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10 Best Balance Boards to Elevate Your At-Home Workouts

You can even use them at your standing desk.

By Kathleen Willcox and Eunice Lucero-Lee
balance board
Best Products; StrongTek

When it comes to ordering gym equipment for home use, it’s hard to know how to draw the line between too much and not nearly enough. We’re betting that your Amazon cart is probably full of workout equipment you haven't gotten around to ordering for your home gym. Chances are you're stocked on dumbbells, but did you remember to add a core stabilizing balance board?

Balance boards — also referred to in some circles as wobble boards — are a great multipurpose tool that can help improve core strength, balance, and overall fitness. Originally designed as surf and skate simulators and trainers, they've come a long way from helping people master those kickflips. Studies have shown that core stabilization exercises (like a balance board) can also help lower back pain.

Another recent study even showed that participants who stood on a balance board while working helped increase the number of calories they burned — making them great to use while you work at your at-home standing desk. We’ve found that achieving better physical balance often has ripple effects, making us feel more confident navigating both everyday physical and intellectual challenges.

The Best Balance Boards

  • 1
    Wooden Balance Board

    Sturdy and Straightforward

    Wooden Balance Board

    Shop at sears.com
    Read more
  • 2
    Wobble Balance Board

    Best for Beginners

    Wobble Balance Board

    Read more
  • 3
    Professional Wooden Balance Board

    Sustainable Pick

    Professional Wooden Balance Board

    Read more
  • 4
    101 Balance Board Trainer

    Best Sport Trainer

    101 Balance Board Trainer

    Read more
  • 5
    Anti-Fatigue Balance Board

    Best for Standing Desks

    Anti-Fatigue Balance Board

    Read more

    What to Consider

    Whenever you buy exercise equipment, budget and size are probably the biggest top-of-mind considerations. But to ensure you choose a great balance board now (and for many years to come), keep the following in mind:

    • Risk: Because these devices are designed to challenge your balance, injury is a possibility if you're not careful. Make sure to use them on a flat, smooth surface. (Using one on a carpet will actually slow down movement — which can be a good thing for beginners or when using boards that allow for a large range of motion.) If the board's surface is slick, opt for bare feet or wear shoes or socks that can maintain their grip on the device. Additionally, using the board near a wall or desk that you can grab onto for balance can also be a safer option as you get used to that rocking sensation underfoot.
    • Weight Limit: Before investing in a balance board, make sure you take note of how much load the board can handle so that you get the best one for your weight.
    • Purpose: Whether you're looking to feel more sure-footed in your daily routine, are recuperating from an injury, or trying to intensify your existing workout by engaging more muscles during basic exercises, a balance board will deliver results. Some balance board models are even made specifically for surfers, wakeboarders, skaters, and snowboarders looking to develop their skills, as well as practice correct falling protocol during the off-season. Overall, they're a highly efficient and effective way to strengthen your core, engage your muscles, and improve your stability, but read the description to make sure it's suitable for your personal training goals.

    Ready to regain your balance? Keep scrolling for the best balance boards on the market.

      1
      Sturdy and Straightforward

      Wooden Balance Board

      On Sale
      Wooden Balance Board
      1
      Sturdy and Straightforward

      Wooden Balance Board

      Shop at sears.com
      Pros
      • Top rated
      • Durable
      • For kids and adults
      • Includes a workout guide
      Cons
      • A bit pricey

      This solid wood balance board features an anti-skid surface so you can keep it steady even while you're working up a sweat and getting that dynamic training session in. Perfect for controlled arm exercises, strengthening your lower back muscles, and balance challenges, this board comes with a bonus workout guide to help you ace strong, steady footing.

      More than 83% of reviewers on Amazon give this board 5 stars, saying it’s a “great board” and “solid for the price.”

      More: 20 Cheap Home Gym Equipment Finds

      Key Specs

      MaterialWood
      Dimensions28.6x12.1x5.9 inches, 8.8 pounds
      Weight Capacity200 pounds
      2
      Best for Beginners

      Wobble Balance Board

      On Sale
      Wobble Balance Board
      2
      Best for Beginners

      Wobble Balance Board

      Now 16% Off
      Pros
      • Durable
      • For kids and adults
      • Anti-slip massage top
      • Handles
      Cons
      • Smaller surface area

      If you're a balance newbie, here's a good pick for you. The wide diameter (over 16 inches) of the board makes it a bit easier to stay on. It also has a nonslip grip surface and two handles, making it extra safe — and easy to transport.

      The board comes with a 12-month warranty and lifetime service. Reviewers say the board is “awesome for improving balance,” “fun to use,” and a “great way to make your standing times more active.”

      Key Specs

      MaterialPP and TPE Plastic
      Dimensions16.3 inches
      Weight Capacity660 pounds
      3
      Sustainable Pick

      Professional Wooden Balance Board

      Professional Wooden Balance Board
      3
      Sustainable Pick

      Professional Wooden Balance Board

      Pros
      • Slip-resistant surface
      • Lightweight
      • Durable
      Cons
      • A bit pricey
      • May cause scratches or marks on some surfaces
      • Anti-slip top is too rough to be used on bare skin while planking

      Whether you’re working or working out, this wooden rocker board will challenge your balance and strengthen your muscles.

      Made from sustainable, plantation-grown timbers, it will outlast boards made from birch or pine. It can hold up to 350 pounds. But it’s small enough to fit under a desk, and the slip-resistant surface will prevent any slip-ups during Zoom calls.

      Reviewers say this board is a game changer when it comes to “improving balance and strength,” “great” for “post-operation physical therapy,” and “perfect for my standing desk.”

      Key Specs

      MaterialPremium lauan hardwood
      Dimensions26x16x4 inches, 7 pounds
      Weight Capacity350 pounds
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      4
      Best Sport Trainer

      101 Balance Board Trainer

      Amazon’s Choice
      101 Balance Board Trainer
      4
      Best Sport Trainer

      101 Balance Board Trainer

      Pros
      • Lightweight
      • Easily adjustable to be easy, intermediate, or advanced
      • Includes digital workout library
      Cons
      • Over $100

      This balance board training system is a solid option for beginner or intermediate tricksters. The board comes with a roller to balance on with or without shoes.

      Plus, the set includes an exercise guide to make sure your moves are spot-on. After practicing tricks with this board, your body control will be completely on point. Since this device is shaped like a skateboard, you'll nail conditioning for your ollies, kickflips, and beyond.

      More than 86% of reviewers give this board 5 stars, dubbing it “the best,” “stable,” “sturdy,” and generally “awesome.”

      Key Specs

      Material11-ply hardwood, foam (board); composite plastic (roller); high-density foam; molded rubber (cushion and rocker)
      Dimensions29.9x13.2x6 inches, 6.8 pounds
      Weight Capacity400 pounds
      5
      Best for Standing Desks

      Anti-Fatigue Balance Board

      Anti-Fatigue Balance Board
      5
      Best for Standing Desks

      Anti-Fatigue Balance Board

      Pros
      • Lightweight and easy to carry
      • Massage points to relieve foot tension
      • Nonslip and anti-scratch
      Cons
      • Not as durable as some

      Up your WFH game with this balance board designed to keep you on your toes at your standing desk. It only tips at an 8.5-degree angle, so you won't be tipping over. However, you can still improve your balance and posture while you work.

      Also, the ergonomically designed board has pressure points to keep your feet from getting sore as you stand (and you can even use it barefoot).

      Reviewers dub the board “perfect,” saying that it is “comfortable to stand on for long periods of time,” keeping them “engaged and active” throughout the day.

      Key Specs

      MaterialPolyurethane mat, premium plywood
      Dimensions18x13.9x2.2 inches, 6.7 pounds
      Weight Capacity400 pounds
      6
      Best for Studio Workouts

      Balance Trainer

      Best Seller
      Balance Trainer
      6
      Best for Studio Workouts

      Balance Trainer

      Pros
      • Top rated
      • Includes a workout guide
      • Nonslip and non-marking
      Cons
      • Over $100

      This balance trainer isn't your typical balance board, but it's an extremely effective and versatile tool. Flip it over so that the flat, hard surface is on the top, and you can stand on it just as you would stand on a balance board.

      You can also flip it back over so that the rubbery part is facing up, and you can hop on and condition some of your favorite yoga poses. You could even get down on the ground and practice some pushups for added resistance and muscle stabilization.

      This super popular fitness product has more than 8,860 Amazon reviews, with 84% giving it 5 stars, praising it as “great” for “at-home physical therapy” following surgery, is “high quality,” and a way to improve “strength and balance.”

      Key Specs

      MaterialMolded plastic, weighted rubber, stability balls with dynamic proprietary filling
      Dimensions26 inches diameter, 17 pounds
      Weight Capacity300 pounds
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      7
      Best Value

      Wooden Wobble Balance Board

      Wooden Wobble Balance Board
      7
      Best Value

      Wooden Wobble Balance Board

      Pros
      • Budget-friendly
      • Lightweight
      • Nonslip top
      • Durable
      Cons
      • May be slippery on some surfaces
      • Nonslip top may wear away with frequent use

      You'll love the nonslip surface on top of this round balance board, as you can get plenty of grip wearing just socks. It's a great way to strengthen the small muscles, ligaments, and tendons in your legs to either recover from or prevent injuries.

      The cheaper price tag is a no-brainer, too. Reviewers love this option for their standing desk, saying it “saves” their back at work, and offers “great quality,” especially considering the price.

      Key Specs

      MaterialWood
      Dimensions15.5x15.5x3.3 inches, 3.1 pounds
      Weight Capacity300 pounds
      8
      Best for Rehab

      Professional Rocker Board

      Professional Rocker Board
      8
      Best for Rehab

      Professional Rocker Board

      Pros
      • Good for beginners and seniors
      • Durable
      Cons
      • Over $100
      • No nonslip surface

      Improve balance and stability with this wider board, which is ideal for anyone who's more advanced in balance training or looking to rehab a more recurrent ankle or ACL injury.

      It can be easily adjusted at 10, 12, or 15 degrees based on your balance and skill level, making it great for beginners to improve their range of motion.

      More than 86% of reviewers on Amazon give this 5 stars, with many saying it’s great for “physical therapy,” is “versatile,” and that, bottom line, is “solid” and “works well.”

      Key Specs

      MaterialWood
      Dimensions22x22x4 inches, 7.5 pounds
      Weight Capacity250 pounds
      9
      Elite Athlete-Approved

      Original Balance Board

      Original Balance Board
      9
      Elite Athlete-Approved

      Original Balance Board

      Pros
      • Endorsed by national, world, and Olympic champions
      • Durable
      • Versatile uses
      Cons
      • Over $150
      • Not for beginners
      • No nonslip surface

      The Indo Board was originally designed in 1975 as a surf simulator for when surfers were out of water. It's now become one of the most trusted and recognizable balance and fitness boards on the market — so much so that it's a go-to for Olympic athletes, celebrities, and models alike. In fact, it has even spawned a namesake workout class.

      Trust us: It's worth the splurge! Reviewers on Amazon agree: an astounding 93% give this board 5 stars, saying it is “the best,” is “serious fun” and “addictive,” and is the best way to increase “stability, core muscles, and twitch reflexes.”

      Key Specs

      MaterialNatural high-grade hardwood (board); injection-molded plastic (roller)
      Dimensions30x18x3 inches, 3 pounds
      Weight Capacity275 pounds
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      10
      Best for Resistance Training

      Balance Fit Board with Resistance Bands

      On Sale
      Balance Fit Board with Resistance Bands
      10
      Best for Resistance Training

      Balance Fit Board with Resistance Bands

      Now 30% Off
      Pros
      • Budget-friendly
      • Lightweight and easy to carry
      • Includes resistance bands
      • Handles
      Cons
      • Materials may wear over time with repeated use

      This balance board will transform your standard exercises into fun, total-body workouts! To stabilize on this board, you're forced to engage your abs, legs, and many more muscles, so it's an easy way to do more with less.

      It also comes with resistance bands, so you can add some bicep curls to your balancing squats.

      Reviewers say it is “easy to use” and has made their “body core” stronger than ever.

      Key Specs

      MaterialAcrylonitrile butadiene styrene plastic
      Dimensions26x11x4 inches, 4.9 pounds
      Weight Capacity400 pounds
      Headshot of Kathleen Willcox
      Kathleen Willcox
      Kathleen Willcox is a journalist who writes about parenting, technology, shopping, food and wine. Her work appears in a variety of publications, including Popular Mechanics, Wine Enthusiast and SevenFifty Daily. She is based in Saratoga Springs, N.Y., where she lives with her husband and twins.
      Headshot of Eunice Lucero-Lee
      Senior Editor

      Eunice Lucero-Lee is the Senior Editor for Best Products, and is a beauty, astrology, and pop culture obsessive whose work has been featured in publications such as Cosmopolitan, Esquire, The Numinous, and woman&home, among many others. A (very) proud cat mom, she spends her time in Manhattan obsessing over celebrity natal charts, luxury skincare, and Scandi-noir, as well as finding the perfect K-Pop vid to save the day. She can order drinks perfectly in Korean.

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