The 6 Best Standing-Desk Mats | The Strategist

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Whether you work in an office or at home, switching to a standing desk can help alleviate the aches and pains that come from sitting all day. But while working at a standing desk does take pressure off your back, standing for long periods can put some strain on your feet, knees, and legs. Behold the standing-desk mat.

These mats, otherwise known as anti-fatigue mats, provide “better support and cushioning to our joints,” according to chiropractor Dr. Randi Jaffe, and help “reduce the aches and pains that can come with using a standing desk for longer periods of time.” The mats come in various shapes and sizes, including simple flat mats and mats that have varied surface heights, to suit different needs. To help you find the best one for your setup, I spoke to ten chiropractors, physical therapists, and ergonomic experts about the standing-desk mats they recommend again and again to their patients and clients. Whether you prefer a standing mat that promotes movement throughout the day or just a simple mat that supports your joints, here you’ll find one that checks all the boxes.

A few things to note: A standing-desk mat is only effective if you use it, so you’ll want to choose a mat that seamlessly fits under your desk or can easily be transported from room to room. You’ll also want to consider what shoes you pair with the mat. Bare feet are always an option, but if you’re in an office space, Carla Jaspers, founder of Workup Ergonomics, recommends looking for “something that is flat or very low wedge and with a supportive soul.” While sneakers are ideal, she adds that dress shoes work, too, “as long as it has a supportive sole and isn’t a heel.”

Update on September 26, 2024: Updated prices and checked stock for all products.

Dr. Adam Lamb of Lamb Chiropractic, a New York City–based practice, says to look for a mat that is made of foam or a high-density polyurethane, which is generally firm enough to support your joints and is also easy to clean.

At the bare minimum, a standing-desk mat should be at least half an inch thick to best alleviate pressure from joints, according to Cameron Stiehl, the founder of ergonomic consulting firm The Ergo Lady. That said, she notes thicker is better: “Anywhere from half an inch to three quarters of an inch is generally soft enough for most people to have that comfort in the feet, legs, and knees,” Stiehl told me.

You’ll want to make sure that you choose a standing-desk mat that fits your workspace. “If it’s a larger work setup with multiple screens and multiple aspects of the business day going on, they might need a mat that’s four feet — 48 inches — in length, versus a standard mat, which is probably about 30 to 36 inches,” says Dr. Bryan Williams, founder and CEO of Concierge Physical Therapists. I’ve noted the size options for all mats below.

“A lot of times standing-desk mats are a problem because they’re large and flat and hard to move,” says Dr. Scott Diamond, a chiropractor and founder of Diamond Chiropractic. All the options that I’ve vetted are light enough to move easily because “when things are easy, you use them correctly and more frequently,” says Karen Loesing, licensed physical therapist assistant and owner of The Ergonomic Expert. Some even have foot pulls or divots, which can be helpful to anyone using a standing-desk mat to ease pressure on a preexisting injury. I’ve noted when a standing-desk mat has these features below.

Material: Polyurethane | Thickness: 0.85 inches to 2.7 inches | Size: 26.25 inches x 29 inches | Accessibility: Toe divot

With a wide surface area and a variety of raised sections, the Topo Comfort Mat is thick enough to alleviate pressure on your joints while simultaneously promoting weight shifts and posture changes. The mat comes recommended by six of the professionals that I spoke to, many of whom pointed to the varied topography as the mat’s main draw. “There is a flat area where you can stand in a regular stance, but there are also other raised areas where you can massage the bottom of your foot, stretch your calves, and get some micro-movements in,” Jaffe says. The mat is easy to move with your foot, thanks to a built-in divot for your toe, making it simple to put away between uses.

When I tested the mat myself, I found that I had more than enough room to change my work position as I pleased. I particularly enjoyed the raised front and back rails for stretching out my calves, and the raised mound in the middle was a nice feature for balancing and taking pressure off one leg at a time. It’s worth noting that some professionals don’t recommend mats with a varied surface like the Topo because they add a tripping hazard to your workspace. I’d say that the posture flexibility you gain from the varied topography is worth the extra caution, but if you identify as clumsy, you might want to check out the more simple standing-desk mat options below.

Material: Polyurethane | Thickness: 0.85 inches to 2.7 inches | Size: 25.2 inches x 19.2 inches | Accessibility: Ridged edges

If you have a smaller working space, you can save a bit of money by choosing Topo’s mini-mat. In fact, Diamond prefers the mini-version because the smaller size makes it easier to push the mat under a desk between uses. And the varied topography means you’ll still have plenty of ways to change your stance: “Sometimes, you could put one foot up, which takes pressure off the hip,” says Diamond. “Sometimes, you could stretch your calves with it. It’s made from a material that kind of creates more macro- and micro-movement, so we get blood pumping more often as a result of you shifting around on it.”

As someone who is on the shorter side, at about five-three, I found that I preferred the mini Topo mat to the regular one. Though the mini doesn’t have the same foot divot that the regular mat includes for easy readjustment, the mat is small and light enough to easily move with just one foot. It’s also an ideal size for my New York City apartment. If you’re taller or have larger feet, though, I’d recommend considering the regular version above to make sure you have enough space to stretch your joints and move around.

Material: High density foam Thickness: 0.75 inches Size: 17 inches x 24 inches, 20 inches x 32 inches, 20 inches x 39 inches, 20 inches x 48 inches, 20 inches x 60 inches, and 24 inches x 70 inches Accessibility: None

While reporting this story, I came across a variety of simple standing-desk mats that have a flat surface versus the varied topographic surfaces of the Topo mats above. I named this one the best because of its wide range of sizes — from 17 inches by 24 inches to 24 inches by 70 inches — and colors. I’d actually heard about this mat before: Recipe developer and culinary content creator Justine Doiron told me about it while I was researching the very best kitchen mats, but Stiehl recommends it, too. When it comes to desk mats, she says, “You want to make sure that you have a flat one with beveled edges so they don’t add a trip hazard to the environment.” Dr. Nikki Weiner, president of The Rising Workplace, seconds this. Along with the beveled edge and flat surface, the Gorilla Grip mat is thick enough to support your joints at 0.75 inches. While Stiehl has found that the 17-by-24-inch option normally fits well under a desk, there are bigger ones that you can choose from if your workspace calls for it.

Material: High density foam | Thickness: 0.75 inches | Size: 20 inches x 32 inches, 20 inches x 39 inches, and 20 inches x 70 inches | Accessibility: None

The biggest difference between the Gorilla Grip and ComfiLife mats is their size range — Gorilla offers six options, whereas ComfiLife offers three. If your workspace doesn’t require one of the more specific sizes that Gorilla Grip offers, go with this mat. It comes recommended by Jaffe and Williams for its thickness (0.75 inches) and simplicity. Williams says the price is another appealing factor, so if you’re just standing-desk-mat curious, this option is ideal and won’t cost you too much money.

Material: Gel foam | Thickness: 0.75 inches | Size: 18 inches x 22 inches | Accessibility: Handle

I’d recommend this standing-desk mat if you’re looking for one that you can easily transport between workspaces or shift around on the floor. The mat’s carrying handle makes this all easy, and you can use it with your feet or your hands, according to Stiehl. Like the simple mats on this list, the Mount-It! mat is flat, 0.75 inches thick, and has those nice beveled edges that both Weiner and Stiehl called out. If you’re looking for a larger size range or more color choices, though, you’ll want to look at other options above.

Material: Foam and hardwood | Thickness: 2.6 inches | Size: 20.87 x 13.39 inches

Though some of the professionals I spoke to advised that simple is usually better when it comes to standing-desk mats, balance-board standing-desk mats exist for those who want to add a little exercise to their work routine. The balance component “forces the person to engage their core muscles to remain at a level surface,” according to Williams. This mat, which Lamb likes, has a ton of thoughtful design touches, including a slip-resistant rubber bottom, a grid of massage points to relieve tension in your feet, and a rolling massage ball. In his practice, physical therapist James Higgins has found that patients particularly enjoy mats with a rolling massage ball “because they allow the patient to give themselves a plantar foot massage and alleviate some pressure points on the feet as well.” However, with all these bells and whistles, it’s worth noting that Lamb says that new users would have to ease into using one regularly, so you may want to consider buying the balance board in addition to one of the stabilized mats above.

• Dr. Scott Diamond, chiropractor and founder of Diamond Chiropractic• James Higgins, physical therapist and co-owner of Integrative Physical Therapy of NYC• Dr. Randi Jaffe, chiropractor• Carla Jaspers, founder of Workup Ergonomics, occupational therapist, industrial designer, and certified professional ergonomist• Dr. Adam Lamb, chiropractor and founder of Lamb Chiropractic• Karen Loesing, licensed physical therapist assistant and owner of The Ergonomic Expert• Cameron Stiehl, advanced office ergonomics assessment specialist and founder of The Ergo Lady• Dr. Nikki Weiner, licensed occupational therapist, lead ergonomic specialist, and president of The Rising Workplace• Dr. Bryan Williams, founder and CEO of Concierge Physical Therapists

Additional reporting by Dominique Pariso.

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