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Apr 04, 2024

10 Best Under Desk Foot Rests In 2023, Per Chiropractors & Reviews

Women's Health may earn commission from the links on this page, but we only feature products we believe in. Why Trust Us? The work day is about to become less painful—literally. There’s almost nothing

Women's Health may earn commission from the links on this page, but we only feature products we believe in. Why Trust Us?

The work day is about to become less painful—literally.

There’s almost nothing better than kicking back by the pool, laying out on a chair with your legs up.

And while it feels mentally relaxing to have your feet elevated, it turns out that there are major physical benefits for your body too—so it’s time you add that practice to other sedentary moments of your life. (Read: During the work day.)

Foot rests can be useful to provide support and comfort for the feet and lower limbs during prolonged sitting at a desk or workstation. “Sitting in any one position for a long period of time can wear on the body,” says chiropractor Alex Tauberg, DC, CSCS. “Staying stationary can cause muscles and joints to tighten up and become painful.”

Alternating sitting positions can help ease wear and tear on your body. And adding a foot rest can provide support, comfort, and reduce pressure on your lower limbs, he says. But the benefits don’t end there: They can also help prevent or reduce leg swelling because they improve circulation.

Check out some of the best under desk foot rests here:

Foot rests can also promote correct ergonomics and encourage proper sitting posture, says chiropractor Karen Erickson, DC, FACC. “Having your feet anchored on the floor or a footstool allows the weight to be appropriately distributed through the hips, pelvis, and spine,” she adds.

If you sit at a desk for a long period of time during the day, or you have peripheral venous disease, peripheral arterial disease, or minor circulation problems like cold feet, it’s a good idea to look into getting one, Dr. Tauberg says.

So, here are the 10 best under desk foot rests, with suggestions from chiropractors and rave reviews.

Meet the experts: Alex Tauberg, DC, CSCS, isa chiropractor and the owner of The Pittsburgh Chiropractor. Karen Erickson, DC, FACC, is a chiropractor at Erickson Healing Arts in New York City.

This foam foot rest has a cool 4.7 stars on amazon with over 8,000 global ratings. (Meaning, the people really love it!) This height-customizable foot rest has firm optimal support and has a machine-washable velvet non-slip cover.

Reviewers totally adore this foot rest, saying the price tag was super worth it. It's soft to the touch and is light so it can easily be moved. Plus, it's great quality and provides both rocking and flat surface options for what position your body is craving.

Rave Review: "I have tried many foot stools over the years and this one is tops, so far. While all foam disintegrates over time, I expect this one to last much longer because it is made very well and there are no 'foot impressions' from the start. My feet rest comfortably ON TOP without sagging in. I love the zip-off bottom so you can adjust heights; I use the low height for laptop, and zip/velcro the extra pad for reading books. Perfection."

This wooden under desk foot rest is totally adjustable, with four different angles at which the surface tilts. It supports up to 400 lbs, and it has an anti-slip bottom, so your feet won't be going anywhere while you're seated.

Customers say it's sturdy and comfortable, and it doesn't creak or move. They also say it holds up so well, their shoes and feet don't break the surface. Overall, it's high quality and a good small size, in case your under desk area is on the narrower side.

Rave Review: "If you're looking for a foot rest, just buy this one. My wife loves hers, I love mine...It passed the stress test of my roughly 180 lbs standing and bouncing on it. It didn't move, didn't tilt, didn't creak, and most importantly, didn't explode into tiny pieces. The texture doubles as a loofah and can gently exfoliate the soles of your feet."

This plastic under desk foot rest has three different adjustable heights and a nubby massage textured surface that are supposed to help reduce stress throughout the day. With its simple design, it tilts 30 degrees to support your feet.

Reviewers say it helps with hip pain and is good for ergonomics. And because it tilts when you do, it's super easy to change up your position.

Rave Review: "I decided to try a foot rest for ergonomics and I'm so glad I tried this one! The ability to rotate means I can adjust as needed. I am much more comfortable with at my desk now."

I already know that just by looking at this foam foot rest, it looks soft AF. With two adjustable heights, your feet will feel super comfortable and it's easy to clean because it's machine-washable. Plus, it has a velour cover, so it's comfy and sexy.

With an average review of 4.5 stars on Amazon, one reviewer says this foot rest makes their back feel significantly better and someone else said they wish they'd purchased it sooner. Your bare feet will never feel better once they touch this soft foot rest, promise.

Rave Review: "HIGHLY recommend for anyone who struggles (as I do) with reaching the floor in a work chair. This is a great way to make me sit correctly (with good posture) while working."

This adjustable metal foot rest is ergonomic and scratch-resistant, plus, it has a textured design to massage your feet as you sit. Reviewers say it's high-quality and it moves up and down without locking in place, so it moves as you do.

It's a bit narrow, so it's perfect to fit under your desk, and has helped improve one reviewer's posture. Another reviewer said they think it'll last longer than other foot rests made of different materials.

Rave Review: "I now can rest the soles of my feet on the footrest, helping out leg fatigue. The fact that it's easy to adjust means that if my feet/legs get tired due to being in one position, I can easily shift the height. It is also easy to move back and forth on the floor. I just hook one foot underneath the platform and push or pull with the other foot. Nice."

This gorge memory foam foot rest conforms to your feet as you sit for maximum comfort, and it's shaped to match the arch of your foot. While it's not adjustable, it's naturally tilted, so you can bring it closer or farther from your feet to switch positions throughout the day. It can also be flipped over and used as a rocker if you want to add a little movement.

Customers say it's worth the money and that the memory foam is super firm, so it's lasted longer than other similar purchases. One reviewer even said it doesn't leave marks on your feet, and the foam doesn't sink in, which is also a pro.

Rave Review: "I've purchased several foot rests of similar style in the past, and with time, the foam started crumbling, and typically early on, the foam would just cave and stay indented. This one, however, has such firm memory foam and was worth the extra $10-15 I spent on prior foot rests. This thing is amazing! Pay for the better foam that this rest offers!"

This foot rest has three different angles—you can make it tilt slightly up, slightly down, or have it lay flat. And while the wood has a smooth feel, it's still a non-slip surface. Reviewers love the height of this one, saying it fits perfectly under their desk, and another said it works perfectly under their toilet. (Hey, whatever works!)

It's also lightweight and sturdy, and pretty aesthetically pleasing, in my opinion. Even though some reviewers say it moves around easily, it can be fixed by adding pads on the bottom, one customer said.

Rave Review: "I've had lower back pain (muscle spasm) and tried this hoping it would bring some relief. It has helped a lot, by adjusting my posture while I sit and work on the computer. This is well-made and priced right. I would recommend it. It is easy to assemble and light weight but sturdy."

This foam foot rest packs the comfort and functionality, coming with two different replacement covers—one with massaging micro-beads and the other with mesh. It can be adjusted to two different positions and it's filled with memory cotton, so it's very soft.

People say it feels great on their feet and it's easy to flip over and use the rockable side, and it's a great feel on the feet in comparison to hard foot rests.

Rave Review: "I love that this comes with a detachable part, and a spare cover...It’s really comfortable to use, and I’m no longer getting back pain."

This wooden foot rest rocks (literally) so it can adjust to your needs as you switch sitting positions. Thanks to the wood, it's tough and durable, supporting up to 400 lbs. Customers have said it's improved their posture, so they're needing to get up and stretch less, and that this foot rest is sturdy.

They also like the high-quality feel of it and that the base kind of feels like sandpaper, because it doesn't allow your feet to slip off. (Total W!)

Rave Review: "Most foot rests are fixed. This one rocks, allowing for movement of your legs and feet when sitting. It also would accommodate people of varying heights. I’ve had footrests that I didn’t use because they didn’t adjust with my movements. Now, I’ve found the one that does. I use it everyday when working at my desk."

Okay, so this foot rest might look intimidating, but I promise it's not. It has the power to lift your feet up with four different height levels and with the cushion. It's not only adjustable, but also foldable, meaning it's easy to store.

Customers say it's sturdy and versatile. However, some reviewers say it's slick so it slides around a lot on wood and carpeted surfaces, so be mindful of that if you purchase.

Rave Review: "I love this stool! I went through three foot stools and this is taller and has lots of different adjustments available. The only thing is that it's slim, so your feet need to stay close together. Other than that, it's great, especially for petite people who need an extra tall stool."

Adjustability

"An under desk foot rest should be fully customizable," says Dr. Tauberg. Just make sure whichever one you choose, it can be adjusted to the right position for your body, depending on your own height. "Having the ability to switch between different positions easily is also a plus," he continues.

Shape, Size, And Style

There are tons of different types of foot rests: wood, metal, memory foam, nonslip, and round, flat, and angled, Dr. Erickson says. Overall, think of ways you can maximize your own comfort based on how you sit. "If you work barefoot, the memory foam could be a nice touch, but usually wood or metal footstools do the job just fine," she says.

The height of your under desk foot rest depends on how tall you are and your personal preference, Dr. Tauberg says. "Some may want the legs more bent, others may want their legs less bent," he adds. If you're taller, a foot rest can defs still be used—just push it forward a bit more, Dr. Erickson adds.

The foot rest should be angled slightly so your toes point up and the heels point down, Dr. Erickson says. A lot of foot rests let you adjust the angle to maximize your comfort. "It will give you support and allow you to lean back into the chair, maintaining a more erect posture," she continues.

Yep. If you sit for long periods of time, it's especially helpful because it'll allow you to change your body's position throughout the day. And "changing positions frequently is one of the best ways to prevent pain and dysfunction," Dr. Tauberg says.

Addison Aloian (she/her) is an editorial assistant at Women’s Health. When she’s not writing about all things pop culture, health, beauty, and fashion, she loves hitting leg day at the gym, shopping at Trader Joe’s, and watching whichever hockey game is on TV. Her work has also appeared in Allure, StyleCaster, L’Officiel USA, V Magazine, and Modern Luxury Media.

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