Best Meditation Chairs, Pillows, and Tools in 2024

Whether you’re just learning how to meditate or an experienced practitioner, being able to sit comfortably in your meditation pose is essential. However, finding a comfortable way to sit can be challenging, especially for those who need extra support. Fortunately, in 2024, there are a multitude of meditation chairs, pillows, benches, and other meditation tools that can enable you to meditate comfortably.

In this article, I’ve compiled a list of the meditation furniture and accessories you may want to consider adding to your meditation room to help you sit for longer periods of time in correct meditation posture, and thus, reach deeper meditative states.

Here’s what we’ll be covering:

{{inline-cta="/how-to-meditate"}}

Best Meditation Chairs

Meditation chairs are a great option for those who need a little more back support and/or aren’t quite flexible enough to sit on the floor for long periods of time. I certainly fall into that category and have tried many of meditation chair styles myself, and these are my choices for the best meditation chairs:

Alexia Meditation Seat

The Alexia Meditation Seat is my top pick for the best meditation chair. It’s the one I use currently, extremely high quality, and easily enables me to sit in an upright meditation pose for long periods of time, even though I’m not the most flexible person.

The ergonomic design fits both me and my mom well, which is fantastic considering I’m 6’2” and my mom is 5’4”.

The only bummer is the price, coming in at a whopping $300, so it’s not the ideal meditation seat for those on a budget.

Pipersong Meditation Chair

If you’re looking for the best meditation chair with back support, I would go with the Pipersong Meditation Chair. Not only does it have a backrest, but it’s easily adjustable, on wheels, and thus, can double well as a meditation/office chair.

There are a couple of downsides though. You will need relatively flexible hips to sit comfortably in this chair, as it requires a cross-legged position.

Additionally, the price is ~$400-$450 when it’s all said and done, which is pretty expensive. However, if you're using it as your office and meditation chair, then that price isn’t too bad at all.

Kneeling Chair

A great pipersong meditation chair alternative would be a simple kneeling chair. The chair I’ve linked to is just one option, but there are many variants of the kneeling chair that I suggest you explore (i.e. some have wheels, some are fixed, some are rocking).

I used to use one of these as my office chair and to meditate as well, and it was great. However, I will say that your shins will get a bit tired after a few hours.

That being said, for the price of $100, it’s not too much of a risk to try out for yourself.

Slacker Stool for Outdoors or Travel

If you’re the kind of person who loves the outdoors, you may be interested in a slacker stool. These camping chairs are small, portable, and can double quite well as an outdoor meditation chair.

I’ve taken one with me on many backpacking trips, and it’s been a fantastic tool to meditate out in nature or to simply sit around camp.

Plus, they are really affordable at around $30-$40, depending on the brand.

Best Meditation Pillows & Cushions

Meditation pillows (or cushions) are great options for those desiring to sit on the floor in a more traditional meditation posture with little extra support underneath the sit bones. Meditation cushions are also great for elevating your hips to create a more comfortable & optimal meditation pose.

Here are my picks for the best meditation pillows and/or cushions:

Zafu Meditation Cushion

Zafu meditation cushions are a popular choice for many practitioners, especially those with a little more flexibility. I personally think the Retrospec Zafu Meditation Cushion is the best choice in this style, because of its ergonomic design, which helps to tilt your hips forward & alleviate some of the tension in the lower back.

And at only $25, it’s a great choice for those who are on a budget.

Ergonomic Meditation Cushion

Similar to the Alexia previously mentioned, the Ergonomic Meditation Cushion by Kingsmith is a great option for those who need more support underneath their knees while sitting cross-legged.

The downside of this cushion is its size, which may not be appropriate for those of us above 6 feet tall.

However, if that’s not an issue, the $159 price tag makes it a great alternative to the more expensive Alexia meditation seat. 

Large Meditation Pillow

If you’re looking for a big soft cushion to sit on, this large meditation pillow could be what you’re looking for. Short of buying a bean bag chair, this looked like the most plush option for what could still be considered “meditation furniture.”

However, I will say, this option will provide the least amount of back support of any on this list, so, it may not be comfortable to sit for very long, especially if you’re not flexible.

At ~$45, it’s a pretty easy purchase if you want to try it out, and if it doesn’t work out, it’s a pillow which is nice to sit on regardless.

Yoga Bolster Meditation Pillow

This Florensi Yoga Bolster is a fantastic option for those who want a few different options when it comes to their meditation position. While not strictly a meditation pillow, yoga bolsters are great because of their versatility.

You can sit in an upright straddling position, use it like a Zafu meditation cushion, or even use it underneath your knees if you prefer to meditate while lying down to relieve some of the tension in your lower back.

The Florensi yoga bolster is ~$60 on Amazon, and I recommend purchasing it or one like it if you don’t have a bolster already. I use mine all the time to meditate lying down on my back, and it really helps me feel super comfortable, and thus, meditate deeply.

{{inline-cta="/how-to-meditate"}}

Favorite Meditation Benches

Meditation benches are perfect for those who want to assume a more traditional meditation pose, but want a little more support and structure underneath them than is possible with a meditation cushion or simply sitting on the floor.

I used a meditation bench that my dad built for years, and I loved it enabled me to sit in an upright, kneeling meditation posture comfortably, without being very flexible.

They are also small, portable, and easy to store if you don’t have a lot of space in your meditation room.

The only downside is you will almost always need to purchase a meditation mat or cushion to place underneath the bench, because your knees and ankle bones will get uncomfortable after 15 to 20 minutes of lying on a hard surface.

Here are my picks for the best meditation bench:

Walden Meditation Bench & Cushion

My #1 pick for the best meditation bench from an aesthetic standpoint is going to be the Walden Meditation Bench. It’s beautifully designed, has the correct angle to the seat to position your hips forward, and also, the “full set” option comes with a meditation pillow underneath.

However, there is a catch… It’s ~$500 to get the full set, and $298 for JUST the bench. YIKES! And if you’re going to spend that much, I recommend going with the Alexia I mentioned at the beginning.

Florensi Meditation Bench

Taking the top spot for meditation benches — for people who don’t want to spend $500 on a small piece of wood (*cough* Walden *cough*) — is going to be the Florensi Meditation Bench. This bench is going to give you everything you need to achieve a comfortable meditation seat, without breaking the bank.

And, I have linked to the bundle that comes with the Zabuton Meditation Mat, because as I mentioned, you need one of those if you’re going to be comfortable on a meditation bench.

Altogether, the price is just ~$100 on Amazon for the bundle, and only ~$50 for if you just want the bench.

Best Meditation Mats & Rugs

Meditation mats are great for highly flexible people who want to meditate in the most traditional way by sitting on the floor or for those who want to place something underneath their meditation bench or cushion to give their ankles/knees something nice to rest on.

You can also utilize a meditation mat or a big soft rug to meditate lying down.

Here’s what I suggest for the best meditation mats or rug options:

Walden Meditation Mat

From a design perspective, once again, Walden is going to take the top spot for best meditation mat. It’s well made, and the sleek design means there is more room for your feet underneath your meditation bench and it’s easier to store than more plush options.

However, it’s going to run you $150, which may not be feasible or reasonable for many people, so luckily, we have more options.

Zabuton Meditation Mat

This Zabuton Meditation Mat from Florensi is the best option I found. Zabutons are typically used in conjunction with Zafu meditation cushions, but can also be used with meditation benches, like in the bundle I linked to above.

Being reasonably priced at ~$60, this meditation mat is probably the best option for most people, and the fact that it’s machine washable is a nice touch, considering your bare feet will be all over it.

But, there is still one more option to discuss, which is my personal favorite.

Rug + Excessive Rug Pads Option

Last, but not least, is what I like to call the rug + excessive use of rug pads option. The premise is simple, you buy a nice, super soft rug, and then you place multiple layers of very thick rug pads underneath to add a ton of cushion.

For a rug, you can purchase a small rug or a large area rug to fill most or all of the room. Just make sure it’s super soft & cozy for bare skin to be comfortable on.

For the rug pads, you want to go excessive. I suggest purchasing this ½” rug pad from Amazon and triple-layering it underneath to create a super cushioned feeling.

This is the best because you can also meditate on it lying down without the need for extra cushion or pillows, except maybe a bolster underneath your knees.

Fun Meditation Accessories & Tools

Lastly, if you’re in the market for meditation chairs and pillows, you may also be interested in purchasing some additional meditation accessories to deepen your experience or create a more meditative mood in your space.

Here are some of the meditation tools and knick knacks you may want to explore:

Incense for Meditation

The best incense for meditation is going to be the Shanti Vana Incense, in my opinion. This brand, and specifically the sandalwood scent, is what they use at the Self-Realization Fellowship in Pacific Palisades, CA, where I first began my meditation practice, so to me this is what meditation smells like.

Essential Oils

Using essential oils for meditation is also a very nice way to focus the senses on the present moment. My favorite essential oils are from Moss Botanicals. 

You can put them in a diffuser to fill your space with the smell or simply place a little on your wrist to give it a whiff before settling into your meditation seat.

Crystals for Meditation

Crystals are also a nice touch to decorate your meditation room, and also have energetic qualities, which I won’t be diving into here. I would recommend going to a crystal shop near you so you can actually hold them in your hand before buying, however, Luna Norte Jewelry is a great option if you’d rather purchase them online. 

Eye Mask for Meditation

Using an eye mask for meditation is great to block out light if you like to meditate in complete darkness. It also allows you to completely relax your eye muscles from feeling like they need to clench to stay closed to keep the light out, which can help you meditate more deeply. 

For some, this is a must-have meditation tool, but you’ll have to try it out for yourself to see if it’s something you prefer.

Just make sure to get ones like these LKY Digital Eye Masks that are contoured and lightweight to make sure nothing is actually putting pressure on your eye area.

Singing Bowls

Purchasing some singing bowls for your meditation space can also be a nice touch. You can use them to focus mindfully on the sound of the bowl, which can serve as a great anchor to bring your awareness into the present moment. Additionally, they can be part of your ritual of getting into a meditative state, training you to get into a meditative state faster over time when you hear the sound of the bowl(s).

From my research, I found the Ohm Store to have some of the best singing bowls for meditation, but do your own research, as there are MANY different options beyond what I saw in their inventory.

Gongs for Meditation

Gongs are great meditation tools for a couple of reasons. Similar to singing bowls, they can be used as focal points for the attention to bring mindful awareness to the sound of the gong. Additionally, they are also believed to be powerful energetically to clear your meditation space, mind, and body to prepare for meditation. Whatever you believe, the Gong Shop looked like it had the best gongs for meditation if you want to check them out.

Conclusion

Thanks for reading this article! I hope it helped you find the meditation chair, bench or other meditation tools to bring your practice to a new level of depth and awareness.

But, what’s the fun of purchasing a meditation cushion or pillow if you don’t have anyone to meditate with, right?

If you’d like to join us for a meditation class, connect with other meditators, share, laugh, and have a ton of fun exploring your inner world with like-hearted seekers like yourself, please feel free to explore our online meditation studio, The Wellspring.

I hope to see you there! 

Otherwise, may you experience evermore peace, love, and joy.