If you sit for long stretches of the day, the best seat cushions can help provide optimal support for hips and back to ease aches and pains. Our top pick is the Cushion Lab Pressure Relief Seat Cushion, a comfortable memory foam pad that soothes hip, back and joint pain. Its contoured, U-shape design also encourages better posture and even weight distribution. If you prefer a gel cushion, the Purple Royal Seat Cushion has an even, grid-like configuration for superior breathability throughout the day.
The best seat cushions are durable, comfortable and provide optimal support for your bottom and ... More back.
ILLUSTRATION: FORBES / PHOTO: RETAILERS
According to Dr. Virtaj Singh, M.D., the attending physician at Puget Sound Spine and Sports Medicine, combining a seat cushion with lumbar support can be particularly helpful when sitting. “There are seat cushions that help get your back in the right position and keep it from loading the spine too much,” he says. “Something soft but firm and, at the same time, alleviates different pressure points.” In addition to the support and cushioning, you’ll want to consider the materials, shape and whether there are positioning straps. Below, we’ve rounded up the best seat cushions to alleviate aches and pains while you sit.
A Contoured Option That Alleviates Hip And Back Pain
Amazon
Cushion Lab Pressure Relief Seat Cushion
Material: Memory foam | Dimensions: 15.5 x 18 x 4 inches | Shape: U-shaped | Positioning straps: No
What you’ll love:
Reduces joint pain and hip pressure
Non-slip bottom keeps the cushion in place
Available in two sizes and over 20 colors
Keep in mind:
Memory foam is firm
Lumbar pillow is sold separately
Cushion Lab combines high-quality memory foam with a patented ergonomic design to create its best-selling Pressure Relief Seat Cushion. It’s pricier than most options but provides hours of comfort while working, gaming or driving. The dense memory foam conforms to your body over time and props you up in your seat, supporting multiple areas, including the hips and lower back. However, it’s worth purchasing the separate lumbar pillow for additional back support.
Best Value Seat Cushion
A Two-For-One Set That Stays In Place
Amazon
Fortem Seat Cushion And Lumbar Support
Material: Memory foam | Dimensions: Seat cushion (14 x 18 x 3 inches) and lumbar pillow (12 x 14 x 5 inches) | Shape: U-shaped seat cushion and rectangular lumbar pillow | Positioning straps: Yes
What you’ll love:
Long-lasting
Available in two sizes and multiple colors
Both cushions stay in place well
Keep in mind:
Memory foam gets stiff if left in the cold
While this isn’t the least expensive product on our list (for that, check out the Vaunn Lumber Support Cushion), it includes two cushions for the price of one, making it a great value pick. I purchased this set before a cross-country trip, and it made the 40-hour drive more comfortable and less daunting. Three years later, I use the cushions intermittently at my desk when my back needs a break, and I find that my improved posture keeps me more alert while working.
Best Seat Cushion For Back Pain
A Lumbar Cushion With A Unique Gel Pack
Amazon
Vaunn Lumbar Support Pillow
Material: Foam | Dimensions: 13.5 x 13 x 4.5 inches | Shape: Rectangle | Positioning Straps: yes
What you’ll love:
Value for money
Works on office chair or car seat
Keep in mind:
Positioning straps may have durability issues
Vaunn’s Lumber Support Pillow straps around a chair and gently arches against the small of the back, providing immediate relief. The firm foam stabilizes the spine and, in turn, assists with hip alignment for multipurpose comfort. It also comes with a gel pack that can be microwaved and frozen for a relaxing hot-and-cold treatment.
Best Seat Cushion For Hip Pain
A Foam Set That Targets Hip Pain And Other Aches
Cushion Lab
Cushion Lab Ultimate Sitting Comfort Bundle
Material: Memory foam | Dimensions: Seat cushion (15.5 x 18 x 4 inches), lumber pillow (16 x 16 x 4 inches) and foot cushion (10.5 x 17 x 5 inches) | Shape: U-shaped| Positioning straps: Yes
What you’ll love:
Comprehensive bodily comfort
Plush yet supportive feel
Available in two sizes and over 20 colors
Keep in mind:
Expensive
Some customers say the seat cushion doesn’t stay in place
To alleviate hip pain, it helps to have a footstool like the one included in Cushion Lab’s Ultimate Sitting Comfort Bundle. Resting your feet on something distributes pressure away from the hips, making it easier to sit at a desk or lounge in an armchair while watching TV. This three-piece bundle includes our top pick overall, Cushion Lab’s Pressure Relief Seat Cushion, and a contoured lumbar pillow. Though expensive, it’s a worthwhile investment for people who sit at a desk all day or experience consistent pain.
Best Memory Foam Seat Cushion
Plush Memory Foam For The Office, Car Or Rec Room
Amazon
Tempur-Pedic Seat Cushion
Material: Memory foam | Dimensions: 16 x 16 x 2 inches | Shape: Square | Positioning straps: No
What you’ll love:
Durable and holds its shape for years
Machine-washable cover
Keep in mind:
Slides around too easily
Pricier than most memory foam cushions
Tempur-Pedic, a brand known for its memory foam pillows and mattresses, uses the same materials to make an exceptionally comfortable seat cushion. It’s slightly firmer than some people expect, but that’s to ensure proper hip and spine alignment. The foam is pre-contoured to keep your legs in a natural position, and the foam acclimates to your body as soon as you sit down, dispersing the weight so there isn’t too much pressure in one area.
Best Gel Seat Cushion
A Gel Cushion That Feels Like Sitting On A Cloud
MOST POPULAR
Purple
Purple Royal Seat Cushion
Material: GelFlex polymer | Dimensions: 17.5 x 15.7 x 2 inches | Shape: Rectangle| Positioning straps: No
What you’ll love:
Grid-like design is more breathable than other options
Washable cover with built-in handles
Has a 1-year warranty
Keep in mind:
Slides around too easily
Expensive
Purple’s Royal Seat Cushion conforms to your body so quickly, it’s easy to forget you’re sitting on anything at all. It’s made from a GelFlex polymer that’s malleable yet resilient and squishier than standard memory foam. The grid pattern also disperses weight evenly for maximum comfort. Like most gel cushions, it provides a natural cooling sensation, which is especially pleasant for people dealing with sciatica or tailbone issues like coccydynia.
Best Car Seat Cushion
A Pain-Relieving Memory Foam Pick For Long Drives
Everlasting Comfort
Everlasting Comfort Car Seat Cushion
Material: Memory foam | Dimensions: 17 x 13 x 3 inches | Shape: U-shaped | Positioning straps: No
What you’ll love:
Textured, non-slip bottom stays in place
Machine-washable cover
Affordable
Keep in mind:
No contours
Doesn’t blend in well with car seat
Commuters and road trippers alike will enjoy a smoother ride with the Everlasting Comfort Memory Foam Car Seat Cushion. The memory foam is on the firmer side, but this keeps drivers upright and able to see the road while providing additional comfort. Its wedge shape allows it to fit any car or truck seat, and it’s also a good option for wheelchairs. What’s more, the bottom of the cushion is lined with rubber dimples to keep it in place as you drive.
Best Seat Cushion For Office Chair
A Hybrid Option With Gentle Contours
Amazon
ComfiLife Gel Enhanced Seat Cushion
Material: Gel and memory foam | Dimensions: 13.7 x 17.5 x 2.8 inches | Shape: U-shaped | Positioning straps: No
What you’ll love:
Stays in place well
Holds shape over time
Machine-washable cover
Keep in mind:
Smaller than average
Gets stiff if left in the cold
If you can’t decide between gel and memory foam, this hybrid cushion from ComfiLife checks both boxes. It’s primarily constructed from memory foam but has a top layer of cooling gel for sink-in comfort. The gentle contours and U-shaped design align the legs, hips and spine when sitting at a desk. Customers say it’s well-made, sized perfectly and holds up well after frequent use.
The author of this piece, Derek Rose, is a regular Forbes Vetted contributor with extensive experience covering home and lifestyle topics. For this article, he researched common issues associated with sitting for long periods of time as well as remedies for hip, back and join pain. He recommends the Fortem Seat Cushion And Lumbar Support after using it for three-plus years.
To better understand the health effects of sitting and the possible benefits of seat cushions, we spoke with Dr. Virtaj Singh, M.D., the attending physician at Puget Sound Spine and Sports Medicine. Singh has worked as a physiatrist for over 18 years.
How We Chose The Best Seat Cushions
To select the best seat cushions, we researched dozens of highly rated options, compared their features and interviewed a medical expert for insight.
Our home and kitchen editorial team looked into seat cushions from top brands like Cushion Lab, Vaunn, Tempur-Pedic and Purple.
We assessed the most important features like material, size, shape, support and comfortability.
We thoroughly considered customer reviews and average star ratings, only picking options with an average rating of 4 stars or higher and a negligible number of concerning reviews, if any.
The final products on this list reflect in-depth research conducted by our writer and meticulous vetting by the editorial team.
What To Look For In The Best Seat Cushions
There are several factors to consider when shopping for the best seat cushions. Here’s what to look for.
Seat Cushion Vs. Lumbar Pillow
Most seat cushions are, as expected, designed to be sat on. However, some seat cushions rest against your back. The latter are typically called lumbar pillows but are sometimes interchangeably referred to as seat cushions. Picking which type you want is a great starting point when buying a seat cushion. People with back issues usually prefer lumbar pillows, and those with hip or tailbone pain are better off with a standard seat cushion. It’s also easy to find sets that include both a lumbar pillow and a standard seat cushion. This provides the utmost stability and comfort.
Material
There are two main materials used for seat cushions: gel and foam. Gel cushions tend to be softer and squishier, while foam cushions (usually memory foam) are firmer. There’s little cost difference between them; finding cheap and expensive options in both categories is possible. Some seat cushions, like the ComfiLife Gel Enhanced Seat Cushion, use a combination of gel and memory foam to provide a balance between the two.
Size
It’s important that the seat cushion you buy fits in your office chair, wheelchair or car seat. Most seat cushions are only a few inches different from one another (15 inches long by 15 inches wide is a reliable baseline), but it’s worth measuring your chair beforehand. You need to make sure that the chair is larger than the seat cushion; if the seat cushion is smaller than the chair, you’ll notice stability issues right away.
Stability
Even if a seat cushion is extremely comfortable, it’s unusable if it slips and slides around in the chair all the time. Many seat cushions have a rubber grip on the bottom to prevent this, and it’s certainly a feature worth looking for. Another way seat cushions, particularly lumbar pillows, remain in place is with positioning straps that fasten around the chair.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
The best cushion for sitting all day needs to be cozy yet supportive. The Cushion Lab Pressure Relief Seat Cushion checks both boxes and more, landing it in our top spot. The memory foam is plush enough for people to sit comfortably for hours, and the contoured, ergonomic design stabilizes all of the at-risk body parts, including the hips and lower back.
The two main seat cushion materials, gel and memory foam, both offer pros and cons. No option is better than the other; it depends on customer preference. For gel, we recommend the Purple Royal Seat Cushion. It’s one of the most pliable cushions available, and the naturally cooling material relieves pain in the tailbone, glutes and lower back. For foam, which is the more common option, we recommend the Tempur-Pedic Seat Cushion. It’s firm yet comfortable, making it easy to stay active and focused while working or driving.
Hip pain can be soothed in several ways depending on the cause of the discomfort. It sometimes helps to prop up your feet, transferring pressure away from the hips. In other instances, proper spinal posture or hip alignment is key. Cushion Lab’s Ultimate Sitting Comfort Bundle covers each of these areas, so we recommend it for those suffering from hip pain. It comes with a seat cushion, lumbar pillow and footstool—all made from the brand’s high-quality memory foam. The bundle is expensive but worth the investment to sit comfortably throughout the day.
