Large Foam Chair Cushions for Easy Chair
Why you should trust us
Wirecutter staff writer Melanie Pinola has written about technology and home-office topics for more than a dozen years for sites such as Lifehacker, PCWorld, and Laptop Magazine. For five years, she has tested and reviewed gear at Wirecutter, including work essentials such as office chairs, lumbar support pillows, and ergonomic keyboards. As someone who spends most of her days typing at her desk and regularly feels back pain when sitting, she's passionate about proper posture and ergonomics.
Who this is for
This guide is for people who work on a crappy chair and want to feel less discomfort while working at their desk. Poorly designed seats can put unnecessary pressure on your lower back, hips, tailbone (or coccyx), and thighs. According to physical therapist Dr. Akhil Chhatre, when you sit, all of the load of your upper body goes into the buttocks, which is what renders hours spent sitting on something like a wooden chair so uncomfortable. An ergonomic seat cushion may help to relieve some of that pressure by distributing the weight load across the cushion. It can soften an uncomfortably hard seat or firm up a saggy seat. It can prop you up higher if you find your chair is too low to sit comfortably at your desk. Like lumbar support pillows, a seat cushion is a convenient add-on for just about any chair. Most seat cushions are also easily portable, so you could use one elsewhere in your home or in your car.
Note, however, that a seat cushion isn't going to magically fix your posture or eradicate back pain. It will only support you in the position you're already sitting in. If you have chronic pain that's exacerbated by sitting, such as sciatica, consult your doctor or a physical therapist for a personalized treatment plan. Colleen Fogarty, a spokesperson for the American Physical Therapy Association, told us that cushions can provide temporary relief, but they're not a solution to the problem nor the first go-to treatment or prevention plan for pain. Seat cushions may be helpful for wheelchair users as well, but many wheelchair users work with their doctors and physical therapists to create specialized seat cushions.
Once you do find your perfect cushion, don't sit for too long: A seat cushion can make your chair more pleasant to be in, but because of the well-documented health risks of being sedentary and prolonged sitting, ergonomic experts recommend moving throughout the day and getting up from your chair every 20 minutes or so.
How we picked and tested
With the advice of experts in mind—and after looking at popular cushions at Amazon, Bed Bath & Beyond, Target, and others—we narrowed our search based on the following criteria:
- A flat, rectangular cushion: Chhatre told us that a uniformly flat seat cushion (instead of a wedge or cut-out shape) is the best style for most people. We also brought in some cushions with coccyx cutouts because they are popular among online shoppers. But after testing them, we think you should consult with your doctor on the best seat cushion for your medical needs because the coccyx seat cushions are prescriptive in the way they mold to your body—in other words, they tend to be stiffer and force you to sit in a fixed position.
- Made from materials that feel supportive but not too soft or hard: Because comfort is subjective, we had testers with different body types try all the pillows. The author of this guide is 5 feet 2 inches and weighs 130 pounds; she sat on each cushion for at least two full workdays. Two other panelists with office jobs sat for at least 30 minutes on each cushion (the amount of time ergonomists have told us people may start to feel discomfort while sitting): a 5-foot-9 woman weighing 165 pounds, and a 6-foot man weighing 280 pounds.
- Fits a range of people and their seats: Eric Robertson, a physical therapist and spokesperson for the American Physical Therapy Association, stressed the importance of a good fit. He advises that when you're selecting a cushion, you should avoid those that are longer than your thighs or narrower than your hips. We also looked for cushions that worked on a variety of seat types, including different kitchen chairs and a range of office chairs. To see if a seat cushion will fit your chair, measure the width and length of your current chair and compare it with the width and length of the seat cushion. You don't want it so wide that the cushion won't lay flat nor so long that it hangs over the edge of your chair. But you do want it to cover the majority of the seat.
- Doesn't retain excess heat: Almost any material you sit on will retain at least some of your body heat. We gave extra points to cushions that didn't leave us feeling hot and sweaty when we sat on them for hours at a time.
- Has a removable, washable cover and (ideally) a washable insert: A washable cover makes it easy to keep your cushion looking and smelling like new. If you can wash the insert as well, all the better.
With these criteria in mind, we bought or obtained 11 samples of seat cushions that ranked highly on Amazon and other e-commerce sites, after assessing their owner reviews for obvious red flags and (when possible) filtering out fake reviews by checking ratings on FakeSpot. After the hard work of sitting on seat cushions and rating them on comfort, size, and quality of the materials, we had our top picks.
Our pick: Purple Double Seat Cushion
Our pick
The Purple Double Seat Cushion checks all the boxes for a great ergonomic seat cushion: It strikes a balance between softness and firmness, stays cool even after hours of use, has an 18-inch width that provides ample seat coverage, and its cover and gel insert are both washable (though the insert must be washed by hand). The Double is also the only cushion we tested that has a denser grid on one side, so you can choose between two levels of supportiveness.
The Double Seat Cushion has a uniquely jiggly feel, which took our testers a few moments to get used to. We liked how the cushion flexed under our body weight to slightly cradle us, while feeling firmer than competing cushions. With the Double, it almost feels like you're buoyed up, afloat in your office chair.
Thanks to its 2-inch "strong hyper-elastic polymer" insert, the Double never flattens out the way thinner foam cushions can. It also ran much cooler than any of the other seat cushions we tested—the grid is designed to encourage airflow whenever you shift a little in your chair.
It's strange to call something you just sit on easy to use, but small details make owning the Double more convenient than competing cushions. The smooth, machine-washable cover doesn't attract lint, and the gel insert can be washed by hand with dish soap (unlike the foam inserts that come with other pillows, which cannot be washed).The textured bottom keeps the cushion in place, and there are two carrying handles so you can easily move the 5-pound pillow wherever you want.
Flaws but not dealbreakers
As with Purple's mattresses, some people will find the Purple Double Seat Cushion weird because it's wobblier than traditional cushions. There is, however, a 30-day money-back guarantee and free shipping for both orders and returns. Purple also provides a one-year warranty, which is standard for most cushions, although our other picks have longer guarantees.
Because it is thick with just a little give, this cushion might raise you higher than the ergonomically ideal seating position, which would have your feet flat on the ground. You might need to lower your chair (if you can), or use a footrest for proper support. To test how the Purple Double will affect your workplace ergonomics before you buy, try raising your chair 2 inches.
And, finally, don't use this cushion in a hot environment (over 100 ℉), because the insert could get damaged.
Also great: Tempur-Pedic Seat Cushion
Also great
If you'd prefer a thinner cushion with the slowly-sink-into feel of memory foam, grab the Tempur-Pedic Seat Cushion. (Yes, mattress companies seem to really know how to make cushions, too.) Although it's not as versatile as the Purple Double with its two sides of firmness, two of our testers liked the Tempur-Pedic most for comfort and size, with our tallest tester saying "this was a perfect fit and instantly gave me better back relief." Compared with other foam cushions, the Tempur-Pedic cushion ran cooler and its cover was the easiest to remove for washing. It also comes with a five-year limited warranty—the longest of all the cushions we researched or tested.
As with other memory foam pillows, the Tempur-Pedic softened the longer we sat on it, because of our body heat. Yet even though it's only 1½ inch thick, we never felt like the cushion bottomed out, thanks to the high-density foam. Panelists this year (and in previous tests) agreed that it was the most comfortable foam seat cushion.
The slight contouring of the seat cushion—with a ridge between the legs, at the sides, and in the back—kept us in position and made us feel cradled in our seats. For some people, this contouring may be welcome compared with sitting on a firm, flat surface; others, however, might find it too prescriptive, like you're sitting in a soft yet molded seat. The 16-inch square cushion should easily fit most chairs, but it's not as roomy as competing seat cushions. We recommend measuring your chair to gauge the fit and buying the seat cushion from a store that accepts returns, because you can't return it if you buy directly from Tempur-Pedic.
As with other foam cushions, the Tempur-Pedic felt warm after more than an hour of sitting, but it was the coolest of the non-gel bunch. And while it lacks a carrying handle or nonskid bottom, the 2-pound cushion is easy to move around, and we never had a problem with it staying in place. You can't wash the insert, but the stretchy, navy-blue nylon cover is easy to remove and toss in the washing machine.
Budget pick: Xtreme Comforts Large Seat Cushion
Budget pick
The Xtreme Comforts Large Seat Cushion is the thickest of the pillows we tested, but it's also the softest—the kind you sink into immediately, almost like a couch cushion. With a 19-inch width, the cushion is generously sized, but it might be a tight fit on some chairs. We liked this cushion the best of those priced under $50 because of its cushiness, durable cover, and sloping front edge that might reduce pressure on the back of your legs.
The Xtreme Comforts' 3½-inch thickness might at first seem impressive, since other cushions typically range from 1 inch to 3 inches thick. However, the foam insert compressed significantly under our body weight—by about 2 inches. It's still enough padding to feel comfortable and supported, but two of our testers said they would've preferred a slightly firmer cushion.
Size might also be an issue depending on the chair you plan on using the cushion with. On typical task chairs with armrests, the Xtreme Comforts cushion might not fit well because of its width. One of our panelists found it too long as well, hanging off the front of their wooden chair a bit. Measuring your chair is the best way to see if this cushion is too big or just right.
At this price, you need to accept some compromises compared with higher-end pillows. We felt warm or even hot after an hour or two of sitting on the cushion because our butts were enveloped in the foam. The zipper on the machine-washable cover frustrated us because it snagged and has a tiny pull tab. And the cover texture, while durable-looking, is a bit rougher than the other cushions we tested.
All that said, Xtreme Comforts makes one of our picks for bed pillows for side-sleepers, and the company backs its pillows and cushions with a 365-day return policy and satisfaction guarantee. If the size isn't an issue and you want a soft cushion for your chair, you could try it out for as long as a year to see if it's a fit for your workstation.
Sustainability and ergonomic seat cushions
Ergonomic seat cushions are not the most environmentally friendly of products. Most of them (including our also great and budget picks) are made from polyurethane foam, a type of plastic traditionally derived from crude oil. Polyurethane is relatively long-lasting—a good cushion can provide years of service before it needs to be replaced—but eventually all of that plastic ends up as waste. It's estimated that millions of tons of polyurethane foam waste are generated in the U.S. each year.
Historically, recycling PU foam has been difficult (or at least difficult to make profitable) so most of it has been burned or put into landfills. Currently, some foam is "downcycled" (shredded for use in upholstery or carpeting, for example), but advances in recycling technology may soon make it possible to upcycle these foams instead (by converting them into higher-value plastics). Unfortunately, recycling options for individuals are scarce at this time outside of a few specialist recyclers like GreenCitizen, based in the San Francisco Bay area.
Some seat cushions, like our top pick, also incorporate silicone gel foam (referred to by Purple as "hyper-elastic polymer"). When we reached out to Purple to ask about the recyclability of their cushion, the company declined to comment.
Given the shortage of consumer-oriented foam recycling options, the best way to deal with unwanted seat cushions may be to repurpose their foam for DIY projects or donate them for reuse, either via a local second-hand store or through classified sites like Craigslist or Facebook Marketplace.
The competition
The Purple Simply Seat Cushion and the Purple Royal Cushion were our previous picks for this guide. We still like both cushions but think that the Double combines the best features of the two: It has the firm support of the thinner Simply (which is 1¼ inch versus 2 inches) and, on the other side, the softer give of the Royal (which is also 2 inches thick). This adjustability should make it a better fit for more people.
The Purple Ultimate Seat Cushion is the thickest, largest, and heaviest of the Purple seat cushion lineup—nearly 22 inches wide and 2½ inches thick. It didn't fit in any of our office or dining room chairs, and we can't imagine using it anywhere except perhaps on a couch or bench.
The Spark Moments Seat Cushion is a small, lightweight, and firm pillow made with 3D Airfiber, a new material that is supposed to be elastic, recyclable, and completely washable. While we found the cushion supportive, it has a small 13-inch length, and we couldn't find support information for the company that manufactures it, which gives us pause.
The AmazonBasics Memory Foam Seat Cushion is the least expensive and thinnest (at 1.2 inch) of the cushions we tested. But it was so soft that we felt like nothing was even there when we sat on it. One panelist called it "flimsy" but thought it might be good for a dining room chair, if you're not going to sit on it for long.
In previous testing, we dismissed:
The BackJoy SitzRight Seat Cushion, because it was very uncomfortable. Most of our testers did not like the lumps and bumps, with one person describing them as "seeming like a medieval torture device."
Source: https://www.nytimes.com/wirecutter/reviews/best-ergonomic-seat-cushions/
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