5 Best Seat Cushions of 2023

Many of us have to sit in a chair for hours at a time as part of our jobs, and it’s no fun to deal with the resulting discomfort. Sore backs and legs falling asleep are common workplace hazards. However, you don’t have to accept them as an everyday part of life.

A quality seat cushion can improve almost any desk chair or car seat. Whether you work at home, in an office, or on the go, you can do so in comfort and style.

Best Seat Cushions

Best Seat Cushion Overall: Amerisleep Seat Cushion

Our favorite seat cushion to improve comfort and alleviate the discomfort of sitting for long periods is Amerisleep’s Foam Seat Cushion. Not only is Amerisleep’s foam soft and pain-relieving, but the seat cushion itself has an ergonomic design to improve posture and eliminate future aches and soreness.

We especially love Amerisleep’s seat cushion because it can withstand hours of sitting without losing support or feeling flat. And though it’s designed for hard chairs, it’s super lightweight and portable, so it can be taken on the go or used to improve the comfort of any seat in your home.

Another perk: Amerisleep’s seat cushion is made with aerated foam, so it doesn’t trap heat or feel uncomfortable. That way, your bottom stays cool your entire workday.

You can shop Amerisleep’s seat cushion on their website, and they offer a 100-night trial with every purchase so you can test the cushion out yourself before deciding if you want to keep it. If you do feel it’s a fit, it’s backed by a generous 1-year warranty. Not to mention, all of Amerisleep’s products ship for free, so you won’t have to worry about any added costs associated with online buying.

Best Cooling Seat Cushion: Purple Double Seat Cushion

While Purple has various seat cushions to choose from, we like the Double Seat Cushion model for its breathable grid design and focus on office chair comfort. Purple guarantees its cushion will still feel great after more than 8 hours of sitting time. Other Purple seat cushions you can consider include a foldable model, a cushion specifically for plus-size people, and a car seat cushion.

The Double Seat Cushion features two layers of the company’s unique Purple Grid™, a material that flexes under pressure. The Purple Grid™ feels soft and supportive even as you change positions.

Each side has a slightly different feel thanks to the grid design, so be sure to experiment to find which side works for you. The smaller grid side is recommended for softer chairs and the larger grid side is for harder seats.

The seat cushion’s cover is removable and machine washable, with carrying handles for easy portability. The cover also has a non-skid bottom. Even if you constantly fidget in your chair, the cushion will stay in place.

The Purple Double Seat Cushion is $99 with free shipping. It’s a significant amount to pay for a seat cushion, but many satisfied customers would argue it’s well worth the comfort. You can bundle the seat cushion with Purple’s back cushion and save 10 percent on both.

If you’re not pleased with Purple’s seat cushion, you have 30 days to return it for a full refund. A 1-year warranty also backs the seat cushion.

Best Ergonomic Seat Cushion: Xtreme Comforts Ortho-Seat Coccyx Seat Cushion

Many seats, padded or otherwise, do not provide the full comfort that they should. Flat and hard surfaces especially can cause pressure to build up into pain. Xtreme Comforts seeks to change that with its Ortho-Seat Coccyx Seat Cushion.

Xtreme Comforts Ortho-Seat possesses an ergonomic design with a designated comfort area for the coccyx. What is the coccyx? It’s the area of your body often referred to as the tailbone, the triangular bony structure at the base of your spinal column.

According to Xtreme Comforts, their seat cushion is designed to maintain good posture and spine alignment, increase blood flow, and lessen your chances of back pain. The Ortho-Seat also promises pain relief for spondylolisthesis, herniated discs, sciatica, stenosis, pregnancy discomfort, and more.

Xtreme Comforts generously offers a year to return any item. They’re also willing to price match any online retailer that offers their product at a lower price. The Xtreme Comforts Ortho-Seat is $44.99 with free shipping. They also sell a back and lumbar cushion if you want to maximize your daily comfort.

Best Seat Cushion for Back Pain: SOFTaCARE Seat Cushion Set

For some people, a comfortable seat cushion isn’t enough. A second cushion for the back can ensure they can stand up without any aches and pains after hours of sitting. That’s why SOFTaCARE sells a seat cushion and a lumbar support pillow together.

The seat cushion is memory foam with a built-in handle and non-skid bottom. It’s designed to relieve symptoms of a herniated disc, sciatica, and generalized back pain.

The lumbar support cushion has a breathable mesh design for breathability, so your back shouldn’t feel uncomfortably warm after hours of use. There’s a pocket sized for a smartphone or MP3 player, perfect for anyone who likes to listen to music while they work. The back pillow also has elastic straps designed to keep it in place inside a car.

The seat cushion and support pillow have a zippered velour cover. You can easily remove the cover and throw it in a washing machine.

The cushion set is $39.91 on Amazon, a great deal when it comes to getting two cushions instead of just one.

Best Circular Seat Cushion: 5 Stars United Donut Pillow Hemorrhoid Tailbone Cushion

If you spend a full 8-hour shift in a chair, you want to feel comfortable. This circular pillow from 5 Stars United provides the pressure relief and support needed to improve blood flow and reduce your chances of hemorrhoids, numbness, and pain. You can also use this cushion to increase the height of a too-low office chair.

This cushion is designed for more than just a desk chair. Use it as a car seat cushion for more comfortable driving. Slide it under you in a plane or train, or even when just relaxing on a park bench.

This circular pillow is available on Amazon for $30.99 with free shipping and returns.

Best Budget-Friendly Seat Cushion: Kieba Coccyx Seat Cushion Large Orthopedic Tailbone Pillow

The durable memory foam inside the Kieba seat cushion will resist flattening after prolonged use, while its curved ergonomic design helps the cushion mold to your bottom. Kieba recommends the cushion for anyone experiencing tension in their lower back, tailbone, hip, and sciatic nerve areas.

This large seat cushion is designed for use almost anywhere. It can make a bench, chair, car seat, plane seat, train seat, or wheelchair feel more comfortable. The velour cover slips on and off for easy washing.

The Kieba Coccyx Seat Cushion is $24.95 on Amazon, which is not enough to qualify for free shipping. This item is also non-returnable.

Features to Look for in a Seat Cushion

Separate Backrest

Decreasing compression on your tailbone only goes so far if you’re not taking steps to reduce pressure on your lower back, as well. Back support cushions are a helpful supplement to any quality seat cushion.

Conforming Foam Fill

Memory foam is a common choice and our recommendation because the material molds to the body yet quickly regains its original shape. However, other poly-foam fills can still provide comfort.

Machine-Washable Cover

While many seat cushions are non-washable because of their foam fill, you should be able to keep the cover clean. Usually, the cover has a zipper for easy removability.

Anti-Movement Features

When your cushion slips and slides with your every motion, it increases your discomfort. Non-slip bottoms and elastic straps ensure the cushion stays in place.

Ergonomic Design

Some cushions are curved to better follow the shape of the body. Molded cushions can redistribute pressure better than a flat, rectangular cushion. However, some people may find a curved design more uncomfortable than a cushion with an even surface.

Medical Aid

Many seat cushions are marketed to deal with conditions like sciatica, back pain, hemorrhoids, and pregnancy. Cutouts and materials to relieve pressure are a common feature. Some cushions have removable inserts you can heat up or chill in the freezer. Always ask your doctor for any recommendations they may have.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it good to sit on a cushion?

Yes, seat cushions can promote better sitting posture, particularly if they’re paired with a backseat cushion. This combination reduces pressure on the lower back, where back pain commonly occurs. Poor posture is one of the most significant causes of back pain.

Aside from improved posture, benefits of a seat cushion include:

• Less compression on the spine, hips, and tailbone.
• Better circulation and digestion. Reducing compression helps blood, food, and waste move through your pelvis and abdomen.
• More comfort and energy. If you feel great after sitting for long periods of time, you’ll likely accomplish more.

How thick should seat cushions be?

Many quality seat cushions are about 2 or 3 inches thick, ensuring the material supports you and molds to the body. Thinner models may still provide adequate cushion if they contain high-density foam.

The thickness best for you will likely depend on your body type. Plus-size people often benefit from a tall, durable cushion that can withstand their weight.

Density is another important factor. The term “density” expresses how much material is back in a square inch, with a higher density often translating into a more durable foam.

Is memory foam good for seat cushions?

Yes, memory foam can be a suitable filling for seat cushions. Memory foam has a reputation for being one of the best materials for pain relief. It’s why many sleepers enjoy memory foam mattresses.

Memory foam pillows and seat cushions contour to the body to relieve pressure, keeping you comfortable even as you sit for hours. However, even with a quality memory foam cushion, it’s important to move around.

Usually, you can’t wash a memory foam pillow or cushion, nor can you dry clean it. However, you can freshen it regularly by sprinkling baking soda on top and leaving it alone for a few hours. Vacuum or shake the baking soda off once you’re done.

Does sitting on a pillow help sciatica?

Yes, a seat cushion can relieve sciatic pain. Some cushions are specially designed to ease sciatica, with cutouts to reduce pressure on the sciatic nerve. Sciatica symptoms can affect your entire routine, so it’s important to take steps to manage it throughout the day.

Still, if you’re looking for a cushion to make sitting with sciatica easier, we recommend choosing one with a return policy. A lower-quality cushion may feel uncomfortable after only a couple of hours, even if it’s advertised as a helpful aid for sciatica. A return policy will allow you to return any cushion you’re unhappy with.

If you’re living with sciatica, even temporarily, you might want to consider the benefits of a good mattress for sciatica. Pressure-relieving materials like memory foam can improve sleep and help you feel better during the day.

What’s the best seat cushion for lower back pain?

We find seat cushions with lumbar inserts you can warm up in the microwave or freeze in the fridge for hot/cold therapy to be helpful. Non-slip bottoms with adjustable straps and buckles can keep a cushion in place and ensure consistent support.

You can also take other steps to keep your back in good condition. For starters, an old mattress can cause you to wake up with a bad back and worsen existing back pain. Choosing a good mattress for back pain can help you feel refreshed the whole day.

Similarly, make sure you’re using the best pillows for your sleep style. Side sleepers with back or hip pain may benefit from slipping a knee pillow between their legs. Back sleepers who wake up sore can use a wedge pillow to remove pressure on their lower back.

Conclusion

Whether you’re working from home or in an office, driving a car for hours, or simply sitting somewhere, a proper seat cushion can make the experience far more enjoyable. Many of us aren’t aware of the toll that long periods of sitting take on the body, but most of us will notice improvement after using a quality seat cushion.

The best cushions relieve existing pain and prevent pressure from building up into soreness and stiffness.