9 Best Standing Desk Chairs, According to Gear Editors

Pros

• Adjustable armrests, lumbar support, and footrest
• Awesome price
• Durable metal frame
• Good selection of colors

Dollar for dollar, we love this standing desk chair from Primy for its ultra-adjustable design. The height, armrests, lumbar support, and footrest can all be adjusted to suit your perfect comfort level. It has curves in all the right places, including the ergonomic back and seat cushion, to properly support you. Plus, the sturdy metal and wood design is durable enough to last for years.

Our main gripe is that the aesthetic is a bit bland, although it is available in a good selection of colors to match your office decor. The best thing it has going for it, though? The price. There’s overlooking true value here and this is the model we genuinely looked forward to sinking into when it was time to take a standing break.

Essentially, it’s a high-tech rolling barstool, with a build that can cradle any kind of spine. The breathable mesh structure is a nice touch and while we working into the wee hours many times in this model, it rarely felt like overtime. Oh, and the casters are smooth as silk and don’t throw a lot of noise, regardless of the surface type. All that makes this a true best in show winner.

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For an affordable, minimalist solution, we love this active sitting stool. The wobble base is purpose-built to help engage your core and back muscles while you work. With an easy-to-use pneumatic gas lift, it’s height-adjustable from 18.5 to 28 inches to accommodate a wide range of desks.

The durable polypropylene frame is built to last for years while still being lightweight enough to move around wherever you need it. We also dig the wide, foam-padded seat that’s designed for sitting or leaning for hours. Consider it both a home office essential and piece of low impact gym equipment.

This affordable, dead-simple solution is about as basic as it gets. The armless design swivels and is height-adjustable to accommodate traditional and standing desks. It’s also available in a handful of colors depending on the exact model you choose. However, you won’t find adjustable lumbar support or any other bells and whistles found in other pricier options.

But sacrificing those premium features means you can score a solid standing desk chair for less than almost any other model on the market. You can always counter the straightforwardness of the model with some louder desktop decor.

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This modern drafting desk/standing desk chair is proof that you don’t have to spend hundreds of dollars on a decent model. The aesthetic is clean and contemporary, with adjustability in all the right places (namely, the height and tiltable back pad). The extra-thick foam pad provides 3.5 inches of cushion—more than most in our roundup.

But the big win with this model is the budget-friendly price tag and free returns through Amazon to boot. The only downside? The plastic frame isn’t as durable as others we’ve seen this year. There’s a freshness to the option that can rejuvenate your workspace.

For maximum active sitting, you want a balance ball chair. This model from well-known yoga brand Gaiam features an inflatable half-dome seat cushion to encourage serious core engagement while you work. With an adjustable height of up to 33 inches, it’ll work with almost any desk, from traditional to standing.

The 360-degree swivel base makes for easy moving of you and the chair, even on carpeted surfaces. Plus, the five easy-glide casters lock when you’re ready to stay put. A good stool is one that makes you work a little. Trust us, your back will thank you.

If that “typical” office furniture aesthetic isn’t disco enough for you, upgrade to a faux-leather option like the Okeysen standing desk chair. The armless, L-shaped design is clean, modern, and available in brown or black. It features a thick padded seat cushion, plus an adjustable height and tiltable back to dial in your preferred level of comfort.

The built-in footrest ring is a nice touch to take the load off of your feet. Five chrome casters make rolling the chair (and you) around a breeze. It looks like something from the most creative creative department in the building and that’s a big compliment.

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Modway’s Thrive drafting chair sidesteps the typically boring aesthetic of most office furniture with a design that’s bold and modern. In addition to black and grey, it’s also available in energizing colors like orange, red, and cobalt blue. The frame is an ultra-durable mix of stainless steel, alloys, and polyester, so this one is built to last.

Adjustability is limited to height-only, but we think it’s worth a look if you’re more interested in flash over function for your next standing desk chair. Visually, this is the sports car of the category, aerodynamic, quick, and sleek.

Why Buy a Standing Desk Chair?

Standing desks add a ton of versatility to your office space while helping you engage your core and muscles far more than you would while sitting at a traditional desk. But, adding a standing (preferably adjustable-height) chair can add even more versatility to your setup. The best standing desk chairs give you the option to not only stand but also sit, lean, and even wobble (i.e., actively sit) to get in a mini workout while you work. Many are designed so that you sit on the edge of the seat, with your knees at more of a 135-degree angle, rather than seated all the way back with your knees at 90 degrees. This allows your hips to open up naturally, while providing support for your legs, feet, and back while standing.

Is a Chair or a Stool Better for My Standing Desk?

It depends on your goals. Chairs, especially those with arms, will provide more comfort when sitting for long periods. They’re more supportive for the lumbar region and hips than a stool. Stools are usually more versatile. The best standing desk stools are designed to tilt, lean, or wobble, providing you with multiple