Ultimate Guide to Selecting the Ideal Wobble Seats and Adjustable Desk Chairs - 2023 Rankings From ZDNET

Sitting all day can wreak havoc on the body. However, you can alleviate some of these problems with the right ergonomic furniture.

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Standing desk chairs and wobble stools work the core and keep the body activated, even when sitting. When used correctly, ergonomic-based active sitting can help keep all those hours at your desk from leaving you aching, twisted, and hunched.

We’ve reviewed five of the top standing desk chairs and wobble stools available online and picked the best of the best. Each has its merits, and all can serve well as ergonomic chairs.

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Varier Move Tilting Saddle Stool Best standing desk chair overall

Amazon

Pros & Cons

Pros

Tested by the Mayo Clinic and Neat-certified
Tall maximum height of 32.25 inches
Norwegian titling saddle seat design
Better than average warranty

Cons

It’s expensive
Low weight capacity for cost

More Details

Features:

Tested by the Mayo Clinic and receiving of the Neat certification
Hydraulic adjustable height of up to 32.25 inches
Includes a rubber base attachment to protect floors and prevent slipping
Maximum weight capacity of 242 lbs
Manufactured in Europe

The Varier Move was first manufactured in 1985. This elegant standing desk chair utilizes a high-quality design and build to provide a tested active seating experience. While many wobble stools are ergonomic and can promote active sitting, the Varier is rare in that it has been tested by the Mayo Clinic and has received a Neat certification. For a product to earn this honor, it must increase energy use over sitting by more than 10%.

With an easily adjustable height range of 22 inches to 32.35 inches, the Varier Move is made to fit a diversity of workspaces. The saddle shape design of the seat can provide an extra sense of comfort and support. However, not everyone finds these designs preferable. While this stool offers more than most, it also comes with a significantly steeper price tag than many competitors.

The Varier Move Tilting Saddle Stool was chosen as ‘best overall’ due to its high-quality production, time-tested design, impressive height range, and Neat certification. While its price is a barrier, we feel its merits more than outweigh that downside.

View now at Amazon

Songmics Standing Desk Chair Best standing desk chair for adjustable height options

Amazon

Pros & Cons

Pros

Adjustable
Handles attached to the seat
The foam seat breathes and dissipates heat well
The seat can tilt as well as swivel
Relatively high weight capacity at 265 pounds

Cons

Few aesthetic options

More Details

Features:

Adjustable height from 23.6 to 33.3 inches
Anti-slip pads to protect the floor and prevent slipping
Ergonomic handles beside the seat
Has a swivel/tilt radius of up to 8 degrees
Maximum weight capacity of 265 lbs

The Songmics Standing Desk Chair offers a comfortable seat, utilizing a three-inch-thick ergonomic cushion. As standing desk chairs go, this model delivers well on all fronts. Specifically, it encourages ergonomic posture support and promotes active sitting without risking slippage or falling. While many models of wobble stool allow for height adjustment, this one has a greater maximum height than many, at 33.3 inches.

The padded seat on this wobble stool can tilt up to eight degrees, offering a greater range of body movement than many alternatives. Thanks to the foam upholstery, the seat on the Songmics Standing Desk Chair breathes well, which helps to prevent trapped heat. Ergonomically placed handles allow for easy maneuvering of this wobble stool.

The Songmics Standing Desk Chair was selected due to meeting the needs of a standing desk chair with high quality and precision, without displaying an extreme in any direction. This is an affordable wobble stool that offers a quality active sitting experience without coming in at a high price tag.

View now at Amazon

Seville Classics Airlift 360 Sit-Stand Adjustable Ergonomic Active Balance Non-Slip Desk Stool Best value standing desk chair

Amazon

Pros & Cons

Pros

Moderate weight capacity of 250 pounds
Adjustable height
Highly flexible build

Cons

Height measurement is only 28 inches

More Details

Features:

Breathable seating fabric helps to prevent sweating and discomfort
Height adjustment uses a pneumatic gas system
Non-slip grip beneath the base to protect the floor and prevent falling
Ergonomic height adjustment lever within sitting reach
Seat tilt up to ten degrees

This standing desk chair has the core features for active sitting, without much in the way of bells and whistles. The seat is made of breathable foam cushioning that allows for heat dissipation and body contouring support. This stool has an adjustable height that ranges from 20 inches up to 28 inches.

The height adjustment lever is a circular bar beneath the seat, within easy reach of your hands while sitting. That can make it easier to adjust height without needing to rise fully, although one should still take their weight off of the seat first for safety reasons.

The Seville Classics Airlift 360 Stool was selected as the “best value standing desk chair” because it provides the core functions of a standing desk chair for an affordable price, without any significant drawbacks or flaws. Beyond meeting these standards, the stool is also well-designed for comfort.

View now at Amazon View now at Seville Classics View now at Walmart

more buying choices

Sun-Flex Ergonomic Height Adjustable Balance Foot Stool Best cheap standing desk chair

Sun-Flex

Pros & Cons

Pros

Height adjustable
Moderate weight capacity at 264 pounds
Full horizontal swiveling
Low price point

Cons

It doesn’t have tilting features
The maximum height is only 27.9 inches

More Details

Features:

Maximum load of 264 lbs
An anti-skid surface on the base to protect floors and prevent falling
Full horizontal swiveling
Height adjustable up to 27.9 inches

The Sun-Flex Ergonomic Height Adjustable Balance Foot Stool is the most affordable of our final five wobble stools. While this product offers a more barebones experience than the Seville Classics stool, it is in a similar vein. However, the Sun-Flex does have a higher maximum weight capacity than many alternatives, at 264 pounds.

This standing desk chair has an anti-skid base to prevent the chair from scratching the floor or falling over while you lean in it. The seat can swivel around a full 360 degrees, but there is no seat-specific tilt function. The seat can be adjusted from 24.5 inches up to 27.9 inches using an easy-to-reach lever.

The Sun-Flex Ergonomic Height Adjustable Balance Foot Stool was selected as ‘best for affordability’ due to its deliverance of core active sitting features at a highly affordable price, without sacrificing much beyond caveats. For those who want to try using a wobble stool and see if it may be right for them, this stool may serve as an excellent entry piece.

View now at Amazon

Gaiam Balance Ball Chair Stool Best standing desk chair for weight capacity and inflatable seats

Galam

Pros & Cons

Pros

High weight capacity of 300 pounds
Ergonomic seat design that allows the body to tilt without shifting the stool
High maximum height of 33 inches

Cons

Wheels can make balancing tricky, even with locks

More Details

Features:

The seat is a half-dome inflatable standing desk stool
Adjustable height up to 33 inches with a hydraulic system
Full horizontal swivel, five-wheel base with locks
300-lbs maximum capacity

The Gaiam Balance Ball Chair Stool offers an unusual mix of different seating designs. Unlike most wobble stools, the Gaiam has wheeled legs instead of a round base. While the wheels do lock, this can still present some difficulties and potential risks for those who like to lean in their seats. Another unique feature of this stool is the seat, which is a half-dome of inflated balance ball material. Much of the active sitting engagement in this stool comes from the inflatable seat.

This stool is well-designed with quality materials, and its higher-than-usual weight capacity of 300 pounds reflects that. The inflatable seat provides a strong, slightly contouring support that can dissipate heat well. However, the tradeoff with an inflatable seat is that the rubber material of these seats does not breathe.

The Gaiam Balance Ball Chair Stool offers the greatest weight capacity and some of the tallest height options of our final five stools. Although its wheeled design breaks partly with the tradition of standing desk chairs, this stool still offers the same active sitting engagement, thanks, in part, to the inflatable seat.

View now at Amazon

What is the best standing desk chair?

The Varier Move Tilting Saddle Stool was our choice for best overall due to its Neat-certification, impressive history within the ergonomic seating industry, high-quality manufacturing, ergonomic saddle seat design, and tall maximum height.

The high cost of this stool, when compared to alternatives, can be prohibitive, however. Still, despite its higher price, the Varier Move provides nearly everything a standing desk chair should, with style and quality.

Standing Desk Chair/ Stool	Price	Where to Buy	Maximum Load	Height Adjustable Range	Seat Swivel/Tilt Functionality	Materials
Varier Move Tilting Saddle Stool	$399	Amazon, Varier	242 lbs	22 to 32.35 inches	Tilting saddle seat design	European manufacture
SONGMICS Standing Desk Chair	$150	Amazon, Songmics	265 lbs	23.6 to 33.3 inches	Tilting and swivel radius of up to 8 degrees	Foam seat
Seville Classics Airlift 360 Sit-Stand Adjustable Ergonomic Active Balance Non-Slip Desk Stool	$90	Amazon, Seville Classics, Walmart	250 lbs	20 to 28 inches	Seat tilt up to 10 degrees	Breathable seating fabric
Sun-Flex Ergonomic Height Adjustable Balance Foot Stool	$105	Amazon, Newegg	264 lbs	24.5 to 27.9 inches	Full horizontal swiveling	Anti-skid base
Gaiam Balance Ball Chair Stool	$120	Amazon, Gaiam, Office Depot	300 lbs	Adjustable up to 33 inches	Full horizontal swiveling with five-wheel base	Inflatable half-dome seat

Which is the right standing desk chair for you?

Refer to the following decision tree breakdown when trying to decide which stool is right for you. It all depends on you, your feature wishlist, and your potential use cases.

Choose this standing desk chair…	If you want or are…
Varier Move Tilting Saddle Stool	If you want the best in standing desk chairs. This is ideal for those who prioritize quality, design, and innovation in their standing desk chair.
SONGMICS Standing Desk Chair	If you want a tall stool that includes tilting features specific to the seat. The SONGMICS stool offers excellent adjustability and ergonomic features for those looking for a tall wobble stool with additional tilting capabilities.
Seville Classics Airlift	If you want a stool that allows for full horizontal tilting while sitting, the Seville Classics Airlift may be the right option for you.
SUN-FLEX	If you want an affordable stool without a lot of extra features. This stool is perfect for those who want a simple and effective option for active sitting without any added features.
Gaiam Balance Ball Chair Stool	If you want a wobble stool that incorporates balance ball chairs into its design, the Gaiam stool is an excellent choice, offering a high weight capacity and a comfortable, inflatable seat.

How did I choose these standing desk chairs?

The above chairs were reviewed considering these comparative factors: ergonomic design, comfort, maximum height, maximum weight capacity, tilt and swivel functions, stability, style, and price. Initially, a broad range of wobble stools was considered. Then, those were winnowed down to five finalists using the above criteria.

These final five were then compared to each within this review using the same criteria as above. Of the five, one was selected as ZDNET’s top choice for best overall. The four runner-ups were each chosen for exemplification within a specific parameter or a specific demographic. For example, while the Varier Move was selected for “best overall,” the Sun-Flex was chosen as “best for affordability.”

Some variables were given more weight than others, with ergonomic design and function being treated as the most important. Maximum weight capacity and height maximums were weighted as the next most important variables. For the most part, the price was relatively consistent between a majority of standing desk chair options, with some notable exceptions.

Are standing desk chairs and wobble stools suitable for all body types?

Standing desk chairs and wobble stools can benefit a wide range of body types. t’s important to check the weight capacity of the product and ensure that it is appropriate for your body size.

What is the difference between a standing desk chair and a wobble stool?

The main difference between a standing desk chair and a wobble stool is the design of the seat. A standing desk chair typically has a more traditional seat with a backrest, while a wobble stool often has a round or saddle-shaped seat that is designed to promote active sitting and movement while working. Wobble stools also usually have a base that allows for rocking and tilting, while standing desk chairs have a more stable base. Additionally, standing desk chairs are often more expensive than wobble stools due to their added features and higher-end materials.

In what way are wobble stools better than ordinary chairs?

Wobble stools use ergonomic design to enable and encourage active sitting. Active sitting means your core and legs continue to be active and engaged while sitting. Active sitting can help promote healthy blood circulation, better spinal alignment, and posture. In turn, it gives your body more fluidity with a standing chair as opposed to a traditional office chair.

How do standing desk chairs work?

These ergonomic seats encourage your body’s core to stay engaged while you sit in them. By placing your feet solidly on the floor and sitting on one of these stools, you can wobble, tilt, and rotate yourself and the seat around. Doing this engages your body and practices balance.

Do I need a standing desk to use a standing desk chair?

Standing desk office chairs are often designed with standing desks or similar structures in mind.

Also: The 7 best standing desks

However, they can fit with numerous types of desks, counters, and tables. You’ll want some open space underneath the surface you intend to work at, allowing for leg and leaning room. Other than that, it’s essential to make sure the height of your stool and work surface will work together.

Can standing desk chairs or wobble stools be used with a traditional desk?

Yes, standing desk chairs and wobble stools can be used with traditional desks. Just make sure the height of the desk is appropriate for the height of the chair or stool, and that the workspace is configured to accommodate the product.

Are standing desk chairs or wobble stools noisy?

Some standing desk chairs and wobble stools may produce noise when moving or adjusting. Look for products that have noise-reducing features, such as rubber base attachments or pneumatic height adjustment systems.

Are there alternative chairs worth considering?

There are numerous standing desk chairs available nowadays, and the five presented within this guide are but a drop in the ocean. Consider the three listed below for those who want to see more wobble stool options beyond our top choices:

BEST PRICE Learniture Adjustable Height Active Learning Stool A comfortable stool with adjustable height settings to accommodate more users. View at Wayfair BEST PRICE Vari Active Seat This stool promotes natural motion, allowing your legs and back to stretch as you work. View at Amazon BEST PRICE Storex Active Tilt Stool It features an angled base to improve seating posture. View at Amazon