Adjustable standing desks&#;also referred to as sit-to-stand desks&#;give you the option to raise your desktop to a height that is comfortable to use while standing to add more movement to your workday. After testing nine of the most popular standing desks over several weeks, my recommendation for the best standing desk is the Branch Duo. It had the best blend of features and functions of any desk I tested, and it&#;s aesthetically pleasing, too. Even after six months of testing, I still find this desk to be comfortable, effective and user-friendly. If you&#;re seeking a slightly larger standing desk with a bamboo top, the Fully Jarvis Bamboo Standing Desk was best runner-up.
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After testing nine of the most popular standing desks over several weeks, my recommendation for the ... [+] best standing desk is the Branch Duo.
ILLUSTRATION: FORBES / PHOTO: RETAILERSHere are all the winners from my testing process:
There are compelling reasons to make a standing desk part of your office or WFH set-up. &#;Sitting at a desk for extended periods can have various downsides; some of my colleagues have referred to sitting as the &#;silent killer,&#;&#; said physiotherapist Lalitha Bhowani-McSorley. While Bhowani-McSorley acknowledges that may be an exaggeration, she points out that sitting too much can have real consequences: &#;Individuals who sit for long periods of time will often see an increase in the risk of weight gain, cardiovascular problems and metabolic issues.&#; She adds that excessive sitting can lead to poor posture, weak core muscles and tight hip flexors.
If that has you convinced to start spending more time out of your chair, look for a standing desk that is easy to use, has accessories that are functional for your work habits and environment (like a desk drawer if you want office supplies tucked out of sight, or a cable management tray if you&#;re bothered by the sight of dangling cords) and&#;most importantly&#;that meets height and space requirements for you and your space. Read on for my review of six of the best standing desks to consider, based on my first-hand experience.
Branch
Dimensions: 36 x 24 inches, 48 x 24 inches | Height Range: 28 inches (minimum); 47.8 inches (maximum) | Memory Settings: 2 | Motor: Dual | Weight Capacity: 275 pounds | Warranty: 10 years
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For its sturdy design, attractive finish options and multi-functional paddle controller, the Branch Duo won best standing desk in my tests. Six months later, it&#;s still my go-to desk.. It&#;s compact enough to fit in small spaces but doesn&#;t feel like a compromise on features or design. One feature that impressed me is its built-in reminder to sit or stand, a thoughtful addition not found on any other desk I tested (although a few models offer this functionality as an add-on or option within an app).
During long periods of focused work, I find it tough to remember to change positions, ignoring what ergonomist Matt Jeffs calls postural fatigue. &#;Brushed aside long enough, postural fatigue advances to discomfort,&#; he notes. &#;Overlooked further, discomfort becomes pain.&#; This standing desk gave me the impetus I needed to keep up with a regular rotation of sitting versus standing to avoid postural fatigue. It has a total lift range of 19.8 inches, with a minimum height setting of 28 inches and a maximum height setting of 47.8 inches. That range should be sufficient for most people, although the desktop doesn&#;t reach quite as high as a few other desks I tested, which have an upper height limit of 50 inches or more.
Thanks to a built-in reminder to stand, the Branch Duo stood out among other desks I tested.
Erica PuisisThe height settings are controlled by a simple paddle controller that you push down or pull up to move the desk and there are two memory positions for your preferred sitting and standing heights, which I find to be a handy shortcut to reaching my Goldilocks settings. With a helpful but unobtrusive OLED display screen that dims after input, it&#;s more discreet than your average touch-button controlpad but also has a slightly steeper learning curve. An optional sit-or-stand reminder alerts you when it&#;s time to change position, either with a visual cue on the controller&#;s display screen or via a vibration that resonates across the desk (especially helpful if you&#;ve become drowsy during a mid-afternoon work session). These settings and options are controlled with two small buttons on either side of the controller.
There are enough customization options to make this desk appealing for just about any office or home workspace, including five options for the laminated desktop and three colors for the powder-coated steel legs. If you have a small space, the 36 x 24-inch standing desk is your best bet. If you have a little more room to work with, then take advantage of the slightly larger 48 x 24-inch option (which is what I used during testing). It provided more than enough room for my laptop stand, wireless keyboard, mouse, a notebook and a cup of coffee. In the last six months of testing, I also added a freestanding 24-inch monitor and still feel like there&#;s plenty of work surface available. The desk is powered by a dual-motor lift system (which is usually faster and quieter than a single motor) and is covered by a 10-year warranty. That&#;s better than the warranty coverage of the other desks I tested, some of which had only a two- to five-year warranty.
The Branch Duo has a dual-motor lift system that ran smoothly in my tests, even when the desk was ... [+] loaded by the maximum 275-pound weight capacity.
Erica PuisisIt took about 40 minutes to assemble the desk, and the components and hardware were clearly labeled so there wasn&#;t any guesswork when I installed the various screws using the included hex wrench. Compared to the other desks I assembled, the Branch Duo&#;s instructions were clear and simple. The process took a little longer than a few other desks, but it felt relatively fast and frustration-free.
For a finishing touch, you can outfit the desk with a cable management tray to keep cords from your computer or electronics organized and out of sight, or with a desk drawer for office essentials like pens, USB devices and sticky notes. Those accessories aren&#;t available for most of the other standing desks I tested, adding to the Branch Duo&#;s appeal for shoppers that want to customize their desk set-up. I&#;ve used the desk with both accessories and wouldn&#;t go without the cable management tray, which keeps the cords for the desk, my monitor and a charger tucked up but accessible. And while I was initially very excited to use the desk drawer and gave it high marks for build quality and a soft, felt-lined interior, I didn&#;t love the extra depth it takes up below the desk surface and ended up removing it. Opting to add it on to your desk will ultimately depend on how much you prioritize the extra storage space.
Herman Miller
Dimensions: 48 x 27 inches, 60 x 27 inches, 72 x 30 inches | Height Range: 25.5 inches (minimum); 51 inches (maximum) | Memory Settings: 4 | Motor: Dual | Weight Capacity: 350 pounds | Warranty: 5 years (desktop); 15 years (frame, mechanical parts, motors, and electrical components)
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The Fully Jarvis Bamboo Standing Desk impressed me during testing with its strength and durability, and it has a classic aesthetic that will blend into most workspaces. The bamboo desktop is a sustainable, natural alternative to laminate surfaces, and you can pair it with a silver, black or white metal frame. Aside from an option for a curved desktop, there&#;s not much room for customizing the appearance of the Fully Jarvis desk. Its warranty, however, stands out: it&#;s five years for the desktop and 15 years for the other major components, which is second only to the Uplift V2 (which covers all components for 15 years).
The Fully Jarvis has a bamboo surface, a more sustainable alternative to laminate.
Erica PuisisWhen standing or sitting at this bamboo desk, I had no complaints about the form or function. The desk smoothly transitions from seated to standing and back using the up/down toggle buttons or four memory presets on the programmable keyset, which has a crisp OLED display that makes the numbers easy to read. The desk has a 350-pound weight capacity (about the same as other full-size standing desks) and had no noticeable wobble when I propped my elbows on the desk during use. It easily lifted 200 pounds during testing, without any slowdown or protest from the motor so it&#;s safe to say that it can handle even dual-monitor computer set-ups and plenty of paperwork. It also didn&#;t scratch or stain when I used the desk with a laptop stand, dropped a container full of pens on the desk&#;s surface, or spilled a cup of hot coffee.
Steelcase
Dimensions: 48 x 24 inches, 60 x 24 inches, 48 x 30 inches, 60 x 30 inches| Height Range: 22.6 inches (minimum); 48.7 inches (maximum) | Memory Settings: None | Motor: Single | Weight Capacity: 360 pounds | Warranty: 12 years
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The Steelcase Solo Sit-To-Stand Desk is a worthy upgrade because it has a sleek aesthetic, feels incredibly sturdy and offers the easiest assembly of any standing desk I tested. While there&#;s much to say about the features that justify its high price-tag, the bottom line is that this model continues to perform well after six months of testing and would make a great choice for any office or home environment.
The Solo Standing Desk made a terrific first impression with its lightning-fast assembly. While other desks required at least a handful of screws and bolts and took an hour (or more) to put together, Steelcase has streamlined assembly to two simple steps: snap the legs, which are already attached, into the frame and use a screwdriver to attach the paddle controller. The whole process was done in 10 minutes flat. Once assembled, the desk is light enough for two people to easily lift it. I&#;ve moved it around several times to accommodate my home office needs.
The Steelcase Solo Sit-To-Stand Desk was the easiest to assemble of any desk I tested.
Erica PuisisBelying its simple assembly, the desk is excellently constructed. The desktop is commercial-grade, high-pressure laminate that is more impact- and scratch-resistant than other types of laminate surfaces and shows absolutely no wear after six months&#; of use. It comes in seven different finish options, and the steel frame is available in black or white. Its biggest limitation is that it&#;s only available with a paddle controller, not a programmable handset, so there&#;s no option for saving your preferred sitting or standing height. That said, I noticed that height adjustments are smooth and quiet, even when the desk was loaded up with 200 pounds&#;an impressive feat for a single-motor standing desk.
The Solo Standing Desk is backed by a 12-year warranty, so it should hold up to years of use in a commercial office environment. Aesthetically, it fit right into my home office without looking clunky or industrial.
Uplift
Dimensions: 42 x 30 inches, 48 x 30 inches, 60 x 30 inches, 72 x 30 inches, 80 x 30 inches | Height Range: 25.3 inches (minimum); 50.9 inches (maximum) | Memory Settings: 4 | Motor: Dual | Weight Capacity: 355 pounds | Warranty: 15 years
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All of the best standing desks offer at least a few options for customizing its size and appearance, but no standing desk offers as many finishes, features and accessories as the Uplift V2 Standing Desk. It&#;s hands-down the most customizable standing desk I tested, and it&#;s worth the effort to pick out and assemble this desk if you want one you can tailor to your needs and workspace.
You can order the V2 Standing Desk in five different sizes, four different frame colors and more than 30 different finishes, including laminate, bamboo and solid wood options. While the starting price of this desk sits in the middle compared to others I tested, the price does climb if you select one of the larger sizes or a solid wood desktop. You can also get this desk in certain colors and sizes from Amazon.
The Uplift V2's programmable controller is easy to use, with four preset heights and a digital ... [+] display.
Erica PuisisUplift&#;s wide range of add-ons makes the V2 ideal for customizing for your work or hobbies. You can pick from accessories like cable organizers, drawers, a storage cubby or a foot hammock or full-size hammock (only available for 72-inch desks or larger). Uplift adds some free accessories to your order, too, like a balance board for more comfort and movement while standing at the desk. Another standout optional accessory is the Bluetooth USB adaptor, which I found to be helpful for controlling the desk&#;s height and receiving sit or stand reminders. The programmable controller is also simple to use, with four preset heights and a digital display.
The Uplift V2 comes with the widest range of add-on accessories among the desks I tested, including ... [+] an under-desk hammock.
Erica PuisisUplift has a generous 15-year warranty for the V2 Standing Desk and a 30-day return window with free shipping, beating most other brands, which deduct the cost of return shipping from your refund. I found their customer service to be very helpful when the first rubberwood desktop I ordered arrived with a gouge. Uplift was quick to make things right by shipping a new desktop promptly, which arrived in perfect shape.
The biggest hang-up I encountered was the lengthy assembly time. It took almost two hours because of the many steps to assemble the frame and secure it to the legs and tabletop. If you don&#;t mind investing a little time upfront, this standing desk may be just right for whatever your workday routine involves (including power naps in your personal hammock).
Amazon
Dimensions: 47.5 x 24 inches | Height Range: 28 inches (minimum); 46.5 inches (maximum) | Memory Settings: 3 | Motor: Single | Weight Capacity: 176 pounds | Warranty: 2 years (electronic components); 7 years (non-electric components)
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The Seville Classics Airlift Electric Standing Desk impressed me with its slim, compact footprint, unique glass desktop and easy assembly. It&#;s one of the smaller options I tested, so I recommend this desk to anyone who has limited square footage in their home office.
This modern-looking standing desk isn&#;t the most customizable option: It&#;s only available in a 47.5 x 24-inch size in white or black. It has a total weight capacity of 176 pounds, which is the lowest manufacturer-provided weight limit of any desk I tested. But the desk functioned just fine with 150 pounds of weight loaded onto its surface in my tests, so your average home office set-up should be fine on this desk.
The Seville Classics AirLift desk is great for small spaces, and it's easy to assemble.
Erica PuisisOne thing that impressed me was its single-box packaging for ease of assembly. Most other standing desks arrive in at least two boxes (one for the desktop and frame and one for the legs), and those boxes don&#;t always arrive together. The Seville Classics Airlift Electric Standing Desk arrives in one box and is easy enough to set up in just 15 minutes.
Adding to this desk&#;s aptitude for small spaces is that its contemporary-looking glass top doubles as a whiteboard for brainstorming, note-taking or making to-do lists. A center drawer glides out to hold your small office supplies, like pens and sticky notes. While you have to buy a drawer as an add-on for some other standing desks, this feature is integrated into the Airlift&#;s desktop.
Amazon
Dimensions: 40 x 24 inches, 48 x 24 inches, 55 x 24 inches, 60 x 24 inches| Height Range: 27.5 inches (minimum); 46.9inches (maximum) | Memory Settings: 3 | Motor: Single | Weight Capacity: 176 pounds | Warranty: 2 years (motor and electronic components); 5 years (non-electric components)
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While you shouldn&#;t compromise on stability and function in a standing desk, you don&#;t have to start with the top-end model, either. The Fezibo Height Adjustable Electric Standing Desk is worth considering as an affordable, basic standing desk. It&#;s not the most robust standing desk I tested, as reflected in its 176-pound weight capacity and spliced desktop, which creates a seam in the middle of the desk. (The seam is mainly concealed by two storage drawers, but you might have to be judicious about how and where you load weight on the desk compared to a solid desktop.) The two-tier surface gives great elevation for a computer monitor and makes room for a storage cubby between the drawers. It does, however, limit the workspace directly in front of you, so keep that in mind if you frequently spread out a pile of papers or files as you work.
The Fezibo has a programmable touch controller, which is a great feature to get at the under-$300 ... [+] price point.
Erica PuisisWhile it was the cheapest standing desk I tested (outside of the SIDUCAL Small Adjustable Standing Desk with Wheels), the Fezibo Adjustable Height Standing Desk is also easy to adjust to sitting and standing heights using the programmable touch controller, which is a welcome bonus at the under-$300 price point. I also didn&#;t have any issues with the desktop&#;s durability or finish during testing; the desk lifted 150 pounds and a coffee spill didn&#;t stain the light maple surface. For average home use, this budget standing desk should do the trick. Just keep in mind that it lacks sensors or anti-collision technology, so keep chairs, filing cabinets and other objects out of the way when lowering the desk.
In addition to the six winning standing desks, I tested three other models that didn&#;t make the cut.
Flexispot E7 Pro ($599+): There are multiple Flexispot standing desk models to choose from, and I tested the brand&#;s E7 Pro with a handsome dark bamboo top, picked from a plethora of desktop options that include solid wood, chipboard and fiberboard (MDF). The desktop and frame feel solid but assembly was a real let-down. The pre-drilled holes in the desktop and included directions didn&#;t match up with the frame. When I reached out to Flexispot&#;s customer service, they advised me to use a drill to create holes that line up with the supplied frame, which I didn&#;t have to do for any other standing desk I tested. For the price, the desk should be simpler to assemble with less frustration and better directions.
Vari Electric Standing ($850): The Vari Electric Standing Desk&#;s desktop and frame have a sturdy feel, but this was one of the only desks to sustain a few light scratches during testing.
Overall, the desk felt well-built, the soft-touch keypad was easy to use, and I had no functional complaints about the desk&#;s height settings or adjustability. It just didn&#;t do enough to justify its price tag or distinguish itself from similar options.
SIDUCAL Small Adjustable Standing Desk with Wheels ($100): This is a compact, wheeled option for a standing desk. It was the smallest standing desk I tested, but its two-tier design gave me enough room to comfortably fit my laptop stand, wireless keyboard, mouse and a few office supplies. In the end, though, the manual adjustments for the height settings deterred me from changing positions, especially since both sides of the desk require individual adjustment. More than once I ended up with a slanted desktop that required fine-tuning.
To find the best standing desks for working from home and furnishing an office, I tested nine popular models in my home office. Since set-up can be cumbersome, my first evaluation was based on ease of assembly. After set-up, I used each desk for two workdays, alternating between standing and sitting positions. I paid attention to factors like how convenient it was to raise or lower the desk using the controller, and whether or not the desk includes obstruction sensors to avoid colliding with my chair. And while aesthetics are subjective, I noted the quality of materials and appearance. I also considered whether the materials made the desk feel like a good value for the price and if the desk was durable when loaded to its weight limit or in the face of office hazards, like spilled liquids or sharp objects.
I tested 9 standing desks to find the best by assembling them, raising and lowering their heights ... [+] and doing weight and stain tests.
Erica PuisisFor the last six months, I&#;ve continued to rotate my working time between the Branch Duo Standing Desk and the Steelcase Solo Sit-To-Stand Desk, making observations about functionality and durability and looking out for signs of controller malfunction or motor issues.
I tested for stains by spilling coffee on each desk's surface.
Erica PuisisThroughout testing, I&#;ve taken note of any interactions I&#;ve had with customer service and evaluated the company for its speed of response and ability to answer questions and resolve issues.
Buying a standing desk is an investment, and sometimes it helps to ease your way into this mode of work. Ergonomist Matt Jeffs, a doctor of physical therapy and ergonomics educator at Ability on Demand, says, &#;Starting out, you needn&#;t spend a fortune. Nor should you. There&#;s an undeniable period of conditioning that has to be accommodated.&#; Choosing a standing desk will depend on the function and form you need: size, height range, finish options and more. Here&#;s what to consider.
According to my research, the most popular sizes for a standing desk are 48 x 24 inches and 60 x 30 inches. The most compact standing desks may be as small as 36 x 24 inches, and larger workstations can be as large as 72 x 30 inches or more.
To pick the right size, identify how much space you need for your computer set-up and other work materials. You&#;ll also want to consider whether you need room for everyday items like mugs or water bottles. Design ecologist Lindsay Tan makes this suggestion: &#;Before you purchase any desk, do a full inventory of all your desktop peripherals, office supplies and workspaces needed for daily tasks. Map out the surface area of the new desk, then map out the devices, supplies and workspace to make sure the desk is wide enough and deep enough.&#;
The purpose of a sit-to-stand desk is to offer adjustable height settings, unlike a conventional desk with a fixed height. But not all standing desks have the same height range. Shorter or taller people may require a wider range of height settings.
So to find the best standing desk for you, start by identifying your ideal seated height and standing height and then pick a desk that accommodates those. Tan provides this guidance on measuring your standing and seated height: &#;Standing with arms at your sides, bend your elbow like you would while typing and have someone measure the distance from your elbow to the floor (with your work shoes on). Make sure the desk adjusts to at least that height or taller. You can repeat that measurement process while sitting in your regular work chair to find the full range you&#;ll need.&#;
Most standing desks use an electric motor to do the heavy lifting of raising and lowering the desktop, although manual options with a hand crank are available, too. Electric standing desks come with different options for the controller, with the most basic being a paddle controller that you press up or push down to raise and lower the desk.
I found a keypad controller with push buttons is the most common option. Often, the controller is programmable, which means it has a digital display that shows you the height setting and memory buttons to store your preferred standing and sitting heights.
The advantage of a programmable controller is one-touch convenience. When you adjust from sitting to standing or vice versa, you simply push your stored height setting, and the desk automatically raises or lowers&#;rather than making you manually adjust the desk and fine tune the position each time. This also comes in handy if you share the desk; two users can each save one or two height settings (depending on how many memory settings are available).
Accessories aren&#;t essential for a standing desk, but they can make it more convenient. One of the most common accessories is a cable management tray, which keeps the desk cord, computer cables and any other power cords tidy and tucked close to the underside of the desktop, rather than hanging down in a twisted jumble. Other accessories, like add-on drawers or storage cubbies, can help to organize your files or office essentials.
Power accessories, like desktop grommets with a built-in outlet or a power strip that mounts to the desk, can also help keep your laptop, speakers, and other digital devices charged up and ready for use. It can simplify the number of wall outlets you need for your work set-up, since these accessories draw from the power supply of a plugged-in standing desk.
Motorized standing desks are powered by one or two electrical motors. A dual-motor standing desk has a motor supplying power to each leg of the desk and will usually raise and lower more quickly than a single-motor model. Often, dual-motor standing desks have a higher weight capacity than single-motor options. Practically speaking, however, you&#;re unlikely to notice a dramatic difference in performance between a single-motor and a dual-motor standing desk unless you have a lot of equipment on the surface of the desk or you really need to raise and lower the desk in a hurry.
I&#;m a product reviewer and writer with six years&#; experience covering appliances and home goods. My work has appeared on The Spruce, MyDomaine and U.S. News and World Report. During my time as a writer, I&#;ve always worked from home. As a result, I&#;ve used everything from a kitchen table to a music stand as a desk (I don&#;t recommend the latter). In the past, I used a manual standing desk but found the process of raising and lowering the desk to be cumbersome. After testing standing desks and standing desk converters, I&#;m a definite convert to the electric standing desk set-up.
In addition to hours spent conducting research on the best standing desks, I consulted with three experts for their perspectives on ergonomics and office set-ups. Lindsay Tan, a design ecologist and the design director at West Second Street LLC, offered tips on how to identify what size desk you need and how to find the right height for your stature. Matt Jeffs, a doctor of physical therapy and an ergonomics educator at Ability on Demand, provided practical advice on how to balance your time sitting versus standing and how much to invest in a standing desk. Physiotherapist Lalitha Bhowani-McSorley of Brentwood Physiotherapy Calgary elaborated on the benefits of a standing desk for the musculoskeletal system and the risks of prolonged sitting.
I asked several experts this same question and received a similar response from each one: Listen to your body. Jeffs says the question of when to sit and when to stand can be answered with this simple advice: &#;&#;Listen to your fanny&#;and listen to your feet.&#; That is, when your fanny tells you it&#;s had enough sitting, stand up. When your feet tell you they&#;ve had enough standing, sit down.&#;
But if you really need some quantitative guidance, Jeffs cites a study conducted by Cornell University that recommended a ratio of 20:8:2. &#;For every half-hour working, 20 minutes can be spent sitting, 8 minutes should be spent standing, and 2 minutes should be spent moving,&#; explains Jeffs. &#;This was great research, with some limited application in vivo, mainly due to the awkward nature of setting a timer on a constantly revolving 20:8:2 schedule each and every half hour during a typical workday.&#; The main takeaway is to rotate your working position regularly and use this ratio as a guide more than a rule.
Standing desks vary in their minimum and maximum height settings, but I found that most models have a minimum height of around 28 inches and a maximum height of around 48 inches, for a total travel distance of about 20 inches (give or take a few inches, depending on the specific limitations of the model you choose).
Be sure to measure your ideal sitting and standing height to ensure that the desk can accommodate both positions comfortably.
Frequency of use is likely to be the biggest factor in how long a standing desk will last, especially for the motor and electronic components. Some manufacturers specify their testing protocol for the standing desk, citing how many test cycles the desk has been proven to withstand. But perhaps the largest indicator of how long a standing desk will last is the length of the manufacturer's warranty. Keep in mind that some desks have separate warranty periods for different groups of parts and components, like the desktop, frame, motor and electrical components. The warranty periods of the desks I tested ranged from as short as a year or two to as long as 15 years.
Based on my research, I found that standing desks generally cost between $250 and $1,000, with some very high-end models that cost as much as $3,000. Manual sit-to-stand desks cost the least (sometimes even less than $100), but motorized standing desks dominate the market because of their ease of use.
Among motorized standing desks that cost between $250 and $1,000, the more common attributes include: anti-collision technology (this keeps the desk from crushing objects underneath it), preprogrammed height settings and integrated cord management. Laminate tops are the norm, but more expensive models may offer real wood as an option.
Your body will need to acclimate to using a standing desk. You can make the transition more comfortable with these helpful suggestions from physiotherapist Bhowani-McSorley. &#;An anti-fatigue mat can help reduce discomfort felt with prolonged standing by providing cushioning and encouraging subtle movements of the leg muscles,&#; she says. During testing, I also found that a balance board can help to prevent a stiff, rigid standing position that increases fatigue.
And while much of the focus is on making the act of standing more comfortable, Bhowani-McSorley emphasizes the need to keep a neutral neck and spine position: &#;A monitor or laptop stand should be used to position the screen at eye level.&#; When it is time to sit, don&#;t forget to use an ergonomic chair or stool, picking an option that supports a slightly tilted pelvis can be beneficial for short periods of sitting, according to Bhowani-McSorley.
Switching from a regular desk to one of the best standing desks is not only better for your health but doing so can also make for the perfect upgrade for your home office.
I&#;ve built and tested more than a dozen standing desks by myself to help you find the right model for your needs and budget. Based on our in-depth reviews, the best standing desk overall is the Vari Electric Standing Desk. It's easy and quick to assemble, features an elegant design and comes with useful accessories to make your life easier. If you're on a tight budget though, the Fezibo Electric Standing Desk can be had for just over $100 and still checks all the right boxes.
Below you'll find everything you need to know about the best standing desks you can get today and learn more about our testing process. Whether you want a compact standing desk for a small space or even one with drawers for storage, there's something here for every budget and use case.
The quick list
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The best standing desk overall
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Vari electric standing desk with a chair and laptop
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Vari electric standing desk - closeup of desk controls
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Vari electric standing desk - closeup of desk controls to make it go up and down
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Vari electric standing desk raised to standing level
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Vari electric standing desk disassembled
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Vari electric standing desk with a laptop on top
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Vari electric standing desk with a laptop on top
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Vari electric standing desk - closeup of included hooks
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The Vari Electric Standing Desk stood out immediately for its gorgeous work surface, which not only looked better than the competition, but was thicker, too. I especially liked its chamfered edges, and the fact that Vari throws in two hooks &#; so you can hang your purse or a set of headphones &#; as well as a coaster to protect its surface. What&#;s more, the company also offers a range of accessories, from power strips to cable-management trays to monitor arms, to fully outfit your desk.
If you&#;re not particularly enamored with the reclaimed wood of our review model, the company offers a variety of other materials, including white, butcher block, black, and darkwood. While not as varied as other standing desks on this page, each option was very attractive. The model I reviewed also came with a programmable control panel that let me set four preset heights for the desk, and had a small LCD readout that displayed its height. It&#;s a feature you can get with most standing desks, and it&#;s one worth spending a bit more on.
What especially impressed me about the Vari desk was the ease with which I was able to put it together. It took about 15 minutes total to get everything assembled, about half the time as other standing desks I've tested. If you&#;re not particularly handy, this is definitely the standing desk for you.
Read our full Vari Electric Standing Desk review.
Best standing desk for features
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A premium standing desk at a reasonable price
Our expert review:
Desktop size:
48 x 24, 48 x 30, 55 x 28, 60 x 24, 60 x 30, 72 x 30, 80 x 30 inches
Min/max height:
22.8 to 48.4 inches
Max supported weight:
355 pounds
Electric:
Yes
View at FlexiSpot Inc.View at AmazonView at Office Depot+
Quiet dual motors
+
Excellent cable management tray
+
Keypad has a USB charging port
-
More assembly required
-
Only the fiberboard desktop has grommets
The Flexispot E7 Pro Plus is a dual-motor, electric standing desk that packs in plenty of premium features for the price. Besides a metal cable management tray that makes it easy to run wires up to the top of the desk, it's keypad also has a USB port so that you can charge your smartphone, tablet and other devices while working. This is one of my favorite features and one I wish more standing desks would adopt as well.
Flexispot makes it easy to customize the E7 Pro Plus with plenty of different desktop materials to choose from and a range of desktop sizes that go all the way from 48 x 24 inches up to 80 x 30 inches. Although building the desk isn't as easy as putting the Vari Electric Standing Desk, the assembly process was pretty straightforward and all of the tools you'll need are included. I finished building this desk in just over 30 minutes. With a maximum height of 48.4 inches and minimum height of 22.8 inches, the E7 Pro Plus can accommodate a wide range of users.
Read our full Flexispot E7 Pro Plus review.
The best budget standing desk
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(Image credit: Fezibo)
(Image credit: Tom's Guide)
(Image credit: Tom's Guide)
(Image credit: Tom's Guide)
(Image credit: Tom's Guide)
The Fezibo Electric Standing Desk is a great option for people who want to upgrade to a standing desk on a shoestring budget. To reach its low price of just over $200, Fezibo had to make some cuts which is why this desk has a single motor and lacks the child lock settings you'll find on more expensive models. Still though, the Fezibo Electric Standing Desk can support up to 176 pounds (79kg) and has a maximum height of 46.9 inches and a minimum height of 27.5 inches. I was really impressed with just how many more premium features this desk has like its control panel with an LED display.
While the Fezibo Electric Standing Desk is my new budget pick, during testing it felt sturdy at all times and was still relatively quiet even with a single motor. I also like how there's a hook at the back of the desk that can be used for hanging your headphones, cables or other accessories. Also, there is a cable management tray available but you will need to purchase it separately.
Read our full Fezibo Electric Standing Desk review.
The best compact standing desk
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(Image credit: Tom's Guide)
(Image credit: Tom's Guide)
(Image credit: Tom's Guide)
(Image credit: Tom's Guide)
The Branch Duo Standing Desk is Branch's second standing desk and it features a number of improvements over its predecessor such as a frameless design that leaves extra space for an optional desk drawer. There's also a new OLED control paddle that reminds you when it's time to stand up. Branch even offers an optional cable management tray that affixes to the back of the desk along with a custom power strip that screws onto the back of the desk.
Besides these new improvements, one of the things I really like about the Duo standing desk is that in addition to a 48 x 25-inch version, there's also a much more compact 36 x 24-inch model which is great for smaller workspaces and apartments. Branch also includes reusable inserts for this desk so that it's easy to disassemble if you have to move. The Duo Standing Desk pairs well with the new Branch Verve Chair too.
Read our full Branch Duo Standing Desk review.
The best standing desk for gaming
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(Image credit: Future)
(Image credit: Tom's Guide)
(Image credit: Tom's Guide)
(Image credit: Future)
(Image credit: Future)
A standing desk for gamers with a strong focus on cable management
Our expert review:
Desktop size:
59.1 to 27.6 inches, 70 to 31.5 inches
Min/max height:
25.6 to 49.2 inches
Max supported weight:
265 pounds
Electric:
Yes
View at SecretlabCheck Amazon+
Clean, all-metal design
+
Very easy to assemble
+
Integrated power
+
Full-length cable management tray
-
No additional color options
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Only available in large and extra large sizes
The Secretlab Magnus Pro may be aimed at gamers but I'd argue it's a fantastic standing desk for just about everyone and especially sticklers for cable management like myself. This dual-motor electric standing desk also has a very clean design thanks in part to the fact that it's control box, keypad and all of the cables that connect them together are housed within the desk itself.
The same can be said for the Magnus Pro's power. Instead of hanging down the back of the desk, the left leg has an integrated power supply column. You just plug the power cable in at the back of the left leg and there's even an AC outlet in the desk's built-in cable management tray to plug a surge protector into. This cable management tray runs across the entire back of the Magnus Pro. It also features a hinged cover that makes it easy to tidy up your cables and plug in new devices without having to move your desk away from the wall.
The Magnus Pro's frame is made of metal while its desktop is wrapped in metal. This lets you attach a number of magnetic accessories like Secretlab's MAGPAD desk mat protectors and its cable anchors. The Magnus Pro starts at $799 but you will need plenty of space for this desk as it comes in large and extra large but not in a medium or small configuration. If you have the space for it, this is a fantastic standing desk for both gamers and those working from home.
Read our full Secretlab Magnus Pro review.
The best standing desk for customization
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Uplift V2 standing desk with laptop on top
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Uplift V2 standing desk controls close-up
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Uplift V2 standing desk disassembled
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Uplift V2 standing desk with laptop and notepad on top
(Image credit: Tom's Guide)
Uplift V2 standing desk with laptop on top
(Image credit: Tom's Guide)
I&#;ll admit, I wasn't the biggest fan of the walnut veneer that came with the Uplift V2 standing desk I reviewed. Fortunately, Uplift offers the desk in a variety of surfaces, from laminate to bamboo to solid mahogany; there&#;s even a whiteboard option, in case you like the idea of writing on the desk itself.
Like the Fully Jarvis, the Uplift can support up to 350 pounds, the most among the standing desks I've tested so far. It also took about half an hour to assemble for me to assemble which isn't too long at all but still not as easy as putting the Vari standing desk together. Ultimately, the Uplift is a very good standing desk, but not my favorite model. However, if you want a desk you can sleep as well as work at, Uplift also sells an under-desk hammock but it's only compatible with the wider models of the V2. Unfortunately, I haven't had a chance to try it out myself but it's one of the most talked about features in the reviews on Uplift's website.
Read our full Uplift V2 standing desk review.
The best curved standing desk
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(Image credit: Tom's Guide)
(Image credit: Tom's Guide)
(Image credit: Tom's Guide)
(Image credit: Tom's Guide)
The X-Chair Standing Desk is a dual-motor electric standing desk that's highly customizable but also very easy to put together. Available directly from X-Chair at around $500, this standing desk is available in two sizes: 24 x 48 inches or 27 x 54 inches. You also have plenty of desktop and leg color options plus, you can upgrade from a rectangular to a curved desktop without paying too much extra.
I found that the X-Chair Standing Desk was very easy to put together and all told, it took me about 10 minutes using the included Allen wrench. Its digital keypad has four programmable height presents and comes standard but you will have to purchase a cable management tray separately. There's also a built-in headphone hook and the curved desktop let me sit closer to my monitor while working. If you want an easy to assemble, dual-motor standing desk that you can tailor to your workspace, the X-Chair Standing Desk is an excellent choice.
Read our full X-Chair Standing Desk review.
The best standing desk for storage
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Realspace smart standing desk with a chair and a laptop
(Image credit: Future)
Realspace smart standing desk with its drawers open
(Image credit: Future)
Realspace smart standing desk with a desktop PC and an ultrawide monitor
(Image credit: Future)
The Realspace smart standing desk's built-in cable management tray
(Image credit: Future)
The two USB-A ports and one USB-C port on the side of the Realspace smart standing desk
(Image credit: Future)
The Realspace Smart Electric Height-Adjustable Desk sets itself apart from the other standing desks on this list in a few ways. Not only is it a smart standing desk you can control with an app or your voice thanks to Google Assistant and Alexa support, it also has fairly large drawers for storage and three USB ports on the side for charging your devices. The Realspace smart standing desk comes pre-assembled for the most part and I just needed to install the legs and its keypad which took about half an hour.
The built-in drawers gave me more than enough space to store a laptop and other accessories. However, the design of the Realspace smart standing desk limits the amount of weight it can hold to 88 pounds. This should be more than enough for most people&#;s needs but if you want to use a bulky gaming PC and multiple monitors, you&#;ll be better off with one of the other standing desks on this list like the Uplift V2 or the Vari standing desk.
Read our full Realspace Smart Electric Height-Adjustable Desk review.
Other standing desks we've reviewed
Vari Curve Electric Standing Desk - Like the original Vari Electric Standing Desk, the Vari Curve Electric Standing Desk is one of our favorites. While it was our top recommendation for a bit there, this particular model has now been discontinued and replaced by the Vari Electric Standing Desk with ComfortEdge. It doesn&#;t have the same curve but it does have the waterfall edge the company first introduced with its Curve Electric Standing Desk.
EverDesk Max - The EverDesk Max is from the Sinaporean company NorthDay which also makes the ErgoTune Supreme V3. This electric standing desk is just as customizable as the Uplift V2 but you will need to purchase accessories like the cable tray, pegboard panel and cable spine separately in one of NorthDay&#;s bundles. This is worth doing though as these accessories add a lot of extra storage and allow you to fully customize this desk to your liking.
IKEA Trotten - The IKEA Trotten is by no means a bad standing desk but it is a manual one and we&#;ve chosen to prioritize electric standing desks for this guide. This means that instead of pushing a button, you need to manually turn a crank to adjust its height which can get tiring real fast. If you are in the market for a manual standing desk, I&#;d suggest you take a look at pneumatic ones instead as you just need to lift them or push them down to adjust their height.
Fully Jarvis Bamboo - The Fully Jarvis Bamboo is a nice-looking standing desk with plenty of customization options when it comes to the desktop as well as accessories. It costs as much as the Vari Electric Standing Desk which we think is a better standing desk overall and a lot easier to assemble.
FlexiSpot EC1 - The FlexiSpot EC1 is still available at some third-party online retailers but it has been officially discontinued by FlexiSpot. Still, we were really impressed by how well this budget desk performed in our testing along with the customization options. If you&#;re interested in the EC1 but want to buy this desk directly from the company, FlexiSpot has replaced it with the FlexiSpot E2 which is slightly more expensive.
IKEA Bekant Standing Desk - The IKEA Bekant is a nice looking standing desk that we think costs a bit too much for what you get. For instance, its keypad is quite basic with only an up and down button and its cable management tray is made out of mesh instead of metal. Still though, if you&#;re a fan of that IKEA look and want to get all of your home office furniture in one trip to the store, it could be worth considering.
Written by
Written by
Anthony Spadafora
Senior EditorAnthony Spadafora has spent the past five years working from home exclusively and during that time, he's tested dozens of standing desks, office chairs and other work from home accessories. While he oversees all of our networking and security coverage at Tom's Guide, Anthony has a penchant for home office furniture and working on desk setups.
How to choose the best standing desk for you
Although the best standing desks share many similarities, there are a few factors that you should consider before buying one which I'll go into more detail below. Getting the right standing desk for your space and needs the first time will be a lot easier than building one, finding out it isn't for you and then having to return it.
(Image credit: Future)
Surface material
Pretty much every standing desk can be ordered in a variety of materials, with prices to match. Laminate surfaces &#; that is, a veneer of wood overtop a core &#; tend to be the least expensive, while solid-core desks made from oak, maple, mahogany or some other wood type will cost more. Bamboo desks straddle the middle, and are not only a good compromise, but are very durable.
Stability
The higher you raise a standing desk, the greater potential there is for it to wobble or fall over, especially if there are a lot of heavy items on it. If you can, it&#;s worth checking out a standing desk in person, raising it to its maximum height and then rocking it back and forth to see how it manages.
(Image credit: Future)
Minimum and maximum height
This is the range with which the standing desk&#;s height can be raised or lowered. Most will fall between 25 inches to around 50 inches; better desks will have a wider range, though the difference will usually only be a few inches on either end.
Maximum weight supported
If you&#;re planning to use your standing desk to hold more than just your computer &#; maybe you want to sit on it &#; then you&#;ll want to pay attention to its maximum supported weight. Smaller, less expensive desks won&#;t be able to hold as much weight as more expensive models.
Ease of assembly
When it comes to putting together a standing desk, all you need is a screwdriver and a little patience. All of the models I've tested came with the requisite screws, Allen wrenches, and clear instruction manuals. Still, some desks are easier to put together than others, and most &#; especially those with larger tops &#; will require a second person to help, especially when flipping them over.
Motorized or non-motorized?
How much work do you want to put into raising and lowering your standing desk? The vast majority of standing desks are motorized, meaning all you have to do is press a button to change the height of the desk. However, if you want to save some money &#; and you don't plan on moving the desk much &#; then you might want to check out a manual standing desk. Many of these desks have a hand crank that you'll have to turn. You won't need arms like Arnold Schwarzenegger, but you will have to do a little work. However, there are also pneumatic standing desks that you only need to lift the desktop up or push it down to adjust their height. They're slightly more expensive but I think they're certainly worth it in the long run.
(Image credit: Tom's Guide)
Customization options
Apart from the surface size and material, the better standing desk companies will also offer a variety of ways in which you can customize your desk. These can include attachments such as cable-management trays &#; the one accessory that you should get with a standing desk &#; different controls to raise and lower the desk, different leg types, frame styles and more.
How we test the best standing desks
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To determine which standing desks are the best, I called in the top models as well as a few budget-friendly options. From here, I then went through the process of assembling them, noting how long it took to put each one together, how easy the instructions were to follow and if any extra tools were required for assembly.
After each desk is assembled, I then test their stability by raising them to their maximum height and rocking them back and forth. For electric standing desks, I listen to see how loud their motors are, take note of how smoothly they go up and down and see whether or not they can be raised and lowered with a full cup of coffee without spilling a drop.
(Image credit: Future)
I also evaluate each desk based on aesthetics as after all, your new desk should look nice in your home office. However, since many standing desks can be configured with different surfaces from laminate to hardwood tops, colors and more, I also take into account how customizable each desk is when determining its final rating.
Finally, I factor in the price of each desk. While the standing desks I test differ when it comes to features and design, I try and configure them to best match each other so I can compare how much each would cost if it were the same as the others.
For more information on how Tom's Guide rates and reviews, check out our how we test page.
Deciding between a standing desk and one of the best desks can be hard but even if you don&#;t plan on standing while you work, there are still a number of benefits to owning a standing desk.
One of the main reasons you&#;d consider investing in a standing desk in the first place is ergonomics and this is one area where they really excel. Unlike with a regular desk, you can make small adjustments to the height of your standing desk to ensure that your keyboard is at the right height as is your laptop&#;s screen or monitor.
A cluttered desk can be very distracting, especially with cables going every which way. Standing desks have a reputation of offering better cable management than traditional desks since many of them come with cable management trays. Sure, you can always add a cable management tray to any desk but the fact that your standing desk needs to be able to move up and down gives you more incentive to have your cables neatly tucked away. Likewise, you can always lift your desk up so that it&#;s easier to manage all of your cables and you can&#;t do this with a traditional desk.
Another thing that separates standing desks from traditional desks is their build quality. Since standing desks are designed to move up and down frequently while supporting a lot of weight, all without wobbling even at their highest setting, most of them have strong, steel frames. This is quite different from the wooden legs you&#;ll find on many office desks.
You can&#;t go wrong either way but with a standing desk, you always have the option to stand up if you want to. With a traditional desk, you&#;ll need to buy a standing desk converter to do so and considering how much these can cost, you&#;re better off putting that money into a new standing desk instead.
(Image credit: Vari)
If you&#;re thinking of upgrading to a standing desk, then you may have come across standing desk converters during your research. Like a standing desk, a standing desk converter allows you to work while standing or sitting with plenty of room for a laptop, monitor and any other accessories you may need. However, you don&#;t have to replace your existing desk.
For those who work in an office or even if you&#;re a student in a dorm, a standing desk converter may be a better choice as most companies and colleges don&#;t want you replacing their furniture. Standing desk converters are also more portable which means you could technically pack one in the back of your car and bring it to and from work or school.
Although standing desk converters are usually cheaper than buying a standing desk outright, they can still get quite expensive and cost anywhere between $100 to $400 dollars. Another downside is that if you find out you don&#;t really like standing while working, your standing desk converter becomes a giant paperweight. For this reason, you&#;re better off putting that money into a nice standing desk or even a budget one and then upgrading later on.
Determining what height to set your standing desk at for the best experience isn&#;t difficult to do but there are some factors you need to consider first. For instance, do you work with or without shoes on and are you using a laptop or a monitor? If you work without shoes, yourdesk can be set a little lower but if you use one of the best laptops instead of a desktop, your desk will need to be higher but a laptop stand is something else to consider as using one will raise the height of your laptop.
From here, you want to stand up straight with your shoulders relaxed and bend your elbows at a 90-degree angle. You then want to measure the distance from the floor to your elbows and subtract one to two inches from this measurement to figure out the best height for your desk when used in a standing position.
If you want even more pointers along with a walkthrough on how to do this, Fezibo has a nice, in-depth blog post with everything you need to know.
Just because you went out and got a new standing desk, this doesn&#;t mean that you should be standing all the time. In fact, doing so could be harmful for your body. Instead, with a standing desk, you want to alternate between sitting and standing throughout your work day.
Personally, I like to write while sitting down but prefer to edit or do research while standing up. You&#;ll need to find the workflow that&#;s right for you but some tasks are easier to do when sitting down while others feel more natural in a standing position.
In a post on its site, The Standing Desk recommends that you stand for around 5 to 15 minutes every hour when using a standing desk. As someone who&#;s been using standing desks for years now, I think this is good advice. However, I believe this is something to work up to as you&#;d be standing for up to two hours each day during an 8-hour work day.
To ease yourself into working while standing, I suggest you pick one task or activity that won&#;t take you that long each day and use that for practice. For instance, maybe you just try standing while checking your for a few minutes each morning to get the blood pumping.
Whatever you do though, I recommend that you don&#;t stand for too long as you don&#;t want to get burned out on it. If you stand for a long time and end up really sore the next day, you&#;re less likely to try working while standing again. This is why you really want to work up to standing for longer periods and keep track of how long you do stand for.
For more information, please visit best cheap electric standing desk.