Kneeling chair vs saddle chair: which suits your desk?

How a kneeling chair works

A kneeling chair has a seat that slopes forward and a lower pad for your shins. Your weight is shared between your bottom and your shins, and your thighs slope down at a steeper angle than on a normal chair. Many designs, including the Varier Balans range originally designed in Norway, rock on curved runners. Others sit on castors and some have a small backrest.

Kneeling chairs usually sit lower than a task chair, so they work at standard desk heights. Getting in and out takes a moment, because your legs go under the knee pads. Our kneeling chair setup guide covers how to set the seat angle and height.

How a saddle chair works

A saddle chair has a high seat shaped like a riding saddle, often split in two halves. You sit astride it with your feet on the floor and your thighs sloping down. Saddle seats are common in dental and lab work because the user can sit close to the work and roll around easily. Most have a gas lift, castors and an optional backrest or tilt adjustment.

Because you sit higher, a saddle chair usually needs a higher desk than normal. A sit-stand desk set between seated and standing heights is a good match. You can stand up from a saddle chair quickly, which suits work where you get up often.

Side by side

The table sums up the practical differences between the two seat types for everyday desk work.

Desk height and setup

Whatever the seat, the HSE display screen equipment guidance applies: forearms roughly horizontal at the keyboard, wrists straight, the screen at a comfortable distance with its top near eye level, and room to change position. On a kneeling chair this usually means a standard desk around elbow height. On a saddle chair the seat may be 10 cm or more higher, so the desk must rise with it.

If you already have a sit-stand desk, both seats are easy to fit. Measure your elbow height in the chair and use our desk height tool to see whether your desk reaches it. If your desk is fixed, a kneeling chair is the safer choice.

Who suits which

Kneeling chairs tend to suit people who do steady keyboard work at a normal desk and like a compact chair that tucks away. They are less suited to people with knee discomfort when kneeling, or who need to get up often.

Saddle chairs tend to suit people who move between tasks, use a sit-stand desk, or work at a raised bench or drawing table. They can feel odd at first and need the right desk height. Most people use either type for part of the day and switch to a normal chair for the rest, which is common advice from makers.

If you want a normal chair for the rest of the day, our ergonomic office chairs guide compares chairs with full adjustment.

Compare ergonomic office chairs →

Before you buy either

Check the seat height range against your desk, the weight limit, whether the seat angle adjusts, and the return policy, because both types take time to get used to. If you are unsure, read our kneeling chair vs office chair comparison first. If you have a medical condition affecting your hips or knees, ask a clinician before switching seat type.

Frequently asked questions

Is a saddle chair the same as a kneeling chair? No. A saddle chair has no knee or shin pads and you sit astride a high seat with feet on the floor. A kneeling chair has a shin pad that takes part of your weight.

Can I use a saddle chair at a normal desk? Sometimes, if the saddle goes low enough and your desk is on the high side. Most saddle chairs work best with a desk you can raise.

Which is easier to get used to? It varies. Many people find a saddle chair quicker to get on and off, while a kneeling chair's shin pressure takes longer to get used to.

Should I use either all day? Most makers suggest mixing positions. Using either type for part of the day alongside a normal chair or standing is common.