The 10 Best Balance Boards of 2023, According to a Physical Therapist

The small stabilizing muscles in your body play a role in pretty much every action you do. But unlike your biceps or glutes, they're pretty tricky to max out with standard strength-training exercises. Enter: the balance board.

Balance and wobble boards can help build strength in these small muscles across your body, improving your overall stability, balance and proprioception (your sense of body positioning), says Winnie Yu, DPT, CPT, a New York-based physical therapist at Bespoke treatments. In the long run, that adds up to improved sports performance and a lower risk of injury.

To help you start building balance and stability, we chatted with Yu and picked out the 10 best balance boards you can buy, as well as what to look for. We chose our top picks based on her recommendations and criteria, including:

• Price
• Material
• Size
• Versatility

This is one of the best balance boards for standing desks. And considering so many of us use standing desks in the office or at home, it's a must-have. But having a cushioned board, like StrongTek's, can also help relieve tension from standing for a long time, according to Yu.

"I like this board because it allows users to comfortably shift their weight to activate different posture muscles and minimize fatigue from standing throughout the day," she says.

When you think of a balance board, the BOSU (short for BOth Sides Up) is probably what first comes to mind — and for good reason.

"I love the BOSU, because it can be used in so many ways and to train so many different muscle groups," Yu says." It's definitely one of my go-to choices of equipment for my patients at any stage of rehab."

You can use this trainer flat-side up or dome-side up for strength, stability, flexibility and agility training. And considering it weighs about 8 pounds, you can use it as a strength tool, too.

Don't have a ton of free space for a BOSU in your home gym? This EVERYMILE board is an ideal alternative, according to Yu. It's a much smaller version and weighs only about 3.5 pounds, so it's easy to carry around the house.

Let's face it: Planks, no matter how beneficial they are, aren't always a fun exercise. But this core-training board adds a little fun, according to Yu.

You can place your phone in the cell-sized hole on the board and play games while training your core. Every purchase comes with four core-strengthening games to help keep you engaged (pun intended) and track your progress.

Yu recommends this balance trainer for anyone that's trying balance board exercises for the first time. In her physical therapy practice, she uses this type of device for early stages of rehab. It offers a flat, yet unstable surface for you to build foundational stability and strength, she says. And the cushion is safe for sensitive joints like knees and ankles.

This board is best for high-level athletes who want to challenge their core stability or reactive skills, Yu says. More unstable than the others, this one provides a greater challenge for developing skills in sports like skateboarding or ice hockey.

Unlike standard wooden balance boards, this one has a high-grip, cushioned surface, giving your feet a little extra comfort.

This board includes a cushion, half-rocker base and roller, all of which add a different level of challenge to your balance exercises, according to Yu.

So, instead of buying a new board as you improve your stability, you can start with the cushion, move to the half-rocker as you improve and progress to the roller when you're confident in your skills.

"I like that this board gives users the option to vary their training to match their goals at different parts of rehabilitation and fitness levels," Yu says.

The 4TH Core board is more than just a balance board — it's a piece of multipurpose training equipment, Yu says. Sure, you can use this board for standard balance and stability exercises. But considering it's made with soft cork, you can also use the roller for muscle recovery. Plus, the soft material keeps your floors scratch-free.

Anyone looking to include a higher level of balance and coordination training in their workouts is sure to love the URBNFit, according to Yu.

Thanks to its high-grip tape, this skateboard-style board provides a safe surface to practice the skills and body control needed for sports like surfing, snowboarding and (of course) skateboarding, she says.

Ever watch your kids run around the backyard or playground? They're bound to fall down. A lot. But building balance and stability from a young age can help prevent injury. And this wooden wobble board is a great way to do so, Yu says.

"This is a fun, versatile option for postural and sensory development that I would definitely use with a pediatric patient," she says. After all, helping your kids build good posture at a young age has benefits for years to come.

Your current balance and stability level is the first thing to consider before you buy a board, Yu says.

For beginners looking to build foundational stability, a BOSU ball or rubber balance trainer are the safest options. They offer more stability than skateboard-style balance boards and are usually made with a softer material for extra joint protection.

Those looking to improve their balance for a sport are probably advanced enough to use a device with a rocker at the center. These are the least stable variety and require quite a bit of strength and stability to use, Yu says.

There are tons of different balance boards out there, all with different surfaces and materials. Although there's no one material that's best for everyone, Yu prefers ones made from either plastic or rubber, rather than wood, because they can last longer and offer a little more protection for your floors.

But if the product you like happens to be made out of wood, you can put a towel or yoga mat under your board to protect scratch-prone floors.

The best balance boards range anywhere from $15 to $200. So your available budget plays a part in which boards fit your needs.