The 10 Best Office Chairs for Tailbone Pain (Feel the Difference)

If you suffer from tailbone pain (also known as coccydynia), sitting can be an excruciating experience. For relief, the key is to find an ergonomic office chair that diverts pressure away from your tailbone while encouraging a variety of different sitting positions. The good news is, without further aggravation, coccyx pain usually goes away on its own after a few weeks or months.

The following are our favorite office chairs and pillows for tailbone pain, each bringing something special to the table.

1. Harachair Doctor Chair – Best Overall

The Harachair Doctor is a hidden gem for tailbone sufferers thanks to its unique back- and coccyx-saving design. 

The seat consists of two parts, each with its own swivel mechanism. This will allow you to adjust the angle of the inclination to suit your butt’s shape. This feature, along with the channel in the middle, eases the load on the coccyx. According to Harachair, these also reduce blood stasis in the pelvic organs and lower the risk of genitourinary system disorders like prostatitis and urethritis.

Of course, since the tailbone is part of the spine, the Korean-made Harachair Doctor makes sure that your back is well taken care of. Each part of the three-piece cushioned backrest can be adjusted by angle independently to support your back’s natural S-shape.

Given that it’s highly supportive, it’s no wonder that Harachair claims that it’s suitable for 8 to 12 hours of sitting. Of course, no matter how supportive it is, you should still stand up and move at least once every hour.

Features and Specs at a Glance:

• Spine-stretching three-piece backrest
• Backrest tilts with adjustable tension
• Angle-adjustable two-piece seat
• 2D armrests
• Chrome steel base

What Other Owners Say:

• My posture completely changed after getting this chair. I feel taller and I can sit longer without getting tailbone pain.
• It was a risk buying a chair so expensive for my tailbone pain. But, it’s completely worth it.

2. Steelcase Leap V2 – Runner Up

The Steelcase Leap V2 is another godsend for people suffering from coccyx pain. The highly contoured yet flexible seat, adjustable seat depth plus 3D Liveback technology all work together to minimize pressure on your entire spine – including your tailbone – as you sit.

Let’s start with the seat on the Leap V2. It’s intelligently contoured to reduce pressure in both your thighs and tailbone. Besides sloping downwards, the front edge of the seat is actually flexible with a give of around 1.5” to promote good blood circulation underneath the thighs better than most office chairs we’ve come across.

People with tailbone pain will appreciate the large cut out between the far end of the seat and the backrest. Along with a 3” adjustable seat depth, this makes it possible to sit in the Leap in a way that completely avoids exerting pressure on the tailbone. The seat’s high quality foam padding that keeps its shape well also plays a role in this.

The Leap’s claim to fame is its backrest featuring Liveback technology. In a nutshell, the entire backrest automatically adjusts itself to conform to your back and cradles every vertebrae regardless of your sitting position. The lumbar support is equally impressive, being able to control for both depth and height easily without getting out of your chair.

There are other things to love about the Leap. It has 4D arms and available in 15 fabric colors.

Of course, these excellent features come at a price, a high one at that. If you want to invest on the Leap, expect to pay roughly $1000.

Features and Specs at a Glance:

• Highly contoured seat that eases pressure on both the thighs and tailbone
• Adjustable seat depth of 3″
• Live Back technology
• Depth and height-adjustable lumbar support
• Retractable 4D arms
• 15 colors to choose from

What Other Owners Say:

• I have chronic pain issues in my back, hips, and legs. This is the only chair I can sit on without needing pain meds after a day of work.
• It’s everything they said it would be. The only negative thing is really the price.

3. SIDIZ T50 – Best Option with Forward Tilting Seat

Often compared to the much more expensive Herman Miller Aeron, the Sidiz T50 (our in-depth review here) is one of those few ergonomic chairs that sport a forward tilting seat function. This can be incredibly effective in reducing pressure on your tailbone.

With just a push of a lever, the seat of the Sidiz T50 tilts forward and locks into place at a slight angle. This takes some of the pressure off your coccyx and places them instead on your sturdier sit bones. By alternating between a flat and forward tilting seat pan, you can switch up your sitting position so that your weight isn’t always focused on your tailbone.

The Sidiz T50 has other ergonomic features including 3D arms, adjustable seat depth, and a height- and depth-adjustable lumbar support. The curved backrest is mesh and the fabric seat comes with a washable cover. Though this eco-friendly chair is predominantly plastic, it is still able to look amazingly premium.

The Sidiz T50 isn’t perfect, however. The lumbar support can feel intrusive due to the plastic material, and adjusting the armrest height is an exercise in frustration due to the “notch” design.

Features and Specs at a Glance:

• Forward seat tilt
• Synchro tilt function up to 125°, lockable at 5 points
• Adjustable seat depth
• Height- and depth-adjustable lumbar support
• 3D arms
• Sloping seat edge
• Removable fabric seat cover

What Other Owners Say:

• I have an ultra sensitive coccyx because of a snowboarding accident years ago. I’m happy to say it doesn’t act up when I sit on this chair.
• The seat padding is thin so I had to get external seat cushions.

4. Alera Elusion Series – Best Budget Pick

If you’re short on budget, the Alera Elusion series is a decent alternative to pricier office chairs for your tailbon. This sub $200 office chair has a decent array of adjustable features including that rare forward seat tilt that can really take a load off your coccyx.

As we’ve mentioned before, a forward seat tilt redistributes your weight to your sit bones when you sit, which are stronger than your already sensitive tailbone.

The Alera Elusion also comes with a backrest that can actually move up or down to ensure the lumbar support fits the unique curvature of your back better. This is a high end feature usually found on chairs twice as expensive, such as the Quantum Pro 9000.

Construction-wise, you’re actually getting more than what you pay for. A lot of office chairs in this price range barely last a year. Meanwhile some Alera Elusion owners have reported that their chair is still going strong after more than four years. Yes, it looks like a generic office chair but it’s reasonably comfy and durable.

Features and Specs at a Glance:

• Forward seat tilt
• 2D arms
• Adjustable backrest height
• Mesh backrest
• Contoured sloping seat cushion

What Other Owners Say:

• The thick foam feels like new even after four years. After having thrown my back out, it’s a real pleasure being able to sit for hours without my tailbone complaining.
• The armrests aren’t padded. Also, I’d like a more pronounced lumbar support.

5. Master Massage Berkeley Saddle Stool – Best Split Saddle Stool

Saddle chairs are another good option to help ease tailbone pain. They are best used for short stints at a time, alternating with your primary office chair. Unlike standard chairs, the shape of a saddle seat naturally shifts your hips forward, helping better preserve the natural curve of the lumbar spine. The result is reduced pressure in the entire lower back, including the coccyx..

What makes the Berkley saddle chair stand out is its split seat design. For men, this is especially helpful in reducing pressure and improving ventilation in the genital area during longer sitting sessions. Other health benefits of such a split design include improved upper limb function, better lymph and blood flow in the pelvic region, and healthier hip and knee joints.

The seat height range on the Berkley is 21” to 28”. The tall setting means you can use it even when you’re working on your countertop, sit-stand desk, and other tall work surfaces. It does go down a couple of inches when you sit on it but that’s a slight flaw considering that it’s reasonably priced.

Features and Specs at a Glance:

• Divided saddle seat with 2” padding
• Forward seat tilt function
• Tall seat height range at 21” to 28”
• Quiet, smooth rolling casters

What Other Owners Say:

• I’m a hygienist so I have to sit for hours. I was starting to feel some tailbone pain because of this but this chair saved me.
• I can’t sit on it for more than 2 hours at a time because my body isn’t used to this new position yet. But, I definitely feel healthier and taller.

5. HAG Capisco – Best with Reverse Sitting Support

Famed podcast host Joe Rogan credits the HAG Capisco for helping him overcome debilitating back pain. The chair combines elements of a saddle and regular ergonomic office chair to allow you to sit for longer with less pressure on your back and tailbone.

What sets the Capisco apart from most saddle chairs is the wide variety of sitting positions possible. Besides the usual way of sitting, you can sit with the backrest in front of you or by your side. By cycling through different sitting positions, you’ll be able to better distribute the stress on your body and boost your blood circulation.

For people with tailbone pain, try reversing the chair so the backrest is facing your chest. Then lean forward while resting your arms on the cross shaped backrest to reduce pressure on your lower back.

Aesthetics-wise, we love the cool visuals of the Capisco. You can choose from 7 fabric colors and 3 base colors. That said, be prepared to shell out the big bucks because the Capisco costs more than $800 (at time of writing).

Features and Specs at a Glance:

• Multiple sitting positions available
• Saddle seat that better distributes pressure in your bottom
• Tall seat height range
• Backrest tilt with tension control
• Seat depth adjustment
• Backrest height adjustment

What Other Owners Say:

• I thought the idea of sitting in different positions was just a silly gimmick. It totally proved me wrong since I can sit more than a few hours now without getting tailbone pain.
• I wish it had armrests. Plus, it’s expensive.

6. DRAGONN Kneeling Chair – Best Kneeling Chair

The hallmark of kneeling chairs is the forward sloping seat plus knee pads that create a110° open trunk/thigh angle when seated. This opens up the hips while shifting some of your body weight to your thighs, offering reprieve for both your spine and tailbone.

There are many kneeling chairs on the market, though our favorite continues to be the Dragonn kneeling chair. Besides the thicker than normal seat and knee cushions, the biggest advantage of the Dragonn is the high degree of height adjustability. The seat heightcan be modified between 21” – 28”, allowing it to just work (but barely) with a standard height desk without the need to elevate your laptop.

Another thing we like about the Dragonn is the lockable front caster wheels that better help prevent unwanted movements.

In our review of the Dragonn, we mentioned encountering two small issues. First, the casters don’t roll smoothly. Second, we ran into some issues with assembling due to the poor instructions.

Features and Specs at a Glance:

• Thickly padded seat and knee cushions
• Height adjustable seat (21” – 28”)
• Forward tilting seat that relieves back and tailbone pressure
• Front casters can lock up to prevent unwanted movements

What Other Owners Say:

• There’s a period of adjustment but after that, I haven’t felt pain in my coccyx and sciatic nerve.
• This isn’t for long periods of sitting. You need to alternate it with a regular office chair.

7. PharMeDoc Exercise Ball Chair – Best Balance Ball Chair

Balance ball chairs are one of the best short term alternatives to an office chair due to their budget price and high portability. When used periodically, they can also offer temporary relief from tailbone pain, by letting you shift your weight to the more meaty part of your bottom and thighs as you sit. To that end, the PharMeDoc balance ball is one of our favorites.

The PharMeDoc ball is well built and easy to inflate. Sitting on a balance ball in general engages your core, which overtime strengthens it to better support your back. This lessens the strain on your spine, which your tailbone is a part of.

Unlike many stability balls, the PharMeDoc also has a mini backrest to keep back fatigue at bay. Plus, 2 of the 4 casters are lockable to prevent unwanted movements that might cause injury. 

Features and Specs at a Glance:

• 7 colors to choose from
• Easy-glide locking wheels
• Mini back support
• Comes with an air pump

What Other Owners Say:

• After an accident, my tailbone is now a prima donna. With this, I’m comfortable for 2 hours, then I switch to my office chair for a bit.
• It looked small the first time I inflated it. Turns out you need to deflate it the first time you use it before you pump it to its full capacity.

8. Varier Move Tilting Saddle Stool – Best Wobble Stool

The Varier Move is a combination of two types of active seating chairs – a wobble stool and saddle chair. As a result it offers even more freedom on how to sit while you work, promoting micro movements whether you choose to sit, learn or stand using it.

The slightly convex shape of the seat on the Varier Move allows you to easily tilt it in any direction to offer constant movements as you sit. The seat height, which has a range of 10”, enables the Varier Move to be used both with standard desks and standing desks. Altogether, these features mean you can choose to lean, sit, or stand using the Varier.

The Varier Move is ideal for perching, which reduces pressure on your spine and tailbone as you reap the benefits of standing. The stool is NEAT certified, meaning that it can increase your energy expenditure by more than 18% compared to sitting on regular chairs.

There are some complaints that the Varier Move gets uncomfortable about two hours in. But, it’s actually designed to be this way to encourage you to frequently change positions.

Features and Specs at a Glance:

• Boosts energy expenditure
• Encourages switching positions throughout the day
• Gently rounded base gives good range of motion
• 10” seat height range
• Fabric seat cover

What Other Owners Say:

• This has helped with my coccyx pain. Kudos to the company for sending me another seat that’s just right for my size.
• I can only use this chair in short bursts. I can only sit on it for 45 minutes for now but I expect to increase my mileage as my body adjusts.

9. Everlasting Comfort Seat Cushion – Best Coccyx Pillow

If you don’t want to buy another chair or have a very limited budget, an external memory foam pillow with a coccyx cutout like the Everlasting Comfort Seat Cushion can be a good compromise for tailbone pain relief.

The high quality memory foam on the Everlasting Comfort means that this cushion hugs you in all the right places with the help of your body heat. The U-shaped cutout at the back prevents your tailbone from coming into contact with the chair. Its contoured design evenly spreads the pressure so that it isn’t focused on one area. All these little things add up to a cushion that can effectively help not just with tailbone pain, but also sciatica, piriformis syndrome, and back, hip, and leg pain in general.

It costs a fraction of any office chair, so it’s worth considering if you already have an office chair or don’t have money or space for another more tailbone-friendly office chair.

We like that this medium-size cushion comes with a washable cover so you can clean it when necessary. However, this cover is like a magnet for pet hair and the black bottom part has a tendency to stain light colored chairs.

Features and Specs at a Glance:

• Pure memory foam construction
• Ergonomic pressure-distributing shape
• Coccyx cut-out
• Portable
• Comes in 5 colors
• Washable cover

What Other Owners Say:

• Buy this and your rear end will thank you. I have a protruding tailbone and it has brought me great relief.
• The black underside stains light colored chairs so be careful where you use it..

10. FORTEM Chair Cushion – Best Chair Cushion and Lumbar Pillow Combo

If your chair lacks both a tailbone-friendly seat and decent lumbar support, the Fortem seat cushion is a quick way to address both shortcomings without breaking the bank. Even with two cushions it’s still cheaper than the Everlasting cushion above.

Like the Everlasting, the Fortem’s seat cushion comes with a coccyx cutout design. This helps relieve pressure on your tailbone by keeping that area suspended while the weight is borne by the more fleshy parts of your bottom.

The lumbar support pillow on the Fortem can be secured to the backrest via buckles and adjustable elastic straps. At the thickest part, it’s 4” deep, providing more padding that the lumbar support built into most office chairs.

Same with the previous product we recommended, the Fortem’s covers can be taken off and washed. Plus, it’s made of a mesh material so it doesn’t get too hot. The caveat to the Fortem is that it tends to stain pale colored upholstery easily.

Features and Specs at a Glance:

• Washable breathable mesh cover
• Pure memory foam construction
• Human-centered contoured design
• Adjustable elastic straps
• U-shaped coccyx cutout
• Carrying handle

What Other Owners Say:

• It’s been so long since I felt comfortable sitting because of my previously fractured tailbone and chronic back issues. This cushion combo is fantastic.
• The seats of our car now have blue dotted stains because of the rubber bottom and they won’t come off!

Frequently Asked Questions on Tailbone Pain

Why does sitting make my tailbone hurt?

• Childbirth – The coccyx naturally becomes more flexible during the last trimester so it can give way during birth. Sometimes, the muscles and ligaments surrounding the tailbone get overstretched, leading to pain in the area.
• Injury – Hard impact to the base of the spine, perhaps from a fall or accidental hit during contact sports, can injure the coccyx. Sometimes it’s just bruised, but in the worst case scenario, it can be dislocated or fractured.
• Repetitive strain injury – If you enjoy cycling and rowing, the constant leaning forward and stretching of the base of your spine can strain the muscles and ligaments around your coccyx. Eventually, they can be permanently damaged so your tailbone will lack support.
• Unhealthy weight – When you’re too heavy, too much pressure is placed on your coccyx. At the same time, being underweight might mean that you don’t have enough buttock fat to prevent your coccyx from rubbing against the tissues around it.
• Ageing – As we age, the cartilage supporting the coccyx can deteriorate. The little bones that make up the coccyx can also get fused too tightly together.
• Poor sitting posture – Sitting with poor posture such as slouching or on a hard surface for long periods of time can lead to agitation of the coccyx.

As you can see, Coccydynia, or tailbone pain, has plenty of possible causes. 

How should I sit with a tailbone injury?

This key to avoid worsening your tailbone pain when sitting is to shift your body weight to your thighs and ischial tuberosities (sit-bones). These are stronger than the tailbone so they’re better suited to handle more pressure:

• Shift your weight forward to your sit-bones to ease any pressure on your tailbone.
• Use a wedge or donut-shaped seat cushion to help keep pressure off of your sit bones when you sit. 
• Sitting, in general, can worsen your tailbone pain. Make it a habit to get up and walk at least once every 30 minutes. Set an alarm until you develop the habit.
• Keep your monitor an arm’s length away and elevate your screen so that the upper portion is eye level. This will discourage you from slouching, which puts undue pressure on your entire spine.
• Every now and then, move your legs. Fully extend them, hold them close to your chair, or bend them part way. These small movements can ease tailbone pain by improving circulation in your entire lower limbs.

What should I look for in an office chair for tailbone pain?

Look for the following features when shopping for an office chair that won’t exasperate your tailbone pain.

Forward Seat Pan Tilt

This feature enables you to lean forward periodically. By shifting your weight forward a bit, you’ll notice that the pressure is taken off your coccyx and placed instead on two bony spots under your hips which are the sit-bones.

Another benefit to having a forward seat pan tilt is that you’re not stuck in one position. You can play around with the angle to adjust the pressure on your hips and spine.

Forward Seat tilt can be found in the Sidiz T50 and Alera Elusion Series.

Reverse Sitting Support

Office chairs that allow you to sit in reverse can also be beneficial for tailbone pain. Such chairs come with a low backrest where you can rest your chest on and use your arms to shoulder some of your body weight.

Mid back office chairs and the HAG Capisco can both be used for reverse sitting. 

Dense Foam Seat

If you suffer from coccyx pain, the material and firmness of the seat are both important considerations in an office chair.

Office chairs with high quality cold cured foam are the best. Compared to memory foam, this material holds its shape better to prevent sagging, ensuring your body weight is evenly distributed based on the shape of the seat.

Seat with a Channel/ Coccyx Cut-Out

Office chairs with a seat featuring a channel or coccyx cut out can also be beneficial for tailbone pain, by sparing the coccyx and tailbone from direct contact with the seat.

Office chairs such as the Harachair Doctor, certain saddle chairs and external seat cushions come with such a design in the sitting area.

What kind of office chairs should I avoid if I have a tailbone injury?

Just as there are features that can help you mitigate tailbone pain, there are also some that you need to avoid to prevent your tailbone injury from getting worse.

First, avoid chairs with a hard seat. A hard surface will aggravate your coccyx injury until it becomes unbearable. This means that wooden and plastic seats are out of the question. If, for some reason, you can’t replace your hard chair, use an external seat cushion on top of it.

We also suggest avoiding mesh office chairs, as many cheaper ones come with soft mesh that sag over time.  Once your body starts to sink inside the chair, your weight is no longer evenly distributed and the bulk of the pressure goes to your coccyx.