The average full-time worker spends over 42 hours a week at, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. That’s a lot of time to be sitting and if your workplace doesn’t offer ergonomic office chairs, you may find yourself dealing with some back pain or discomfort. A seat cushion may relieve some pressure on your posterior, and offer an overall upgrade for your desk setup, according to experts we spoke to.
Wondering how impactful seat cushions can really be? While they aren’t going to turn your chair into an ergonomic powerhouse and you still need to maintain good posture on your own, experts we spoke to agreed that they can alleviate back pain and improve comfort. Another seat accessory you may want to consider is a lumbar cushion for extra back support (most of the brands we mention below offer lumbar supports bundled with their seat cushion). To help you find a seat cushion for your office chair, we consulted experts about what to look for and compiled a list of highly-rated options based on their guidance.
SKIP AHEAD The best seat cushions to buy in 2023 | How to shop for seat cushions
Our top picks
- Best overall/editor’s pick: Purple Double Seat Cushion
- Best budget pick: FOMI Premium All Gel Seat Cushion
- Best splurge: ComfiLife Gel Enhanced Seat Cushion
How to pick the best seat cushions
To determine what to look for in a seat cushion, we spoke to a doctor and a certified personal trainer. They guided us on key elements to consider, including:
- Material: We only chose seat cushions made from gel or memory foam, which our experts said offer the right amount of spinal support.
- Shape: We included some seat cushions with contoured, indented builds, which can help support the spine and reduce lower back pain, according to our experts.
- Ratings: Every seat cushion below comes highly rated, with at least a 4.2-star average from more than 500 reviewers.
The best seat cushions to buy in 2023
The cushions that made our list are from notable brands like Purple and Tempur-Pedic. They were all either tested by Select staffers or have high ratings from shoppers.
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Top seat cushion overall: Purple
Purple Double Seat Cushion
Purple's 2-inch-thick Double Seat Cushion has two usable sides. One side is more plush and one side is a bit firmer. Both sides use the Purple Grid — the same technology Purple uses in its mattresses — which supports your tailbone and bounces back when you stand up, according to the brand. It also has air channels that make it breathable, the brand says. Former Select writer Justin Redman used the seat cushion and said that it alleviated “nearly all” pressure on his bottom and tailbone.
Affordable gel cushion: FOMI
FOMI Premium All Gel Seat Cushion
If you like the idea of a gel cushion like the Purple but want something a bit more affordable, this 1.25-inch-thick cushion from FOMI offers a similar style at less than half the price. It has a zippered cover that is washable, and built-in handles, in case you want to take it with you. It should also reduce lumbar strain and help alleviate back pain, according to the brand. It has an average rating of 4.3 stars from over 1,500 reviews on Amazon.
Memory foam cushion: Tempur-Pedic
Tempur-Pedic Seat Cushion
Not everyone finds a super plush seat comfortable. If you prefer something a bit firmer, consider a dense memory foam cushion. Tempur-Pedic — known for their premium memory foam mattresses — offers a 2-inch-thick seat cushion that is contoured to fit your legs. As you sit down, the memory foam will mold to your body and spread your weight out across the cushion, the brand says. It has an average rating of 4.1 stars from over 600 reviews on Amazon. You can also pair it with the brand's lumbar cushion.
Affordable memory foam cushion: Milliard
Milliard Memory Foam Seat Cushion
This cushion is a full inch thicker than the Tempur-Pedic cushion at 3 inches thick and roughly a third of the price. Like the other cushions on this list, it comes with a washable cover that zips right off. It’s also ventilated, to keep you feeling cool, according to the brand. It has an average rating of 4.3 stars from over 6,000 reviews on Amazon.
Memory foam cushion with a coccyx cutout: Everlasting Comfort
Everlasting Comfort Seat Cushion
If your tailbone bothers you as you sit, you may want to look into a seat cushion with a coccyx cutout like this one from Everlasting Comfort. Its memory foam construction contours to your body and the U-shaped cutout relieves pressure on your tailbone, according to the brand. It also comes in five colors. If you want a back cushion to go with it, you can a set that contains the seat and back cushion together. It has an average rating of 4.4 stars from over 96,000 reviews on Amazon.
Cooling seat cushion: ComfiLife
ComfiLife Gel Enhanced Seat Cushion
Available in Gray, Black and Navy Blue, this seat cushion is built with a layer of cooling gel as well as memory foam. It has a built-in handle, coccyx cutout and a non-slip rubber bottom as well as a machine-washable zippered cover. The cushion’s ergonomic design helps relieve pressure on your back, neck and hips, and it conforms to your body shape when you sit on it, according to the brand. It has an average rating of 4.4 stars from over 92,000 reviews on Amazon.
Seat and back cushion set: FORTEM
FORTEM Seat Cushion and Lumbar Support Pillow
FORTEM’s seat cushion and lumbar support pillow are constructed with a polyester mesh exterior and memory foam interior. Both pillows’ mesh covers can be removed and hand-washed to keep fresh. The seat cushion has a non-slip rubber bottom to help keep it in place, while the lumbar support pillow has adjustable straps to hook around the back of a chair. The seat cushion also has a coccyx gap. It has an average rating of 4.3 stars from over 17,000 reviews on Amazon.
Full support cushion: Everlasting Comfort
Everlasting Comfort Seat Cushion and Lumbar Support Pillow Combo
This seat cushion and lumbar support pillow combo come highly recommended by Dr. John Rotundo, a New-Jersey based chiropractor, as it offers full support for the lower back and glutes. It’s gel infused and has ventilation holes for air circulation to keep you feeling cool, according to the brand. Its U-shaped design also supports your lower body while lifting your coccyx and tailbone, to prevent fatigue and discomfort after hours of sitting, according to Everlasting Comfort. It also provides proper weight distribution for “less overall stress on your body” says Rotundo.
Kids seat cushion: Baibu
Baibu Kid’s Chair Pad
If kids are doing homework or taking classes online, they may be sitting for long periods of time. This kid’s chair pad has sponge filler and is 1.2 inches thick. It comes with Velcro straps to attach to a chair’s back. It comes in five colors and the removable cover is machine-washable. The mesh fabric absorbs sweat and the chair pad decreases pressure on the coccyx, providing pain relief, according to the brand. It has an average rating of 4.4 stars from over 700 reviews on Amazon.
Seat cushion alternative: Gaiam
Gaiam Balance Disk
Gaiam’s Balance Disk is an inflatable plastic device that resembles a balance ball. It has a flat bottom and a dome-shaped top, which makes it wobble underneath you while seated. The balance disk is designed to promote proper posture and core strength while you’re sitting, the brand says. It comes in three colors: Wasabi, Grey and Black. It has an average rating of 4.2 stars from over 12,000 reviews on Amazon.
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How to shop for a seat cushion
Seat cushions are designed to make your chair more ergonomic so you are in the proper position for work, according to our experts. If you work on a computer, you should be eye level with the top of your monitor and your arms should hang naturally, without hunching up to your shoulders, says Rotundo. Seat cushions can help tremendously by offering support and evenly distributing your weight for a more comfortable experience. They can reduce the pressure on your hips and tailbone, according to Maricris Lapaix, a certified personal trainer and corrective exercise specialist. Here’s what to keep in mind while you shop:
- Firmness: If your cushion is too plush, you may find that you start to sink in on yourself as you sit. “You want a semi-firm support system that also provides comfort,” says Rotundo. Seat cushions tend to be made of foam, gel or memory foam. All of these materials can provide semi-firm support, so it’s really up to you on what feels most comfortable for your frame.
- Stability: Your seat cushion should keep you firmly rooted in your chair and should not slip and slide around. Some options come with velcro straps to keep them secure, while others offer a non-slip rubber bottom. If a seat cushion has neither of these things, it will be hard to keep it in place — so, our experts suggest skipping those.
- Cooling features: If the back of your thighs feel sweaty every time you get up, you might benefit from a cooling seat cushion. Look for a cushion covered in mesh, which is more likely to breathe or one that is constructed with cooling gel.
How can you maintain correct posture while sitting?
When it comes to staying comfortable while you work, it’s all about ergonomics. Not familiar with this term? “In a nutshell, ergonomics is the process of designing workstations and systems so that they fit the people who use them,” says Rotundo. Proper ergonomics promotes “productivity, while considering body alignment and comfort,” says Lapaix. An ergonomic seat cushion can encourage you to sit up straight and provide cushioning, preventing back pain and discomfort.
However, you can’t rely solely on a seat cushion — you also have to make sure you are sitting with good posture. To do this, make sure the top of your computer monitor is at eye level and your arms are able to hang naturally, says Rotundo. Our experts also add that you should separate your workspace from your living space when possible. It becomes increasingly difficult to maintain posture if you work remotely via laptop, for example, in your regular living spaces where you usually lounge — like on a couch, says Lapaix. Both Rotundo and Lapaix also agree that standing and moving in between longer work shifts can also help engage your spine when you’re working from home.
Meet our experts
At Select, we work with experts who have specialized knowledge and authority based on relevant training and/or experience. We also take steps to ensure all expert advice and recommendations are made independently and without undisclosed financial conflicts of interest.
- Dr. John Rotundo is the founder and director of physician services at Hudson Family Chiropractic, Physical Therapy, & Acupuncture which opened in 2000.
- Maricris Lapaix is a certified personal trainer, corrective exercise specialist and trainer with Centr.
Why trust Select?
Justin Redman was formerly a reporter for Select on NBC News.
Zoe Malin is an associate updates editor at Select who’s also written about the best standing desks.
Niska Dhawan is the associate commerce editor at NBC Select.
For this article, Zoe, Nishka and Justin recommended top-rated seat cushions and even tried a few options themselves. They also interviewed a chiropractor and a personal trainer on how seat cushions can help improve posture.
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