Exercise balls may not be the first thing that comes to mind when you think of workout equipment, but they have more fitness benefits than most of us realize. "Exercise balls can help with proper posture, balance, and stability, as well as strengthening core muscles and developing body control,” says Shayra Brown, a personal trainer at Blink Fitness.
Ellen Thompson, who is also a personal trainer at Blink Fitness, adds that introducing an exercise ball into your regular workouts can help you recruit additional muscles with the same movement pattern. "Plus, if you’re coming off of an injury, exercise balls are great at assisting in achieving increased mobility and range of motion in joints—all while supporting posture and form," she explains. She also recommends them for when you’ve hit a workout plateau, to help you ramp up the intensity without having to find new moves. The gist? If you want to level up your home workouts, there's an exercise ball for that.
With the help of fitness professionals, we investigated various exercise balls on the market to determine the best options to enhance your at-home workouts. Many factors were considered, including size, durability, fitness levels, setup time, weight, and more. We also considered options for focusing on specific parts of the body, bearing in mind that everyone's path to health and wellness is unique. You can use an exercise ball for a variety of purposes, from core training and flexibility training to office decor and ergonomics. Whether you're looking for an exercise ball that rolls up neatly for storage after your session or a basem*nt gym that can accommodate all your equipment, we've got you covered. Fitness experts Shayra, a coach and personal trainer, and Ellen, the editor in chief of Fitness Trainer Magazine, also offer go-to recommendations and motivational advice. Below, we'll go over the best options for exercise balls, from big inflatable ones to more compact, weighted ones.
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Best Overall: Perform Better Thera-Band Stability Ball
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What We Like
- Deflates slowly if punctured for safety
- Easy to clean
- Multiple options for multiple heights
What We Don't Like
- No instructions included for inflation
This inflatable ball is a top choice for Thompson. “If you’re looking for a simple yet durable exercise ball to introduce to your current fitness routine, this would be a great option,” she says. She loves that its design features non-slip ridges that she says are helpful when performing exercises like hamstring curls. This ball is available in an array of sizes, from 45 to 75 centimeters.
Price at time of publish: $22.77 for Yellow
Material: Rubber | Size: From 18 to 30 inches (or 45 to 75 centimeters)
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Best Budget: Wacces Fitness And Exercise Ball
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What We Like
- Comes with quick pump
- Available in multiple sizes for multiple heights
- Traction-like surface prevents sliding off
What We Don't Like
- Could be more durable and bigger
Affordable yet durable, this inflatable ball is excellent for those who don’t want to overcommit off the bat; it’s priced as low as $8 for the smaller size. While it won’t support the same level of weight as high-end balls, regular exercise moves aren’t any sort of burst risk. It’s available in three sizes and eight different colors.
Price at time of publish: $17.45 for 22 inches (Black)
Material: Rubber | Size: 22, 26, or 30 inches
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Best for Back Pain: URBNFit Exercise Ball
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This ball comes with both a workout guide and a pump, making it a sound choice for beginners who might otherwise be intimidated by new equipment. The brand claims that it won’t burst with less than 2,000 pounds of pressure (!!) and can alternately be used as a chair to relieve back pain and pressure. It's also made in a dozen different festive colors.
Price at time of publish: $29 for 26 inches (Teal)
Material: Rubber (PVC) | Size: From 18 to 34 inches (or 45 to 85 centimeters)
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Best for Beginners: Escape Fitness Vertmini Medicine Balls
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What We Like
- Multiple size and weight options
- Great for all fitness levels
- Compact and durable
- Has a sure-grip surface
What We Don't Like
- Pricey
Available in five weights ranging from 1K to 5K, this medicine ball has you covered no matter how much, or how little, weight you want your exercise ball to add to your workout. Shayra thinks that “their small size makes them great for beginners and users of all abilities.”
Price at time of publish: $38 for 2.2 pounds (Green)
Material: Rubber | Size: Multiple
Byrdie Tip
According to our experts, before starting a new exercise routine or plan, it’s recommended to consult a health care provider first. It's important to always listen to your body, and if something hurts or doesn’t feel right while working out, you should stop and consult your healthcare provider.
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Best Advanced: Escape Fitness Slamball SBX
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What We Like
- Multiple size and weight options
- Great for all fitness levels
- Compact and durable
- Textured surface provides firm grip and control
What We Don't Like
- Pricey
This ball is a great choice for more advanced exercisers. Ellen says to choose this ball “if you’re looking to really amp it up on the power end” because “its durable rubber exterior, featuring a super grippy texture, makes handling really comfortable, especially when you’re fighting to control the instability of the shifting sand inside.” She tells us that “whether I’m asking a client to throw or slam this ball, we never have to worry about a roll or a bounce back.” Weights range from 11 pounds to 44, so “you can incorporate everything from rotational chops to target the core, to overhead slams to hit the lats and shoulders.”
Material: SBX Rubber and Reinforcing Mesh | Size: Multiple
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Best Durability: SPRI Ultraball
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What We Like
- Made of thicker-gauge material than most balls
- Dimpled surface prevents rolling and slippage
- Slowly deflates for safety
What We Don't Like
- Pricey
Claiming to be the safest and most reliable stability ball on the market, this ball is made from material that’s thicker and heavier than many others in the category. It’s slow to deflate, resistant to stretching or deforming, and comes with a downloadable exercise guide.
Material: Rubber | Size: 22 inches
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Best Instructions: GoFit Pro Grade Stability Ball
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What We Like
- Comes in multiple sizes for multiple heights
- Exercises uniquely printed on ball
- Includes a convenient foot pump
What We Don't Like
- Could be bigger
With this ball, you'll never forget your workout—because the exercises are written right on it! The GoFit ball has a patterned grip for ease of use and comes in three sizes. It also comes with an exercise manual and DVD, making it a fabulous option for anyone who wants as much guidance and instruction as possible from their exercise ball.
Price at time of publish: $39.99 for 22 inches (Blue)
Material: Rubber | Size: 22, 26, or 30 inches
Byrdie Tip
What to do once you’ve got a ball and want to get rolling? Brown's favorite exercise ball workout moves include wall squats, dead bugs, ball passes, and decline push-ups.
Meet the Expert
- Shayra Brown is a National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM)-certified personal trainer at Blink Fitness in New York.
- Ellen Thompson is the Editor-in-Chief of the digital publication Fitness Trainer and a National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM) certified personal trainer at Blink Fitness in New York City.
What to Look for in an Exercise Ball
Weight
Exercise balls come in weighted and non-weighted options, and of the balls on this list, range from around 2 lbs to 44 lbs. Consider your usage—do you want to use the weighted ball to build strength, or are you using it for balance and coordination? That will determine whether a weighted exercise ball will be ideal for your workouts.
Size
Exercise balls come in an array of sizes. If you're starting out, you might want to try a smaller ball like the Escape Fitness Vertmini Medicine Ball. Many of the exercise balls on this list come in a variety of sizes, making it easy to customize your workout. And if you find one you like, you can move up or down a size to expand your home gym if you choose to do so. Different sizes can also serve different workout purposes or help ease back pain and the like.
Extras
If you're a beginner and need some workout inspiration, some exercise balls come with downloadable workout guides to help you get started. This can be helpful even if you're not new to the exercise game to give you additional workout tips and routines. Other helpful extras include a pump to inflate your exercise ball.
FAQ
What is an exercise ball?
An exercise ball, sometimes dubbed a stability ball, is a large, air-filled ball that you can use in your workouts to help work on stability, flexibility, strength, and balance.
How can I use an exercise ball?
There are so many ways you can use your exercise ball. Many stability ball-specific workouts can help to target your core. "The exercise ball is also a useful stretching tool, like lying face down over the ball and letting your head hang toward the floor for your back to relax and open up," says personal trainer Laura Flynn Endres. "Conversely, lie face up with the ball centered on your back and maintain a wide stance with your feet for balance, letting your head hang back and your arms fall open and wide."
How We Researched
To compile this list, our team of editors and contributors spent hours researching the best products on the market in this category, evaluating their key features—like ingredients, shade range, or design—in addition to reviews from customers and other trusted sources. We then used this research to assign a star rating from one to five (five being the best; one being the worst) to certain products on the list.
