{"id":78538,"date":"2021-11-15T03:12:00","date_gmt":"2021-11-15T03:12:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/arielle.com.au\/?p=78538"},"modified":"2026-01-08T07:16:16","modified_gmt":"2026-01-08T07:16:16","slug":"best-chairs-and-stools-for-standing-desks","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/arielle.com.au\/best-chairs-and-stools-for-standing-desks\/","title":{"rendered":"The 9 Best Chairs & Stools For Standing Desks In 2026"},"content":{"rendered":"Reading Time: <\/span> 10<\/span> minutes<\/span><\/span>\n

You bought yourself a great standing desk<\/a>, but now you have a problem. After standing for a while, you don’t want to sit down again, but you don’t want to remain in the standing position either. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

You want to perch. You want to be in a position between standing and sitting. Have you considered the benefits of a standing desk chair or a stool?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Also known as “active stools”, they do away with fixed seats and headrests and allow you to rock in every direction.<\/span><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

You’ll find a few different product types in this category, and I’ll review them all here. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

They promise to keep your spine more mobile throughout your day while preventing the risks associated with a sedentary lifestyle. Let’s see how they fare.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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1. Desky Sit Stand Stool<\/a>.<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Type: Balance Stool.<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\"standing<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Cheap, cheerful and very effective at encouraging movement. Desky calls this smart-looking balance stool a “wobble stool”. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Compared with the Ariel stool (below), it’s quite stable thanks to its weighted base and the modestly sized flat contact patch.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You can use this balance stool for sitting or for perching. When you’re ready to stand again, it’s small enough to shove it underneath your desk.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It’s heavy enough not to tip over and light enough for you to drag it around your office.<\/span><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Assembly is easy, with just three pieces clicking into place. I also like the smart, minimalist aesthetic, adjustable height (between 63 and 88 cm) and the built-in footrest.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The price is usually just under $200, but you can often find it on sale.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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2. UpDown Buro Stool<\/a>.<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Type: Active Stool.<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

This drafting stool is the best option if you have a larger home office. Unlike the Desky (above) and the Ariel (below), it features a wheeled base that allows you to cover distance quickly. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is particularly handy if you have corner desk setups<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The castors have a weight-activated lock, preventing the stool from sliding around unnecessarily. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Even more stable than the Desky Sit Stand stool, the Buro active stool is for people who want a device that’s less “active” and more “stool”.<\/span><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Endorsed by the Australian Physiotherapy Association, it features a moulded foam seat base that will keep your butt comfortable for longer time periods. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Think of the Desky as a stool you sit on for 1-2 hours, while the UpDown will keep you going for 2-3 hours. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

A circular footrest is also a nice touch.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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3. Ariel Stool<\/a>.<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Type: Balance Stool.<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\"standing<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Touted as the ultimate active sitting stool, Ariel is very impressive. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Featuring a unique omnidirectional tilting mechanism created by retired surgeon Turner Osler, it allows you to tilt and spin in any direction. The stool itself, meanwhile, remains firmly planted on the ground.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The sitting experience is very different to the one you get with Desky and UpDown.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The feeling of sitting on the Ariel active stool is very similar to that of sitting on a stability ball.<\/span><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Because Ariel’s pivot point is closer to your body than the ground, it’s more unstable than the two stools I’ve mentioned above. It’s a true active stool that makes you engage your abdominal muscles to stay upright.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Ariel will set you back between about $500 and $650 Aussie dollars, depending on spec (prices on the website are quoted in USD).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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4. Herman Miller Aeron Stool<\/a>.<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Type: Drafting Chair.<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\"standing<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

I’m a sucker for good aesthetics, so I’d buy this just for its looks alone. It’s no secret that I don’t love the traditional Aeron chair, but there’s something about their Stool that grabs my attention.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The name “Stool” is probably a nod to Herman Miller’s artisanal roots – but is quite misleading.<\/p>\n\n\n\n