Comfort Desk HubErgonomic Accessories
Best Under-Desk Footrests
Closing the gap for shorter users at standard-height desks, without compromising your seat height.
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If your desk sits too high to lower your chair to the correct knee height, a footrest brings the floor up to your feet instead — letting you keep proper seat height without your legs dangling. It's one of the cheapest fixes on this site relative to how much of your seated position it corrects.
Fixed vs. rocking footrests
A fixed footrest simply holds your feet at a set height, while a rocking or tilting footrest lets you shift the angle throughout the day — useful for people who find one static position uncomfortable over a full workday. Rocking footrests also let you flex your ankles periodically, which helps circulation during long sitting sessions.
What height to look for
The right footrest height closes the gap between your feet and the floor once your seat is at the correct height for your knees — usually somewhere between 2 and 5 inches, depending on your height and chair. Adjustable-height footrests are worth the small premium if you're not sure exactly what height you'll need.
Our picks
Three products, deliberately. This is an inexpensive category with a narrow set of real differences — height range, angle range, platform size and whether it moves — and inventing five award categories would be padding rather than help.
Recommendations last reviewed August 2026
#1 — Best Overall
HUANUO Adjustable Foot Rest for Under Desk with Massage Surface and Tilt
Typical price
$30–$40
This is the footrest that does the most of what the category is supposed to do. HUANUO lists three locked height positions at 3.9in, 5.3in and 6.5in, plus a platform that tilts through 0 to 30 degrees, on a surface measuring 18 by 13 inches. That combination is the point: height and angle are separate problems, and most footrests under $40 solve only one of them. The 6.5in top setting is the highest here, and it is the setting that actually helps someone shorter working at a fixed 29 or 30in desk. Construction is ABS plastic with non-slip feet and a textured centre section, and it arrives assembled. HUANUO documents a warranty of up to five years, which is unusually long at this price. The trade-off is honest: hard plastic is less pleasant barefoot than foam.
- Three heights: 3.9in / 5.3in / 6.5in
- Tilt range 0–30°
- Platform 18in x 13in
- ABS plastic, non-slip feet
- Arrives assembled
- Warranty stated up to 5 years
Price checked on Amazon. Affiliate link — we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
What We Like
- +The highest top setting here at 6.5in, which is where a tall fixed desk needs it
- +Genuinely independent height and angle adjustment
- +A large 18in platform lets you shift position through the day
- +A long stated warranty for the money
Where It Falls Short
- –Hard plastic is noticeably less comfortable barefoot than a foam rest
- –Height changes mean reaching down and repositioning, not a foot-operated lever
Who should buy it: Buy it if you are on a fixed-height desk and want both lift and tilt for under about $40.
Who should skip it: Skip it if you work barefoot or in socks and want a soft surface.
Comfort Desk Hub Verdict: The most adjustment per dollar in the category.
#2 — Best Value
Kensington SoleSaver Adjustable Footrest
Typical price
$24–$52 depending on retailer
The SoleSaver is the plainest product here and that is its advantage. Kensington lists three tilt settings at 10, 15 and 20 degrees, a large non-skid foot surface, and a two-year limited warranty at a list price under $25. Retail listings add the physical dimensions: 21.1 inches wide by 14.2 deep, with three height settings spanning 2.5 to 4.5 inches. That 21-inch width is the widest platform in this guide by a clear margin, and width is underrated — it lets you move your feet sideways through the day rather than parking them in one spot. What you give up is top-end height. A 4.5in ceiling closes a modest gap but is not enough for a shorter user at a standard-height desk. Worth shopping around: the price varies by more than double between channels.
- Platform 21.1in x 14.2in
- Three heights, 2.5in–4.5in
- Three tilt settings: 10°, 15°, 20°
- Moulded plastic, large non-skid surface
- 2-year limited warranty
Price checked on Amazon. Affiliate link — we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
What We Like
- +The widest platform here at 21.1 inches
- +A two-year warranty from an established manufacturer
- +Very low list price direct from Kensington
- +Discrete tilt stops rather than a vague free-tilt
Where It Falls Short
- –Tops out at 4.5in — not enough lift for shorter users at a 29–30in desk
- –Pricing is wildly inconsistent between Kensington direct and office-supply retailers
- –Plain plastic, with no cushioning
Who should buy it: Buy it if you need a broad, stable platform and only a few inches of lift.
Who should skip it: Skip it if your feet dangle more than about four inches.
Comfort Desk Hub Verdict: Biggest platform, smallest price, limited height.
#3 — The Alternative — a rocking footrest
StrongTek Under Desk Footrest Wooden Rocking Foot Rest
Typical price
$38–$42
This is a genuinely different product rather than a variant of the other two. It is a solid curved-base rocker in hardwood plywood with no locking positions at all — the platform simply pivots under your feet. StrongTek lists it at 3⅞in standing height, rising to about 6½in at the high point of the rock, with a 350 lb capacity and a fine-grit anti-slip surface that works barefoot or shod. The appeal is movement: instead of choosing one angle and holding it, your ankles cycle through a range continuously, which suits people who find any single static position uncomfortable over a full day. The obvious cost is that it cannot be locked flat, so it is a poor choice if you want a stable platform to press against. Build quality is the strong suit — plywood and rubber grips rather than moulded plastic — and there is no assembly. Note that StrongTek documents a 30-day money-back guarantee rather than a multi-year warranty.
- Hardwood plywood construction
- 3⅞in resting height, ~6½in at the top of the rock
- 350 lb weight capacity
- Fine-grit anti-slip top, rubber grips underneath
- No assembly required
Price checked on Amazon. Affiliate link — we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
What We Like
- +Continuous movement instead of a single fixed posture
- +Wood construction feels more durable than moulded plastic
- +High weight capacity, and it doubles as a standing-desk rocker
- +The textured surface is usable barefoot
Where It Falls Short
- –No flat lock and no height settings — it only rocks
- –Only a 30-day money-back guarantee is documented, not a long warranty
- –A hard wood surface with no padding
Who should buy it: Buy it if you are a restless sitter, or want a rocker that also works at a standing desk.
Who should skip it: Skip it if you want a firm platform locked at a specific height and angle.
Comfort Desk Hub Verdict: Movement, not adjustment — buy it for that.
Working out the height you actually need
The gap a footrest has to close is the difference between the seat height your legs want and the seat height your desk forces on you. Recommended seated desk heights run roughly 22–23in for someone 5′0″, 23–24.5in at 5′2″ and 24.5–26in at 5′4″ — against typical desks of 29 to 30in and office chairs that bottom out around 17in. For most shorter-than-average users at a standard fixed desk, that arithmetic lands the gap somewhere between three and six inches.
The reliable way to find your own number: measure from the floor to the back of your knee while seated, add an inch or two to set your seat height, then measure whatever gap is left under your feet. Under four inches, the Kensington covers it. Four to six and a half, the HUANUO is the one with the range. Beyond that, the answer is to lower the desk rather than stack the footrest higher.
Not sure if a footrest is your actual issue? Start with our chair height guide to confirm your seat height is correct first.