Buying guide · 6 picks compared

Armless Desk Chairs: Kneeling, Saddle, and Criss-Cross Picks That Skip the Arms on Purpose

No armrests means you can pull all the way up to the desk, sit cross-legged, or kneel your way through a call — here's what I'd actually buy once you've decided arms aren't for you.

By Cuttles · read with eight arms Updated August 9, 2026 10:00 ET · 3 min read

Quick compare: my current top 6

Prices move constantly on Amazon. Where I have a checked figure it's shown; otherwise click through for the live one.

Armless Desk Chairs: Kneeling, Saddle, and Criss-Cross Picks That Skip the Arms on Purpose	Best for	Rating
OLIXIS Criss Cross Chair with Wheels CUTTLES' PICK	closest thing to a normal armless desk chair	8.0	See on Amazon
Orange Factory Criss Cross Chair Wide Seat	shared desks and hot-desking setups	8.5	See on Amazon
DRAGONN Ergonomic Kneeling Chair	people trying to sit more upright without arms in the way	8.5	See on Amazon
KKTONER Saddle Stool CUTTLES' PICK	cheapest way into armless active sitting	8.5	See on Amazon
SONGMICS Wobble Stool	people who fidget and want the chair to work with it	8.5	See on Amazon
Learniture Active Stool	pairing with a sit-stand desk	8.5	See on Amazon

Every pick, reviewed

1 Best overall OLIXIS Criss Cross Chair with Wheels

Cuttles' Pick

$71 8.0

See on Amazon

This is the pick I'd point most people to first — a wide flat seat built to sit cross-legged, on wheels, with a real SGS-rated gas lift and BIFMA base instead of the no-name hardware you find at this price. It reads as a genuine armless desk chair, not a repurposed stool.

What I love

Highest rating in the criss-cross group at 4.6
SGS-tested gas lift and BIFMA base — real safety hardware, not a rumor
Rolls, so you're not stuck in one spot

What bugs me

Review count (292) is thin for a chair meant to see daily use
No back support beyond what the seat design gives you

Capacity: 300 lb Gas lift: SGS-rated Base: BIFMA-certified

Read my full OLIXIS Criss Cross Chair with Wheels review →

The 30-second verdict

This chair solves one specific problem: you sit cross-legged and standard office chairs make you miserable for it. The OLIXIS delivers a genuinely spacious, level seat measuring 25.5 inches across, locks into place, and stays neutral otherwise. For $55.99, backed by an SGS-certified gas lift and a 300 lb weight limit, it's your most affordable serious option in the cross-legged category, and the 4.6 stars from 292 actual buyers proves it works—especially impressive for a niche that barely existed three years ago. Go in without expecting lumbar shaping or a tall backrest, because you won't find them, and honestly you won't want them if you're actually using this chair the way it's built for.

Who this is for

The criss-cross category exists because normal office chairs are built on the assumption that you sit with your feet on the floor and your back against the rest. If you don’t — if you tuck your legs, sit sideways, or shift your weight constantly — a conventional task chair becomes an exercise in compromise. The OLIXIS cuts through that by removing the compromises altogether. It’s a flat platform with wheels and a gas lift. That’s the entire product.

If you’re in a startup, you probably sit like this sometimes. If you’re a designer, you sit like this most of the time. If you have a standing desk and you need a perch for video calls or thinking, this works. If you need back support for six-hour deep-work sessions, this is not your chair.

2 Best for small offices Orange Factory Criss Cross Chair Wide Seat

$70 8.5

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21×25.5 inches of flat seat real estate and 708 verified reviews make this the most credible criss-cross chair on Amazon. No armrests means it won't work for everyone, but if you cross-legged at your desk and need actual width, this one delivers.

What I love

21"D x 25.5"W seat gives more room than most criss-cross chairs
Solid rating on a decent review base (708)

What bugs me

Wider footprint means it eats more floor space per desk
No armrests at all — some people miss having somewhere to rest an elbow on calls

Capacity: 300 lb Seat: 21 in D x 25.5 in W

Read my full Orange Factory Criss Cross Chair Wide Seat review →

The 30-second verdict

If you actually sit cross-legged at your desk—and I mean actually, not theoretically—this is the chair to buy. The 21-inch depth and 25.5-inch width beat every other criss-cross option on Amazon by a margin that matters. 708 reviews is real traction in a category where most contenders have under 200. The tradeoff: no armrests, and a footprint that takes up floor space like it means it.

Who this chair is for

You work cross-legged for actual hours, not just on video calls. You have a desk that’s physically wide enough (or close to it) for a 25.5-inch seat. You don’t use armrests or actively dislike them—many cross-legged sitters find armrests awkward anyway because your legs are already taking up the space where your arms would normally go. You want something that’s not going to cost $200 and still holds 300 pounds without complaint.

You are not someone who needs back support for eight-hour days. This chair has a back, but it’s minimal. If you’re alternating between cross-legged work and regular seated work at the same desk, you might get frustrated switching back and forth. And if you take calls where you want to rest your elbows between your chin and your lap, you’re out of luck.

3 Best for posture-focused sitting DRAGONN Ergonomic Kneeling Chair

$100 8.5

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A genuinely useful posture tool at $100, but the 3.9-star rating isn't noise—some knees just reject the angle. Test it only if you have no existing knee problems and can return it within 30 days.

What I love

Rocking base adds gentle movement
Decent padding on seat and knee rest
Cheap enough to test the concept

What bugs me

3.9 stars reflects real fit variance — some knees just don't like it
Not for anyone with existing knee issues

Capacity: 250 lb Style: Kneeling chair

Read my full DRAGONN Ergonomic Kneeling Chair review →

The 30-second verdict

The DRAGONN functions as a real posture corrector: it anchors your pelvis in place and aligns your spine effectively when your knees are up to it. The rocking base delivers actual benefit, not just style. Both the seat and the knee pad come padded generously enough that you can stay put for 45 minutes or better. At $100, a 250 lb weight limit, and solid construction throughout, it's affordable enough to trial whether kneeling-style sitting clicks for you. The reality—which the 3.9-star average reflects—is that not everyone's knees accept this position. If you already have knee complaints, skip it. If you don't, sit with it for a week before concluding it's not your thing.

4 Best budget KKTONER Saddle Stool

Cuttles' Pick

$44 8.5

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At $43.69, the KKTONER is the entry point to saddle seating. It works—no back, no frills, no surprises. You'll know in a week whether your hips want this or not.

What I love

Cheapest way to try active sitting
No knee pads to get sore under
Height adjustable gas lift

What bugs me

No back support at all
Takes a session or two to get used to the balance

Capacity: 300 lb Style: Saddle stool

Read my full KKTONER Saddle Stool review →

The 30-second verdict

At $43.69, the KKTONER Saddle Stool delivers what its name promises—two rounded peaks, no backrest, a pneumatic lift, and casters for mobility. You'll have the seat ready to use in about 15 minutes. It won't wobble or dump you, so sitting through a full workday is genuinely feasible. The trade-off is real: you either adapt to the open-hip angle or you don't, and the lumbar area gets zero attention. For under fifty bucks, testing whether this posture works for your body is a low-risk experiment. With 4.4 stars from nearly 4,000 Amazon reviews, it's the most validated choice if you're shopping the budget end of the saddle stool market.

Who this is for

Saddle stools attract people willing to question the office chair orthodoxy. Most buyers haven't actually tried one—they're betting on the ergonomic idea or just curious about the concept. The KKTONER settles that bet without a big financial or time commitment. If you're torn between a conventional desk chair and something unconventional, or if you spend half your day standing and need a low-commitment sitting option that won't encourage you to slouch, this is where you find your answer.

Also: people who share a desk or hot-desk. The KKTONER’s compact footprint and lack of armrests mean it stows easier than a padded task chair. At 300 lb capacity it handles most adults. The seat height adjusts via a standard gas lift, so it’ll work at standing desks and regular desk heights with a bit of tweaking.

5 Best for movement SONGMICS Wobble Stool

$145 8.5

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The SONGMICS wobble stool delivers actual 360-degree movement without rolling away, and it's honest about what it is: a fidget tool, not a work seat. At 264 lb capacity it's the lightest in the active-stool category, and the lack of knee pads means you can hop on and off without ceremony.

What I love

Genuine 360-degree wobble, not just tilt
No knee pads, easy to hop on and off

What bugs me

Lower weight capacity than the others at 264 lb
Not something you sit on for a full call without thinking about balance

Capacity: 264 lb Style: Wobble stool

Read my full SONGMICS Wobble Stool review →

The 30-second verdict

The SONGMICS wobble stool delivers exactly what the name promises: a seat that rocks and sways in all directions while staying firmly planted and stationary. It's ideal for anyone who needs to shift and move throughout the day but wants something that won't roll away from under them. This isn't meant for video meetings or calls, and with a 264 lb weight limit, it's on the lighter end of what active-stool options support. If you're someone who struggles to stay still, though, this is about as straightforward and genuinely useful a fidget seat as they come.

Who this is actually for

You own this if you spend 20–40 minutes at a time on it, usually between desk work and other tasks. You’re the person who bounces your leg under a normal chair, shifts weight constantly, or stands up every fifteen minutes. A wobble stool gives that restlessness a legitimate outlet instead of channeling it into your lumbar spine or your desk mate’s peace of mind.

It’s not a seat for a two-hour design call or a full day of focused coding. After about 45 minutes of continuous sitting, you’ll notice your core engaging to maintain balance, and that becomes work rather than relief. That’s not a flaw; it’s the stool’s honest job description.

6 Best for standing desks Learniture Active Stool

$161 8.5

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At $160.99, it's the priciest active stool on Amazon—but 2,131 reviews at 4.4 stars suggest the extra cost buys real stability. No back support, but if you're using this at a standing desk or perch, you knew that already.

What I love

Best rating-to-price ratio in this category
Feels sturdier than the budget picks by review count alone

What bugs me

Priciest of the four
Still an active stool — no back support, don't expect all-day comfort

Capacity: 265 lb Style: Active/wobble stool

Read my full Learniture Active Stool review →

The 30-second verdict

The Learniture is the kind of active stool that actually holds up if you're serious about using it—not the discount model your neighbor bought and forgot about in a closet. It's honest about what it is: a stool, not masquerading as a full chair. The base stays put when it matters, the seat adjusts to pair with most standing desks without fuss, and those 4.4 stars across 2,131 reviews are real data, not marketing fluff. Yes, you'll spend fifty to a hundred dollars more than a KKTONER or SONGMICS would cost, but you get something that actually feels stable enough to trust. That's not salesmanship. That's just what the numbers show.

Cuttles' honest take

If you want an armless chair, you're usually after one of two things: sitting cross-legged on a wide flat seat, or an active perch that keeps your hips moving instead of locked in one position all day. Neither of these is a downgrade from a normal task chair — they're a different tool for a different habit. The criss-cross chairs are the closest thing to a normal desk chair without arms; the kneeling and saddle options are a bigger lifestyle commitment and not something I'd buy on a whim.

What “armless” actually buys you

Nobody's typing "armless desk chair" into a search box because they've decided armrests are terrible. It boils down to one of three situations: you like sitting with your legs folded and regular arms become an obstacle, you need to roll yourself right up under a shallow desk without the armrests jamming into the edge first, or you're trying to stay more dynamic throughout the day instead of being locked into a fixed posture. Those are really three separate issues with different solutions, so this page isn't just the standard task chairs with the arms lopped off.

Criss-cross chairs: the closest thing to normal

If you just want a desk chair without arms — nothing more exotic than that — a criss-cross chair is your best bet. These are wide, flat-seated chairs built for sitting with your legs folded under you, and because that seating position doesn’t work with fixed armrests, most of them skip arms entirely. They roll, they have a gas lift like any other task chair, and they sit at a normal desk height. This is a young, uncrowded corner of the chair market on Amazon — the listings are real but thin on reviews compared to what you’d see on a mainstream chair under $100, so don’t expect the review depth of a SIHOO or an Amazon Basics.

Kneeling, saddle, and wobble: a bigger commitment

Kneeling chairs, saddle stools, and wobble stools are armless because they’re not really chairs in the traditional sense — no back, often no back support at all, and a seating angle designed to keep you moving or upright rather than reclined. These work well for some people and genuinely don’t for others; the review spread on the kneeling chair in particular tells you it’s polarizing. I wouldn’t buy one of these as your only seat. Think of it as a second seat you rotate into for an hour or two, the way you’d use a standing desk — a change of position, not a replacement for your main chair.

What you give up without arms

Armrests do real work: they take weight off your shoulders during long typing sessions and give you somewhere to rest during calls. If you’ve read our page on chairs with adjustable arms, you already know how much fuss goes into getting arm height and width right. An armless chair sidesteps all of that fuss by just not having the part — which is either a relief or a real loss, depending on how you use your desk. If you get shoulder or neck fatigue during the day, an armless chair alone won’t fix it; you’d do better looking at our neck pain or sciatica guides, which are about back and neck support, not arm removal.

Lumbar support matters more here, not less

Because none of these chairs are giving you arm support, whatever back support they do offer — or don’t — carries more weight. The criss-cross chairs mostly have none built in; a cheap lumbar pillow is a sensible add rather than an afterthought. If you decide none of this fits your day-to-day and you want a normal chair with real back support instead, our chairs under $300 and chairs for long hours pages cover that ground properly.

How I picked these

I took a look at live listings on Amazon, read through spec sheets, and compiled what actual reviewers were saying — I didn't strap anyone into a testing chamber to measure durability, and I'm not pretending I did. For this guide, I stuck only with chairs that are actually built without arms from the ground up, not ones where you remove the arms or flip them out of the way as a patch job — a folded-up arm is still technically an arm. That eliminated a few crisscross models I came across in my broader research that do ship with arms. When a product didn't have much of a rating or enough reviews to go on, I flagged that honestly instead of glossing over it.

Who should skip this whole category

If you spend most of your day on calls or resting your forearms while you think, you’ll probably miss the arms more than you expect. Try before you commit if you can, and if you’re not sure, a normal mesh chair from our under $100 guide with adjustable arms is the safer default.

FAQ

Is an armless desk chair actually good for your posture?

It depends which kind. Criss-cross chairs mostly just remove the arms and keep a normal backrest, which is neutral for posture. Kneeling and saddle designs actively change your sitting angle and can help some people sit more upright, but they're not a universal fix and the reviews on the kneeling chair here show that split.

Will I miss having armrests?

If you rest your forearms a lot during calls or typing, probably yes at first. If you already tend to type with your arms floating or you sit cross-legged, you likely won't notice the gap.

Are criss-cross chairs actually meant for a desk, or more like a floor cushion with wheels?

They're built for a desk — normal chair height, wheels, a real gas lift. The seat shape is just wider and flatter to support sitting with your legs folded under you.

Can I use a kneeling chair as my only chair all day?

I wouldn't. Most people who like kneeling chairs use them for part of the day and switch back to a backed chair for the rest. There's no back support at all, and the 3.9 rating on the DRAGONN reflects how divisive that is.

Do any of these have back support?

The saddle stool and wobble stool have none by design. The kneeling chair has none either. The criss-cross chairs and the active stool offer minimal to no back support — if lower back support is your priority, pair one with a lumbar pillow or look at a full-back chair instead.

Are armless chairs cheaper than chairs with arms?

Generally yes, since you're not paying for the arm mechanism, but it's not a huge gap and it's not the main reason to buy one — the seating style is the real difference.

What's the weight capacity on these?

It ranges from 250 lb on the kneeling chair up to 300 lb on the criss-cross chairs. None of these are rated for the higher capacities you'd see on a big-and-tall task chair, so check the number against your own weight before buying.

Should I get a criss-cross chair or an active stool?

Criss-cross if you want something close to a normal desk chair minus the arms. Active stool or wobble stool if you specifically want to move more through the day and don't mind giving up back support entirely.