How do you maintain proper posture while sitting?

While a seat cushion can encourage proper posture, you can’t solely rely on it. There are other steps you can take to ensure you’re not slouching over at your desk all day. Here are a few to keep in mind. Make sure the top of your computer monitor is at eye level and your arms are able to hang naturally, says Rotundo. Sit at the very back of your chair so your back touches it, says Loesing. The back of your chair supports your body, helps hold you up and takes some stress off your muscles. But if your back isn't leaning against the chair, your muscles have to work extra hard to hold you up all day, which can lead to fatigue, tension and pain, she says. Checking in to make sure your back touches the chair can also tell you if you’re leaning forward toward the computer, a habit many people have yet is detrimental to their posture, says Loesing. If you work from home, try to separate your workspace from your living space when possible. It becomes increasingly difficult to maintain good posture if you work remotely in your regular living spaces where you usually lounge on a soft couch or chair, experts told us. Commit to standing up and moving every hour or so while working. Doing so gives your body a break from sitting and can help release tension.

5 best ergonomic seat cushions, tested and reviewed

Jan. 22, 2021, 8:37 PM UTC / Updated July 31, 2024, 6:56 PM UTC

By Zoe Malin

The average full-time worker spends over 40 hours a week at work, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. And depending on what your job entails, a majority of those hours may be spent sitting, which can lead to back pain and muscle stiffness, experts say. That’s where seat cushions can help: They can evenly distribute your weight across your seat, decrease pressure on parts of your lower back and encourage proper posture.

To help you find the right seat cushion for your office chair, I spoke to experts about what to look for when shopping and highlighted their recommendations for the best ones to shop. Our NBC Select editors also tried a handful of seat cushions over a three week period to get firsthand experience with them.

SKIP AHEAD How to shop for seat cushions | B est seat cushions | Why trust NBC Select?

Selected.Our top picks

Best overall seat cushion
Tempur-Pedic Seat Cushion
$76.98
$89.00
Amazon
Learn more
Best portable seat cushion
Purple Simply Seat Cushion
$79.20
$99.00
Amazon
Learn more
Best medium-firm seat cushion
Sutera Proper Posture Seat Cushion
$29.99
$31.99
Amazon
Learn more

How I picked the best seat cushions

While shopping for a seat cushion, experts I spoke to recommend considering the following factors:

Material: Seat cushions tend to be made of foam, gel or memory foam, materials that experts say support your bottom and spine.
Firmness: The material a seat cushion is made from directly impacts its firmness level, and ultimately, what you find comfortable is the best option. Keep in mind, however, that 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 Dr. John Rotundo, the founder and director of physician services at Hudson Family Chiropractic, Physical Therapy & Acupuncture in New Jersey.
Size: Pay attention to the depth and width of a seat cushion, and how its overall size compares to the chair you plan to put it on and your body, says Karen Loesing, a licensed physical therapist assistant and the owner of The Ergonomic Expert, a consulting company for ergonomic office evaluations. Seat cushions that are too big or too small won’t be comfortable to sit in all day. Keep in mind that putting a seat cushion on top of your chair elevates you to some degree, which means you might have to adjust the height of your chair so your legs don’t hit the top of your desk.
Shape: While some seat cushions are solid and mimic the shape of a typical office chair’s seat, others are contoured and/or have cutouts. Contours help evenly distribute your weight across the cushion, while cutouts take direct pressure off specific parts of the body, says Loesing. For example, many seat cushions have coccyx cutouts to eliminate pressure on your tailbone. Think about your pain points and use that to determine what seat cushion shape is best for you.
Stability: Your seat cushion should stay in one place and not slip or slide around as you’re sitting. Some options come with velcro straps to keep them secure, while others have a non-slip rubber bottom. If a seat cushion has neither of these things, it may be hard to keep centered on your chair while you’re using it.
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 options covered in mesh, which increases airflow, or one that’s constructed with cooling gel, experts say.

Best seat cushions of 2024

To recommend the best seat cushions, NBC Select staffers tried a handful of options that brands sent us. We tried each seat cushion at our desks over a three week period. Experts also shared their favorite seat cushions.

Best overall seat cushion: Tempur-Pedic Seat Cushion

Tempur-Pedic Seat Cushion

What we like

Firm support
Removable, washable cover

Something to note

Molds to your body over time

When NBC Select staffers first sat down on this seat cushion, they were surprised by how firm it felt, but eventually got used to its feel. “Over a couple of hours, I felt myself sink in just enough so that there was still some firmness there to encourage a taller posture,” says Nikki Brown, NBC Select SEO editor. “Now, days later, it feels like the cushion has molded to my backside and I enjoy the support.” Harry Rabinowitz, NBC Select reporter, also adds that using the cushion eliminated the typical lower back soreness he feels at the end of the work day. Jordan Bowman, NBC Select editor, recommends giving it some time to adjust to your body — once it does, you’ll immediately notice the difference if you had to give it up, he says.

The dark navy blue Tempur-Pedic Seat Cushion in an office chair. — The Tempur-Pedic Seat Cushion has a contoured surface that molds to your legs and backside.Courtesy of Zoe Malin

Material: Memory foam | Size: 16 x 16 x 2 in. | Removable cover: Yes, machine-washable

Best portable seat cushion: Purple Simply Seat Cushion

Purple Simply Seat Cushion

What we like

Built-in handles for transport
Flexible yet firm support
Removable, washable cover

Something to note

May move around on seat

If you’re looking for a softer seat cushion, this model is our favorite. Its main support mechanism is Purple’s proprietary 3D GelFlex Grid, a flexible yet firm material that cradles your bottom and adapts to your body shape, according to the brand. Lindsay Schneider, NBC Select editor, says sitting on the seat cushion is much more comfortable than sitting on a typical office chair, and she enjoys using it regularly while working. The cover has handles on either side, making it easy to move if you want to use it in different places. It also has a non-slip base, but Schneider says the cushion sometimes moves around while she’s sitting on it.

The Purple Simply Seat Cushion held against a white wall with its cover partially unzipped. — The Purple Simply Seat Cushion has a rubber lining on the bottom to help slip resistance.Courtesy of Zoe Malin

Material: Purple GelFlex Grid | Size: 17.5 x 15.75 x 1.25 in. | Removable cover: Yes, machine-washable

Best medium-firm seat cushion: Sutera Proper Posture Seat Cushion

Sutera Proper Posture Seat Cushion

What we like

Tailbone cutout
Charcoal-infused core
Rubber grips on base

Something to note

Can't remove or wash cover

Sutera’s medium-firm seat cushion is designed with a cutout to take pressure off your tailbone, and its shape mimics the contours in your legs to help evenly distribute weight across your chair, according to the brand. “The seat cushion almost immediately forced me to sit up straighter,” says Ashley Morris, NBC Select associate SEO reporter, who frequently hunches over at her computer. “At first it was a bit uncomfortable because I’m used to slouching, but after a day or two, I barely noticed that it was there and my back pain has definitely gone down.” The core of Sutera’s seat cushion is infused with charcoal to keep it fresh after hours of use, according to the brand, and it has rubber grips on its base to prevent it from shifting around.

Material: Memory foam | Size: 17.7 x 16 x 4.3 in. | Removable cover: No

Best contoured seat cushion: Cushion Lab Pressure Relief Seat Cushion

Cushion Lab Patented Pressure Relief Seat Cushion

What we like

Contoured shape
Charcoal-infused foam
Tailbone cutout

Something to note

Nothing to note at this time

Rebecca Rodriguez, NBC Select editorial projects manager, likes this seat cushion because its contours are strategically placed to cradle the hips and thighs, making it feel like it was molded for her bottom before she even took it out of the package. There’s also a cutout at the back of the cushion to take weight off the tailbone area. The seat cushion is made from charcoal-infused memory foam that prevents it from holding onto odors, according to the brand, in addition to mesh that circulates air to keep you cool.

The wellness green Cushion Lab Pressure Relief Seat Cushion on an office chair. — You can pair the Cushion Lab seat cushion with a lumbar pillow for even more support.Courtesy of Zoe Malin

Material: Memory foam | Size: 16 x 16 x 3 in. | Removable cover: Yes, machine-washable

Best cooling seat cushion: Everlasting Comfort Seat Cushion and Lumbar Support Pillow Combo

Everlasting Comfort Seat Cushion and Lumbar Support Pillow Combo

$50.39

$62.99

$59.99

What we like

Made with cooling gel
Ventilated
Comes with lumbar cushion

Something to note

Can't remove or wash covers

This seat and lumbar cushion combo comes highly recommended by Rotundo. It supports the lower back and glutes, and helps evenly distribute your weight, leading to decreased stress on the whole body, he says. Both cushions are infused with cooling gel and have ventilation holes to promote air circulation. The seat cushion is U-shaped with a cutout at the back to take pressure off the coccyx and tailbone, and the lumbar cushion has two straps to secure it to the back of your chair.

Material: Memory foam | Size: 17.5 x 14 x 2.75 in. | Removable cover: No

Frequently asked questions

Seat cushions address two factors that are often top of mind for people when thinking about their workstations: comfort and ergonomics. If you can’t get comfortable while sitting at your desk, your productivity often suffers, says Loesing. Worrying about back pain or muscle stiffness is distracting, so you might not be able to concentrate on the task at hand and start fidgeting. Depending on your preferences, seat cushions offer a softer or firmer surface to rest your bottom on compared to a typical office chair, which may make you comfortable for longer periods of time.

Ergonomics, on the other hand, is the process of designing workstations so that they fit the people who use them, says Rotundo. Seat cushions work to make your chair ergonomic so you’re in the proper position for work. They help evenly distribute weight across your seat to reduce pressure on your hips, lumbar region and tailbone, as well as support your bottom and can encourage you to sit up straight. This may alleviate pain in the back, neck and shoulders, as well as minimize overall discomfort while working.

Yes, you can use a seat cushion in the car to keep you comfortable on drives of any length, experts told us. Some seat cushions are specifically designed for car seats, but if you already have one at home that you use on an office chair, you can use it in the car as well.

A lumbar cushion is designed to support the curve of your spine and it sometimes comes in a set with a seat cushion, making it worth learning about before you start shopping, says Loesing. Lumbar cushions are made with similar materials compared to seat cushions, and their firmness level, size and shape varies, allowing you to purchase one that aligns with your preferences. As you’re shopping, however, make sure to pay extra attention to a lumbar cushion’s height, says Loesing. It should be as tall as the back of your chair, which allows you to rest your entire spine against it. Some models are very small and only rest against your lower back, which provides support for that area, but does nothing for the upper back, she says.

While a seat cushion can encourage proper posture, you can’t solely rely on it. There are other steps you can take to ensure you’re not slouching over at your desk all day. Here are a few to keep in mind.

Make sure the top of your computer monitor is at eye level and your arms are able to hang naturally, says Rotundo.
Sit at the very back of your chair so your back touches it, says Loesing. The back of your chair supports your body, helps hold you up and takes some stress off your muscles. But if your back isn't leaning against the chair, your muscles have to work extra hard to hold you up all day, which can lead to fatigue, tension and pain, she says. Checking in to make sure your back touches the chair can also tell you if you’re leaning forward toward the computer, a habit many people have yet is detrimental to their posture, says Loesing.
If you work from home, try to separate your workspace from your living space when possible. It becomes increasingly difficult to maintain good posture if you work remotely in your regular living spaces where you usually lounge on a soft couch or chair, experts told us.
Commit to standing up and moving every hour or so while working. Doing so gives your body a break from sitting and can help release tension.

Meet our experts

At NBC Select, we work with experts who have specialized knowledge and authority based on relevant training and/or experience. We also take steps to ensure that all expert advice and recommendations are made independently and with no undisclosed financial conflicts of interest.

Dr. John Rotundo is the founder and director of physician services at Hudson Family Chiropractic, Physical Therapy & Acupuncture in New Jersey.
Karen Loesing is a licensed physical therapist assistant and the owner of The Ergonomic Expert, a consulting company for ergonomic office evaluations.

Why trust NBC Select?

I am an associate updates editor at NBC Select, where I write about health, wellness and fitness, including stories on training shoes, Covid tests and sunscreen. For this article, I interviewed two experts about how to shop for seat cushions. Brands sent NBC Select staff a handful of seat cushions to try over a three week period, allowing reviewers to share their firsthand experience about many of the products we recommend above.

Catch up on NBC Select’s in-depth coverage of personal finance, tech and tools, wellness and more, and follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and TikTok to stay up to date.

Zoe Malin

Zoe Malin is an associate updates editor for Select on NBC News.