It may sound odd at first, but getting a standing desk chairs for your new standing desk can make a big difference. Experts agree that we shouldn't be just sitting or just standing all day, so putting a bit of thought (and money) into both scenarios is time well spent. Ultimately it's best for your posture and stamina to switch between standing, sitting, and what's known as 'active sitting' throughout the day. That's where the best standing desk stools and chairs come in.
Standing desk chairs come in a variety of styles: from ergonomic chairs to leaning chairs and adjustable height perches, there's a world of options to explore. We've scoured online retailers for chairs and stools with the ideal balance of comfort, support, adjustability, quality, and mobility for your work environment.
Whether you're a dedicated work-from-home enthusiast or a seasoned office professional, our guide will help you choose the perfect standing desk chair for workspace. We've got plenty more advice on office gear, too, from guides to the best office chairs, the best standing desks and the best office chair for back pain.
The best standing desk chairs
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Leaning stools
+ Generous height
+ Portable
+ Lightweight
- Not so sturdy
If you want something portable, this is the best choice; an under-seat finger groove makes it easy to move, and it's the lightest chair on our list. It's adjustable, letting you perch, lean or sit as you desire, with a height range of 22 to 32 inches, and swivel through 360 degrees.
+ Generous height
+ Robust
+ Flexible
- Difficult assembly
For a taller standing desk chair, we recommend the Wobble Stool from Uncaged Ergonomics. With a height range of 28.5-84cm (23-33in), it offers natural tilting and leaning. The plush, padded seat ensures comfort, while the counter-balanced base provides stability. Assembly is tool-free but may require some force.
+ Weight support
+ Easy to clean
+ Easy assembly
- Limited height
With a pneumatic gas lift, this stool adjusts from 47 to 71cm (18.5 to 28in), offering a wide range of motion. The comfortable vinyl-covered polyurethane seat is easy to clean, and it has a weight capacity of 120kg (265lbs). While not particularly exciting, it gets the job done effectively.
Drafting chairs
+ Robust
+ Adjustable
+ Comfortable
- Colour options
Hylone offers adjustable height, seat tilt, and tilt tension, along with a breathable mesh back, padded flip-up arms, and a height-adjustable footrest. With built-in lumbar support and a comfortable Waterfall edge seat, it suits various work settings. The chair offers stability, mobility, and a maximum capacity of 129kg (285lbs).
+ Supports 300lbs
+ Adjustable
+ Colour options
- Fiddly assembly
This chair boasts an abundance of features; a ventilated curved back, lumbar support, flip-up arms, wheeled castors, and a circular footrest. With its pneumatic lever, it offers adjustable seat height, and other customisation features include a tilt lock mechanism and tilt tension adjustment.
+ Low price
+ Generous height
+ No tilting
- Colour options
For an affordable option, this chair is a great choice. It's the tallest on our list, adjustable from 30.3 to 36.2 inches. With a comfortable leather cushion, 360-degree swivel, a 21-inch footrest, and a stable 24-inch base, it offers good support. However, it lacks the tilting features of other models.
Why should I buy a standing chair?
The idea behind standing chairs is to accompany a standing desk so that you spend the best part of your working time standing, but you still have the option to sit at regular intervals in order to rest.
"Standing desk chairs are great for improving your posture and general health says James Crow from Posture Stars. "They give you an active support that can keep you upright and able to shift position much more easily than a standard chair. Plus they're fantastic for keeping you lively and alert for your online meetings too."
In short, standing chairs allow you to get the best of both worlds: to use a standing desk for a more active work setup, but also to be able to rest and change your position to avoid getting tired, especially if you're not used to standing up for long periods of time.
" I love the way you can quickly switch from standing to perching, to get a variety of good postures," Crow adds. "And they help to avoid the aching feet that can come from standing at a desk for long periods of time."
What's the point of a standing desk?
The best standing desks have become popular in recent years and for good reason. People have realised that a sedentary lifestyle can cause a wide range of health problems, including back pain and poor posture. Spending more time on our feet can help correct that.
"Standing desks may be a great solution for those who may not be comfortable sitting, either because of pain or just preference," says Dr Amy Hoover, physiotherapist at P.volve. "Standing vs sitting may also encourage better posture and spinal alignment. Standing allows us to engage more postural muscles, and helps encourage muscular support, and distributes forces throughout our body to lessen stress on one area."
How should you stand at a standing desk?
Using a standing desk doesn't mean you can completely forget about paying attention to posture. You need to be aware of how you're standing, just as you would try to sit in the most healthy way possible in a chair.
"You need to be mindful of your posture when using a standing desk," says Dr Amy. "Try standing with your ears, shoulders, hips and ankles in a line, and keep your joints soft, and distribute your weight evenly between both legs. Moving often is still necessary, and arguably more when you use a standing desk. Doing some waking every 30 minutes can help encourage blood flow and keep your muscles from tightening up."
