I’m Kayla. I’m 5'6", I work from home, and I’ve sat on more yoga balls than chairs this year. I tried four sizes across a few brands. Some were great. Some were… circus-level silly. You know what? Size matters more than folks think.
Curious about every measurement and mishap? I pulled together a deeper dive on yoga ball sizes that actually worked for me.
If you want an additional voice in the conversation, I also bookmarked The Yoga Nomads’ guide to choosing the right exercise ball size and found its tips lined up neatly with my own experiments.
Quick scene: my setup
- Height: 5'6"
- Home office desk height: about 29 inches
- Floor: mix of hardwood and a low rug
- Balls I used: Gaiam 55 cm, Trideer 65 cm, URBNFit 75 cm, and a DYNAPRO 85 cm at my gym
Because I’m at my desk (and phone) all day, I end up chatting with friends, co-workers, and sometimes getting a little flirty with my partner when breaks run long. If you’ve also found yourself wanting a fun way to meet new people for playful text banter, the Sexting Finder directory can point you toward the safest, most reputable apps and sites so you can skip the guesswork and dive straight into engaging, consensual conversations.
If you’re in Massachusetts and would rather turn that digital spark into an actual coffee date or yoga session, the adult search Brockton listing helps you quickly browse nearby, like-minded singles and couples so you can set up face-to-face meet-ups without wading through endless generic profiles.
Let me explain what each one felt like in real life.
The 55 cm (Gaiam Classic) — small but mighty
I used the purple one. It came with a little foot pump and two plugs. The pump was flimsy, but it worked. The ball had a light plastic smell for a day. Nothing wild.
For core work, the 55 cm felt awesome. Crunches, dead bug holds, hamstring curls—so stable. My knees felt safe. For my desk though? Way too low. My hips sank. My knees were almost higher than my hips. My lower back complained by lunch. On hardwood, it slid a bit unless I used a yoga mat under it.
What I loved:
- Great control for ab work
- Easy to store in a small room
- Not scary to get on and off
What bugged me:
- Too short for sitting at a normal desk
- Texture felt a little sticky with leggings
Bottom line: perfect for workouts. Not great as a chair for my height.
The 65 cm (Trideer Extra Thick) — my daily chair
This one is my sweet spot. I used the charcoal gray ball for three weeks straight as my desk chair. The hand pump took about 10 minutes. First day, it lost a tiny bit of air, then it settled. That’s normal. I topped it off on day two and it held steady.
Sitting felt natural. My hips sat slightly higher than my knees—just enough room for my hips to relax. I could rock a little while typing, which kept me from stiffening up. During calls, I did gentle bounces. Sounds silly, but it kept my brain awake. I even did wall passes with a light medicine ball against it. Fun, and it didn’t squeal on the wall.
What I loved:
- Stable for sitting and easy hip circles
- Firm shell, not wobbly
- Good height for my desk
What bugged me:
- Takes space in a small room
- My dog thought it was a moon and tried to boop it
Bottom line: this is the one I still use for work and light stretching.
The 75 cm (URBNFit) — great for tall folks and wall work
I wanted to love it. I really did. For my height, the 75 cm was a bit tall as a chair. My feet planted, but my hips felt too high. My back arched. I could fix it by lowering my desk, but my desk doesn’t budge.
For workouts though—wow. Wall squats felt smooth and deep. Hip bridges were spicy. Pike roll-ins were hard but steady. On a low rug, it stayed put.
What I loved:
- Amazing for wall squats and big stretches
- Strong, bouncy feel
- Easy to kneel on for push-up work
What bugged me:
- Too tall for my desk height
- Harder to store (it’s a big bubble)
Bottom line: awesome for exercise. Better for folks 5'9" and up if you plan to sit on it.
The 85 cm (DYNAPRO) — giant, but fun at the gym
I tested this at my gym and later borrowed one from a friend who’s 6'3". For me, it felt like sitting on a beach ball at a cookout—very high. Great for kneeling push-ups and backbends, though. My friend uses it as a “birthing ball” style seat while gaming. He swears his hips feel better.
What I loved:
- Super stable against a wall
- Nice for big, flowing stretches
What bugged me:
- Way too tall for my frame
- Not home-friendly unless you have space
Bottom line: wonderful for very tall folks or big range moves. Not for my daily desk life.
So… which size should you pick?
This is the simple guide that worked for me and my clients:
- Under 5'2": 55 cm
- 5'2" to 5'8": 65 cm
- 5'9" to 6'2": 75 cm
- Over 6'2": 85 cm
For an even more detailed breakdown—including how to measure yourself and your workspace—take a peek at the sizing guide on It's All About Yoga. If you need quick numbers at a glance, Prism Fitness has a handy yoga ball size chart that matches most industry standards.
If you sit at a desk:
- Go with the size where your hips are a bit higher than your knees.
- If your desk is tall and can’t adjust, a larger ball can help. If your desk is low, go smaller.
If you use it for workouts only:
- Smaller balls feel more controlled for abs.
- Bigger balls feel nicer for wall squats and backbends.
A few real-world tips I wish I knew sooner
- Inflate to the right size: Don’t guess. I used a tape measure and made a little mark on my wall at 65 cm. I checked the ball against it.
- New balls soften a hair in 24 hours: Top off the air the next day. Then it stays steady.
- Floor matters: On carpet, balls sink a bit and feel shorter. On hardwood, they roll more. A yoga mat helps with grip.
- Clothes change the feel: Slippery shorts slide. Cotton sticks. I like leggings with a little grip.
- Don’t chase “burst-proof”: Most brands say “anti-burst,” which means slow deflate, not magic. Keep it away from sharp stuff. I learned that the hard way with a cat and a cactus. Long story.
- Storage: I tuck mine under the desk or park it in a laundry basket. It stops roaming.
If you're hunting for something thoughtful to wrap up, here are some yoga gift ideas I've actually used and loved—they pair perfectly with a fresh stability ball.
My current setup (and why)
- Work chair: 65 cm Trideer — hips happy, back calm.
- Workout buddy: 55 cm Gaiam — core moves and hamstring curls.
- Gym days: I use the 75 cm and 85 cm there for wall work and big stretches.
It sounds extra, but having two at home helped. The small one keeps me honest during ab work. The mid one keeps me comfy while I type.
Who I’d match with each size
- Shorter folks or kids: 45–55 cm for safety and control.
- Most people my height (around 5'6"): 65 cm for sitting, 55 cm for abs.
- Taller folks (5'9"+): 75 cm for sitting and all-around use.
- Very tall folks (6'2"+): 85 cm—especially if you’ll sit on it a lot.
Final take
Picking a yoga ball size isn’t fancy. It’s about hip height, floor feel, and what you want to do. For me, 65 cm wins the desk. The 55 cm wins core work. The rest? Great tools, just not my daily match.
And if you’re still on the hunt for the perfect present for a fellow yogi, I also tested 12 yoga gifts I’d happily give again—no duds, promise.
If you sit down and your knees pop up, it