Best Budget Desk Accessories Under £30 To Reduce Back Pain, Neck Pain, Headaches and General Tension (UK, 2026)
By Jessica Kenney DC Mchiro (Doctor of Chiropractic) - January 2026 (Essex, UK)
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What’s the Best and Cheapest Desk Accessories to Reduce Back Pain, Neck Pain, Headaches and Tension (2026)?
The single best thing you can do is not sit down for hours on end but that’s not always realistic. This article covers some nice, easy desk accessories that are under £30. Comfort doesn’t need to be a big investment! All these items help to reduce the strain on your spine and muscles and are great for people with discomfort, chronic pain or recovering from injury.
Adding the right desk accessories can make a huge difference in reducing pain and improving comfort during long hours at a workstation. Items like lumbar support cushions help maintain the natural curve of the lower spine, preventing slouching and relieving pressure on the back. Footstools elevate the legs to improve circulation and reduce strain on the hips and lower back, while laptop risers bring screens to eye level, easing neck tension and reducing headaches. Ergonomic keyboards and mice promote a natural hand and wrist position, decreasing forearm strain and the risk of repetitive stress injuries. Even small adjustments, such as using a honeycomb cushion for pressure relief, can enhance posture and make sitting for extended periods more comfortable, creating a healthier, pain‑free workspace.
The products below are the ones we have personally tried and tested and loved. Feel free to do your own investigations if you prefer, but always check company and item reviews, and company returns policies.
SOFT SITTER HONEYCOMB CUSHION
The Honeycomb Cushion helps relieve back pain by evenly distributing pressure and supporting proper spinal alignment, reducing strain on the lower back during sitting. Its breathable, flexible design also improves comfort and prevents heat buildup, making it easier to sit without pain for longer periods. Full article here.
These are the new and improved versions of orthopaedic gel cushions but more effective, more lightweight and more resilient.
ERGONOMIC MOUSE
These mice are slightly tilted so it fits the natural curve of your hand, reducing wrist and forearm repetitive strain from hours of clicking. It helps reduce back pain by encouraging a more natural hand and arm position, which can ease tension that travels up the shoulder and into the upper back. Great for headaches, shoulder conditions including rotator cuff, elbow bursitis on tendinitis, wrist tension and general repetitive strain aches.
As with any new mouse, you may find you need to change the cursor settings on your computer for sensitivity or visibility.
ERGONOMIC KEYBOARD
Cushioned wrist and arm rests: £59.99 (pictured)
An ergonomic keyboard reduces forearm issues by keeping the wrists and forearms in a neutral, relaxed position, which minimizes twisting and bending that can lead to strain. Its split or angled layout allows the muscles in the forearms to work more naturally, reducing tension, fatigue, and the risk of repetitive strain injuries like tendonitis, bursitis or carpal tunnel syndrome.
MONITOR STAND / LAPTOP RISER
Laptop stand: Amazon: £29.99
Monitor Riser: Amazon: £29.99
Elevating your screen can help with neck pain and headaches by elevating the screen to eye level, which encourages proper posture and reduces the forward tilt of the head. This alignment eases tension in the neck and shoulders, helping to prevent strain-related headaches from long hours of computer use.
Monitor risers are for computer screens, whereas laptop risers raise your whole laptop. Both have the same goal of reducing stress on your joints and muscles.
FOOTSTOOL
Amazon: Basic: £19.00 (pictured)
Amazon: Adaptable: £39.99 (Can change height and angle of foot rest)
A footstool helps reduce back and hip pain by supporting the feet and promoting a more natural sitting posture. By slightly elevating the legs, it eases pressure on the knees, lower back and hips and improves circulation, making sitting more comfortable for longer periods.
I always recommend these to office workers under 5’4” as standard. They are also great if you have a standing desk but have a tendency to rest one leg - this means you can rest a leg without holding your lower back at a funny angle.
You can DIY with spare bricks or books but these may be less comfortable and heavier to move around.
LUMBAR SUPPORT
Lumbar support helps reduce back pain by supporting the natural curve of the lower spine, preventing slouching and poor posture. It keeps the lower back properly aligned, which relieves pressure on the spine and surrounding muscles, reducing discomfort during long periods of sitting.
Placement should be around the waist/bottom of the ribs which is normally a couple of inches higher than most people put it. It should not affect your pelvis position, just lower back and the lowest ribs.
I prefer the mesh ones as the foam ones can be too rigid, the wrong size and are prone to getting hot and consequently mishappen. These ones are a good allrounder due to the elasttic band that holds it in place.
Some people will DIY a lumbar support with a rolled up towel or cushion, you just need to find the right size for you!
