Standing desk chairs and stools are designed to be compatible with standing desks. They let you work in a position where you can rest when partially standing. While you're not on your feet, you're not completely seated, taking away the adverse effects of prolonged sitting or standing.
In this guide, we researched and evaluated the best standing desk chairs and stools available on the Australian market and handpicked the best nine. The goal is to make your search for the ideal stool or chair easier and more informed. Ready to uncover what we found? Let's dive deep.
Our Top Picks
Need a drafting chair or stool for your standing desk workstation? Here are our top three picks in Australia:
HAG Capisco Chair
Best overall standing desk chair with a saddle seat design, unique casters, an environmentally-friendly build, and a comfortable seating experience.
Desky Pro Active Stool
Best sit-stand stool for perching with a sleek design, strong build, adjustable height, and useful features at a great price point.
Buro Enso Technician Chair
Best armless drafting chair with a non-slip surface and a height-adjustable seat and backrest, offering an unrestrictive seating experience.
Top 9 Sit-Stand Desk Chairs for Aussies
Our research evaluated each chair and stool based on its ergonomic design, adjustable features, lumbar support, durability, ease of assembly, customer feedback, and overall comfort. Our goal was to ensure they were suitable for long hours of use in various workplace settings.
1. HAG Capisco Chair
Best Overall Standing Desk Chair
Height range: 40 - 47 cm
Product weight: 11 kg
Weight capacity: 120 kg
The HAG Capisco Chair is a more expensive sit-stand chair on the market. But it is an excellent opinion for its unique design and ergonomics. It has a saddle seat design with unique braking casters, making it ideal for hardwood and low-pile carpet floorings. The seat also has cutouts in the front that encourage your legs to hang down more naturally, ensuring your hip angle is more open for a comfortable seating experience.
The aesthetic of the standing desk chair is complemented by its functionality, as both the seat depth and backrest height can be easily adjusted. It also has a tilt resistance that is adjustable and lockable. The chair is also compatible with higher gas lifts, catering to those using height-adjustable desks. For head support, the HAG Capisco is available in two styles: the 8106 model without a headrest and the 8107 model with a headrest.
HAG's stool is also the right purchase if you're an environmentalist and care about the planet. The high-end saddleback chair is made from recycled bumpers and plastic packaging from household waste. You are also guaranteed a 10-year warranty against defects and manufacturing faults, a five-year warranty on the fabric and leather components, and a lifetime guarantee on gas lifts.
Pros
- Lightweight design
- High-quality, sustainable materials
- Seat cutouts improve circulation
- Has a multipurpose backrest
- Numerous colour options
Cons
- No options with armrests
2. Pergo Vee Sit Stand Stool
Best Sit-Stand Stool for Heavy Users
Seat size: 41 × 31 cm
Weight capacity: 150 kg
Warranty: 6 years
The Pergo Vee Sit Stand Stool is a great stool option with a unique dual-faced seat design for high desks. You can sit on the sculptured edge or the flat edge on the back. We recommend leaning or perching on the sculptured edge to maintain a more comfortable upright position when working from a sit-stand desk. The stool also has a 3D pivot disc base that works with 4D seat movement, allowing the stool to move with you.
Pergo Vee's sculptured disc chair base, column, and gas lift system are made of high-end materials. They have an incredibly high weight limit that can support up to 150 kg, 30 kg more than the HAG Capisco Chair offers. For customisation, you can choose from black components with black fabric, black components with black vinyl, white components with grey fabric, or white components with black vinyl models.
Pros
- Can support heavy people
- Allows you to sit, stand, or perch
- Moves with you in different directions
- Good sit-stand balance stool
- Many customisation options
Cons
- Pricey
3. Desky Sit Stand Pro Active Stool
Best Sit-Stand Stool for Perching
Height range: 56 - 73 cm
Weight capacity: 113 kg
Warranty: 10 years
Desky Sit Stand Pro-Active Stool is an Australian-made desk stool with good value features at a great price point. It has a sleek design, strong build, high-quality materials, a tilt mechanism, and a 360-degree pivot mechanism. The stool offers smooth, adjustable height with a pneumatic lift system and has a weighted base that keeps the desk stool flat on the ground while supporting your weight.
Desky's tilt and 360-degree pivot provide a wider range of movements to find a comfortable position when working from a standing desk. The desk stool is also easy to set up, maintain and adjust. The downside is the office stool can support a weight of up to 113 kg, which should be plenty for the average Australian, although it may not be ideal for heavier folks. Likewise, it has no backrest but a lightly raised back end that supports your back.
We recommend the Desky Sit Stand Stool if you want a made-in-Australia stool that balances sitting and standing and offers basic ergonomic features. On purchase, you get a 10-year limited warranty.
Pros
- Easy to tilt and pivot
- Air-lift piston adjusts height effortlessly
- Weighted base helps maintain proper posture
- Relieves foot and sedentary pressure
- Provides active seating experience
Cons
- Not suitable for very tall users
4. Buro Enso Technician Chair
Best Armless Drafting Chair
Height range: 60.5 - 87.5 cm
Weight capacity: 130 kg
Warranty: 10 years
The Buro Enso Technician Drafting Chair is a great mid-range sit-stand armless chair option. Its non-slip surface is useful for harsh working conditions that may be unsuitable for upholstered chairs and stools. It also comes with a height-adjustable seat and backrest. Both can be left floating or locked in place when adjusted to your ideal preference.
Buro's technician drafting chair has an armless design that provides an unrestrictive seating experience when using a standing workstation. Likewise, scooting closer to a standing desk without the arms is easier, and it can be neatly tucked under the desk when not in use. On purchase, you only get one colour (black) to choose from and a 10-year warranty.
Pros
- Excellent durability
- Space-saving design
- Easy to move around
- Backrest is height-adjustable
Cons
- Available in one colour
5. Flash Furniture Ergonomic Drafting Chair
Best Mesh Mid-Back Drafting Chair
Product weight: 15.42 kg
Height range: 54.6 - 73.6 cm
Weight capacity: 113.4 kg
The Flash Furniture Drafting Chair is ideal if you work with a traditional drafting table. It’s also one of the best mesh seats for people working with a standing desk. The mid-back mesh ergonomic drafting chair offers arms, seat, and back adjustments. Its flip-up arms let you use the chair with or without the arms to get a full range of motion when you need to.
Flash Furniture's mid-back mesh drafting chair supports the lower back and lumbar region. It allows flexibility, which makes shifting positions easier, prevents discomfort and stiffness from prolonged sitting, and has a breathable mesh backrest to keep you cool and comfortable. And like the Buro Enso Technician Chair and Werk RX-2 Drafting Chair Stool, the ergonomic drafting chair includes a foot ring.
Pros
- Designed for easy assembly
- Mesh back for warm climates
- Waterfall seat relieves pressure from the legs
- Easy pneumatic seat height adjustment
- Stable chair base with foot ring
Cons
- Not suitable for heavier users
- Lacks seat depth adjustment
6. Werk RX-2 Drafting Chair Stool
Best With Ergonomic Backrest
Height range: 60 - 86 cm
Weight capacity: 110 kg
Warranty: 2 years
The Werk Drafting Chair Stool is a drafting stool with a backrest, much like the HAG Capisco and Buro Enso Chair. But Werk's backrest offers more ergonomic options. It includes a pneumatic lift seat height adjustment and manual back height adjustment. Compared to the Buro Enso Technician Chair, both chairs include foot rings, but Werk offers a better overall experience, especially for office use. On the downside, it has a lower weight capacity.
The Werk RX-2 Drafting Stool has an upholstered seat and backrest. It also features a free-floating, adjustable backrest angle mechanism and height-adjustable footing. The backrest aligns seamlessly with your back, which translates to improved posture and reduced discomfort in the back. Werk only offers its classy and elegant black colour, so you have limited customisation options.
Pros
- Simple and quick to assemble
- Has an ergonomic backrest
- Foot ring relieves strain on the lower back
- Has a stable five-star base
- Comfortable foam and fabric seat
Cons
- It comes without armrests
- Limited colour options
7. Gaiam Balance Ball Chair Stool
Best Chair for Core Strengthing
Ball diameter: 45 cm
Height range: 45.72 - 58.42 cm
Weight capacity: 136 kg
The Gaiam Balance Ball Chair is an active alternative seat for people using a standing desk. The active seat features a half-dome inflatable cushion that helps with core strengthening and posture improvement. Likewise, its half-dome stability forces micro-movements in your core, which helps increase boost circulation and improve posture.
Gaiam's Balance Ball has an adjustable seat height that ranges from 45.7 to 58.4 cm. The wider range of heights allows you to use this type of stool with most standing desks. It also features a strong and stable swivel base of the Gaiam Balance Ball Chair Stool for smooth motion. The 360-degree swivel allows you to move freely around your standing desk workspace.
Pros
- Offers easy height adjustment
- Swivel chair design improves productivity
- Active seating strengthens core muscles
- Encourages proper posture
Cons
- Inflating the seat is challenging
8. Humanscale Ballo Active Sitting Chair
Best Multipurpose Active Sitting Chair
Product weight: 6 kg
Weight capacity: 136 kg
Warranty: 3 years
The Humanscale Ballo is a fun, unique, and multipurpose chair—a hybrid between a stability ball and an actual sitting chair. It's excellent for short sitting periods at home or the office. Humanscale combines the playfulness of an exercise ball with an innovative, functional design, making the active chair ideal for a wide range of spaces, settings, and uses.
The Ballo has two inflatable plastic domes on either end of its central column, causing quite a bit of movement while sitting. This makes it a fun-to-use product and exciting for active sitting, all while engaging your major muscle groups. It includes a white central column and many colour options for its air-filled domes. The multipurpose active sitting chair has a 3-year warranty and an air pump.
Pros
- Multipurpose dome-shaped design
- Available in a wide range of colours
- Firmness of the dome can be adjusted
- The groove under seat makes it easy to lift
- Has stain-resistant surfaces
Cons
- Pricey
- Bottom dome needs frequent reinflation
- Not height-adjustable
9. Torbi 3D Active Stool
Best Round Seat Sit-Stand Stool
Height range: 61 - 86 cm
Weight capacity: 150 kg
Warranty: 6 years
The Torbi 3D Active Stool is a perching stool with a simple, minimal design and a round seat with excellent weight capacity. It has a 3D pivot disc base mechanism with a plain old round cushioned seat that allows you to perch from any direction while sitting at varying heights. The round seat design lets you sit with your hips more open than you would on conventional chairs, which helps you avoid back problems.
Torbi's 3D Active Stool also has a full ring lever, which helps eliminate the hassle of looking for a lever while adjusting your seat height. The stool is adjustable between 60 and 86 cm. It also has a seat diameter of 36 cm, which is ideal for people who prefer a spacious seat and need flexibility in height adjustment to accommodate various work surfaces. Torbi's active stool has a 6-year warranty, grey upholstery, and a black base.
Pros
- Stable disc base
- Round-shaped seat for active seating
- Offers extended height range
- Rocks in all directions
- Easy adjustment with full ring gas lift lever
Cons
- Limited customisation options
How Should You Stand at a Standing Desk?
Using a standing desk requires maintaining proper posture. You must keep your back straight and upright to support the spine's natural curve. Likewise, ensure your shoulders are relaxed and pulled back, with your feet firmly on the ground and slightly apart for balance.
Then, keep your head and neck aligned with the rest of your body so that you are not straining any particular muscle group. Finally, distribute your weight between both feet evenly and change positions regularly throughout the day to avoid any strain or discomfort.
Are Standing Desk Stools Uncomfortable?
Standing desk stools are not uncomfortable to use as they are designed with comfort in mind. They have adjustable features that allow you to tailor them to your height and posture preferences.
Likewise, many standing desk chairs have padded seating surfaces for added comfort. So, if you are looking for a comfortable standing desk chair or stool, you will undoubtedly find one that fits your needs.
If you have a medical condition requiring you to avoid standing for extended periods, consult your doctor before using a standing desk. But if you are generally healthy, standing desk chairs and stools are good to pair with your heigh-adjustable desks.
Types of Standing Desk Chairs and Stools
There are various types of standing desk chairs and stools to choose from. Basic models include simple seats or stools you can lean on while working, as well as height-adjustable chairs with levers for quick changes.
Advanced options offer more adjustable features, like armrests, seat height, and footrests, for added comfort and support. Overall, standing desk chairs and stools can be grouped into the following categories:
- Basic chairs and stools: These chairs and stools have little to zero ergonomic features. We do not recommend them as they can be detrimental to your productivity and health.
- Height-adjustable chairs: Height-adjustable chairs and stools include basic ergonomic functionality. They help you adjust the stool or chair to your ideal preferences, improving comfort and productivity.
- Balance ball chairs: Balance ball chairs are ideal for short periods of work. They help improve your balance, cardio endurance, and core strength.
- Drafting stools: These types of stools are usually without seat back support or arms. While appropriate for standing desks, they are normally seen in drawing and drafting classrooms.
- Active sitting chairs: While they should not be used alone, active seating chairs are the most ideal for use with standing desks. They keep your body in motion when you sit by encouraging a change in posture.
- Ergonomic chairs: Ergonomic chairs are complete office chairs that are designed to improve user comfort and productivity. They have many customisation features and the flexibility to tailor them to your preference.
What Is Active Seating?
Active sitting is a way of sitting that encourages movement and engages your muscles, even while seated. Unlike traditional chairs, which keep your body in a fixed position, active sitting promotes small, constant adjustments to your posture. This helps improve circulation, strengthen core muscles, and reduce the strain associated with prolonged sitting.
Active sitting is often linked to using standing desks because they help you maintain good posture while standing and encourage movement and balance, which can improve your health. You can use standing desks with under-desk treadmills, exercise bikes, or accessories such as balance boards and anti-fatigue mats to enhance your health.
It's essential to add that these chairs, i.e., stools, saddle chairs, drafting chairs, and sometimes ball chairs, do not entirely replace ergonomic chairs. Only use them as a complement to enhance your workstation and boost your productivity and well-being.
Active Seating Chair Options
Active seating chairs come in a range of prices and comfort levels. Here's a table to help you decide if you're not sure which one to pick.
| Chair | Comfort | Movement | Price | Can Be Used Alone? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Active stool | Low | High | Low | No |
| Saddle stool | Medium | Medium | Medium | No |
| Drafting chair | High | Low | High | Yes |
| Balance stool | Low | High | Low | No |
Active and balance stools are budget-friendly active seating options with high movement but low comfort, making them ideal for people who frequently shift positions, like artists or designers.
Saddle stools offer moderate comfort and movement, suiting healthcare professionals, while drafting chairs are perfect for office workers or architects with their high comfort and independent use.
Darren Sherwood
Why Are Standing Desk Chairs and Stools Gaining Popularity?
Here's why standing desk chairs have grown in popularity:
Health benefits
Sitting for long periods has been the norm for centuries, but it comes with risks like obesity, high blood pressure, high blood sugar, and high cholesterol. Standing desks, and by extension, standing desk chairs and stools, offer a healthier alternative to reduce these adverse effects.
Better work experience
Standing desk chairs and stools make work more enjoyable by reducing sitting time and allowing height and position changes. This encourages more movement, increases activity levels, and burns more calories.
Darren Sherwood
How We Evaluated the Best Standing Desk Chairs and Stools
Here's how we evaluated and shortlisted Australia's best chairs and stools:
- Quality: To ensure that none of the items on this list ends up being a regret for anyone, only quality products were considered. All these chairs and stools come from trusted brands and are made of great-quality materials.
- Budget: This list includes chairs and stools of vastly varying prices. This ensures that everyone can get something that fits their requirements and budget.
- Height adjustability: The chairs and stools in this list are selected to provide a wide range of heights that can be adjusted to fit perfectly with your standing desk.
- Variety in design: When choosing a chair or a stool, the design is essential to keep in mind. Hence, we deemed it necessary to include various design and colour options in this list.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Here are some frequently asked questions about the purchasing, use, and functionality of standing desk chairs and stools.
Can you use a stool at a standing desk?
Yes, stools are an excellent option for a standing desk. They are great for taking short breaks from standing throughout the day. So if your job involves extended periods of standing, consider investing in a stool to give your feet and legs a quick break.
How should you sit at a standing desk?
When sitting at a standing desk, keep your feet flat on the floor, relax your back and shoulders, and ensure your wrists are in a neutral position. Remember to keep your head up and your eyes forward to reduce strain on your neck and back.
Is a stool better than a desk chair?
A stool, particularly an active or balance stool, encourages movement and can help improve posture by engaging your core muscles. It is ideal for those who want to switch between sitting and standing or who prefer a more dynamic seating option. However, they offer less comfort and support compared to a traditional desk chair.
Darren SherwoodBottom Line
A comfortable and well-designed chair or stool is essential for anyone using a standing desk. Fortunately, there are many great options available, from ergonomic designs to customisable features, that can provide a comfortable and adjustable experience for everyone.
Just remember to keep your posture in mind and to take regular breaks throughout the day to give your body a chance to relax. With the right chair or stool, you can enjoy the health benefits of standing while having a comfortable and enjoyable work experience.
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