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7 Best Standing Desks That’ll Improve Ergonomics and Elevate Your Home Office

A standing desk could help make you feel less sore and be more productive.

uplift standing desk in office
Uplift

When offices and schools closed down because of the pandemic, many of us spent much of 2020 at home — which, in turn, completely changed what we think a home should be. If you're updating your home office, investing in a standing desk is an excellent place to start, especially since it's likely where you'll spend most of your day working remotely.

I've been a remote employee since 2017. Years of poor posture and slouching at my desk left me with a sore lower back and back pain, and I can’t recommend making the switch to a standing desk enough. Speaking as someone who previously had reservations about standing desks, I've noticed a huge improvement to my overall soreness since using one. I'm glad I made the change.

The Best Best Standing Desks

    Don’t just take my word for it: Studies at the Cleveland Clinic show that standing and moving more throughout the day will improve your health, and some even show standing desks can boost productivity.

    If you’re ready to upgrade your home office setup to include a standing desk, I'm here to help you find the absolute best one for your needs, space, and budget. I’ve scoured through hundreds of Twitter threads to see which desks my fellow office workers recommend. I’ve been knee-deep in customer and editorial reviews, and I'm an active member of the Standing Desk subreddit. Here are a few things you could consider before making a purchase.

    What to Consider

    Budget

    Standing desks don't run cheap, and a dedicated standing desk costs between $300 and $1,500. If you're not ready to bite the bullet yet or have reservations, there are more affordable DIY solutions you can try to test the waters first!

    Manual Versus Electric

    Electric standing desks are more expensive than standing desks that have to be adjusted manually. However, I think they're worth it, since you can save your preferred height and automatically adjust them with a single button press to switch from sitting to standing.

    Height Range

    Given the adjustable nature of standing desks, you should be able to find a model that is comfortable to use while sitting or standing. A good rule of thumb to find the appropriate standing desk height is to multiply your height in inches by 0.6. As for sitting, divide your height in inches by 2.5.

    Desktop Size

    The size of your desktop is extremely important, since you'll want more room if you plan to have multiple monitors or an ultra-wide display. Also, be sure sure to measure your space, so you'll know how large of a desk you can fit in your home office.

    Shipping Times

    Quick shipping is also important in the current work-from-home era, so I recommend going one step further than checking estimated delivery dates upon checkout: Actually reach out to customer support to better gauge when the desk will be delivered to your zip code. Fortunately, increased demand and production times aren't as bad as they once were.

    Photo: Brandon Carte/Best Products

    Learn more about the best standing desks below that are the most convenient to use, will blend into your décor, accommodate a wide range of heights, are easy to assemble, and are backed by generous warranties.

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    1
    Best for Most Buyers
    V2-Commercial Standing Desk
    UPLIFT Desk

    • Outstanding warranty

    • Glide system isn't as durable as competition

    Key Specs

    • Height Range: Accommodates users 4-foot-11 to 6-foot-5
    • Warranty: 15-year warranty
    • Desktop Size: 42-80-inch wide x 30-inch depth

    If you’re in the market for a standing desk, you can’t go wrong with the UPLIFT V2-Commercial. Based on my extensive evaluation, UPLIFT is one of the most reliable, attractive, and sturdy standing desks money can buy. This top-of-the-line desk is a favorite of CNN Underscored, Laptop Mag, and Wirecutter.

    UPLIFT offers the most customization options, including 22 desktop finishes, five desktop sizes, four frame colors, and a variety of add-on accessories to boot.

    The desk ranked second overall for wobble testing done at BTOD.com, so you know it won’t rock back and forth like a wobbly table at a restaurant. (The Fully Jarvis standing desk is known to suffer this problem.)

    I think the UPLIFT V2-Commercial’s biggest fault is its expensive price. During the customization process at publishing time, a 48x30-inch Bamboo V2-Commercial UPLIFT desk was over $200 more expensive than a similarly specced Fully Jarvis desk.

    Given its sturdiness and outstanding 15-year warranty — which backs its frame components, mechanical parts, electrical parts, and motor — it’s worth splurging for.

    The desk is built to last, you can customize it to your liking, it ships quickly, and it isn’t too daunting to assemble.

    2
    Runner-Up
    Jarvis Standing Desk
    Fully

    • No crossbar

    • More difficult to assemble

    Key Specs

    • Height Range: Accommodates users 4-foot-9 to 6-foot-8
    • Warranty: 15-year warranty
    • Desktop Size: 30-72-inch wide x 24-30-inch depth

    Fully offers a wide variety of desktops, including a new eco-friendly option, and plenty of customization choices at a price that’s oftentimes cheaper than UPLIFT’s standing desks. Many users — especially if they're taller than 6 feet — will appreciate that the desk’s frame doesn’t have a crossbar. This will allow you to stretch your legs out from underneath the desk while you’re sitting.

    Unfortunately, the lack of the crossbar means the desk will wobble slightly more. This will be a bigger problem for fast typists, but overall, the desk is quite stable. A reviewer at CNN Underscored also said this option was one of the most difficult and time-intensive desks to assemble.

    Buyers have the choice of bundling a handful of accessories at a discount, such as a desk shelf or drawer, as well as power grommet covers for reducing cord clutter. I also recommend spending a little bit extra on the “Advanced Keypad,” which has physical buttons and displays the height of your desktop. It saves four height positions.

    This desk, which supports up to 350 pounds, has a wide range of sitting and standing heights — plus, its frame components, motor, and electronics are backed by a 15-year warranty. Additionally, the desktop is backed by a 5-year warranty, which is the same as our best overall pick.

    3
    Easiest to Assemble
    Electric Standing Desk
    Vari

    • Smooth lifting mechanism

    • Cable management tray isn't included

    Key Specs

    • Height Range: Accommodates users 4-foot-11 to 6-foot-5
    • Warranty: 15-year warranty
    • Desktop Size: 48 or 60-inch wide x 30-inch depth

    If you’re the type of person who shudders at the thought of putting together IKEA furniture, I recommend opting for Vari’s electric standing desk. It’ll take even the least handy folks under 30 minutes to assemble, and all the tools you need are included in the box.

    Vari’s desk is available in just two sizes — 30x48 inches or 30x60 inches — and it comes in five different finishes. The desk adjusts smoothly without much noise, and it is incredibly stable. It has four programmable height settings, automatically adjusting 25 inches all the way to 50.5 inches. All you have to do is press a button on the included control panel that’s located on the bottom right side.

    The biggest downside to the Vari compared to other models is that it’s lacking in the organization department. There’s no option to add grommets to keep cords under control. Fortunately, however, there's a slight indentation on its backside, so you won’t crush your cords in the event the desk is placed against a wall.

    Vari sells a cable management tray that attaches to the desk, but at $50, it’s a bit pricey for a plastic box. On the plus side, the desk comes with a hook for holding your bag or headphones, which is a welcome touch.

    4
    Best for Tall Users
    V2 Standing Desk
    UPLIFT Desk

    • No crossbar underneath
    • Better accommodates taller users

    • Rocks for fast typists

    Key Specs

    • Height Range: Accommodates users 4-foot-11 to 6-foot-9
    • Warranty: 15-year warranty
    • Desktop Size: 42-80-inch wide x 30-inch depth

    This standing desk is almost identical to our best overall pick. The biggest difference is that it lacks a crossbar, so it’s easier to stretch your legs out underneath it. The desk also stands slightly taller than the V2-Commercial, reaching heights of up to about 51 inches. So, if you’re very tall, it’s a better buy, since it’ll be more comfortable to use.

    Due to the lack of a crossbar, the desk rocks slightly for folks who type quickly, but its frame is so strong, it can hold a 200-pound person in a hammock. (The hammock is even included with the purchase!) The desk also has a soft-touch keypad for saving and easily adjusting your preferred height setting.

    The desk comes in a wide array of finishes and desktop sizes. It’s also backed by the same 10-year warranty as the UPLIFT V2-Commercial.

    5
    Best Executive Desk
    Standing Desk
    Branch

    • Quiet motors

    • Legs only come in white

    Key Specs

    • Height Range: Accommodates users 4-foot-11 to 6-foot-8
    • Warranty: 10-year warranty
    • Desktop Size: 48 or 60-inch wide x 30-inch depth

    The incredibly sleek and modern Branch standing desk is an attractive standing desk that’ll look good in any home office. It’s available in two sizes — 30x48 inches and 30x60 inches — with either a woodgrain or white desktop. Both variants pair nicely with its white frame.

    The Branch was one of our sister site Good Housekeeping’s favorite standing desks for its incredible range in height settings, the electrical port that helps keep cords in place, and the extremely quiet motor.

    The editor who tested the desk said it was easy to install (no power tools necessary), and that it took less than 45 minutes to get it set up.

    6
    Best Standing Desk Converter
    QuickStand Eco Standing Desk
    Humanscale

    • Small enough to fit on most desks

    • Requires manual adjustment

    Key Specs

    • Height Range: 18.6 inches
    • Warranty: 5-year warranty
    • Desktop Size: 30-inch wide x 19-inch depth

    If you have a desk or table that you love and want a standing desk — but don’t want to get rid of your existing desk — you should consider opting for a standing desk converter. A standing desk converter is basically a smaller desk that can rise and be lowered on top of your current setup.

    My favorite option is the QuickStand Eco from Humanscale. It’s available in white or black, with configurations suited for a laptop, single monitor, or dual monitor setups.

    I reviewed the desk back in May 2020, and found the converter to be an excellent product to incorporate more standing into my workday. It’s stylish, ultra durable, and will help improve ergonomics in your work setup, all while lessening back pain in the process!

    7
    A Budget-Friendly Folding Desk
    Levit8 Standing Desk
    DesignNest

    • Folds down for easy transport

    • Only works with laptops (not monitors and keyboards)

    Key Specs

    • Dimensions: 9.4-inch depth x 15-inch wide x 12-inch height
    • Warranty: 2-year warranty
    • Materials: Polyester, polyurethane

    This accessory gives users the freedom of transforming their regular desk into a standing desk with a simple twist and fold. It’s the result of a successful Kickstarter campaign — and priced at only $30, it proves you don’t need to break the bank to get a functional standing desk, either.

    The Levit8 has enough space for a 16-inch laptop, and it weighs less than your MacBook Air. It’s spill- and stain-resistant, and holds more than 20 times its own weight.

    The “desk” takes up virtually no space at all, and is a good option for folks who want a taste of using a standing desk without dropping hundreds of dollars on one. Best of all, it folds flat, so you can easily move from room to room with it.

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