As we head towards spring and summer, garden tasks like planting, trimming, and sowing seeds are high on the to-do list for the green-fingered among us. And if all that kneeling and bending over borders takes its toll on your knees then there’s one bit of kit you should invest in (alongside sweet pea seedlings and dahlia tubers, of course): a garden kneeler.
Whether a pad or a seat, these are a gardener’s saviour when it comes to sprucing up your outside space. They provide your joints with much-needed support, comfort and relief, meaning you can give your garden all the TLC it deserves.
We’re here to help, too. There’s a whole range of products on the market to keep you pruning and preening for longer, and our GHI experts put them to the test to find the very best garden kneelers for every gardening job.
If you’re in a rush to get planting, check out our favourites in this quick list, or keep scrolling for more on how to find the best pad for you.
The best garden kneelers for 2024
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Best leather knee pads
Bradleys Leather Knee Pads
Read more
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What is the best type of garden kneeler?
Garden kneelers are real green-fingered friends, but there are a few different styles available. These are the key ones to know about.
- Kneeling cushion – a bit like a pillow, these are lightweight padded mats. Some have a single layer of cushioning, while others have multiple layers, including memory foam. Many have a hanging hole or handle for ease of storage and transportation.
- Knee pads – rather like shin pads, these sit over your knees so your hands are free to carry tools and other garden equipment.
- Stool – this is essentially a kneeling cushion attached to a frame. It’s the most versatile design, as the frame acts as a handle to offer support if you struggle to get up from kneeling. It also doubles up as a stool when flipped the other way, so you can comfortably tend to plants higher up too.
How to remain comfortable when gardening
If you’re like us and love getting out into the garden when the sun is shining, then you’ll know it's not always the most comfortable way to spend an afternoon. But there’s no reason to hang up the gardening gloves before you’ve ticked off all your tasks.
These simple tips should make gardening easier and more comfortable so you can enjoy all your green ventures to the max.
- Invest in good quality tools: poor quality tools or poorly maintained tools may cause unnecessary strain if you need to use them more forcefully. Store all tools in a cool, dry place, and keep them sharp.
- Wear the right gloves for the job: gloves keep your hands clean and also protect against hardier foliage and thorns. Take a look at our roundup on the best gardening gloves for more detail.
- Wear the right clothes: gardening is hard work, so you’ll want to wear light and airy clothing, even in winter – then add a thin raincoat or waterproof jacket over the top to keep you dry.
- Don’t stay out in the sun for too long: when the sun is blazing, being outside is even more appealing. But it’s important to take regular breaks, as too much sun exposure can cause fatigue or even sunstroke. Remember to take a good water bottle with you too, so you can always stay hydrated. And always apply that daily SPF.
How we test
To make sure each garden kneeler is fit for the job, we take each one into the garden and test them on a variety of different surfaces including gravel, concrete and grass.
We judge whether the kneeler is waterproof, if it slips around and how comfortable it is over prolonged periods.
We also look at its design and instructions to see if there are any other handy features.
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Best garden kneeler
Spear & Jackson 5 Layer Garden Kneeler
Score: 97/100
Thick and well-cushioned, this kneeler from garden tools expert Spear and Jackson performed best on test to earn its well-deserved crown. It provided total protection (our experts couldn’t feel anything through it) and comfort on a variety of surfaces, even when used for long periods.
It’s a generous size and didn’t slip on damp surfaces. It only lost marks due to dirt traps around the seams and a lack of cleaning guidance – small niggles given your hands will be submerged in the earth anyway. A great piece of gardening kit.
Key specifications
| Type | Kneeling cushion |
|---|---|
| Size | H48 x W29 x D5.5 |
| Material | EVA foam, neoprene |
| Removable cover | No |
| Waterproof | Yes |
| Carry handle | Yes |
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Best knee pads
Spear & Jackson 3 Layer Knee Pads
Score: 97/100
Another option from Spear and Jackson, these are the knee pad equivalent of our winning garden kneeler. Unsurprisingly then, they also offered brilliant protection, whether on gravel, grass or concrete.
They were easy to attach, and testers found them comfortable both when kneeling and walking around. There were no issues as time passed either; our experts even forgot they were wearing them!
Key specifications
| Type | Knee pads |
|---|---|
| Size | H22 x W12 x D9 |
| Removable cover | No |
| Waterproof | Yes |
| Carry handle | N/A |
Score: 93/100
With 10 colours available, you can have fun matching these pads to your gardening outfit. They offer plenty of padding and protection, so you don’t need to worry about kneeling down to weed on hard pavement either.
The neoprene cover is water-resistant and quick to dry. But some testers found that when they sat back on their feet, the straps behind the knees dug in slightly. This may not be the case for everyone, though.
Key specifications
| Type | Knee pads |
|---|---|
| Size | H25 x W20 x D7 |
| Material | EVA foam, neoprene |
| Removable cover | No |
| Waterproof | Yes |
| Carry handle | N/A |
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Best large garden kneeler
Navy Penguin Kneeling Pad
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Best large garden kneeler
Navy Penguin Kneeling Pad
Score: 91/100
This large, multi-tasking kneeler has a different foam density on either side; one is firmer and best used when gardening for long periods, while the other is less dense to provide quick support during short jobs. Thanks to its size, it protected the tops of our testers' shins as well as the knees, but some noted that the firm side of the pad was harder than expected, making it a little uncomfortable for prolonged kneeling.
That said, it scored full marks when used on concrete flooring and performed well on damp grass and gravel too. Plus, it’s waterproof if you get caught in a downpour.
| Type | Kneeling cushion |
|---|---|
| Size | H32.7 x W42.7 x D2.5 |
| Material | EVA foam |
| Removable cover | No |
| Waterproof | Yes |
| Carry handle | Yes |
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Best leather knee pads
Bradleys Leather Knee Pads
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Best leather knee pads
Bradleys Leather Knee Pads
Score: 87/100
If you’re a fan of leather garden accessories, then these are the ones to go for. The knee pads performed particularly well on gravel and grass; testers felt cushioned and comfortable, and water didn’t seep through on damp ground. However, their knees didn’t feel quite as cushioned when working on concrete.
Testers also noted that the raw padding was slightly prickly, so we'd recommend opting for another style if you like to do the gardening in shorts.
| Type | Knee pads |
|---|---|
| Size | H17 x W14 x D7 |
| Material | Leather |
| Removable cover | No |
| Waterproof | Yes |
| Carry handle | N/A |
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Best stool kneeler
Livivo Garden Kneeler
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Best stool kneeler
Livivo Garden Kneeler
Score: 87/100
This versatile garden kneeler also functions as a stool and provides storage for tools – ideal if you regularly forget where you last left your gardening fork! It sits a couple of centimetres off the ground, so offers total protection against hard, damp or gravel surfaces, while remaining stable.
Testers found the foam kneeler was generally comfortable but think the padded provided is best suited to quick jobs. Everyone was grateful for the side handles too, which offer support when standing up after working down low.
| Type | Garden kneeler seat |
|---|---|
| Size | H59 x W29 x D27 |
| Material | Steel, polypropylene foam, polyester |
| Removable cover | No |
| Waterproof | Yes |
| Carry handle | N/A |
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Best firm garden kneeler
Niwaki Garden Kneeler
Score: 87/100
Don’t be fooled by the simple design of this foam kneeler as it still has a high-quality feel to it thanks to the tough, waterproof canvas cover. It performed impressively across all our tests, remaining secure on a variety of surfaces and protected knees against sharp gravel.
This kneeler is the firmest of the bunch though, which may not suit everyone. But if it’s solid support that you’re after, it’s hard to beat.
| Type | Kneeling cushion |
|---|---|
| Size | H48 x W28 x D5.5 |
| Material | Canvas, EVA foam |
| Removable cover | Yes |
| Waterproof | Yes |
| Carry handle | Yes |
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Best budget knee pad
Green Blade Garden Kneeling Pad
Score: 78/100
This budget offering is made from textured foam, meaning it remains secure even on slippery surfaces. Our testers were pleased with the level of protection it gave on gravel as well as the general comfort it offered across different gardening tasks.
Be warned though, it’s small and doesn't offer much manoeuvrability – we had to keep our knees together when working. At this price point, however, we can’t really complain and it’s well-suited to short-term use. A good buy for beginner gardeners.
| Type | Knee pads |
|---|---|
| Size | H41.1 x W16 x D1.8 |
| Material | EVA foam |
| Removable cover | N/A |
| Waterproof | Yes |
| Carry handle | Yes |
Megan Geall
Homes Writer
Megan is the Good Housekeeping Institute’s homes writer. She loves diving into the latest product releases to find the very best buys on the market. When she’s not writing about the newest gadgets and gizmos for your home and garden, you’ll find her cooking, running and exploring London’s foodie hotspots – or trying to make friends with every dog she passes. Megan has an MA in Magazine Journalism and has previously written for Stylist, Glamour, TimeOut, SquareMeal, and YOU magazine. You can find Megan on Instagram @meganlouisegeall and on X @megan_geall
