How to find the right chair for your standing desk?

When you set up a new workspace, the standing desk often gets the most attention because it’s big and changes how your room looks. But remember, you spend all day sitting on your chair, which is just as important or even more! You should pick your chair as carefully as your desk. If you don’t know which chair to choose, this guide can help you decide.

TLDR

• The best choice depends on how much you sit, how you move throughout the day, and what feels comfortable for your body.
• Different types of chairs serve different purposes. Saddle chairs and leaning stools work well for short standing breaks, active stools keep you moving, and ergonomic chairs are best if you sit for long stretches.
• Look at how you work, if the chair can be adjusted to your height, how stable it feels, your preferred sitting style, and your budget to help you choose the right one.

Which chair do you actually need for a standing desk?

Here's the honest answer: there’s no one best chair, just like with many other things. It all depends on your body's needs.

The only way to know is to try it or compare it with your own habits. Below you'll find the main chair types that work well with a stand-up desk, so you can decide which one suits you best.

Saddle or leaning stool

Have you heard of a saddle chair? It has a seat shaped like a saddle, so your hips stay open and your spine stays straighter. A similar but different option is a leaning stool, which lets you sit lightly while leaning on it with your feet still on the floor.

Both are taller than regular chairs, which makes them work well with a standing desk. They also take some weight off your legs during standing breaks. But it can be hard to use the taller chair all day, so people usually use it for part of the day and switch to regular ergonomic office chairs for the rest.

Wobble stool

An active stool has 2 main features: a rounded or wobbling base and a height you can change. The base makes you do small movements to keep your balance, which is the main idea of dynamic sitting.

A balance stool works well with a standing desk because it helps you sit up straight, and you can raise it high enough to sit comfortably at a standing desk for a longer time.

Ergonomic office chair

An ergonomic chair also has 2 main features:

• adjustable parts (backrest, headrest, armrests, seat height, and depth);
• strong lower back support (it matches the natural curve of your back).

To stay comfortable during long sitting times, it’s important to put the lumbar support in the right place. For people who spend many hours at a desk, a good ergonomic office chair is often the best way to stay comfortable and get work done.

How do you find the right chair for your workspace?

Once you know the chair types, it’s about picking one that fits your daily needs. Here are things to think about, based on the Desktronic team's experience and online talks where people share what worked for them.

Don't forget that none of these is rules. We just share ideas to keep in mind!

Daily routine

Think about your usual Tuesday. If you sit for a long time, you need a strong, comfortable chair. If you move around a lot, a seat that’s easy to get in and out of is better. We believe our daily routine should help us pick what works best.

Height adjustment

If you have a taller or height-adjustable desk, it’s important to use a chair that can be adjusted to many heights. This way, you won’t have to stretch up or bend down. Make sure your chair and standing desk have many adjustment options. If you’re not sure about the right height, try the Desktronic height calculator to find what fits you best.

Steadiness

When you raise a chair higher, its base becomes even more important. You need it to stay steady when you lean or move, unless you’re using an active stool made to move. If the chair is set at the wrong height, it can affect how steady it is and your posture, so it’s also helpful to know what happens if a chair is too low.

Sitting habits

How do you usually sit when no one is around? If you tend to fidget, you might prefer an active stool. If you settle in for long periods, you’ll need an office chair with good back support. Knowing whether the chair is ergonomic can help you choose one that fits your body.

Price

Like any other purchase, chair prices usually go from basic to premium, so choose what works best for your budget. Some people online recommend spending more on a good chair than on a standing desk when money is limited because your body depends on that chair for many hours every day.

A chair with head support can help stop neck pain, which happens often if you sit for a long time, so it's worth paying a little extra. But of course, only you can decide what is best for your body.