A standing desk won’t magically fix poor posture or help you lose weight, but it can offer health benefits.
“The primary ergonomic benefit of a standing desk (also called a sit-stand desk) is the ability to move throughout the day,” says Dana Keester, an ergonomics expert in CR’s Consumer Experience & Usability Research group, who led our evaluation. “Incorporating regular movement and postural changes throughout the day increases blood circulation and allows you to activate different muscle groups.”
You can even use a standing desk with some treadmills and exercise bikes.
While you’re sitting, a height-adjustable standing desk can also provide a more ergonomic and comfortable work surface than many fixed-height desks, which are too high for shorter users. Just like with a great office chair, adjustability is critical.
Other than the Ikea Bekant, all the desks we evaluated included a collision-avoidance feature, which is supposed to make the desktop retract if it collides with something. Our interest in this feature was sparked when a desk with collision avoidance pressed down on one participant’s lap hard enough to be painful and make the desk tilt back on its rear legs. He had to scramble to find the right button to raise the desk back up and relieve the pressure.
We didn’t score the desks on this feature, but we did spend time in the lab investigating how it works. The desks exerted anywhere from about 40 pounds to 80 pounds of force before retracting, depending on the model and the procedure we used in each of the trials we ran. Several desks have controls that are supposed to let you adjust the sensitivity. We tested the desks using the maximum sensitivity available.
One other note on safety: We declined to evaluate certain models we bought because they used an exposed driveshaft to raise and lower the desktop. If you’re shopping online, desks that use a driveshaft will usually say they have a single motor. But it’s often not clear whether the driveshaft is covered to prevent shoelaces, a child’s fingers, fabric from a skirt, or anything else from getting caught as it rotates. Desks with two motors, one on each side of the desk, don’t need a driveshaft.
Ashita Kapoor, CR’s associate director for product safety says: “After installation and assembly of your standing desk, if you notice any exposed components, make sure no obstacles are in the desk’s path.” As with all electric height-adjustable desks, you want to make sure children and pets are away from it during operation.
Making the switch from a traditional desk to one of the best standing desks can be the perfect upgrade for your workspace regardless of whether you work from home or in an office. While one of the best desks will get the job done, you’re limited to sitting down while you work. This isn’t true with a standing desk as you now have the option to sit or stand depending on the task at hand.
I’ve personally been using an electric standing desk while working from home for years now and I have also tested several manual standing desks. Even before then, I often put together a makeshift standing desk by repurposing bookshelves and other furniture — great if you want to try working while standing without having to swap out your current desk. Being able to shift your body from side to side and move while you work — or even while you play games — can really make a big difference when it comes to your energy levels throughout the day as well as your mood. I’ve also found that being able to switch things up between sitting and standing has helped me be more productive throughout the day as I like to sit while writing but I prefer to stand when doing research.
Even if you do plan on sitting most of the time at your standing desk in one of the best office chairs, you can still benefit from improved ergonomics, easier cable management and their higher build quality since they are designed to withstand going up and down quite frequently.
I’ve built and tested more than a dozen standing desks by myself to help you find the right model for both your needs and budget. Whether you want to be more active throughout the day or want to work on your posture, these are the best standing desks you can buy today.
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.
The quick list
Below you'll find everything you need to know at a glance about the best standing desks you can get today. 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.
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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 FlexiSpotView at Office DepotView at Amazon+
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 compact standing desk
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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 budget standing desk
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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 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
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Uplift V2 standing desk with laptop on top
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A standing desk with loads of customization options
Our expert review:
Average Amazon review:
Desktop size:
42 x 30 inches
Min/max height:
25.3 to 50.9 inches
Max supported weight:
355 pounds
Electric:
Yes
View at Amazon+
Loads of customization options
+
Supports a lot of weight
+
Fairly quiet when moving
-
Customization options can be confusing for first time buyers
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 standing desk for storage
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Realspace smart standing desk with a chair and a laptop
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Realspace smart standing desk with its drawers open
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Realspace smart standing desk with a desktop PC and an ultrawide monitor
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The Realspace smart standing desk's built-in cable management tray
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The two USB-A ports and one USB-C port on the side of the Realspace smart standing desk
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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.
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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
Also, here are 3 ways to try out a standing desk before you buy — and why you should.
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