As people continue to return to the office, the premium ergonomic office chairs they’ve gotten used to at home may not be what they find back at work. If you're stuck with an ill-fitting office chair, a seat cushion may relieve some pressure on your posterior, and offer an overall upgrade for your desk setup.
In general, seat cushions aren’t going to turn your chair into an ergonomic powerhouse — you'll still need to maintain good posture on your own. And you might want to find a lumbar cushion to complement the seat cushion if you need extra back support (most of the brands we mention below offer lumbar supports bundled with their seat cushion). Even still, seat cushions can help alleviate back pain and make for a more comfortable seat.
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Seat cushions to buy this year
To recommend seat cushions, we rounded up models made from materials like gel and memory foam, including some with special features like contoured shapes and coccyx cutouts, so you’ll have a variety of options to begin your search with. The cushions we highlighted have high ratings from shoppers and include models from notable brands like Purple and Tempur-Pedic.
Top seat cushion overall: Purple
Purple Double Seat Cushion
Purple produces a number of seat cushions for different scenarios, from cars to sporting events. The brand's 2-inch-thick Double Seat Cushion offers a double-sided build: 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, and has air channels that make it breathable, the brand says. Select writer Justin Redman has the seat cushion and says that it alleviates “nearly all” pressure on his bottom and tailbone. It has an average rating of 4.4 stars from over 9,000 reviews on Purple.
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 of the Purple’s Double Seat Cushion. It has an average rating of 4.4 stars from over 1,500 reviews on Amazon.
Memory foam cushion: Tempur-Pedic
Tempur-Pedic Seat Cushion
Not everyone finds plush cushions comfortable. If you prefer something a bit firmer with more support, you’ll want to consider a dense memory foam cushion. Tempur-Pedic — known for their dense, 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 4.2 stars from over 590 reviews on Amazon. You can also pair it with the brand's lumbar cushion.
Affordable memory foam cushion: Milliard
Milliard Memory Foam Seat Cushion
A more affordable option, this cushion is a full inch thicker than the Tempur-Pedic cushion at 3 inches thick at roughly a third of the price. Like the other cushions on this list, it comes with a washable cover that zips right off. 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 is a specific source of pain, 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 as you'd expect but the U-shaped cutout relieves pressure on your tailbone, the brand says. It also comes in five colors. If you want a back cushion to go with it, you can grab the two packaged together. It has an average rating of 4.4 stars from over 92,000 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 features 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 87,000 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, according to the brand. 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 16,000 reviews on Amazon.
Foldable seat cushion: Purple
Purple Foldaway Seat Cushion
This 1.2-inch-thick seat cushion folds in half when it’s not in use, making it compact and easy to pack in a carry-on, Purple says. The seat cushion features a washable removable cover with the Purple Grid inside and an anti-slip bottom. It has an average rating of 4.2 stars from over 1,500 reviews on Purple.
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. The pad comes with Velcro straps to attach the pad to a chair’s back. It comes in five colors like Black and Navy Blue, and the removable cover is machine-washable. 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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