A footrest for under desk use is worth buying when your feet dangle after you raise the chair enough to put your elbows level with the work surface. It can also help when the chair edge presses behind your knees because your feet have no firm support. The 3M Adjustable Foot Rest FR330 is the best starting point for most people because its steel base, useful height range and moving platform solve the fit problem without adding soft foam or heat.
I didn’t sit-test these footrests. I compared current Canadian Amazon Creators API records with manufacturer specifications for platform size, lift, tilt, materials, cleaning and motion, then checked exact US catalogue matches where possible. The fit method comes from current CCOHS and OSHA workstation guidance, not from a claim that one accessory treats pain.
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Don’t want to read the whole article? Here are our quick picks.
1Best overall 3M Adjustable Foot Rest FR330. Stable base, adjustable lift and free tilt.
2Best fine adjustment Kensington SoleMate Plus 56146. Foot-pedal tilt lock and broad platform.
3Best rocker Humanscale Rocking Foot Machine FM500K. Rigid wood platform with smooth movement.
4Best foam ComfiLife Memory Foam Foot Rest. Soft wedge with a washable cover.
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Table of Contents
- How to fit a footrest
- Footrest comparison
- Best overall: 3M FR330
- Best fine adjustment: Kensington SoleMate Plus
- Best rocker: Humanscale FM500K
- Best foam: ComfiLife Memory Foam
- Best compact platform: Fellowes Breyta
- Best heated option: Cozy Products Toasty Toes
- Platform, foam or heat?
- Who should skip this
- Footrest FAQ
- The Short Version
How to Fit a Footrest for Under Desk Use
Set the chair before buying anything. Raise or lower it until your shoulders can relax, your elbows sit near desk height and your back reaches the backrest. If both feet are flat and the seat edge isn’t pressing behind your knees, you may not need a footrest. If the arm position is right but your feet dangle, measure the vertical gap from heel to floor while you sit normally.
CCOHS recommends an adjustable support for both feet when a fixed work surface forces the chair higher, with feet kept flat and firm on the support. OSHA’s chair guidance adds a useful seat check: the full sole should be supported, the back of the knee should sit slightly above the chair seat, and the seat edge shouldn’t press into the lower leg.
Choose a height range that includes your measured gap, then allow for shoes. A five-inch support can be too tall when the gap is only two inches. Platform depth matters too. Your heels and most of each foot should fit without forcing the footrest so far forward that you lose contact with the chair back. Our correct desk height guide handles the work-surface side of the problem, while the office chair fit calculator checks seat dimensions and adjustment range.
Footrest for Under Desk Comparison
A rigid adjustable platform is the safest default because it gives both feet a predictable surface. A rocker trades a fixed angle for movement. Foam feels gentler without shoes but compresses and gives less exact support. The heated model is here for a cold-floor problem, not because warmth improves chair fit.
| Pick | Support and adjustment | Platform size | Main drawback | Buy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3M Adjustable Foot Rest FR330 | Rigid platform, roughly 4 to 5 inches high, free tilt | 18 by 13 inches | Height changes require reaching down | Amazon |
| Kensington SoleMate Plus 56146 | 3.5 to 5 inches, lockable tilt to 20 degrees | About 17.7 by 13.8 inches | Large body needs floor space | Amazon |
| Humanscale Rocking Foot Machine FM500K | Fixed 4.5-inch lift, continuous rocking | 16.75 by 12.25 inches | No height adjustment | Amazon |
| ComfiLife Memory Foam Foot Rest | Six-inch foam wedge with removable height layer | 17.5 by 12 inches | Foam isn’t a firm shoe platform | Amazon |
| Fellowes Breyta Adjustable Foot Rest | Three heights from about 3.1 to 5 inches, optional rocking | About 19.3 by 14.2 inches | Leg changes aren’t seated adjustments | Amazon |
| Cozy Products TT Toasty Toes Heated Footrest | Three positions and two heat settings | About 18 by 12 inches | Heat and fit controls are basic | Amazon |
Best Overall: 3M Adjustable Foot Rest FR330
Amazon.ca pricing and availability were refreshed November 07, 2026 at 05:31 PM EST. Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon.ca at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
The 3M FR330 earns the top spot because it behaves like a support, not a cushion. 3M specifies an 18-inch non-skid platform, height adjustment, foot-controlled tilt and a heavy steel base. The Canadian and US Creators records both identify model FR330 and showed current stock during the final check.
The platform can follow ankle movement without forcing you to lock one angle. That makes it more forgiving across a normal workday than a fixed wedge. The textured bumps are easy to wipe clean and matter more with shoes than plush foam would. The drawback is ordinary but real: height isn’t adjusted by a seated pedal, so finding the right lift takes a few rounds of sitting, checking and reaching down.
Best Fine Adjustment: Kensington SoleMate Plus 56146
The Kensington SoleMate Plus is the better choice when you want the angle to stay where you put it. Kensington lists a 3.5-to-5-inch height range, tilt to 20 degrees and a foot-operated lock. The exact 56146 model returned as orderable in both Canadian and US Creators checks.
Its broad, textured surface suits people who shift between a narrow and wide foot stance. The pedal lets you release and lock the angle without crawling under the desk, a small feature that matters if more than one person uses the workstation. It is not compact. Measure around pedestal legs, a PC tower and chair casters before buying, and don’t confuse a large top with a high platform. Its maximum lift still stops at five inches.
Best Rocker: Humanscale Rocking Foot Machine FM500K
The Humanscale FM500K is a rigid rocker for someone who dislikes holding one foot angle. Humanscale now calls the design FR500, while the Creators record uses the older FM500K model name. The current manufacturer page identifies the same single-piece moulded plywood platform and die-cast aluminum rocker construction.
The movement is the point, and it is also the limitation. There is no height adjustment, so the 4.5-inch lift either suits your measured gap or it doesn’t. The wood and metal build is firmer than foam and less likely to flex than a basic plastic platform. The Canadian exact ASIN was in stock. The US record returned lead time rather than current stock, so the page does not map US visitors to that offer.
Best Foam: ComfiLife Memory Foam Foot Rest
The ComfiLife Memory Foam Foot Rest makes sense for socks, slippers and a home office where a hard plastic texture feels unpleasant. ComfiLife specifies a 17.5-by-12-by-6-inch memory-foam wedge with adjustable height and a removable, washable cover. The exact grey version was in stock in both Canadian and US Creators records.
Flip it over and it becomes a soft rocker. Remove the lower layer when the full height is too much. This versatility is useful, but foam isn’t a substitute for precise platform geometry. It compresses under your heels, slides more easily when you push hard, and gives a less stable reference when you wear work shoes. Buy it for surface comfort. Choose 3M or Kensington when repeatable height matters more.
Best Compact Platform: Fellowes Breyta Adjustable Foot Rest
The Fellowes Breyta isn’t the smallest platform in this list, but it is the easiest rigid one to pack away. Its legs clip under the top, and a built-in handle makes it reasonable for a shared desk or hybrid office. Fellowes lists three height settings, an optional rocking position and a large stable platform.
The manufacturer’s technical sheet gives settings of about 3.1, 4.6 and 5 inches, plus a rocking range to 18 degrees. That spread covers more gaps than a fixed rocker. You do have to reconfigure the legs rather than tap a pedal, so it is better for one known setup than constant changes. The Canadian Creators record showed current stock; the US record did not show an immediately orderable offer, so no US mapping is attached.
Best Heated Option: Cozy Products TT Toasty Toes
The Cozy Products Toasty Toes combines a shallow platform with radiant heat. Cozy Products specifies three physical positions, two heat settings, 105 W draw and an 18-by-12-inch panel. The exact TT model was in stock in both Canadian and US Creators checks.
This is the least capable fit tool here. Its positions are flat, inclined or upright, and it lacks the useful height range of 3M, Kensington or Fellowes. Buy it only when cold feet are the real problem and the shallow incline happens to fit. Keep the cord clear of chair casters, follow the maker’s clearance instructions and switch it off when you leave. For more heat shapes, the under-desk foot warmer guide compares mats, enclosed warmers and panels without pretending they are all ergonomic platforms.
Platform, Foam or Heat?
Start with the support problem. A rigid platform is easiest to measure and keeps both shoes at a repeatable height. A rocker suits someone who already knows the lift is right and wants ankle movement. Foam trades precision for a softer surface. Heat addresses temperature, not posture.
If your desk is cold but your chair already fits, don’t raise your knees just to gain warmth. A flat warmer or the site’s heated socks guide may preserve the geometry you already have. If you keep pushing the footrest away, check whether a PC tower, drawer unit or shallow desk is stealing the 24 inches of foot-level clearance OSHA uses in its workstation guidance.
Who Should Skip This
Skip a footrest for under desk use when lowering the chair lets both feet sit flat without raising your shoulders at the keyboard. In that setup, the floor is the biggest and most stable foot support available. Also skip one that is taller than your measured gap, blocks chair movement or forces the knees into the underside of the desk.
A footrest isn’t a treatment for persistent pain, swelling, numbness or weakness. Those symptoms deserve qualified assessment, especially when they continue after ordinary setup changes. The accessory can support a better workstation position. It can’t explain why a leg or foot hurts.
Footrest for Under Desk FAQ
How high should an under-desk footrest be?
Measure the vertical gap beneath your heels after setting the chair for relaxed shoulders and elbows near desk height. Choose a range that includes that gap with your usual shoes. The goal is full, firm support without pushing the knees into the desk.
Should a footrest rock or stay fixed?
A fixed or lockable platform gives the most repeatable support. A rocker allows ankle movement and changing angles but is less suitable when you need one precise position. Pick fit first, then decide whether movement helps you stay comfortable.
Is a foam footrest better than plastic?
Foam feels softer in socks and can work well at home. A rigid plastic, wood or metal-backed platform is easier to measure, supports shoes more predictably and usually cleans more easily. Neither material is automatically better for every setup.
Can a footrest help when a chair is too high?
It can support both feet after the chair is raised to match a fixed desk, which is the situation CCOHS and OSHA describe. It cannot fix a desk that lacks knee clearance or a chair whose seat depth presses into the backs of the legs.
The Short Version
Measure the heel-to-floor gap only after the chair is set for the desk. The 3M FR330 is the most sensible all-round footrest for under desk use, Kensington adds a useful tilt lock, and Humanscale is the better rocker when its fixed height fits. Choose ComfiLife for a soft sock-friendly surface, Fellowes for a platform that stores neatly, and Cozy Products only when warmth matters as much as support.








