The 4 Best Ergonomic Seat Cushions for 2025
Top pick
A thick yet lightweight gel cushion that feels solid under people who weigh up to 300 pounds. At 18 inches wide, it may not fit some smaller chairs.
Best for: You’ll like this option if you like the feel of gel seat cushions or mattresses but want something more solid. People with tailbone pain, older people with less muscle mass in the buttock area, and people with bigger bodies might also prefer the Medline cushion.
How it feels: Sitting on this cushion feels like sitting on jello packed tightly in plastic.
Why it’s great: The Medline EquaGel Balance Seat Cushion is similar to the Purple Double Seat Cushion, except that it is made to fit wheelchairs. We initially hoped to use this model for wheelchair cushion testing, but decided to test it against regular seat cushions instead. Surprisingly, we found that we preferred it over the Purple cushion, if only by a matter of degrees.
With 2 inches of honeycomb gel and at 16 inches wide, the Medline cushion easily distributes weight, making it solidly comfortable despite a slightly jiggly first impression. Dr. Akhil Chhatre, director of spine rehabilitation at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, said this can be attributed to the fact that “gel has the ability to provide better structural support at higher pressures, and as a result the outcomes are better for bigger body types.” This is especially true for the Medline cushion, which can support people who weigh up to 300 pounds.
Where our testers said the Purple cushion felt awkward for a longer period of time, they praised the Medline cushion for providing consistent support that felt solid rather than squishy. They also noted that despite being bigger, the Medline cushion is lighter than the Purple cushion and feels cooler over extended use. And according to Hilibrand, a gel grid cushion is also a great option for people with tailbone pain, without the added worry of putting pressure on the sciatic nerve.
The Medline cushion comes with a machine-washable cotton cover with anti-slip grip. A tag tells you which side goes to the front, which we found to be very helpful. The insert is hand-washable with soap and water.
Flaws but not dealbreakers
The Medline cushion is designed to fit the average adult wheelchair seat (18 inches wide), so in some cases you may find that it flops over the front of your desk or dining chair. That said, this happened with only one of the three chairs we tested it in. We’d recommend measuring the chairs you plan to use it in before purchasing.
Dimensions: 16 by 16 inches
Type: gel
