughout the body due to the raising of your feet and legs.

Pros:

  • Comfortable to use
  • Increase in blood circulation

Cons:

  • The sizes of some desks may not accommodate space for a foot hammock
  • Possibility of feet getting stuck and causing an injury

16. Meditation chair

As far as desk chair alternatives go, the meditation chair makes for a very comfortable contender. With a thick memory foam padding that hugs the body in various seating positions, it keeps the spine supported. If you always find yourself sitting cross-legged on your chairs, consider getting one of these!

Pros:

  • Holds up to 350lbs
  • Supports different sitting positions

Cons:

  • Quite bulky
  • Height adjustability range could be larger

17. Ergonomic kneeling chair

A kneeling chair that also doubles as a rocking chair! This alternative option for your home office helps keep your hips and legs in a comfortable position while you work, thus encouraging a healthy posture for your spine. Plus, the wood finish looks great.

Pros:

  • Includes anti-slip mat to protect your floor
  • Discourages hunching forward

Cons:

  • Shin pad could be thicker
  • Cushioning takes a while to “break in”

18. Exercise ball chair

Sitting on an exercise ball while you work can engage your core and leg muscles which, over time, strengthens them. The inside is made from durable PVC while the outer cover is machine washable, and the exercise ball itself can accommodate people of various sizes and statures.

Pros:

  • Very affordable
  • Supports up to 400lbs

Cons:

  • Material feels scratchy
  • Seams on outer cover can get uncomfortable

19. Active balance chair

This active balance chair features a curved base which results in slight rocking.

In order to maintain an upright seated position, the user has to engage their core muscles, which helps tone them over time. The design is simple, ergonomic and light, meaning you can easily carry it around the house, from your home office to your living room.

Pros:

  • Affordable chair alternative
  • Very lightweight product

Cons:

  • Base could be more rounded
  • Floor protector mat not included

20. Ergonomic chair for standing desk

Having something to lean on while using your standing desk can be a lifesaver for both your spine and feet. Featuring an adjustable seat height, this ergonomic chair is designed for standing desk stations and provides great lumbar support, encouraging good posture at all times.

Pros:

  • Features a foot rest
  • Allows you to alternate between different positions through the day

Cons:

  • Quite heavy
  • Only available in one color

Final thoughts

Overall, there are so many options available to use as alternatives to the traditional desk chair. The health benefits of each varies and can be extremely beneficial when we choose options tailored to our specific health needs. One of the worst effects of office chairs and desk work is the back pain that often affects those of us in office type settings.

Many of the options listed above can help to alleviate some of that pain and soreness associated with desk chairs, as well as prevent new pain from occurring. The best part is that we can individually choose the option that is best for us. We can choose to sit, stand, lean back or kick our feet up. The possibilities are endless. Find the one that is best for you and give it a try!

Join the conversation! Do you prefer to sit in a comfortable office chair? Or would a standing desk be more suitable for your lifestyle? Let us know in the comments section below!

Originally published on August 19, 2019. Updated by Electra Michaelidou.