Do You Actually Need a Footrest?
Most ergonomic guides recommend a footrest as a default. The honest answer is more specific: some people genuinely need one, some don’t, and buying one when you don’t need it helps nothing. Here’s how to know which group you’re in — and which footrest to get if you do need one.
The Quick Test: Do You Need a Footrest?
Sit in your chair at the height you actually work at. Don’t adjust anything — just sit normally. Now check these things:
- Are your feet flat on the floor with no gap underneath?
- Is there no pressure on the back of your thighs from the seat edge?
- Are your thighs roughly parallel to the floor (not angled down or up sharply)?
If all three are true, your foot position is already correct and you don’t need a footrest. If any of them are false — feet hovering, thigh pressure, thighs angled steeply — you do. The most common failure is feet not reaching the floor when the chair is at the right keyboard height, which is almost universal for shorter users and common for anyone with a fixed-height desk that’s slightly too tall.
If Yes: BlissTrends Memory Foam Foot Rest
BlissTrends Memory Foam Foot Rest
~$25–30 · Best Overall
For most people who need a footrest, the BlissTrends is the right answer. Memory foam that molds to your foot shape, two height settings (around 3–4 inches and 4–5 inches), a rocking design that lets you shift position throughout the day, and a washable velvet cover. It’s the most comfortable footrest at any price for users who work barefoot or in socks — which is most home office users. At $25–30, it’s low enough risk that there’s no reason to overthink the decision.
Best for: Most home office users who need foot support — the default answer for anyone who isn’t sure which footrest to get
If You Wear Shoes at Your Desk: Mind Reader Adjustable Footrest
Mind Reader Adjustable Footrest
~$25–30 · Best for Shoe Wearers
Memory foam’s main advantage — molding to foot shape — matters much less if you’re wearing shoes at your desk. The Mind Reader’s hard platform is better suited here: it’s stable, doesn’t compress under shoe weight, and the textured surface keeps shoes from sliding. Two height settings (roughly 3 and 5 inches), simple to adjust, and the same price as the BlissTrends. If you work in a home office that doubles as a workspace where shoes are the norm, this is the more practical choice.
Best for: Users who keep shoes on at their desk — firm platform holds up better than memory foam under shoe weight
If You Need More Lift: ComfiLife Memory Foam Footrest
ComfiLife Memory Foam Footrest
~$35–40 · Best for More Than 5 Inches of Lift
If the BlissTrends’s maximum height (around 5 inches) still leaves a gap between your feet and the surface — which happens with very short users or very tall desks — the ComfiLife’s taller profile and wider surface closes that gap. The larger platform also gives more room to shift feet position throughout the day, which helps with circulation during long sessions. At $35–40, it’s the right upgrade specifically when height range is the limitation.
Best for: Users who’ve measured the gap and need more than 5 inches of lift, or want a larger surface for repositioning feet
If You Don’t Need One — What to Fix Instead
If your feet already rest flat on the floor at your working chair height, a footrest won’t help. The more likely sources of back and hip discomfort in that case are seat depth (the front edge of the seat pressing into your thighs), lumbar support position (hitting mid-back instead of lower back), or armrest height (forcing your shoulders up slightly). A footrest solves foot position; it doesn’t fix any of those.
→ Read: Best Ergonomic Chair Under $200 — if the chair itself is the problem
→ Read: Best Footrest Under $30